Are traffic laws a waste of time?

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gempip
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Are traffic laws a waste of time?

#1 Post by gempip » Tue Jan 16, 2007 9:49 pm

:smt009 I ask the above for the simple reason that I firmly believe that there is a great number of people who when car (vehicle) driving dont give a dam about them, this came to mind when for a week I had to use the bus and while waiting at the stop I was gobsmacked at the amount of car drivers who were using a mobile phone while driving along and not using the seat belt and so on, some drove straight through the red traffic light, others had pedestrians jumping for the lives on the zebra crossing, or could it be that they are with limited brain power and unable to grasp the reason why such laws are introduced. Admittedly some rules are a bit questionable but others are there for a good reason. :smt018
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Gio
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#2 Post by Gio » Tue Jan 16, 2007 9:52 pm

Are police a waste of space/time/money etc?
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Kwackerz
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#3 Post by Kwackerz » Tue Jan 16, 2007 9:53 pm

I think they just need to be enforced harder. Heavier fines for offences, harder punishments. Caught using a phone with no hands free? Banned from driving for a year. Simple as. No ifs or buts. banned. Same with red light jumping. Ban 'em.

Raise the speed limit to 85 on a motorway and lower it to 65 on dual carriageways. Heavy fines for speeders in town.
Sack the 40 and 50 limits.
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Gio
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#4 Post by Gio » Tue Jan 16, 2007 9:59 pm

Kwackerz wrote:I think they just need to be enforced harder. Heavier fines for offences, harder punishments. Caught using a phone with no hands free? Banned from driving for a year. Simple as. No ifs or buts. banned. Same with red light jumping. Ban 'em.

Raise the speed limit to 85 on a motorway and lower it to 65 on dual carriageways. Heavy fines for speeders in town.
Sack the 40 and 50 limits.
I doubt it will be enforced harder.

I was told by a copper at Xmas that there wouldn't be much plod presence around, he was right. at weekends when driviers are at their worst, you rarely see any plod about, its cos councils won't pay for it (so what do they waste our money on :smt013 )
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#5 Post by Kwackerz » Tue Jan 16, 2007 10:07 pm

I meant when they DO catch you, I appreciate the Government are currently screwing everything that moves.. :smt005 :smt005
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lazarus
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Re: Are traffic laws a waste of time?

#6 Post by lazarus » Wed Jan 17, 2007 2:04 pm

gempip wrote: Admittedly some rules are a bit questionable but others are there for a good reason. :smt018
Thats the answer to your question. The laws that stop us from doing what we want to do - speeding, parking, using mobiles, loud exhausts etc - are of course the questionable ones. And in any case they should always be applied to everyone else because we are more intelligent and able to take our own decisions.

Lets be fair about it - the only thing that stops us from breaking a law is the probability of being caught. Who would pay their tax if that sanction wasnt there?

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Tweaker
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Re: Are traffic laws a waste of time?

#7 Post by Tweaker » Wed Jan 17, 2007 4:30 pm

Lets be fair about it - the only thing that stops us from breaking a law is the probability of being caught.
True, but only part of the reason. The other part is that, by and large, the penalties are not much of a deterent. Kwak is right in that penalties should be much tougher for many laws. Take speeding as an eaxmple; I imagine every one of us has exceeded the posted limit at some time or another in the knowledge that, if we get caught - and providing it's not at silly speeds - we are likely to get 3 points and a few quid fine. Would we be quite so nonchalant if the penalty was an instant ban for, say, 10% over the limit??
I'm not advocating such draconian measures (particularly for us socialy aware bikers :smt045 ) but you can see where the argument goes.
If I ever get to rule the world, there will be 2 levels of offence:-
1. Socially unacceptable but not inherently dangerous
2. potentially or actually dangerous.

The first would carry a fine as 'reminder' not to do it again, the second would carry a mandatory ban in addition to a fine and/or prison.

Still, I'd also lop hands off for stealing too so maybe it's as well I'm not ruling the world :smt013
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