Helpful Hints for avoiding a speeding ticket, part 2.

Happy Speeder shares real-life experience with strategies to keep fast driving from costing you money. Click here to read comments on first 5 tips on the blog "CNN.com shares..."

6. Watch for cutouts and modulate your speed accordingly- I can think of some stretches on familiar routes where the foliage is so thick, or the slope so steep, that I am sure there can be no trooper there with a radar gun. Not that I would speed anyway...

7. Don't speed when you are the only car on the road- Although true, this tip flies in the face of happyspeeder common sense and love of freedom. Shouldn't you feel more freedom speeding when you aren't risking the lives of others?

8. If it can be done legally, get a radar detector- I have never owned one, but I would love to know if there is a happyspeeder with a radar detector and a clean driving record out there.

9. If possible, drive a nondescript vehicle - A quick scan on the Internet reveals that most ham-n-egg opinionators poo-poo the theory that red cars are the most frequently ticketed, claiming instead that red cars receive tickets in direct proportion to the way their owner's drive them. Actually, there is some well executed scientific research indicating that viewing the color red causes specific psychological reactions in human beings. http://www.psych.rochester.edu/faculty/elliot/documents/2007_ElliotMaierMollerFriedmanMeinhardt_Color.pdf This link to the American Journal of Psychology goes to just one of several published studies on the subject. It is a well executed, double blind research study in which the scientists confirm their hypothesis that the color red in academic settings results in poor performance on tests. In addition to testing multiple sample studies in different countries with different controls, the researchers also used an EKG, and were able to measure the increase in right frontal-cortical (vs. left frontal for control colors) brain activity in response to the color red. Since red has such an effect on the human brain in academic settings, further research is needed before anyone can definitively rule out the theory that red cars receive more than their fair share of tickets.

10. Be aware that appearances count- Last but not least,if you do get pulled over BE NICE to the officer. They are much more likely to forgive an honest, law abiding, respectful citizen who "made a mistake"; than a rude,rebellious, smart-alec, putz who challenges their authority. Like the old saying goes; "you will catch more bees with honey than with vinegar!" - Can somebody tell me why anyone would be trying to catch bees in the first place?

Don't forget! You can actually insure savings by choosing to speed with fuel conservation in mind. If making money is more important to you than making time, read on at Happy Speeder.com.

The above commentary is based on the original article published July 23, 2008, entitled: "10 ways to avoid a speeding ticket" © 2008 AOL, LLC. All Rights Reserved.By Eric Peters on CNN.com/living

Happy Speeder does not condone, recommend, or support driving faster than the speed limit.

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CNN.com shares 5 ways to avoid a speeding ticket

Top ten ways to avoid a speeding ticket, first five: Cheap and easy, these suggestions might not save you gas, but they are intended to save you the cost of a speeding ticket. To me, the tips are aimed at interstate travelers, but you may see something different. I split the list for two manageable bits of travel commentary. Visit the original article here for the full story.

Drive within 5-10 mph of surrounding traffic I have been told by a reputable source that driving less than 10 mph over the speed limit is generally accepted due to the margin of error implicit in radar speed detection. To date, that theory has proven true for me, I would love to here from someone who has experienced otherwise -though.

Try to stay in the middle of the pack: Personally, I stay OUT of the pack. My mom always warned against travelling in "the pack" and I agree. Just notice how interstate wrecks usually occur: one car drifts over in to the other lane and the car behind him doesn't have time to navigate out of the way; or a sudden brake. Driving at least one car length for every 10 mph is a good rule to drive by.

Find a 'rabbit': In other words, assume a reasonable distance behind a fellow speeder, in hopes that a radar would lock on the line leader first. Much to my chagrin, I am forced to report the fallacy of this tip. I have been in the middle of three happy speeding cars pulled over. The cop asked if we were acquaintances, traveling together. "NO", but I did think there was safety in numbers. Apparently, not to a diligent traffic cop. To this day, if I am driving near a car being directed to pull over, I avoid eye contact with the patrolman so he can't wave me over as well.

Don't change lanes frequently, tailgate,or drive aggressively: Not only do you increase your risk of causing an accident, when you drive like that, you waste gas (see prior blog Save fuel or 7 minutes).

Avoid the fast lane: All I know is you're damned if you do and damned if you don't. Avoiding the fast lane means driving on the right where the congestion is greater, and cars are entering and exiting the highway, so you would think being farther from on/off ramps would be safer. Also, when you are in the fast lane, you don't have to watch your left side mirror... but you had better watch in your rear-view mirror for the "AngrySpeeder". Even driving 75mph is often not fast enough, and "AngrySpeeder" will let you know how much you have inconvenienced him when he passes you after honking, flashing his lights and tailgating dangerously close to get your attention. I'll save further thoughts on this topic for another blog, like this one. See: A Civil Car is Cheap.

To summarize, I must state emphatically that though I love the thrill of speed (see blog SPEED), and I support your freedom to choose your speed(see blog CHOOSE), you are responsible for your own car, driving, speeding, and tickets ( see former speedaholic learns to slow down), ...God knows ...I have paid for my fair share.

Happy Speeder does not condone, recommend, or support driving faster than the speed limit. All Rights Reserved.

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A traffic ticket costs more than hypermiling saves on gas.

My blinker is on, but my brakes aren't; at least not until the last possible second, and then only enough so that I can make the 90 degree turn with all 4 wheels on the ground. This hypermiling trick is one of my favorites because it is fun, almost like speeding. Within 300 feet of the entrance to my neighborhood, there is a stop sign, so my goal is to maintain the 25 mph speed limit without accelerating. So far, I have been too chicken to take the turn any faster than 20 mph, so I do have to press the gas a little to reach 25. The object is to reserve energy so that you don't have to accelerate as much once you make your turn. Technically, no law is broken; but some may consider it reckless, especially your passenger. I know I did when, oblivious to the price of gas, my newly driving teenager tried a similar trick, leaving me white knuckling the "Oh ---" handle with a glass of ice tea in my lap. But, as long as no one is following too close behind me, I take the turn with one hand on my tea glass, and coast as far as I can before applying the gas. Approaching the stop sign, I carefully survey the area for other vehicles, and finding none, brake just enough to confirm that there is no marked vehicle lurking over the hill, and resume coasting. This is one of the most controversial hypermiling tricks, and understandably so. Besides setting a bad example for observant minors, running a stop sign can be dangerous, and law enforcement officials don't take kindly to those who would disrespect the sign. So hypermilers beware. The traffic cops don't usually park in full view, and you may not always have your best game on, so my advice is: choose your timing - is it worth the risk when you have your son's tennis team in the van? know your environment- hiding police are harder to spot in the dark know your own skills and limitations-don't forget to block your tea glass in case of abrubt braking; and above all... be happy about your freedom to save a little bit of gas; one drop of oil saved is one less drop needed!

Slow down a little and save a lot!

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Speed. Faster than fast, quicker than quick.

LIGHTNING MCQUEEN "He Likes Speed!" Quote from Disney's Lightning McQueen: "I create feelings in others that they themselves don't understand". Of course we don't understand. As kids, we are automatically drawn to things that move fast and make loud noises. I remember thinking how smart my baby was that he could crawl while pushing a toy car and make the "brrmm" noise. Where did he learn that? Obviously, I decided, he was gifted. I don't think I ever played with toy cars as a toddler, but I do remember loving "Herbie" (good-old Disney again) and later "Dukes of Hazard". When I was about 8, Santa surprised me with an electric race track (see Dad- it is all your fault), and the sole purpose of this toy was to push the button as hard as you could to make the cars go as fast as possible. If they wrecked? even better! Set them up and see if you can make a bigger wreck! Is it just me, or is there something a little twisted here? It never crossed my mind that I might be contributing to a love of speed when I bought my boys every matchbox car and race trac system available. I bought "Power Ranger" toys, too, but I don't worry about getting a call in the middle of the night because my kid has been hurt battling "Megazord". I am sure that most "kids-play" is a reflection of normal human inclinations; half imitation- half imagination, but, the plethora of movies, cartoons, toys, rides and sports that are dedicated to the joy of speed gives me pause...and.... an excuse, for my own love of speed!

Image borrowed from flikr.com

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