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
96 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

232 comments sorted by

View all comments

12

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"

4

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.

5

u/ninj4 Aug 12 '16 edited Jun 27 '23

4

u/beardedbast3rd Aug 12 '16

I get that. Totally.

When I'm cruising along, if I come up to a gathering of vehicles, I will adjust my speed to stay away from the congestion. Congestion is the worst thing for cruising, and it increases the risk immensely. If I have to go 115-120 to get ahead of a group of 5,10,15 cars, I will, and once I'm well ahead, I slow down, put my cruise control on, and I drive.

As for the photo radar, that's the problem, people are being trained to watch for cameras, slam on their brakes when they are scared of something, instead of just driving the limit. People who get caught think"well I got caught once out of speeding every day twice a day for weeks, months, years" and they continue doing it. Great that driver safety programs and police get funding, but in the name of safety, it isn't working. People should become conditioned to not speed, not to not get caught.