TIME to LOWER the SPEED LIMIT

[pussylicker]

on 400 series hwys for transports (buses included).

Bad acident in Barrie this morning. Around 10:30 a transport clipped a Camaro, spinning it out of control, and Camaro driver dies. Second transport(dump trailer) hits mini van.

These guys are driving too fast for the weight they are hauling, and need to be slowed down. First incident was a lane change. Unsafe or not, they think the Camaro was in the trucker's blind spot as he pulled onto hwy from onramp, while trucker moved from center lane to slow lane.

Last week I almost go hit by one flogging down the 400. We were in a construction zone posted 80kmph, and as 2 lanes narrowed into one, the car in front slowed down unexpectedly, but I was OK speedwise not to hit him, but the transport was less than 5 feet from the back of my truck, and almost hit me except I had room to manuever, even though he was still moving well over the posted 80kmph.

 

[WinterHawk]

GET the god dammed trucks off the highway. I drive the 401 every day during rush hour and all I see in 3 out of 4 lanes for as far as the eye can see are transports just passing through Toronto from Quebec and Nova Scotia.

If the trailers were shipped via Rail like they should be, we'd have a hell of a lot of less congestion on the highways. They can't climb a hill when the traffic is heavy and when things are light, they're going like gang busters to make up for lost time after drving 12 hours from somewhere in the States or the Eastern Townships...

Yes I know most truck drivers are professionals but the 401 was built when it was a bypass for Toronto and the main highway was Kinsgton Road.

And it's only going to get worse boys and girls.

The increase in truck traffic used to make sense when you could have "just in time" inventory. But with the delays at the boarder after 9/11, it's starting to be a joke. They may be going back to stockpilling like they used to so that they can have ample material on hand because of the delays in getting across the boarder.

 

[Papi Chulo]

Lower the speed limit??? Get a life.

The 400 series highways are designed for a speed limit of 120km/h

There will always be bad drivers, no matter what speed limit

 

[hunter001]

GET the god dammed trucks off the highway. I drive the 401 every day during rush hour and all I see in 3 out of 4 lanes for as far as the eye can see are transports just passing through Toronto from Quebec and Nova Scotia.

If the trailers were shipped via Rail like they should be, we'd have a hell of a lot of less congestion on the highways. They can't climb a hill when the traffic is heavy and when things are light, they're going like gang busters to make up for lost time after drving 12 hours from somewhere in the States or the Eastern Townships...

Yes I know most truck drivers are professionals but the 401 was built when it was a bypass for Toronto and the main highway was Kinsgton Road.

And it's only going to get worse boys and girls.

The increase in truck traffic used to make sense when you could have "just in time" inventory. But with the delays at the boarder after 9/11, it's starting to be a joke. They may be going back to stockpilling like they used to so that they can have ample material on hand because of the delays in getting across the boarder.

Are these the better class of people you were referring too.

 

[Papi Chulo]

Personally I think it would be best if the truck drivers had the highways from 9 or 10pm til 5am and then had to get off. Makes life easier for them, and faster and safer for the rest of us.
Just a thought
Sandy

will never be possible as 99% of the businesses which those goods are being delivered to are not open during those hours

 

[pussylicker]

will never be possible as 99% of the businesses which those goods are being delivered to are not open during those hours

I see all the auto dealers and jobbers get their parts at night. I see grocery trucks delivering at night. I see lots of trucks stopping at select businesses after 9pm at night. Manufacturing usually gets more deliveries in the off hours than during the day.

Re your other post, Why don't you get a life Obviously you don't drive too much. I'm sick of the Tai Pan buses racing to and from Casino Rama and running down other drivers on the road while driving over the posted speed limit. Some of you want street racers banned for life. What about school buses doing 15kmph over the posted limit? What about GreyHound/GreyLine, Ontario Northland racing to meet bus schedules? What about loaded A trains and B trains racing down the hwy doing 30 over? Obviously you don't seem to care about the safety of others that are using the same portion of hwy. Have you already forgotten about the tar spill west of Keele st early monday morning?

BTW, 400 used to have a posted speed limit of 70mph for cars, and 60mph for trucks. That's approx 120 and 100kmph.

 

[LateComer]

The 400 series highways are designed for a speed limit of 120km/h

Actually, the 400 series highways have a 130 km/h design speed and many of today's cars can safely handle higher speeds.

 

[skidor]

lower the speed limit ?

c'mon get real !

The problem isn't the truck drivers , all be it there are good and bad truck
drivers , but I wouldn't want there job.
I'm sure most of the time they are just getting cut off by poeple that can't drive.
The way some poeple drive they shouldn't even be on the road.

As for the speed limit, the speed isn't the problem . once again its people
that have no buisness riding a bike let alone driving a fucking car.

The Autobahn in Europe has no speed limit in designated lanes and they don't have half the problems we have , cause they know how to drive and the
penalty for just passing incorrectly in these lanes carries stiffer penalties
than what drivers here get for impaired !

These wanna be F-1 drivers in their flippin Hondas with the seat leaning
back like their Michael Schmaker should also wake up. !

Enough said !

 

[skidor]

New M.T.O. Rules

Fifteen New Regulations in the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario 2004

1. Turn signals will give away your next move. A confident Ontario driver avoids using them.

2. Under no circumstance should you maintain a safe distance between
you and the car in front of you, because the space will be filled in by
somebody else, putting you in an even more dangerous situation.

3. The faster you drive through a red light, the less of a chance you have of getting hit.

4. Warning! Never come to a complete stop at a stop sign.
No one expects it and it will result in your being rear-ended.

5. Never get in the way of an older car that needs extensive bodywork,
especially with Quebec plates. With no insurance, the other operator has nothing to lose.

6. Braking is to be done as hard and late as possible to ensure that your ABS kicks in,
giving a vigorous, foot massage as the brake pedal violently pulsates.
For those of you without ABS, it's a chance to strengthen your leg muscles.

7. Never pass on the left when you can pass on the right.
It's a good way to prepare other drivers entering the highway.

8. Speed limits are arbitrary figures; given only as a suggestion and are not enforceable
in Ontario during rush hour, especially on the 401.

9. Just because you're in the left lane and have no room to speed up or move over
doesn't mean that an Ontario driver flashing his high beams behind you
doesn't think he can go faster in your spot.

10. Always brake and rubberneck when you see an accident or even someone changing a tire.
This is seen as a sign of respect for the victim.

11. Learn to swerve abruptly without signaling.
Ontario is the home of high-speed slalom-driving;
thanks to the Department of Public Works,
which puts pot-holes in key locations to test drivers' reflexes and keep them alert.

12. It is tradition in Ontario to honk your horn at cars in front
of you that do not move three milliseconds after the light turns green.

13. To avoid injury in the event of a collision or rollover, it is important to exit
your vehicle thru the windshield right away. Wearingyour seat belt will only impede
your hi-velocity escape from danger.

14. Remember that the goal of every Ontario driver is to get ahead of the pack
by whatever means necessary.

15. In Ontario, 'flipping the bird' is considered a polite salute.
This gesture should always be returned.
Thank You, The Ministry of Transportation of Ontario .

 

[Bill the Pirate]

raise the limit

I say we raise the speed limit to 120 and then enforce a zero tollerance for speeders going over 130 and for slow pokes doing under 110. at least then we will be close to the same speeds most of the time

 

[tboy]

Well LOTN, if you don't mind paying more for all your goods and services, more power to you for wanting commercial enterprises to open 24 hrs.

As for businesses opening on sunday, that is only RETAIL. I don't know of any manufacturer or warehouse that is operating on sunday. Banks are a perfect example. Can you name ONE branch (other than online) that is open on a Sunday?

As for the trucking issue being discussed: remember folks: the highway IS the trucker's place of business. The rest of us are typically just using it to GET to our place of business (even if that "business" is just visiting friends). IMO they have MORE of a right to be there than we do because like I said, it's their business.

Imagine trying to do YOUR job and having 20 or 30 idiots infront of you every second of every day. If you have an office job and want to make a photocopy imagine having 20 people standing around the copier blocking your path? Or how about when your phone rings and there are 5 people with their hands covering the phone so you have to move them before you can answer it? You'd be pissed in no time.....

As for all transports passing through being put onto rail. There is a problem with that theory: scheduling. CN doesn't have the capacity or the frequency to deal with shipping everything by rail. Couple that with the fact that it is tremendously expensive and you'd still need one truck to take it to the rail yard, and another to pick it up at the destination rail yard and delivery it to the final location AND the fact that rail yards that can accept this type of service are few and far between, well, you get my drift.

One final point: compare the trucking accidents with the number of passenger vehicle accidents. You'll find that statistically trucks have far fewer accidents that regular POVs. I know Canadiant Tire Truckers continually have 5, 10 and 15 million miles travelled with no accidents.

 

[Robio]

Raise the speed fucker just put the freight on rails were it belongs

 

[tboy]

Raise the speed fucker just put the freight on rails were it belongs

And it magically gets from the rail yard to the destination by how exactly? The freight fairies will magically transport it on butterfly wings?

 

[lookingforitallthetime]

Raise the speed fucker just put the freight on rails were it belongs

How do you propose to get the freight from the rails to market?

Wasn't there talk of putting a governor on trucks and buses to regulate their speed? We can't take these trucks of the road but we have to do something. I can't tell you how many times I've had to lock it up because a truck decided to change lanes. Many of them drive too fast for the amount of weight they are hauling.

Like most everything else, it comes down to money. Since deregulation of the trucking industry, serious safety concerns are not being addressed. The good news about a speed governor is it will actually save money as well as lives.

 

[tboy]

Just wanted to add:

Has anyone ever driven down I-75 around Tennessee/Georgia after about 10 pm? The highway is RULED by trucks at that time. I'd say the number is anywhere from 20 - 30 trucks for every POV. It is friggen amazing really. COuple that with the fact that the speed limit is 75 mph and the trucks are doing 85 easy and you know? No accidents.....kind of makes you go hmmm eh?

 

[lookingforitallthetime]

Just wanted to add:

Has anyone ever driven down I-75 around Tennessee/Georgia after about 10 pm? The highway is RULED by trucks at that time. I'd say the number is anywhere from 20 - 30 trucks for every POV. It is friggen amazing really. COuple that with the fact that the speed limit is 75 mph and the trucks are doing 85 easy and you know? No accidents.....kind of makes you go hmmm eh?

There were no accidents while you were there or no accidents ever?

Speed is a problem with these big rigs and I'm seeing these drivers becoming more and more aggressive.

 

[Diode]

Well LOTN, if you don't mind paying more for all your goods and services, more power to you for wanting commercial enterprises to open 24 hrs.

As for businesses opening on sunday, that is only RETAIL. I don't know of any manufacturer or warehouse that is operating on sunday. Banks are a perfect example. Can you name ONE branch (other than online) that is open on a Sunday?

As for the trucking issue being discussed: remember folks: the highway IS the trucker's place of business. The rest of us are typically just using it to GET to our place of business (even if that "business" is just visiting friends). IMO they have MORE of a right to be there than we do because like I said, it's their business.

Imagine trying to do YOUR job and having 20 or 30 idiots infront of you every second of every day. If you have an office job and want to make a photocopy imagine having 20 people standing around the copier blocking your path? Or how about when your phone rings and there are 5 people with their hands covering the phone so you have to move them before you can answer it? You'd be pissed in no time.....

As for all transports passing through being put onto rail. There is a problem with that theory: scheduling. CN doesn't have the capacity or the frequency to deal with shipping everything by rail. Couple that with the fact that it is tremendously expensive and you'd still need one truck to take it to the rail yard, and another to pick it up at the destination rail yard and delivery it to the final location AND the fact that rail yards that can accept this type of service are few and far between, well, you get my drift.

One final point: compare the trucking accidents with the number of passenger vehicle accidents. You'll find that statistically trucks have far fewer accidents that regular POVs. I know Canadiant Tire Truckers continually have 5, 10 and 15 million miles travelled with no accidents.

Exactly. I'd rather spend my 75000km/year with the truckers than some Mini-Van mommy who's driving her van way beyond her capabilites.
I would ask the truckers to improve their lane use, however. (I think much of the problem arises with the use of Speed Govenors.
Rail? Sure guy...My little warehouse could never work with the railroads.
And for pete's sake there are a lot of us working who don't just clock into some office job, and then go home.
We need to move peope and goods around freely.
I say allow experienced drivers to go faster, and police the in-expeienced with strength.

 

[hunter001]

While that could be a short-term solution, it would eventually end up with the roads plugged night AND day.

Everyone's missing the real problem. The GTA is expanding too fast and our road system has not kept up!!!

Travelling westbound to the airport area for the past 15 years, I've watched farmland disappear, roads expand and traffic lock up to to a frustrating level.

Leisurely 30-minute (or less!!) drive has turned into a stomach-churning, teeth-grinding, brake-riding, quietly cursing nightmare.

Maybe if the politicians plan NOW they will have solutions in place to prevent the situation from tripling in another 15 years!!!

lol. They had a solution and sold it off (407). There is still a lot of room on it for lane expansion but the government gave it away.

North south routes is comical. They build thousand of houses and no new roads.

How about more mass transit for commuters? Take some of cars of the road.

 

[tboy]

A couple of things:

Didn't you know? the City of Toronto has no more money for road improvements or expansion. Of course the people clogging up the highways every morning and night commuting to and from zimbabwe wouldn't mind Mayor Miller raping us with a $60.00 tax per car. Then he could afford to build more highways into the core for them to use. I say tax the COMMUTERS who CHOSE to live 100 kms away from work, not the one's who commute 3 blocks.

As for expanding the highways etc. That's not an option and it is silly to think that way. What needs to be done is:

a) Give a tax benefit to those that live within x kms of their work
b) add a tax to those that CHOSE to live x kms from work
c) Give tax incentives and help promote smaller commuter oriented companies such as mini buses etc that don't just go to the subway lines etc. Maybe ones that offer door to door, or door to main intersections etc.
d) give tax benefits to companies that promote home offices. For eg: I dealt closely with Owens Corning for years and they moved ALL their sales staff out of their main office and shifted them to home offices in their respective territories. I was speaking to one of their hot salesladies on the phone one day and she told me she was sitting in nothing but her undies and bunny slippers. (btw she was at least a 9 out of 10 and it drove me nuts thinking of her like that lol).

There are lots of incentives to decreasing the congestion but our politicians don't have the brains or balls to do something or anything about it.

As for truckers being more agressive, why should you expect THEM to be any different than any of the other wingnuts on the highway? I should expect them to get MORE agressive because people a) generally don't give them any courtesy and b) don't respect the 18,000 lbs their vehicle weighs in at.

Sorry, I say the truckers belong on the road, us motorists have options....

And who said the DOT doesn't crack down on truckers and their trucks? They hold widespread clamp downs all the time and pull trucks off the road that are found in need of repair. They also charge companies who are repeat offenders.

 

[chazz_matzz]

In San Francisco bay Area heavy trucks are not allowed on the bridges or tunnels durring certain hours to cut down on congestion. This would solve part of our traffic problem.

The second would be for every 6 lane road in toronto to have an HOV lane. By doing this would encourage carpooling ect....

As for all the ppl who think taxation is the answer...we already pay enough taxes....Our tax dollars need to be spent better