I’ve mentioned before how nutty the police in MA can be about speed limits. how there are certain stretches of road that traffic as a whole can speed on to pretty exceptional levels with seeming impunity. Rt.95 is the one I think I mentioned where traffic tends to move around 80mph – 85mph despite the 55mph speed limit. So, an excess of around 30 or so mph. This includes travel in the breakdown lane. That’s right, out-of-towners… Travel in the breakdown lane is not only legal during certain hours, but very often the fastest lane to travel in.
Anyways… I noticed what is to date the highest “accepted” breach in speed limit law. It comes (no doubt with little surprise to locals) near the Concord rotary. There’s a stretch of road about a mile or two long between a set of lights and the rotary itself. Just beyond the rotary is the Concord prison, and a state police barracks directly across from that. the posted limit is 45 or 55 I believe, and slows to 25 as you get near the rotary. I was traveling in the right of the two lanes, traffic in the left lane gradually overtaking as one would normally expect. It was two solid pylons of cars that had just taken off from the lights. Traffic included two state police cruisers, one in each lane, that were just mingling with traffic in no particular rush.
Traffic was moving at 75mph. When we were in the 25mph zone. that’s not only 50 MILES OVER THE LIMIT, but it TRIPLES the posted speed limit. Normally there are hefty fines for even doubling the speed limit. The police were going about their way as if we were doing 65 in a 65. It didn’t feel extraordinary until I wrapped my brain around the particulars of the situation. It just struck me as odd I suppose, that they would even bother posting a speed limit sign. Might as well have one that reads “Speed limit: WHATEV LOL”
Then traffic proceeded to bugger every law governing how rotaries are supposed to flow. But that’s another story for another day. Although I’ve probably already told it. Not that I re-tell stories. Ever.
That’s all I got.
It’s a good point…traffic laws are only enforceable before they reach mob standards.
added linky graphic for dramatic effect.
Very dramatic effect, that.
This hits on a peeve of mine. Everyone from the foreign (i.e. non-MA) states gets their knickers in a twist over Massachusetts drivers. They’re always described as terrible drivers, but then I point out that usually the complaining party is afraid to drive in Boston, whereas a gazillion Massachusetts residents seem to manage it daily.
In my experience, it’s often a New Jersey driver in a large and nice SUV who will get involved in rotaries and/or exit ramps going the recommended speed. It’s often fairly dangerous and screws up the traffic pattern for everyone.
Location: 93 S between 495 and 128.
Time: Morning Rush Hour.
Vehicle: Fully Prepared Rally Car.
Speed: 95 MPH.
Traffic: Medium with cars passing me on the right.
Incident: State Trooper came up behind me doing around 100 MPH. I pulled into the middle lane. He waved as he passed me. Other cars were tailgating him.
Moo.
😀
I like monkeys.
Re: 😀
I like you too.