I want to save the planet/fight oil dependence, but I want a safe car too...

"Matthew Russotto" > wrote in message
...
> Perhaps the locals are smart enough to know that trying to enforce the
> limit on the throroughfare would result in more traffic diverted to
> the neighborhoods.

But the neighborhood is a dead end. You can't drive through it.

>
> >Automatic speed traps with cameras, like they have in Europe, would be
far
> >more effective, IMO.
>
> Only if the object is collecting revenue and not changing behavior.

Threat of punishment always changes behavior to some extent. Cameras are
good because they are automatic and less visible. Big Brother kind of
stuff, put to some good.

> 20/40 is no problem at all, except for reading local street signs;
> cars and other road objects are big. Nystagmus, though, means any cop
will
> consider you to be a drunk driver based on the "look at the pen"
> test.

It's not as simple as 20/40 vision. My optometrist explained it best- I
can legally drive, but wheather I should drive is more an
ethical/philosophical question he can't answer (he also recommended I see a
vision training specialist for evaluation):

I also have strabismus (I can see out of one eye alternatively, the other
eye kind of partially "shuts off" by the brain and looks sideways... in fact
it takes a little effort to see with both eyes, but I am working on that).
I have a v-syndrome which means the muscles that cause the eyes to converge
is weak/atrophied and the eyes want to drift apart, especially when looking
upward or level moreso than downward. I also have manifest latent
nystagmus, which means the nystagmus gets worse when seeing with one eye.
The eye doc gave me some new glasses that help somewhat (base-in prisms), to
help see with both eyes together, and he recommended I see a vision trainer
or try using 3D glasses with computer/videogames, gradually increasing the
height of the monitor. When I drive I tilt the seat back a little and hold
my head up some.

The nystagmus causes things to the side (about 30 degrees or so) to lack
definition- I can see them and know they are there, but I really cannot
focus my eye on them for more than a brief second before they move away. I
might see a word and know it is a word, but I couldn't actually read it. So
my head and neck do alot more work to follow things. My brain has adapted
to this over about 28 years or so, and the brain has ways of compensating
for movement, so I don't see things as moving, even though my eyes will
start moving back and forth quickly if I had the "pen test". I might get a
fish eye rearview mirror, because when I turn my head around when backing up
or changing lanes, I really don't see all that great (I have my mirrors set
to try and minimize blind spots).

The drunk driving thing does bug me, though. I hope I never get in a
situation where I have to get pulled over. I actually don't drink, so I'm
not too worried about failing a breathalyzer, but just the general idea of
being harassed puts me a bit off ease. If an optician can give me crap
about it (congenital nystagmus is very rare), of all people, what would a
cop do?

> You've been driving for years yet your mom is giving you driving
> lessons? If you're going to use personal testimonial to back up your
> argument, try and keep it consistent. Or, if this IS actually the
> case, keep it less pathetic.

No, I have had a learner's permit for years- I got it in a state with
fairly lax requirements (Oklahoma). I've lacked the confidence to drive.
My vision used to be about 20/70, too, and my strabismus was much worse. I
went to alot of optometrists, many self-described "low vision specialists"
who basicly said I had the "best vision I could get", despite the fact I was
slowly becomming legally blind, and finally I found one about two years ago
that was actually willing to do something to help. And he works in a
Pearlvision, of all places.

In article >,
Magnulus > wrote:
>
>"Matthew Russotto" > wrote in message
...
>> >True, most busses are poorly funded, but there IS a solution to that.
>>
>> Like taking money from drivers to pay for them? How about just raising
>the
>> fare.
>
> No mass transit system is unsubsidized.

Yes, that's a problem.

>Even the roads cars drive on survive by some government subsidy.

Sure. The money comes from taxes paid by drivers, makes a U-turn at
the state capitol (or Washington D.C.) and what isn't skimmed off (to
pay for mass transit among other things) pays for roads.

>> Unfortunately, waiting for the bus will bring that blood pressure right
>> back up.
>
> Have a meditative mind, learn to take things in stride.

I'd rather just avoid the wait. It's a better use of the limited time
I have.

>Zen Buddhists called a mind that constantly craves stimulation, that
>is unsettled, a "monkey mind".

And I say they just couldn't figure out how to make their life better
so they deluded themselves into thinking Hell was Heaven.

> Oh, and you can also listen to music while you wait ,that's why they have
>tape and MP3 players.

I don't listen to music.

In article >,
Magnulus > wrote:
>
>"Matthew Russotto" > wrote in message
...
>> >True, most busses are poorly funded, but there IS a solution to that.
>>
>> Like taking money from drivers to pay for them? How about just raising
>the
>> fare.
>
> No mass transit system is unsubsidized.

Yes, that's a problem.

>Even the roads cars drive on survive by some government subsidy.

Sure. The money comes from taxes paid by drivers, makes a U-turn at
the state capitol (or Washington D.C.) and what isn't skimmed off (to
pay for mass transit among other things) pays for roads.

>> Unfortunately, waiting for the bus will bring that blood pressure right
>> back up.
>
> Have a meditative mind, learn to take things in stride.

I'd rather just avoid the wait. It's a better use of the limited time
I have.

>Zen Buddhists called a mind that constantly craves stimulation, that
>is unsettled, a "monkey mind".

And I say they just couldn't figure out how to make their life better
so they deluded themselves into thinking Hell was Heaven.

> Oh, and you can also listen to music while you wait ,that's why they have
>tape and MP3 players.

I don't listen to music.

In article >,
Magnulus > wrote:
>
>"Matthew Russotto" > wrote in message
...
>>
>> >Automatic speed traps with cameras, like they have in Europe, would be
>far
>> >more effective, IMO.
>>
>> Only if the object is collecting revenue and not changing behavior.
>
> Threat of punishment always changes behavior to some extent.

Actually not. But even when it does, it's not always in the manner
you expect or desire. Anyway, simple psychology shows that a speed
trap with a camera, where the notification of the punishment is very far
from the commission of the offense, is unlikely to be an efficient
method for modifying behavior.

>Cameras are
>good because they are automatic and less visible. Big Brother kind of
>stuff, put to some good.

Whenever you write a sentence like that last one, it's definitely time
to re-examine your premises.

> The drunk driving thing does bug me, though. I hope I never get in a
>situation where I have to get pulled over. I actually don't drink, so I'm
>not too worried about failing a breathalyzer, but just the general idea of
>being harassed puts me a bit off ease. If an optician can give me crap
>about it (congenital nystagmus is very rare), of all people, what would a
>cop do?

Don't worry too much. EVERYONE fails the pen test, if the cop wants
them to; it's a scam. You, at least, could beat it in court.

In article >,
Magnulus > wrote:
>
>"Matthew Russotto" > wrote in message
...
>>
>> >Automatic speed traps with cameras, like they have in Europe, would be
>far
>> >more effective, IMO.
>>
>> Only if the object is collecting revenue and not changing behavior.
>
> Threat of punishment always changes behavior to some extent.

Actually not. But even when it does, it's not always in the manner
you expect or desire. Anyway, simple psychology shows that a speed
trap with a camera, where the notification of the punishment is very far
from the commission of the offense, is unlikely to be an efficient
method for modifying behavior.

>Cameras are
>good because they are automatic and less visible. Big Brother kind of
>stuff, put to some good.

Whenever you write a sentence like that last one, it's definitely time
to re-examine your premises.

> The drunk driving thing does bug me, though. I hope I never get in a
>situation where I have to get pulled over. I actually don't drink, so I'm
>not too worried about failing a breathalyzer, but just the general idea of
>being harassed puts me a bit off ease. If an optician can give me crap
>about it (congenital nystagmus is very rare), of all people, what would a
>cop do?

Don't worry too much. EVERYONE fails the pen test, if the cop wants
them to; it's a scam. You, at least, could beat it in court.

"Matthew Russotto" > wrote in message
...
> Actually not. But even when it does, it's not always in the manner
> you expect or desire. Anyway, simple psychology shows that a speed
> trap with a camera, where the notification of the punishment is very far
> from the commission of the offense, is unlikely to be an efficient
> method for modifying behavior.

That's why the speed traps should be moved around occasionally, and hidden
from obvious view. Punishment works best when the subject cannot anticipate
a way to avoid it. And radar detectors should be illegal.

Don't like speeding tickets? Don't speed.

"Matthew Russotto" > wrote in message
...
> Actually not. But even when it does, it's not always in the manner
> you expect or desire. Anyway, simple psychology shows that a speed
> trap with a camera, where the notification of the punishment is very far
> from the commission of the offense, is unlikely to be an efficient
> method for modifying behavior.

That's why the speed traps should be moved around occasionally, and hidden
from obvious view. Punishment works best when the subject cannot anticipate
a way to avoid it. And radar detectors should be illegal.

Don't like speeding tickets? Don't speed.

> wrote in message
ups.com...
> Actually, any intelligent individual would advocate driver training.
>
> But since you're far from being an intelligent inividual, you prefer
> reactive measures as opposed to proactive. You're such a dim-lib.
>

Why can't we have both? I never said I was against driver training. But
even the best driver shouldn't speed. It's a public road, not a rally
stage. The citizens, in the form of a government, decided that there was
such a thing as a "safe speed" for a given road type, and that's why we have
speed limits. Especially now that there are alot of SUV's and trucks on the
road, we should have speed limits that are enforced.

If showing a little concern for my fellow citizens and myself makes me a
"dim liberal", well, I guess that's not such a bad thing, and it reflects
rather poorly on conservatives.

> wrote in message
ups.com...
> Actually, any intelligent individual would advocate driver training.
>
> But since you're far from being an intelligent inividual, you prefer
> reactive measures as opposed to proactive. You're such a dim-lib.
>

Why can't we have both? I never said I was against driver training. But
even the best driver shouldn't speed. It's a public road, not a rally
stage. The citizens, in the form of a government, decided that there was
such a thing as a "safe speed" for a given road type, and that's why we have
speed limits. Especially now that there are alot of SUV's and trucks on the
road, we should have speed limits that are enforced.

If showing a little concern for my fellow citizens and myself makes me a
"dim liberal", well, I guess that's not such a bad thing, and it reflects
rather poorly on conservatives.

In article >, says...

>Basically, it gives you more control. You're generally overtaking slower
>traffic rather than being overtaken, and an overtaker has more options
>open to them.

My guess, and it is only a guess, is that when you are going faster you
don't travel in clumps of cars. So if something does happen, there are
less likely to be cars around you so you have room to move around the
road.

--------------
Alex