From the Economist... beware!

Yeah, well, you know as well as I do, (You being an ER doc, and seeing the end results of 3000+ pound speeding metal machines in crowded areas vs. humans.... Or vs. a minivan full of little kids....) that the Public Streets are no place to be speeding anyway, especially in a crowded city area. So, I am all for it! Personally, I am tired of seeing self serving, inconsiderate morons whipping in and out of traffic doing 20 Plus MPH over the speed limit, tailgating, whatever. Because they think that they are too important to obey the traffic laws, or that the traffic laws are for everyone else except for them, or whatever the reason may be.

And, especially nowadays where they keep widening roads to accomodate more and more traffic, with zero thought whatsoever about pedestrian traffic anymore.

Hey, just me old .02c

 

Question: Are the State police responsible for covering the Eisenhower? Because every time I drive on it, I can't believe it isn't swarming with cops. They could quota out in one weekend, plus I'll bet a large number would have other "issues" that would interest the cops.

 

I never see them on the Kennedy, but I do on 290 near Schaumburg. They have to be responsible in covering it, they just don't.

 

Gilles27,

Yes, the State Police do patrol it. The Chicago Police where kicked off it years ago because it was used as a means of income to put kids through college or purchase the Florida real estate. The going rate was about $10 per stop put if you were strapped for cash they'ed work with what ever you had. Nowadays, that is not an accepted practice and the highway was opened back up to Chicago, but they have seamingly decided to limit enforcement there. It is not the only city that has reserved their traffic enforcement for the "City" streets. Most deadly/dangerous accidents occur of the highway and thus enforcement is most effective off the highway. Moving traffic citations are not issued to make the city money as most of the money goes to the county for court services. The citations are issued to make streets safer. Anyway...I getting corny so if you have any questions about it let me know!

 

I'm with you on this subject, Jay. In my opinion, the Public Roads are no place for Speeding or Racing. Do it at the Drag Strip, or take your chances and do it way out in the boonies on the Country Roads.

But, I NEVER see anyone patrolling any of the Expressways, (and I am pretty good about recognizing undercover cars.)

I'll never forget one Saturday morning many years ago. It was about 09:30AM. I was inbound on the Ike going to meet some buds' in Oak Park to go out for Breakfast. Traffic was moderate, going the speed limit, but on the heavy side for a Saturday Morning. All of a sudden, I catch 2 cars speeding up from behind, (not directly behind me, but in the back of traffic) They were both AMG Mercedes. One White, one Black. Those ugly, square, 4 door, late '80's Euro Boxes, with those tacky spoilers on the front and rear that look like they don't belong there.

Anyway, the traffic was doing about 60, but these morons were flying in and out of traffic, missing other cars by inches. Passing on both the inside and outside shoulders. And they were doing it so fast, that it made the rest of the traffic look like it was standing still. Total Reckless abandon, with absolutely ZERO regard to the safety of the other drivers.

I had two thoughts. One was: "Now where's a cop when you need one". And, "You don't know how much I'd like to see those jerks plastered up against a viaduct when I get up there". (Unfortunately, neither came to pass....) ...Needless, Human scrap.

 

Wow, I thought I was the only one that thought like that! Good to know I'm normal, or at the very least like minded with someone else...

 

Well, after being hit and nearly killed 3 different times by careless drivers. I believe that one can sense my cynicism and distaste towards careless and reckless (wreckful????) Drivers.

Yeah, it's probably a good thing I am not a Cop. (Although I do have many friends who are, in Federal, State, County and Local positions.) And, I did go to take the Chicago Policemans exam back in 1981....Until I found out how much they get paid to have to deal with the possibility of getting shot every day...Then, my buddy and I decided it just wasn't worth it. And, these Big Shot CEO's sit around and make Millions of dollars a year doing nothing! This country sure is backwards!

But I do wish that this State would do more to enforce the existing driving laws as it is, and quit letting people off with a simple slap on the wrist, and little fines. If you made the fines very expensive, and the consequences stiffer, you would, no doubt, see a noticable difference in the way that people drive immediately.

Any Cop, Judge or Lawyer will tell you....Driving is a Privelege, not a Right. But, who really thinks of it like that anymore?

 

Don't most teenagers (males at least) at some point drive like that? I know when I was 18ish, I would. Well I wouldn't pass on the shoulders, but I would do around 100 down 90/94 and weave in and out. A few years later I no longer do that, but I still speed 15-20 over. With that being said, most people in the suburbs do, young and old.

When I was in high school though there were two common places to street race: either on a side street where both ends were blocked off so traffic wouldn't interfere or on the Elgin-O'Hare, but only if it was empty, and we'd survey it to make sure we wouldn't pass any on-ramps or anything. We took as much safety precautions as possible, but when you're at a car meet and two guys start talkin sh** about their cars and want to race, driving 2 hours to the strip just isn't going to happen.

 

I might go a little faster than 15-20 over, but I usually only do that late at night when nobody is on the road, and I slow down when I come up to other cars.