American Highways have become the Autobahn amid the COVID-19 Crisis

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Originally Posted by c1pher

Don’t forget revenue is drying up in this situation. With fewer drivers you are easy to pick out and help line locality or state government pockets.

True. If anything, here in Quebec there are way more cops around.

[SteveinArizona]

Originally Posted by Mason Hatcher

Many years ago I was special assistant to the Chief of Police in a good sized city and later was a prosecutor in NYC. So I have a law enforcement background.

We tried very hard to make the police a group to help citizens, not to harass them. That seems to have changed (although we were outriders in our approach).

Yesterday I went out for a walk. Pretty deserted. Got to an intersection and the light said wait but I looked left and right and there was no car within a half a mile or more. So I walked across. A cop blasted his siren and asked me if I can read.

It doesn't surprise me that persons in minority communities feel that the police are there to harass them, not to protect them. It even seems that way in upper end communities.

[Run Silent]

Funny - over the last week or two, I've noticed a complete dearth of speed traps between my house and office - it's a long drive of around 50 miles each way.

Suddenly, today - saw three separate traps on my way to my work, 1 city cop and 2 state cops.

What the heck?? Seriously, surely there must be something better then can do than pull over people when the road is empty.

[fastboatster]

Originally Posted by Mason Hatcher

You know that for the overwhelming majority of jurisdictions, it costs more to enforce traffic than they can collect in fines, right?

I have conducted the research.

Even if that’s the case, better safe than sorry. I’m figuring that in this unfortunate crisis situation the less opportunities to have a contact with law enforcement and the government the better.

[cmyx6go]

Originally Posted by Run Silent

Funny - over the last week or two, I've noticed a complete dearth of speed traps between my house and office - it's a long drive of around 50 miles each way.

Suddenly, today - saw three separate traps on my way to my work, 1 city cop and 2 state cops.

What the heck?? Seriously, surely there must be something better then can do than pull over people when the road is empty.

I hadn't seen any until yesterday. People have been out of control though. I'm normally not the one being passed.

[Franco3000]

if a cop stops you for speeding, just make sure you cough a lot before you roll down the window ...jk

[Run Silent]

Originally Posted by cmyx6go

I hadn't seen any until yesterday. People have been out of control though. I'm normally not the one being passed.

Yup - drove one of the cars to Knoxville for a service last Saturday and didn't see a single cop car on I-81. I had the cruise set at 85mph and was getting blown by.

Today - they are everywhere. So who knows.

[5.M0NSTER]

Here in Germany the Autobahn is still speed limit free. As it should be. Also a lot less traffic!

[SteveinArizona]

Originally Posted by Franco3000

if a cop stops you for speeding, just make sure you cough a lot before you roll down the window ...jk

[osteome]

I have my second say off tomorrow in 21 days in Germany. I may actually miss my relatively empty Autobahn blasts to and from work

[RM7]

Originally Posted by Franco3000

if a cop stops you for speeding, just make sure you cough a lot before you roll down the window ...jk

Good idea so you can go to extra-jail!

https://www.ktuu.com/content/news/AS...569147221.html

[Humdizzle]

i've been rotating cars to take to work civic / f80 / gf's TLX now too since she is working from home. I still have my 80 miles round trip commute. Less traffic = less chance for rock chips and more space to do pulls. amazing how stable the f80 feels at speed. can't wait to eventually get a tune.

[M5Rick]

Over here in my region no cops and speed cameras are known.The law are chasing dog walkers in remote countryside using drones

[wdb]

Originally Posted by cmyx6go

I'll take the speeders over the absolute stupidity. It blows my mind the number of times this week I have seen people blowing dead red lights.

Here too. I mentioned it on another forum also. I'm seeing a much higher disregard for normal traffic laws than I usually do. Yesterday I watched a pickup hang a left hand turn about 10 seconds after the light had turned red -- I know this because I was entering the intersection on the green light. I had to brake (lightly) to allow the idiot to complete the move. I'm certain they never even looked to see if there were any other vehicles at the intersection.

Originally Posted by Run Silent

Funny - over the last week or two, I've noticed a complete dearth of speed traps between my house and office - it's a long drive of around 50 miles each way.

Suddenly, today - saw three separate traps on my way to my work, 1 city cop and 2 state cops.

What the heck?? Seriously, surely there must be something better then can do than pull over people when the road is empty.

It could be due to increased flouting of traffic laws. We surely are not the only folks thinking, "woo hoo, empty roads!"

I used to commute 80+ miles each way to work. Inbound during early afternoon, outbound after midnight. I could blast it pretty hard on the way in, because I was between rush hours and the traffic was light enough. After midnight the roads were very sparsely traveled, but the number of police on them was so high that I dared not do anything rash. Empty roads = more chance of getting pulled over.

I'm of two minds on it. On the one hand it does seem silly to pull folks over on an empty road. On the other hand I think the authorities would be wise to maintain order during these strange times. The alternative isn't pretty.

[aerostar]

Originally Posted by Humdizzle

i've been rotating cars to take to work civic / f80 / gf's TLX now too since she is working from home. I still have my 80 miles round trip commute. Less traffic = less chance for rock chips and more space to do pulls. amazing how stable the f80 feels at speed. can't wait to eventually get a tune.

"Empty" or not 120mph on a public road is just being an asshole.

[Salty Dog]

Originally Posted by aerostar

"Empty" or not 120mph on a public road is just being an asshole.

and taking a pic of your speedo rather than watching the road is stupid.

[Salty Dog]

Street racing is running rampant on Toronto's COVID-19-emptied highways
Police stopped 18 street racers over the weekend and took their cars and licences
by ALEX REID | 22 HOURS AGO

With COVID-19 keeping everybody inside, some people were bound to go so stir-crazy they would do something stupid. And now, they have — street racing on Toronto’s empty highways, apparently.

Some 18, uh, “enthusiasts” lost their driving privileges and had their vehicles impounded for seven days over the weekend when they were caught street racing on the provincial capital’s desolate streets, according to Narcity.

Another group of opportunist individuals were caught traveling at speeds up to 171 kilometres per hour.


TPS Traffic Services
✔
@TrafficServices
We’re busy with #TrafficEnforcement around the clock and across #Toronto. @TorontoPolice wants you to know that it’s dangerous, illegal and we won’t accept that behavior on our roads. This weekend 18 drivers lost their driving privileges & their vehicles for 7 days. #visionzero
We’ve charged 18 drivers with stunt related offences this weekend alone. That’s 18 Suspended drivers and 18 impounded motor vehicles”

People manage to have huge NASCAR-style wrecks on the Don Valley Parkway while moving at a snail’s pace, so it’s incredible the drivers were able to keep their cars on the road and in one piece at a clip like that, even with traffic was absent.

While it’s easy to look at this situation and think the impetus for racing is the streets being empty, it’s important to look at the bigger picture here. There has always been racing on the streets of Toronto, but the police have always had more important problems to deal with. Now, with fewer people around to commit crimes, the street-racing crowd that continues to race up and down the DVP is a lot easier to catch.

The lesson remains the same, though: don’t street race, or you’ll get your vehicle taken away, or lose your licence, or both.

[5.M0NSTER]

Originally Posted by aerostar

"Empty" or not 120mph on a public road is just being an asshole.

Originally Posted by Salty Dog

and taking a pic of your speedo rather than watching the road is stupid.

I frequently hit the speed limit of my car (168mph, 270kph) on public roads here in Germany. But laws are smarter here, and they allow it. Being fast on a public road doesn't make anyone an asshole if the conditions allow. It simply makes them fast. And just because there is a law, doesn't mean it's logical or even right. Look at Germany. They restrict where needed, and let people go fast when possible. 75mph or 120kph speed limits most other places are simply a cash cow for the state and fed gov, and make criminals of people who's cars were designed to go literally twice as fast, and who know how to drive at those speeds.

Also, give him some credit, he was doing 142 in the M car

[GenXer]

I see no appreciable difference in traffic on my commute to work.

[VisualEcho]

Originally Posted by aerostar

"Empty" or not 120mph on a public road is just being an asshole.

That's not true at all. It all depends on the conditions, and if you'll get off your high-horse for a second you'll see that's true. If the sun is on your back, there is no traffic, the road is clean/clear of debris, you're paying attention, the tires are vehicle are up to spec, etc., I don't see any reason why 150+ isn't reasonable.

[Germanauto]

Originally Posted by VisualEcho

That's not true at all. It all depends on the conditions, and if you'll get off your high-horse for a second you'll see that's true. If the sun is on your back, there is no traffic, the road is clean/clear of debris, you're paying attention, the tires are vehicle are up to spec, etc., I don't see any reason why 150+ isn't reasonable.

I still think it's too much to go 120 for a sustained period of time, and 150 is absolute bonkers. This is still America at the end of the day, driver education and road quality is not the same as the Autobahn in Germany.

[shawntech]

Maybe I'll finally hit that magical 200mph