Is the Blue Ridge Parkway inherently dangerous?

All in all I would rather have the police than not have them. Others may not agree. That's OK. I live in a safe place, 25 miles from Mexico.

Since so many Americans seem not to know what a turn signal is, can't read the word STOP on a big red reflective sign, are completely unaware that the left lane is for the faster moving traffic, believe deep in their hearts that "it's OK to keep going through the intersection for a count of 3 after the light turns red", get most of their texting and email reading done while driving, I'm going to say that I think we should keep the traffic cops around.

In fact, I'll go further and say that our "freedom" to drive on public roads should be harder to obtain, and that some kind of schooling should be required, not suggested, and that the testing should be hard, and if you lose your license because of irresponsible behavior it should be even harder to get it the next time around.

If this opinion is unpopular with folks who think it's their "right" to put others at risk because that satisfies their inner needs, or feel that they are victims of "extortion" because the rules apply to them, well, I'm OK with that.

Stebe said:

Since so many Americans seem not to know what a turn signal is, can't read the word STOP on a big red reflective sign, are completely unaware that the left lane is for the faster moving traffic, believe deep in their hearts that "it's OK to keep going through the intersection for a count of 3 after the light turns red", get most of their texting and email reading done while driving, I'm going to say that I think we should keep the traffic cops around.

In fact, I'll go further and say that our "freedom" to drive on public roads should be harder to obtain, and that some kind of schooling should be required, not suggested, and that the testing should be hard, and if you lose your license because of irresponsible behavior it should be even harder to get it the next time around.

If this opinion is unpopular with folks who think it's their "right" to put others at risk because that satisfies their inner needs, or feel that they are victims of "extortion" because the rules apply to them, well, I'm OK with that.

Click to expand...

Well, if others are okay with it…gee, that really sets it all straight. On Opposite Day.

Some here obviously are “okay” with a lot. That’s “okay” with me.

Less “okay”, they want others, who aren’t “okay” with whatever, to think as they do…or at least be forced to obey. It’s a common thought pattern. Also, in my view, dumb as the day is long.

Notably, it angers this class of person to know that someone they don’t know and who has not harmed anyone or anything has somehow “gotten away” with something they don’t feel comfortable “getting away” with. Weird.

But fun!

To wit:

I speed constantly. I haven’t been ticketed in decades. And I probably won’t soon. If I do, it is highly likely to change NOTHING. Better, if I did it so much that I were uninsurable (or if my rates were made absurdly exorbitant), I have the money to place the bond (a mere $50K) and the required, documentable net worth of $500K (also quite modest) required by the State if one doesn’t have third-party insurance (although I’m certain the State has its own point threshold). Ticket me…I’ll add it to the irrelevant background noise of my life. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

I am not at all chastened. And none of the “okay” kids or their cop heroes can change that.

How does the Women’s Christian Temperance Union like them apples?

Probably not much. Again, weird how invested internet nannies can be.

Anyway, it would be interesting to know the quantity of revenue derived from citations issued when no property or person had been harmed versus those issued following actual harm to property and people.

Also be interesting to know how the increasingly expensive and lower-class-crushing violation fines, related FTA fines and associated accoutrement, license suspensions and revocations have made driving safer (if they have) versus, say, car tech. And, hey, what are the demographics of recipients of citations? I’d guess that it’s a cute little apparatus where those who can afford it least are penalized the most. Don’t really care because I have the bread, and I don’t pretend to care about those people. But the malevolent do-gooders reading on may pretend to…so, maybe worth knowing who’s paying.

For my part, no material harm, no foul.

Separately, traffic cops (and most cops, from your local GED-level paramilitary squads to the Ivy Leaguers composing the FBI) relatively rarely prevent crime. It’s very difficult to do that. Far more often, they analyze a crime that has happened and pursue some course of subsequent action (investigate and report). Notably, they take it much more seriously when the victim of the crime is the State versus another, real citizen. So, if cops make one feel safe, one might rethink that. Rest assured, they’ll likely offer you paperwork to support your insurance claim after the crime they didn’t stop—handy…I guess. See, if only you can prevent forest fires, then only you can prevent crime. I’m not convinced police are unnecessary, but I could get there. It’s not far from where I sit.

Whatever the case, I don’t believe cops make roads safe. And I don’t view most of the roads I’ve seen as being inherently dangerous. By contrast, people who adore tickets and extortion schemes may be inherently dangerous.

The road is not dangerous. Drivers and riders are, whether they are rich or poor.

PGlaves said:

The road is not dangerous. Drivers and riders are, whether they are rich or poor.

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Close. Nice work.

Drivers and riders may be. Some that are speeding may not be (even though they are breaking THE LAW!!!!!), some who are slowly meandering with vague lane position and irregular velocity changes may be (even though they’re perfectly lawful, compliant folks).

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We like to remind members to not feed the trolls-

Please-


Phrase. don't feed the troll. (Internet slang) Said to urge another not to respond to disruptive attention-seeking behavior, particularly in online contexts, by pointing out any such response is likely to be counterproductive.

Thanks.

The Mod Team.

Omega Man said:

We like to remind members to not feed the trolls-

Please-


Phrase. don't feed the troll. (Internet slang) Said to urge another not to respond to disruptive attention-seeking behavior, particularly in online contexts, by pointing out any such response is likely to be counterproductive.

Thanks.

The Mod Team.

Click to expand...

Omega Man said:

We like to remind members to not feed the trolls-

Please-


Phrase. don't feed the troll. (Internet slang) Said to urge another not to respond to disruptive attention-seeking behavior, particularly in online contexts, by pointing out any such response is likely to be counterproductive.

Thanks.

The Mod Team.

Click to expand...

This is trolling. Just so you know.

It's not topical (and road danger and law enforcement ARE).

For those of you that are tired of trolling or other postings from specific individuals here on the forum, there is a cure.
Access your settings from clicking on your username or from the upper left of the main page >
Check the selections on the left for the “ignore list”. >
Add a forum username to the box >
The forum will skip over posting from selected usernames.

Of course as complaints stack up, the Moderator Team is left with the unfortunate choice of firing up the Banned Wagon.

Enjoy the forum.

The Mod Team.

I would like to remind members that the "Ignore" feature is available and works admirably.

This thread started out as somewhat interesting.
Then it became somewhat amusing.
Then it became mildly abusive (to the faint-of-heart).
Now it's just boring - the initial question has been answered in full.
Leave the thread in place... but it's time to close it.

Pauls1150 said:

This thread started out as somewhat interesting.
Then it became somewhat amusing.
Then it became mildly abusive (to the faint-of-heart).
Now it's just boring - the initial question has been answered in full.
Leave the thread in place... but it's time to close it.

Click to expand...

Wait.........

Rather than requote the long post from @jr31, I'll summarize it by repeating the words of someone who is a more astute observer of society than me:

If the only penalty for breaking a law is a fine, that means it's legal for rich people. (Where "rich" means the fine is basically pocket change).

wbrownell9 said:

If the only penalty for breaking a law is a fine, that means it's legal for rich people. (Where "rich" means the fine is basically pocket change).

Click to expand...

Is there not a points system in place in most/all states? Accumulate enough and you lose your licence no matter how "rich" one is.

Oh, and the BRP is not unsafe.

BC1100S said:

Is there not a points system in place in most/all states? Accumulate enough and you lose your licence no matter how "rich" one is.

Oh, and the BRP is not unsafe.

Click to expand...

What’s enough points? I have those monies. Also the money to pay counsel to handle suspensions.

https://itd.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Idaho-Violation-Point-System.pdf

Oh, and it very well may be. So, no. Inherency is the question as I understand it.

But, please view things as a binary…and keep riding. Good combo.

Do whatever the signs say.

I recall reading in a newspaper an article about a guy who was sent to prison for a DUI. But it was his 18th DUI conviction and he had had his driving privileges revoked several years earlier. Finally a judge decided that fining him again was a useless exercise so he got to go to prison for a while.

PGlaves said:

I recall reading in a newspaper an article about a guy who was sent to prison for a DUI. But it was his 18th DUI conviction and he had had his driving privileges revoked several years earlier. Finally a judge decided that fining him again was a useless exercise so he got to go to prison for a while.

Click to expand...

That's a failure on the part of the 17 previous judges.

A fellow here got ten years for his tenth DUI conviction.

akbeemer said:

A fellow here got ten years for his tenth DUI conviction.

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I don’t think that’s nearly as effective as one year on his first conviction.

Best,
DeVern