Speeding still top cause of crashes on the road

QIwantedto give you another point of view about a type of speeding driver you indirectly refertowiththe comment, “Meet you at the light,” those who take off quickly from a stoplight and use maximum acceleration before having to stop at the next light.

I am one of those drivers, and here’s why: The acceleration gives me a short adrenaline rush. It’s the G forces that make carnival rides and roller coasters so much fun. Other thrills are taking curved on-ramps at max speed. I also do “S” wiggles at 50-60 mph like Indy 500 drivers warming up their tires.

These actions are always done relatively safely, by me anyway, when there are no other vehicles near. It’s a cheap thrill. What’s the harm, other than wasting a little fuel?

—Chuck D., San Jose

AOh, Chuck, where should I begin? Speeding remains by far the leading cause of crashes. Burning extra gas hurts the climate.

And your need for an adrenaline rush has no place when behind the wheel.

QTo get around a Road Boulder who speeds up when you try to pass, I slowly fall back until there’s a good amount of space between us. Then when the next lane is clear, I really accelerate hard to whip past them before they notice I’m coming. It sounds more reckless than it is, as long as you check your surroundings carefully.

— R.W., Oakland

A You and Chuck should carpool.

Q Can you shed light on how metering lights work? I get on Highway 4 from Laurel Avenue at about 5 a.m. If I’m there at 5:01, the lights are activated, even though the freeway is lightly traveled, and we have to stop at the end of the ramp and then accelerate to freeway speed.

And yet, 45 minutes later, when I get to the Bay Bridge, the lights are off, despite vastly more congested traffic.

— Brooks Fenton,

Oakley

AMetering lights are supposed to detect traffic ahead to ease congestion down the road, which is why they come on so early on Highway 4.

QThere’s nothing wrong with using “accident” to refer generally to crashes. The word means unintended harm, and unless there’s evidence of intention (a driver swerving down a sidewalk, perhaps), it’s perfectly appropriate to refer to traffic accidents.

Picky people used to fret over a different word: collision. Associated Press style, since changed, used to say that “Two objects must be in motion before they can collide. A moving train cannot collide with a stopped train.”

— Charles Lindsey

ASir Charles is a wise former Merc wordsmith.

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