Why are cops allowed to speed?

TommyMac

Hall of Fame
Apr 24, 2001
14,039
33
0
84
Mobile, Alabama
I pass cops so long as I don't have to go more than 5 mph over the speed limit to do so. I have done that a bunch of times and never been pulled over. There is definitely no reason to worry about passing a cop when he is going under the speed limit.

Unless maybe you've got something in your car you wouldn't want him to find. Or you're drunk. Or wanted for murder. Or something like that. ;)
Not me, unless I'm running late for last call. ;)

I'm kidding, I hardly ever even drive at night anymore.
 

92tide

TideFans Legend
May 9, 2000
61,359
53,164
287
56
East Point, Ga, USA
My experience with Atlanta drivers: When driving towards ATL, I always knew that I was entering the Atlanta metro area when the flow of traffic hit 90 MPH, and if I did the speed limit, I'd be rear-ended.

Many years ago, I was driving late at night up near Sandy Springs on I-285, and two cars passed me in the left and right lanes....as they passed, the criss-crossed in front of me....about 10-15 feet in front of me. Both vehicles were doing 90+ MPH.
since i have been taking marta to work the last 4 years i do a lot less driving and i am now flat out terrified getting on any controlled access road in atlanta (i actually used to be somewhat comfortable driving in the traffic). i live on the southside and the connector from the grady curve down to the south split is like nascar.

also, it was a few years back, one of the segments of I-285 down near the airport had an average speed well over 80 mph
 

cbi1972

Hall of Fame
Nov 8, 2005
18,734
2,659
182
53
Birmingham, AL
I was in Atlanta a few weeks back for some SQL training, and I arrived at night in the pouring down rain. My car is a good safe one, with reasonably new tires, good wipers and headlights, etc. and I had the wipers going as fast as possible. Even so, I could not see any lane markings, and could only see other cars as a vague, blurry, light area in my windshield. I was able to go about 30 mph before feeling I was at risk of collision, lane drifting, or hydroplaning. Meanwhile, I was being passed handily by cars and tractor trailers, some of which must have been going 60 or more. After getting off the highway, I even saw a couple on a motorcycle crossing an intersection during this torrential downpour.
 

bamanut_aj

Hall of Fame
Jul 31, 2000
20,058
83
167
52
Spring Hill, TN
since i have been taking marta to work the last 4 years i do a lot less driving and i am now flat out terrified getting on any controlled access road in atlanta (i actually used to be somewhat comfortable driving in the traffic). i live on the southside and the connector from the grady curve down to the south split is like nascar.

also, it was a few years back, one of the segments of I-285 down near the airport had an average speed well over 80 mph

does marta have a subway system, or is it all buses?
 

92tide

TideFans Legend
May 9, 2000
61,359
53,164
287
56
East Point, Ga, USA
does marta have a subway system, or is it all buses?
it contains both. for the subway. there is a n-s line with a nw split and an e-s line. I think there are somewhere around 38-40 stations. they have a pretty extensive bus system as well but i dont use it, i only live a mile from one station and work two blocks from another. many of the outlying/suburban counties also have commuter busses that tie into the marta system at various downtown and mid-town stations.
 

Atlmetroguy

Suspended
Feb 6, 2009
142
0
0
since i have been taking marta to work the last 4 years i do a lot less driving and i am now flat out terrified getting on any controlled access road in atlanta (i actually used to be somewhat comfortable driving in the traffic). i live on the southside and the connector from the grady curve down to the south split is like nascar.

also, it was a few years back, one of the segments of I-285 down near the airport had an average speed well over 80 mph
Heh..heh...that made me chuckle because it is so true!! I used to commute from way up NE near the Mall of GA to near Perimeter Mall. Wicked ugly commute up/down I-85 and around I-285 which used to take 1.5 hours on a good day and if it rained it was 2+ hours each way. I looked into taking the bus into downtown, catching the MARTA route to the North Springs station but in terms of time and cost it was the same as driving everyday.

Eventually I changed jobs and now work from home and travel so the only traffic I have to deal with is to/from Hartsfield a couple of times a month.
 

bamanut_aj

Hall of Fame
Jul 31, 2000
20,058
83
167
52
Spring Hill, TN
it contains both. for the subway. there is a n-s line with a nw split and an e-s line. I think there are somewhere around 38-40 stations. they have a pretty extensive bus system as well but i dont use it, i only live a mile from one station and work two blocks from another. many of the outlying/suburban counties also have commuter busses that tie into the marta system at various downtown and mid-town stations.
I'm asking you to keep from doing my own research, so if you don't know I guess I'll go Gargle my answers. :)

How long has marta been in place? Do you know when they started digging tunnels? Was it something they started in the early 1900's? Just curious. Do any other Southern cities have any sort of subway system? None that I know of....
 

92tide

TideFans Legend
May 9, 2000
61,359
53,164
287
56
East Point, Ga, USA
I'm asking you to keep from doing my own research, so if you don't know I guess I'll go Gargle my answers. :)

How long has marta been in place? Do you know when they started digging tunnels? Was it something they started in the early 1900's? Just curious. Do any other Southern cities have any sort of subway system? None that I know of....
1972 i believe is when the subway system started (or sometime around then). I don't think any other southern city has a subway, but Charlotte has recently put in a light rail system (similar to what portland has).

if i had to guess, i would say about 1/4-1/3 of atlanta's system is below ground, the rest are above ground either elevated or on barrier separated tracks.
 

92tide

TideFans Legend
May 9, 2000
61,359
53,164
287
56
East Point, Ga, USA
Heh..heh...that made me chuckle because it is so true!! I used to commute from way up NE near the Mall of GA to near Perimeter Mall. Wicked ugly commute up/down I-85 and around I-285 which used to take 1.5 hours on a good day and if it rained it was 2+ hours each way. I looked into taking the bus into downtown, catching the MARTA route to the North Springs station but in terms of time and cost it was the same as driving everyday.

Eventually I changed jobs and now work from home and travel so the only traffic I have to deal with is to/from Hartsfield a couple of times a month.
i would go insane if my commute was that long. i am lucky and have 25 minutes door to door on the train (plus saving $600/year in parking). its only 8 miles from my house to work, but it takes a solid 30+ minutes in rush hour and has taken over an hour before.

my wife, however, has to drive to mcdonough (35 miles south) everyday but the southside interstates still have somewhat of a reverse commute so its not too bad, i think those are things of the past on the north end though. the north end is full on crazy, the areas around 985/85 merge and around the 316 split are horrific.
 
Last edited:

cbi1972

Hall of Fame
Nov 8, 2005
18,734
2,659
182
53
Birmingham, AL
I'm asking you to keep from doing my own research, so if you don't know I guess I'll go Gargle my answers. :)

How long has marta been in place? Do you know when they started digging tunnels? Was it something they started in the early 1900's? Just curious. Do any other Southern cities have any sort of subway system? None that I know of....
Are the New Orleans trolleys back up yet?
 

New Posts

TideFans.shop - Get your Gear HERE!

Reyn Spooner Scenic Bama Shirt
Alabama Crimson Tide Reyn Spooner Scenic Polo - Crimson

Get this and many more items at our TideFans.shop!

Purchases may result in a commission being paid to TideFans.

Latest threads