Faster, faster, gotta go faster...

[dogtag]

Whatever the speed limit is, everyone (except me) seems to
have a pressing need to exceed it. Maybe they're all rushing
their wife to the Hospital - who knows ? All I know is that
while I'm cruising through town limits at about 40 mph (limit 35)
I spy in my mirror a growing number of cars behind me all no
doubt cursing me because wherever they're going there must be
free martinis and they're missing out.

This article asks why no speed control was installed on the track ?
Now, I thought the driver was supposed to take care of that.
But this guy doing 80 in a 30 zone is probably just like the
speed merchants I see on the road trying to get there before
all the parking spaces have been taken. (or martinis)

http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-washington-amtrak-derailment-20171219-story.html

[dryheat]

Maybe the engineers should all take a hit of medical majijuana and mellow out a little.

[JB White]

Just as I exceed the posted limits on my familiar routes (sometimes slower in some sections) perhaps the engineer was timing the green lights so he didn't have to stop. Catch one red light and you'll catch a dozen more.

[S.A. Boggs]

My Jeep can't get out of it's own way going downhill!
Sam

[Allen]

Where there's Amtrak there's death. Amtrak has no accountability on their actions so they continue to have derailments from excessive speed. They use the same tracks that others use that have no incidents ever. In most cases these old tracks were never intended for such speeds. Amtrak no longer passes through my state but back when it did I had a close encounter with them once while trying to cross over the rails. On this particular incident they were traveling so fast that the cross-arms did not have time to activate till the train had several cars passing the highway. They also didn't sound their horn and this was a residential/commercial area.

I live relatively close to where the Amtrak Sunset Unlimited wrecked taking out the entire bridge. A barge had hit the structure in the fog and dislocated the rails. Any other train would have been able to stop in time. This is a busy line servicing 2 huge paper mills then and several chemical plants North of Mobile but along comes Amtrak at 70+mph (and probably much faster) and takes out everything while murdering 47 passengers. Amtrak claims to not be at fault in this wreck due to all the other factors but still, a slower speed like everyone else, would have certainly produced less destruction. This happened back in 1993 so "no lessens learned". If nothing changes nothing changes.

What little I've traveled by train it has been to experience unique scenery not seen from the highways. If I'm in a hurry to get someplace I fly.

A vehicle with literally no brakes should not be allowed to speed in residential areas and have free reign to go as fast as they desire everywhere else.

In the original post above the train was making it's first run on a new route. Driving at 80+mph in a 30mph zone while being unfamiliar with the track and circumstances wasn't real brilliant.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1993_Big_Bayou_Canot_train_wreck

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/05/13/what-we-know-about-amtraks-history-of-accidents-injuries-and-deaths/?utm_term=.cc88cfd150bc

[blocker]

There is a song that fits me --- I can't drive 55!

[gwp]

There is a song that fits me --- I can't drive 55!

And this for the Railroad: https://youtu.be/FHKxk719AMc

[IditarodJoe]

When teaching my kids to drive, I emphasized to them that they alone were responsible for the safe operation of their car and that they should NEVER allow another driver to bully them into doing something inappropriate. Whenever I find one of those self-important jerks on my rear bumper I gently slow down. Sometimes it motivates them to pass me, but at least it will lessen the speed of impact if I should have to brake in an emergency.

[JB White]

And this for the Railroad: https://youtu.be/FHKxk719AMc

After Blocker's 'Hagar reference', I was expecting Osborne's "Crazy Train".

[dave]

I am uncomfortable driving over 70-75 on express ways. Less if a lot of traffic. So I do not. Some areas here were recently raised to 75 here and I get passed by 10 or more! There is a general rule here that State Police will let you pass if over by ten, but a cop I know says BS, its up to the Cop! In towns I go limit, or less.