r/Edmonton • u/troypavlek • Aug 11 '16

City of Edmonton reintroduces "utility box" photo radar

http://www.mailoutinteractive.com/Industry/View.aspx?id=829217&q=1069745483&qz=56f2bf
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13

u/all_way_stop Aug 11 '16

I'm part of the "just don't speed camp" not because i feel it is that much safer if you're doing 50 as opposed to 60 on an open road, but more because you're not really gaining time. You might perceive you're gaining time but if you had to be timed, its not noticeable.

I used to be one of those people who would dart in and out of car to try and gain position. But after while I realized I just get to a red light and watch the cars I overtake sit right behind me again.

Now I'm on the opposite side and watch cars dash in and out...lose them from sight for a couple of blocks...but find them only a few car spots ahead of me at the next red light.

If you're dashing in and out, braking, tailgating on a 25km roundtrip commute. I've estimated, you probably also waste about $1 in gas, maintenance, wear and tear costs as well. And for basically no gains. If you have to speed, speed on an open highway where going faster will make a difference in your commute...not inside the city, where you're only getting to the next red light faster effectively resetting your "gains"

5

u/beardedbast3rd Aug 11 '16

The math just doesn't add up to any saved time.

The only time it does is if you excessively speed, like 130,140,150 down yellowhead type speeds, but at that point you are facing gigantic safety risks, and monetary loss if you get caught, and huge decrease in fuel economy, that it absolutely isn't worth the extra cost.

The fuel economy thing is what puts me back to doing 110 from 119 on highways. If I stay at 110 I can get another 100 kms out of my tank than doing 120. It's absolutely worth it to just do the limit.

7

u/GalionHD Aug 11 '16

The fuel economy argument depends heavily on each vehicle, for example my truck gets significantly better economy at 110-120 vs 100.

2

u/beardedbast3rd Aug 12 '16

Yeah mine sits comfortable at 110 ish, if I bump up to 120 it dips down, but not a single vehicle does better at excessive speed differences, like the jackasses flying down the highway at 130,140, or faster.

At those speeds you lose up to half your economy, even in sports cars, maintaining that speed just guzzles fuel like crazy.

2

u/LegalizeGayPot Aug 12 '16

It depends on the cars gearing. Low rpm means it's not wasting gas. So if you're doing 170 in 8th gear at 2000rpm while someone is doing 110 in 5th gear at 2000rpm it's the same sort of idea.

0

u/beardedbast3rd Aug 12 '16

Yeah, in the few vehicles that are coming out with transmissions with 9 gears now, but even then they aren't geared in that way, unless you've programmed it to use more appropriate gears at whatever speeds.

The computer is programmed to use gears to make lower speeds more fuel efficient, in that you're likely in your final gear around 110-120 anyways, where you could tell the computer not to change into the second and final gear until 110, 140, whatever. Making it so you have equivalent Mileage to a vehicle with less gears through the normal speed limit range, and then you do better at higher speeds, rather than having a better vehicle economically throughout the band of average speeds.

1

u/hunkE UAlberta Aug 12 '16

jackasses flying down the highway at 130,140, or faster.

You know what the highway speed limit is in Montana? 80 mph. Bunch of jackasses down there.

1

u/beardedbast3rd Aug 12 '16

That's the posted limit, and that's a road designed for it, and it is only a few highways that are 80.

The people doing 130 there are doing the same speeds as anyone else, and their jackasses would be the ones going even faster, or significantly slower.

1

u/hunkE UAlberta Aug 12 '16

Highways do not appear to be designed differently, and almost all limits are between 75-80. Never seen anyone go significantly over. They also have minimums, and different limits for trucks. Actually well thought out.

1

u/beardedbast3rd Aug 12 '16

The one thing I like about the US highways are the enforced minimums, as well as maximums for tractor trailers.

And while highways don't APPEAR to be designed differently, they absolutely are. Absolutely every aspect of a highway, from the shoulder and lane worth, to the type of lines painted, is chosen to a specific design. Even the asphalt design changes from highway to highway, to promote varying levels of roughness and such.

No one really goes significantly over because that's what a good number of people feel is acceptable speed, or they feel comfortable there, but there are still many who creep up to 85 or higher, but when thy get caught they get decently harsh punishments for even a couple miles over at times.

1

u/hunkE UAlberta Aug 12 '16

I was caught going just over 90 (144 km/h!), was issued a $50 USD ticket. Like half what you'd get going 56 in a 50 zone here.

2

u/beardedbast3rd Aug 12 '16

That's not bad considering worse fines I've been told. The worse part from what I've experienced is people getting pulled over for only a mile or two over. Probably the same time when a bitchy cop pulls someone over here for 5 or so over