GA is priceless

But you are right, given the risk aversion that has swept and IMHO weakened
this country I really surprised that driving hasn't become as regulated as
flying.

It's less regulated in the sense that just about anybody can get a
license and drive. It's more regulated (there's a better phrase but I
can't think of it) in the sense that minima are much higher. In
aviation, it is legal to do things that require skill, and prudent not
to if you don't have the skill. In driving, if it requires skill, it is
illegal. For example, it's illegal to go seventy miles an hour, but it
is perfectly legal to fly 210 feet above the ground while in clouds.

Jose
--
He who laughs, lasts.
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

"Jose" wrote in message
. net...
But you are right, given the risk aversion that has swept and IMHO
weakened this country I really surprised that driving hasn't become as
regulated as flying.

It's less regulated in the sense that just about anybody can get a license
and drive. It's more regulated (there's a better phrase but I can't think
of it) in the sense that minima are much higher. In aviation, it is legal
to do things that require skill, and prudent not to if you don't have the
skill. In driving, if it requires skill, it is illegal. For example,
it's illegal to go seventy miles an hour, but it is perfectly legal to fly
210 feet above the ground while in clouds.


I know exactly what you mean and if they REALLY wanted to cut down on
traffic accidents they would require 40 hours of training supervised by a
professional instructor not by dad in the family truckster. The problem is a
lot of people would then not drive and cars would then be built in the
quantities that GA planes are and a Ford Fiesta would cost $500,000.

Gig 601XL Builder writes:

The problem is a
lot of people would then not drive and cars would then be built in the
quantities that GA planes are and a Ford Fiesta would cost $500,000.

A large part of society would also grind to a halt, because in many
parts of the United States, you need a car to be a part of society (in
particular, you need a car and license in order to have a job).

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

Jose wrote in
. net:

But you are right, given the risk aversion that has swept and IMHO
weakened this country I really surprised that driving hasn't become
as regulated as flying.

It's less regulated in the sense that just about anybody can get a
license and drive. It's more regulated (there's a better phrase but I
can't think of it) in the sense that minima are much higher. In
aviation, it is legal to do things that require skill, and prudent not
to if you don't have the skill. In driving, if it requires skill, it
is illegal. For example, it's illegal to go seventy miles an hour,
but it is perfectly legal to fly 210 feet above the ground while in
clouds.

Jose

Why is it illegal to drive at the posted speed limit of 70 MPH?

--
Marty Shapiro
Silicon Rallye Inc.

(remove SPAMNOT to email me)

Why is it illegal to drive at the posted speed limit of 70 MPH?

It isn't. But it is illegal to drive at 70 when the posted speed limit
is 55 (which it is for many places where 70 is perfectly safe). It's
also illegal to fly 210 feet above the ground while in clouds unless
you're on an instrument approach with an MDA of 210 or less. But that's
not my point.

Jose
--
He who laughs, lasts.
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

Jose writes:

But it is illegal to drive at 70 when the posted speed limit
is 55 (which it is for many places where 70 is perfectly safe).

Many States have "reasonable and prudent" laws for speed control, so
driving over the posted limit isn't necessarily illegal, as long as
your speed is still reasonable and prudent. However, speeding tickets
are a source of revenue, and this is often allowed to override
considerations of fairness and justice.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

Mxsmanic wrote:

Jose writes:

But it is illegal to drive at 70 when the posted speed limit
is 55 (which it is for many places where 70 is perfectly safe).

Many States have "reasonable and prudent" laws for speed control, so
driving over the posted limit isn't necessarily illegal, as long as
your speed is still reasonable and prudent. However, speeding tickets
are a source of revenue, and this is often allowed to override
considerations of fairness and justice.

Name one.

Ron Lee

Ron Lee writes:

Name one.

California, which is the model for a number of other States. Others
include Arizona, Texas, Utah, and Rhode Island.

In these States, exceeding a posted speed limit may be taken as prima
facie evidence of speeding, but it is not actually illegal. A person
cited for speeding under this type of statute may successfully defend
against the citation by demonstrating that his speed was in fact
reasonable and prudent for conditions despite being above the posted
speed limit.

There are also absolute limits, which may be universal in some States,
but may apply only to certain situations in others. For example, in
Arizona, speed limits in school zones and on highways are absolute,
but most others are subject to the "reasonable and prudent" law.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

"Mxsmanic" wrote in message
...
Ron Lee writes:

Name one.

California, which is the model for a number of other States. Others
include Arizona, Texas, Utah, and Rhode Island.


Site the statute please.

In these States, exceeding a posted speed limit may be taken as prima
facie evidence of speeding, but it is not actually illegal. A person
cited for speeding under this type of statute may successfully defend
against the citation by demonstrating that his speed was in fact
reasonable and prudent for conditions despite being above the posted
speed limit.

This is crap. Not true. If you get a tciket for going over the posted
limit and try to get out of it using the defense described above, the judge
will probably give you a greater fine than if you had just paid the ticket.

Montana was the last state that had reasonable and prudent, during daylight
hours and good weather, speed limits. They were lost when some a**hole
decided to fight his $5 ticket.


There are also absolute limits, which may be universal in some States,
but may apply only to certain situations in others. For example, in
Arizona, speed limits in school zones and on highways are absolute,
but most others are subject to the "reasonable and prudent" law.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

Mxsmanic wrote:
Jose writes:


But it is illegal to drive at 70 when the posted speed limit
is 55 (which it is for many places where 70 is perfectly safe).


Many States have "reasonable and prudent" laws for speed control, so
driving over the posted limit isn't necessarily illegal,

No states do.