Tailgaiting & Road Rage, consequences for your actions?

I have a question for the people who tailgate, why do you do it?

This morning I saw someone tailgating another car, when the tailgater got in front of the car previously behind, the driver of the car behind got out and clocked the hoon a few good ones. Quite entertaining to see this.

What are the community's thoughts on this?
Tailgating is not maintaining a safe stopping distance / driving in a menacing fashion.
Clocking a hoon is Assault.

Why do people do these things without thinking of the possible consequences? Please, help me understand.

Comments

  • +43

    Bogans.

    • +16

      Yeah it seems to be a lot more common in poorer areas. I guess it comes down to patience, stress, ability to deal with complex situations. Few people will admit that driving can be quite stressful. Some dude struggling to pay his mortgage, kids have made him late again on way to work, on his final warning. Couple of red lights, some dude driving slow. I'm about to pop just thinking about it. I guess we're all poor in our own way.

      • +4

        poorer areas? I guess in areas where people are millionaires or retirees there might be less roadrage, as people dont have time restraints…I have seen people driving expensive looking vehicles roadraging with the best of them…

        • I agree. The rich are self entitled and born to wealth and entitlement. Quite often this entitlement extends to owning the road and it leads to road rage.

        • +2

          @arcticmonkey: Autonomous Driving is the future. If all cars drive themselves we won't have all these road issues. Many countries are thinking about this and we should all support it. Tailgating, Traffic Jam, accidents/collisions, road rage will all be a thing of the past. cheers

        • @arcticmonkey: ….. Strange , I never seen a new series BMW being driven badly….ahem

  • +16

    Re tailgating, maybe hoping the person driving in front on a single lane road will drive faster than 50 on a 60 road?

    • +7

      In this situation, everyone was doing 60 in a 60 zone.
      Just after passing through a speed camera.

      So it wasn't going slow for the sake of it, it was just the tailgater being a hoon because he thinks he can do as he liked.
      Until he pissed off the wrong person….

      • +21

        Some (many) people think the 60 sign means 70-80.

        • +1

          Some (many) think the 60 sign means accelerate at your own pace from 0 - 60 even if it takes 5km, those behind can just sit and wait while you do your own thing there. Heck I'm sure all those cars behind you don't mind sitting through yet another set of lights all because you like to accelerate so slowly blocking traffic, etc.

          You seeing people pass you at 70-80 in a 60? They're likely just doing that speed to take an opportunity to pass you since you don't make that opportunity easy (ie move the &^%$ over). Frustration if often the cause of such driving. This frustration is easily avoidable by driving with consideration for others.

        • @iDroid:

          You want some food for thought? I don't sit in the right lane. Other people do. You can't change the behaviour of other people only your own. Stop trying to justify your dangerous driving. Tailgating is dangerous and illegal. Speeding is dangerous and illegal. Don't do it. Don't try to justify it because others do the wrong thing. If you can't control yourself hand in your license before you kill someone.

        • +2

          @syousef: You're claiming I tailgate other drivers, why? I'm expressing what are the causes of frustration that cause drivers to tailgate. There are many ways that this frustration manifests, don't assume that since I think inconsiderate slow right hand lane drivers are arses that means I tailgate.

          I usually just give a toot-toot to politely let them know I'd like to pass, this usually sparks their internal flame thrower and I start copping abuse for daring to ask someone to be considerate often causing them to slow even more, start doing stupid break checks on me (want to talk about dangerous!!). Which again goes to show the modus operandi of these people.

          But, you know, as you say, they're fine being an arse because you are unable to see the problems they cause and how they destroy the ability for our road systems to work as designed. This is a very dangerous situation. This has become a systemic issue due to sanctimonious douches like yourself re-enforcing their inconsiderate "I'm just thinking about me, stuff everyone else" attitude.

          I hope you like living in that world, I don't want to, but each to his own I suppose.

          If drivers can't understand that they need to be considerate to other drivers on the road then they should hand in their licence before they kill someone.

        • +1

          @iDroid:

          You're actually breaking the law by using your horn when there is no emergency to warn of.

          I understand that people in the right lane 20km/hr under the limit are a problem. Do you understand the role that your behaviour plays? Do you understand that tailgating and getting frustrated won't make the world any more to your liking and has the potential to make it much less to your liking (or even edn your life)?

          People that support tailgating, speeding, and road rage should hand in their licenses too. Ain't gonna happen.

        • +2

          @syousef: not sure why you got neg'ed.

          I don't endorse tailgating or speeding. I do endorse self control.

        • -4

          @berry580:
          \
          I got negged because there are a bunch of Ozbargainers who shouldn't have a driver's license. Well it's double demerits this weekend.

        • @berry580: I endorse adaptive cruise control

      • +1

        This morning I saw someone tailgating another car, when the tailgater got in front of the car previously behind, the driver of the car behind got out and clocked the hoon a few good ones.

        The tailgater was the car previously behind.

        So you witnessed someone clocking themselves in traffic!?

        Quite entertaining to see this.

        I bet it was!!

        • +21

          Ok, you win 1 internet point. Now shoo.

        • +12

          @Mitchel:

          To answer your question:

          I think it comes down to some drivers believing their car is a bubble of safety. They believe they're somewhat anonymous behind their windows in their climate controlled space travelling 70 km/h. So they're more inclined to act out than they would be in person (similar to what happens on the internet). But, of course, they get a reality check when they come to a halt at a traffic light and someone approaches their window.

        • +11

          It was rather funny to watch the tailgaiter cowering like a little child. After they got out of their car to escalate things.

          My thought was, funny how you can drive like you are a macho hoon, yet you cop a beating like a panzy.

          Made my morning.

        • +43

          @shawncro 222:

          More off topic nonsensical posts scrooge

          Sorry, I don't do requests.

        • @Scrooge McDuck:Nice! Made me lol +1 to you!

        • -1

          Read it again "when the tailgater got in front of the car previously behind,"…..

        • +3

          @4sure:

          I'm not following you. What's your point?

          It would make sense if it read, "when the tailgater got in front of the car previously ahead".

        • +4

          @Scrooge McDuck:

          or more simply "when the tailgater got in front".
          Less is more

        • @Mitchel: You do understand hitting someone is worse than tailgating right?

        • +2

          @Baghern:
          Hmm, if it saves a life down the line, then no.

          And it still was very entertaining.

        • -1

          @Mitchel:

          A possibility isn't the same as what actually happened

        • @Scrooge McDuck: kind of like the internet?

      • +8

        'Why do people do these things without thinking of the possible consequences? Please, help me understand.'

        Having driven for 50 years, mainly in Australia, but also in the UK, Ireland, Italy, USA, N.Z and Canada, and never had a traffic offence or accident, I speak with some wisdom.

        Your question would be better stated..

        Why Do People Drive In The Overtaking Lane When They Are Not Overtaking or Have A Legal Reason To Be There?

        Tailgating is rightfully a road offence. In my considerable experience, it is generally caused by inconsiderate or illegal driving in the overtaking lane.

        If every driver drove in a considerate manner, irrespective of whether they believe they are travelling at the speed limit, offences such as tailgating would be drastically reduced.

        Those who are frequently tailgated, need to urgently look closely at their own driving, before blaming others. My experience overwhelmingly indicates that those being tailgated are mostly the cause.

        • +6

          This has been my experience also. Personally if someone comes up close behind me on a multi lane road I will move to the left and let them pass, it's not my job to police the roads and who knows maybe my speedo is out or maybe they're just in a hurry. I find usually it happens because people in front aren't courteous enough to simply move out of the way…..but on single lane roads as long as I am accelerating reasonably fast and I am doing the speed limit then they can just wait

        • +1

          @Japius:

          Why are you in the right lane in the first place?

        • +4

          The only cause of tailgating is tailgaters. No question.

          There are 3 situations where I have been tailgated and not a small number of times. A single lane road where I am doing the speed limit. When I gradually slow down for a change in speed limit, e.g. road works, country town or I've already slowed down for such a reason. When I am overtaking one or more vehicles, doing the speed limit on a 2 or more lane road. If there is another car approaching, I will do up to 2km over the speed limit to pass them a bit faster, but that's my limit. I will then move over at the earliest opportunity and let the driver behind past, even when they're being a dick. I won't pass if there's another car approaching quickly and I'm only doing a couple ks faster, I'll wait until the car/s are gone and then pass.

          I have used GPS to determine that my speedo is 10% out and I account for that. All of the rubbish people make up to justify tailgating are simply untrue. They do it because they feel entitled to try to intimidate other road users for their own benefit.

          I would be extremely skeptical of anyone who claims they only tailgate because of people doing well under the speed limit in the right hand lane when they are not overtaking. There may be a miniscule minority where this is the only time they tailgate, but the fact is there are a lot of tailgaters who do it to people who are simply following the speed limit and the road rules. If people choose to speed on the roads I'm not going to deliberately interfere with that, but at times it means they will just need to go the speed limit until they have a safe opportunity to pass. It's unfortunate that it brings out the bully in them, but that's the way some people respond when everything doesn't always go their way.

        • -3

          We've got the freaking Yoda of driving here.

        • @Burnertoasty: Troller Alert

        • +1

          @Miss B:

          I spent the first 10 years of my working life commuting a large distance by car, and ended up doing almost 700,000km of freeway / city driving.. During that time, I avoided the right hand lane where ever possible, moved out of the way of other drivers that were driving faster than me and slowed down at overtaking lanes to let people safely pass (if they felt the need). I can count the number of times I was tailgated on my hand. Anecdotally, I'd say 90% of the other people I saw getting tailgated were too self involved to realise they were the cause of the other peoples animosity.

          Don't get me wrong.. Tailgating is just stupid. It puts you and the person you're tailgating at high risk of an accident, with no real benefit to either party. However, if you're driving in a manner that pisses people off to the extent that they're willing to put themselves in danger to send you a message, perhaps it's time for some self reflection as well. I'm yet to meet anyone that regularly gets tailgated that isn't at least as self entitled as the tailgater.

        • +2

          @Praeto:
          The majority of it was in Qld between country towns. Vehicles speed up behind you and because they have to wait a few minutes for a good opportunity to pass they tailgate hoping you'll speed until they can pass.

          They take issue with me slowing down for country towns, because they prefer to speed through them.

          On the freeways around Melbourne it's not as common, but happens if they don't want to wait a moment while I finish passing a vehicle. They tend to be driving considerably faster than the speed limit, which is the only reason they catch up to me so quickly when it's not taking me long to pass in the first place. Or if there are slower vehicles in front of me and I'm therefore doing under the speed limit they'll just tailgate me as though it will achieve something. I'm stuck behind the same person or people they are, although I allow a safe braking distance between me and the car in front, but they feel entitled to tailgate me anyway.

          I personally know a couple of tailgaters and to be honest, they're arrogant and bully people in other aspects of their lives. In fact, one made a comment (while tailgating a car in the same traffic he was in) that people should be shot for travelling at the speed limit in front of him when he wanted to go faster. Now, I'm not suggesting he really feels this way, but it's still a messed up thing to say, even in his time of anger, just because there was traffic moving at the speed limit. It was a suburban road, 2 lanes, left lane doing under 60, right lane doing 60. 60k zone. It was actually moving really well for the amount of traffic. I won't be in a car with them anymore and tend to avoid them altogether wherever possible. One of them is a family member though,so I feel obligated to see them occasionally.

          Not sure why I'm bothering actually, I should just admit it's my fault other people deliberately drive dangerously. I'm sure it's my fault they speed, cut people off, drive drunk, don't indicate, deliberately skid around corners (actually surprisingly funny when you're in the car as a kid and they crash into a tree doing it, with no damage to occupants or anyone else nearby just minor car damage, after you've had some time to catch your breath that is. Lucky there was no pedestrian I guess.) as well as all of the other crappy driving behaviour the tailgater in my life exhibits. The poor tailgaters have no choice but to tailgate people, it's not their fault, poor dears.

    • +3

      Doesn't give you the right to tailgate, no matter how annoying, You are putting both yourself and the other person/people at risk. And just being a bit of a w@nker.

  • +39

    Or maybe they want the person doing 20 under in the right hand lane to move the fudge over

    • +3

      How well does that work? You're annoyed at bad behaviour so you do something even more dangerous, that's unlikely to achieve a result.

      • +6

        " The closer you get, the slower I drive " stickers usually do the trick ; )

        • +6

          I saw someone do this to an undercover police car which then proceeded to pull them over and fine them.

        • +16

          @jaimex2:
          Nice, always good to hear civilians fining police for tailgating them….

        • +2

          @Kangal: yeah man, citizens arrested his dirty cop ass.

        • Best quote

          Super like 😀

        • +2

          @jaimex2: LOL. Dashcam would be nice to get the undercover cop fined for breaking the keep left unless overtaking law

        • +1

          Simple payback, by overtaking in the emergency lane, then slow down in front of them

        • +1

          Sticker might as well read 'overtake and cut me off very very sharply'.

        • +1

          …or the sticker may see mean you see a few more busted tail lights.

      • You can actually correct it by getting in front of them, via the emergency lane, then sit in front of them & slow down which allows others to overtake on the left.
        The community would like to thank me for my clever solution

  • +32

    I have a question for the people who tailgate, why do you do it?

    Because you are driving at 51 in an 80 zone.

    • +19

      Still does not give you the right to endanger the lives of those in the vehicle in front of you.
      Play stupid games, win stupid prizes

        • +45

          Umm, when one car stops suddenly and the car behind doesn't have sufficient space to stop, then the tailgater collides with the car in front.

          Causing injury to the occupants of both vehicles.

        • +4

          @pjetson:
          Sure, and the damage to the car(s) in front is totally not an issue.

        • Physics

        • +1

          @pjetson:
          The tailgater obviously doesn't expect this scenario, they don't have a plan for when things go wrong. They may be driving more to one side of the car. Or they swerve because they know they can't stop in time. Or the jolt from the car behind causes the driver in front to turn the steering wheel. They're going around a corner. One of those and you might end up with the front car heading into oncoming traffic, or something on the side of the road. Or heck, it might just push them into whatever they were braking to avoid in the first place.

      • +11

        Play stupid games

        Such as illegally sitting in the overtaking lane travelling way under the speed limit with traffic banked up behind you

        win stupid prizes

        Like enraging other road users and having incensed drivers behave erratically around you

        Couldn't agree more champ.

      • +3

        Never said it gives anyone the right to tailgate.

        Simply pointing out why it happens.

        • +1

          It happens all the time when people are driving at and even over the speed limit. Too many fast and furious fans, or people just in a rush, but wrong altogether.

          One reason is that got many a car is an aspirational purchase,e.g. They buy a v8Jeep, or a sports car, or an expensive luxury car, and they think they have some right to hoon. I can't quote it but there are studies done that the more someone spends on their car the more entitled they behave on the road (statistically)

      • +8

        It's a bit like this..

        If you are often finding people tailgating you then you need to take a hard look at how inconsiderate you're being. You are the cause of the problem. The tailgating is a symptom of your behaviour driving others to become infuriated at your lack of consideration to them. You've got the road in front of them and you're using (abusing) your position of power to not let them pass and being a self righteous arse in the process. You're surprised others are getting agitated? I wonder why?

        Car in right hand lane who like to accelerate from 0 - 60 over about 5km, then they keep in the right hand lane feeling all righteous because "they're doing 60", typically drifting from 55 - 60, up down over and over. They don't give a sh!t about how many other drivers they are making crawl from 0 - 60, then then sit side by side with another car in the left lane and proceed to do this for their entire journey. Not to mention that their inconsiderate lacklustre acceleration causes 20+ cars to sit through another set of lights all because they want to try and save 22c of fuel on their journey (get the hell over to the left if that's you - want to save money? catch a bus, don't force EVERYONE on the road to be like you!).

        Now cars behind feel a bit "hey, can you either accelerate at a more tolerable/considerate rate" or "hey, can you move to the left so we can pass your slow arse!"..

        To send this message there are a number of ways. I'll list some I'm aware of.

        • Subtle beep-beep with the horn: This never works, this will antagonise the slow driver even more and they'll go into full sanctimonious mode or full aggression mode and act like you've just threatened their entire family.

        • Get out of car (at lights) and politely ask them to move over or start moving a bit quicker: this never ends well, usually a street fight or similar.

        • Move close to their vehicle so they know you'd like to pass/go faster (aka tailgating): whilst the most dangerous of the lot, this is usually met with less hostility (not sure why) but sends the message the same.

        The ACTUAL problem: Too many self righteous sanctimonious fools who think it's perfectly acceptable to be an inconsiderate arse to drivers who want to drive faster then they (whether that's acceleration or top speed).

        It's nearly always the case that the slow arse inconsiderate arse driver could simply move out of the way (or even better, don't get in that right hand lane if you're always holding up other drivers, pretty simple really). But that just doesn't happen in Australia, we're too good for that apparently.

        If these self righteous sanctimonious fools acted the same way (being so \^!#&!& inconsiderate) in other public situations that do not include cars, they'd last 5mins before someone used an act of aggression towards them. People rarely act this way in public unless they're driving a car.

        Our roads are full of self righteous sanctimonious fools who think they can be as inconsiderate as they like towards other drivers and expect them to just suck it up.

        So like I mentioned before - if you are often finding people tailgating you then you need to take a hard look at how inconsiderate you're being. You are the cause of the problem, their tailgating is a symptom of your behaviour.

        If someone wants to pass you, just-let-them™ - anything else and you're being the arse.

      • @Cheap Charlie
        Errr, said driver is endangering the lives of everyone on the road by antagonising/aggravating other drivers and causing risky driving behaviour.

        There's the concept of treating the symptom rather than the cause.

        Inconsiderate drivers are the cause of the problem tailgating and other dangerous manoeuvres are the symptoms.

        I'm a firm believer in addressing causes not symptoms.

      • -1

        The only person who I know who has crashed from tail gating is a kind, mild mannered, senior church choir member.

        She did 2k damage to her car and about $500 to the car in front.

        No one died. No one was even injured.

        I see similar fender benders weekly on my way to work.

        Both people are driving the same direction. The difference in speed is minimal.

        For speed to kill you need a large difference in speed that isn't there in tail gating.

    • +3

      Just a flip-side to this.

      My usual main-road is 80 and now due to roadworks (what's new!!) a new limit is now 60. There are signs with the new limit erected ("Road works 60") and I still get tailgating! Either they don't look at signs/not aware of new limit (although displayed twice 500m away from each other) or they are blatant pri*ks that want to give you an indirect nudge to speed!

      I abide to my speed limit and when they eventually pass, I give them the same treatment when it gets back up to 80! I know it's not right but it's just frustrating!

      • +4

        My thoughts are road rage in becoming worse.
        People are in such a hurry that logic goes out the window.
        Another factor is pride. Pride makes people do dumb stuff on the roads.

        My thinking on the issue changed when I visited countries where road rage incidents are very low.

        I abide to my speed limit and when they eventually pass, I give them the same treatment when it gets back up to 80! I know it's not right but it's just frustrating!

        I completely understand, in doing so you are following the crowd and contributing to the problem.

        • Agree. Sometimes I visualise the ramifications of the outcome if things go sour hence I back off! It works most of the time!

        • -4

          tap the brakes! works every time.

          keep your iPhone ready, in case they are stupid enough to get out of their car - so funny when this happens!

        • @warwickjames:

          Using a phone while in a car (yes, even while stopped) is illegal.

        • +1

          In regards to road rage it just astounds me how short sighted some people are.

          Why get angry at traffic when you are traffic.

        • +4

          @BadHorse:
          The interesting thing is no one is born with road rage.
          There is also a phenomenon where some people that witness some one else allegedly breaking the law which then automatically grants them the right to take the law into their own hands.

          How do you fix the issue?
          Regulation and new laws is not the answer, there needs to be a culture change.

        • @warwickjames:

          Funny! Got negged! Must've been by the tailgaters that I've braked. I hope you wore out some rubber and had to replace your tyres. HAHAHAHA!

        • @seanmurphy1994:

          I think I'd rather have footage of the idiot in the midst of his/her road rage, ready for sending on to Police, than not record it.

          It usually intimidates them back into their own little safe spaces inside their cars. These drivers are idiots and need to grow up.

    • +4

      The most common thing I've experienced when I've been tailgated doing the limit (or up to 3-5 below, checked with a GPS) is the fool behind me undertakes and does 10-20 over the limit.

      The speed limit is a LIMIT. No one should ever be going faster than it. A couple of km/hr under is acceptable.

        • +26

          First of all learn to read - I said 10-20 over the limit, not 5.

          Secondly, I'm telling you it's against the law. If you are allowed to go 5km/hr over, what happens when someone else wants to go 20km/hr over or 50km/hr over. Who exactly draws the line above the signposted limit that is dangerous?

          The number of bafoons downvoting who think they're above the law is revolting. THAT attitude DOES cost (not just endanger) lives.

          If you don't want to obey the speed limit, hand your damn license in.

        • +17

          @btst7000:

          Thinking you're above the law is what's foolish. You're not in Germany, and I hope you get caught before you kill someone.

          Your license to drive is issued subject to you driving within the law, including the speed limit. We don't need to wait for you to kill someone and "take responsibility" and just because you haven't killed anyone "yet", that doesn't mean driving 20km/hr above the limit is a good idea. It takes one accident to change multiple lives.

          I absolutely do enjoy ensuring I don't drive like a maniac and don't consider staying under the limit a burden at all. Boasting that you go 10-20 above the limit and haven't been caught yet and that you'll continue to do so is a complete disgrace.

        • +10

          @btst7000:

          Lol? The speed limit isn't just for populated areas mate. People die on country roads all the time.

          You boast (yes boast!) about disregarding the law, and you think you're being safe disobeying speed limits. You're not a good driver. You're not safe. You're a menace. That you believe you're not is an example of Dunning-Kruger at its finest.

        • +5

          @btst7000:

          Of course it's not the sole cause of accidents. I completely understand that. You don't understand that it's a game of probabilities and that your chances of having an accident 20km/hr above the speed limit are much greater AND that the energy your car carries quadruples when you just double your speed.

          I know everything I need to know about you to know that you're a terrible driver. I am not the one that needs to grow up. You need to stop being a selfish jerk that endangers yourself and others just so you can get where you're going 5 minutes sooner.

          Your "bargain" is much more likely to cost lives. I just sincerely hope you get caught a few times - perhaps even lose your license - before you bloody well kill someone. How much time is it going to save you ending up in a hospital. But if it was only you I'd say go for it. You're likely to get others killed.

        • -6

          @syousef:

          that your chances of having an accident 20km/hr above the speed limit are much greater

          That's actually a correlation, not a causation. Once again, speed is never the sole cause of an accident - it's just often, the same people who speed make other mistakes which can lead to a crash.

          You need to stop being a selfish jerk that endangers yourself and others

          I've never "endangered" anyone. The risk increase to another driver caused by me exceeding the speed limit (under the right conditions) is purely marginal.

          I just sincerely hope you get caught a few times - perhaps even lose your license - before you bloody well kill someone

          I've been pulled over before but it's surprising what a little respect and honesty can do for you. Never been pinged, probably never will be.

          For what it's worth, I've done 210km/h on public roads before - guess what - no one died!

        • +4

          @btst7000:

          Correlation is not causation? Really? You're going to make a fool out of yourself abusing that now are you? The studies say otherwise. Do I need to pull them out?

          The same people who speed make other mistakes huh? And you speed right?

          "I've never "endangered" anyone." Wow. Just wow. EVERY TIME YOU SPEED YOU ENDANGER PEOPLE. You're delusional.

          I wish someone would take a look at your BOAST "For what it's worth, I've done 210km/h on public roads before - guess what - no one died!" and take your license from you (assuming it wasn't on the handful of roads which have or have had no speed limit).

          So you really understand causation well there. I haven't killed anyone doing 210km/hr before….therefore no one will be killed if I continue speeding. Ask for a refund on your educaiton.

        • -1

          @syousef:

          The studies say otherwise. Do I need to pull them out?

          No they don't. Find me reviews that say otherwise and I'll change my driving habits. I give you my word.

          EVERY TIME YOU SPEED YOU ENDANGER PEOPLE

          By that logic, you could say that every time you drive you endanger people! What I mean to say is that I've never put anyone at any greater risk by speeding than if I had been obeying the speed limit

          I wish someone would take a look at your BOAST "For what it's worth, I've done 210km/h on public roads before - guess what - no one died!" and take your license from you (assuming it wasn't on the handful of roads which have or have had no speed limit).

          The road had an 80km/h speed limit, but I had friends at either end to warn me if anyone came onto the road. It was well lit, the surface of the road was crisp and no kangaroos were out. There were no side roads. I think I didn't risk anyone's life going that fast at the point.

          Ask for a refund on your educaiton.

          "educaiton". Oh, the irony. Wow, you seem angry. I don't know why though, it's not like my driving has ever affected you.

        • -1

          @btst7000:

          Yeah I'm angry. You're putting lives at risk!

          http://www.smartmotorist.com/traffic-and-safety-guideline/ex…
          "Speed was a factor in 30 percent (12,477) of all traffic fatalities in 1998, second only to alcohol (39 percent) as a cause of fatal crashes."
          http://www.tac.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0015/40560/…

          Crash data from 1998/1999.
          https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/Publication/8091…

          I'm not going to convince you. I'm sure you're going to find an excuse why each study doesn't apply to you and you know better. You don't belong on the road.

          http://www.tac.vic.gov.au/road-safety/tac-campaigns/speed#th…

        • -1

          @syousef: I continue to disagree with you, but thanks for at least providing sources.

        • +6

          @btst7000: People like you are the most dangerous. They think they can drive well, but cannot react to an animal running out, a kid stepping off the road or a sudden mechanical failure. The news is full of great drivers killing and maiming themselves and others. Grow up.

        • @4sure: false association - conflation

        • +2

          @btst7000: what a hero! I don't like to say this but I hope it takes someone like you to kill one of your family members to make you understand. But you rejoice at the hundreds of hours you've saved. I'm sure they will come in handy when you mourn a loved one who has been killed by a hoon.

        • [@syousef]&[@btst7000]

          Guys the discussion is perhaps getting off the subject of this post.
          Perhaps consider taking the conversion to a private message should you wish to continue it.

        • +1

          @btst7000: going "just 5% over the speed limit" is saving you ,best case scenario, 2.25 minutes a day. Let's say you drive every single day of your life for 50 consecutive years, that's 2.25x365x50=685 hours, not 10,000 :)

        • btst7000 you are just selfish. Good luck to you.

        • +2

          @btst7000:

          By driving, we are all taking extra risk to travel faster. Everyone perceives risk slightly differently, and so if everyone could choose to travel at a speed that optimised their risk/reward ratio, then we would live in a perfect world. Unfortunately, we don't live in a perfect world because we all have to do this annoying thing called "sharing the road" which means we are forced to interact and impose our own risk tolerance upon other road users. So how do we control the interaction between different road users who all have different risk tolerances.

          I've got an idea! Let's set a blanket threshold risk level so that it is very unlikely for injury or fatality. But this only works if everyone follows the threshold limit.
          The best quantitative metric we have is speed so lets use that. What do you think btst7000?

        • +2

          @btst7000:

          "The driver does - if I'm speeding recklessly and I injure / kill someone, the blame is mine"

          Doesn't change the fact that you just killed someone.

        • -7

          @Zondor:
          Oh my god! I don't speed everywhere, especially not around dawn or dusk (when animals could be out) or in populated areas! I've not killed anyone you fool!

          I don't know why all of you are getting so salty. I'm not endangering anyone at all!

        • +2

          @btst7000:
          You don't seem to understand that by driving, we are all taking a risk to get to where we want to go faster.
          If you drive over the speed limit, you take additional risk and place that additional risk to road users that must interact with you.
          This is the reason a lot of people here are neg voting you, because you continue to be close minded and don't seem to understand that a drivers actions and choices not only have a consequence for the driver, by other road users too.

          You have argued that in certain situations you perceive the risk of speeding is tolerable for yourself. But as humans our perceptions of probability and risk is actually very bad. An example of this is the Monty Hall problem. Don't feel stupid if you don't understand it. It's meant to be counter-intuitive.

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