Want something covered in Meriden?

[APERLOT]

It won't get covered if we don't know about it. I'm one of the reporters covering Meriden, but there's no way we can hear about everything. If you've noticed something and want a story done about it, email me at Aperlot@record-journal.com, and we'll look into it if it's a good story.

Thanks.

Andrew Perlot

[tjohnl]

how about something about how useless the cell phone driving ban is

or..

how about how ashamed the record - journal should be for giving all area teenagers a map to where they can drive fast and get some 'air'

[leherissierm]

I remember reading about the spot to get "air" in Wallingford - to the RJ's defense, they were reporting upon a very serious accident. It is not like they were encouraging teenagers to go there. To say that that comment is a map to teenagers is like saying the police blotter is a map to the drug dealers!

[eds]

Oh yeah sure tjohnl...the record-journal is the source for teens to find all the cool places to go. I'm sure if it weren't for the record-journal then all the teens would just go to the library and read books. Then they would all go to the soda shop for some milkshakes. Lucky we have the r-j to be the source for teen waywardness.

[Chriss P]

I personally would like to cover the cell phone issue. But the cell phone law seems to be used as a good reason to pull someone over or a reservation of the right to enforce when the need comes such as a real accident to prove fault.

I don't see the law being really enforced or any campaign to stop cell phone use. It could be a great source of income with all the violations that occur.

[Golden Gooch]

They ,The Record-Journal does not mean to give teens a place to drive perilously (dangerously) but to remind them how dangerous it really is .

[Golden Gooch]

Remind everybody that when out in public to mind their manners ; That means in more detail not to swear , spit , or not pick up after their dogs . By doing this we can all make life easier .
For those of you driving as fast as you have been up until now , leave the house earlier , or call the boss and say that you are running late . Do this and you can help make easier for all . Thank you .

[eds]

I have an idea. How about getting CT State to install traffic radar camera every mile on the interstates just like they did in Arizona on many of their problem highways. In AZ they drive the speed limit where those cameras are installed. The fines are stiff and no way to beat them.

[APERLOT]

I have an idea. How about getting CT State to install traffic radar camera every mile on the interstates just like they did in Arizona on many of their problem highways. In AZ they drive the speed limit where those cameras are installed. The fines are stiff and no way to beat them.

See, we don't really create ideas and publish them, perhaps with the exception of editorials. We only cover what's happening. If you and a group of others were to petition the city or state for improvements, we would cover that, but we don't really go out and create news.

[eds]

Ok...I'll keep you posted.

[collie]

Interesting that today's news reports Governor Rell is trying to get cameras installed on 95 as a pilot program. I reallly hope that goes through with bipartisan support. Perhaps they can use the fine money to fund bridge repairs in the state; it would be an appropriate use of the money.

[eds]

Really? I vote a big YES! I used to drive 95 and that is the worst road in CT even Rte 10. I drove Rte 10 too.

Now that is something the R-J could cover, right?

[collie]

Sure, I think I first read about it yesterday on the RJ home page. They could do a story on local reaction, ask local politicians, average citizens, the state police, etc...

[Chriss P]

I have to say our highways are awful. Im afraid to do 60 on 95 or 91 and always have some hot head behind me in the right lane even. Go cameras!!!

But I would like employers to relax thier position an tardiness at work as this also contributes to the mad rush.

[eds]

How about people leaving earlier to avoid the mad rush?

The speed limit is 65 on 91. Either people are doing 55 on 91 trying to save a pittance in gas, or they're going 85 or more trying save a pittance on time. Just do 65. Its so simple. Nothing is going to happen to you and won't die a horrible fiery death.

[Chriss P]

Actually 65 is sometimes faster than I like to drive. I like to drive leisurely at times but not too slow. Also my response time is better at 55 to 60 than 65 and I dont feel as rushed ands its less wear an tear on the car. Thank gawd my blowout 2 weeks ago occured in the right lane as I was doing 55 to 60. The tire sidewall just gave out. And also 3 yrs ago when that lady hit a large giant lamp pole on 91 that landed 5 ft in front of my car. Thankfully I was driving leisurely and could stop without going out of control.

I don't belong in New England I think I miss the hospitality of Georgia and out back Missouri (Its just too fast paced up hear and maybe down there as progress takes its toll).

[Golden Gooch]

:) Hving beenborn and raised here , I even to this moment [Monday, February 04, 2008 @ 10:01:01 PM] belive that this is my home where God wants me to be .

[Chriss P]

:) Hving beenborn and raised here , I even to this moment [Monday, February 04, 2008 @ 10:01:01 PM] belive that this is my home where God wants me to be .

Well were I was born has become a massive crowded city and my mother can barley make it out onto the main road. Thankfully there are lots of buses but ots much more crowded than CT is and they don't have emission controls like we do and coal is still burnt and thus you breath in a nice breath of SO2 air during your morning jog. So I should just get on with it and go with the flow. I feel Im always going against the flow and its a losing struggle. Im bringing a roll of Charmin on my next Guiffrida hike lol J/K.

[Golden Gooch]

Since i-84 westbound was so badly built with the storm drains , It has to be built all over again and , this time right .:)
Onto traffic , while we can expand the two big highways , we can use public transporatation as much as possible . So , to get started download bus, boat,train and airplane schedules .A reason is gas savings ; while a Diesel Locomotive can use up to 100,000 gals of feul with 200,000 on board it can use that much to get that many people from Point [R] to Point [S] simultaniously . So , that is a reason to use it . Another one is to give an attitude change , is that it is as American as baseball, hotdogs, and apple pie . So , use it . :)

[Golden Gooch]

how about something about how useless the cell phone driving ban is

or..

how about how ashamed the record - journal should be for giving all area teenagers a map to where they can drive fast and get some 'air'

No, the Record - Journal may have , but did not intend ,set out to do . In contrast they remind teens and Tenty-somethings not to do that at all . A word to you teens , slow down ! Know that if you want to be totally fly , cool , rad , do not do it and celebrate your 100th birthdays .

[Chriss P]

Just a coincedence channel 61 coverd this topic on News at 10 last night.

Highlights:

Tailgaters
Speeders
Some one cutting them off on camera
And how the roads are quite callous up here in NewEngland as compared to other states.

Cameras and more police on the highways.

I have to add the State Police also need to set an example as I see them speeding a lot also.

[collie]

Wouldn't that be great if the cameras fined speeding police! The only way they can legally speed is if answering a call, I think, and would have their lights and/or sirens on. It is discouraging to see them speeding on the highway when they don't have a good reason to. It is discouraging and disheartening.

[eds]

Not exactly. There are different coding levels. Sometimes its lights and sirens, other times its get there as quick as humanly possible but no lights and sirens. The speed that a trooper travels is at their discretion. The same way that just because a civilian is pulled over for speeding does not mean a ticket must be issued. It's at the discretion of the trooper. Even as a firefighter there would be what's called professional courtesy. Having a tin makes all the difference.

[gene36]

How many troopers are on traffic duty on any given day?
Back(way back) when I was a new driver the DOT took care of traffic duty, and then someone came up with the bright idea that we needed someone with arrest powers on consruction sites(read union). Back in the day if you had a breakdown or a minor accident you only waited about a half hour until a trooper on road patrol would come by and radio for a tow or what ever else you needed.
Lets get back to letting the State Troopers do what they were intended to do and we wouldn't have to hire more.
The DOT could put out sedans or pickup trucks with flashing lites to do the same thing the trooper does,Sit !

[eds]

New York State has white utility trucks called "H.E.L.P" Highway Emergency Local Patrol. They handle the breakdowns and tow jobs etc on the freeway. We have those orange DOT dump trucks that I occasionally see helping stranded motorists. If we had a dedicated patrol for just these types of emergencies it would free up troopers to catch speeders. We don't need a trooper to call a two truck. The "H.E.L.P" trucks in New York have plenty of flashing yellow lights for visibility so using a trooper in that case would be a waste of his/her power. Unless that trooper was not busy or happened upon the motorist but as a rule use the troopers for traffic enforcement and dedicate another branch for highway emergencies. Besides those "H.E.L.P" trucks carry a lot more repair gear, tools, fluids, etc plus they are all mechanics as well, so far as I understand.

[Golden Gooch]

It won't get covered if we don't know about it. I'm one of the reporters covering Meriden, but there's no way we can hear about everything. If you've noticed something and want a story done about it, email me at Aperlot@record-journal.com, and we'll look into it if it's a good story.

Thanks.

Andrew Perlot
Here is a story : peoples' rude behavior . Before going much farther , let it be known that without stress , less work would get done making an endeaver less profitable .Stressed people trying to climb the corporate ladder and do other parts of their lives , can do rude deeds . So , stressing makes them look like hard-woring folks . Looking @ the bigger picture in our competetive society , where competition belongs important , they have to be #1. so it goes while against God's will .

[jma]

Do a story on how much the City is paying for fuel, and what (if anything) it's doing to keep costs down. Why are there so many 8 cylinder cars in the City fleet? If someone gets a "take-home" car, why can't it be an economy car?

[eds]

8 cylinder engines get good gas mileage these days.

[jma]

Not better than a 4-cylinder car, especially if I'm paying for their gas!

[eds]

With that logic, why not give them bicycles in the summer months? It would make them healthier and save on health care costs, it would save on gas, it would be better for emissions, and the maintenance is cheaper too. Or why not make all city employees take the bus? We really need to be looking at the big picture

Besides, how intimidating is a police officer on a bike? Police need a certain presence on the road. Since they are the ones with the most time on the road, they would be the most likely candidates to downsize. But that is not realistic. The rest of the city drives to and from work twice a day. Even the worst gas guzzlers would do pretty good if they were only driven twice a day for a couple miles. Other city vehicles require large engines like police, fire, ambulances, dump trucks, pickup trucks, etc. Really the amount of gas saved is very little.

People think that the mileage difference with 4 cyl cars is better than that of 8 cyls, simply because the EPA sticker says so. But when you factor in driving habits, EPA stickers go out the window. People tend to drive 4 cyl cars harder because they lack "pep". They mash the pedal down just to get the throttle response they are used to with 8 cyls. The 4 cyl engines rev higher and work harder to do the same things 8's do. They wear out faster and have higher maintenance costs. 8 Cyls, over the long haul, even with the gas factored in, are cheaper to own, from the perspective of total cost of ownership.

If you take an average 4 cyl car getting an average 35 MPG city compared to say my V8 cherokee which gets 18 MPG city, you would cut your gas in half. But with poor driving habits as discussed earlier you actual mileage is really around 25 MPG city. You actual savings is only 38%. That's only 1.20 cents savings per gallon, at 3.15 per gallon. Figures based upon the estimate that the EPA gives as reducing gas mileage by 20% for poor driving habits. Now factor in maintenance costs which are higher for smaller engines and your savings is not that much. Even if you cut the gas bill in half, that savings is paltry.

Besides, replacing the fleet of vehicles would extend the time it would extend the time it would take to realize any savings. I think this is a bit penny wise and pound foolish.

If you really want to save gas, check the tire pressure, make sure the oil is changed, and keep the air filter clean.

If you did manage to get a fuel efficient fleet in the town, what would that save. A couple million? That's not very impressive.

[jma]

Eds, have you ever agreed with anyone here, or do you just like to argue? The police department already has bicycles, and they work pretty good. The City of New Haven is now using 6 cylinder cars for many of their cruisers, not only for the gas mileage, but because they are front wheel drive, and work better in the winter months. The police department isn't the only department with a fleet of cars. Does the health department need Crown Vics? I never recommended replacing the whole fleet at once. Why not phase in other cars over time? You'll never convince me that trying to save money is a foolish thing.

[eds]

I have agreed with many people on this board. But there's a lot of B.S. on this board and I call it out when I see it.

Saving money is not foolish. But you are looking at it from a nickel and dime approach.

We need to focus on big ticket items. The reason other departments use Crown Victoria's is that they are old cruisers, or that they get a great deal when buying in bulk from Ford. They are also fleet vehicles. Fleet vehicle buying programs are totally different from what you or I do when buying and selecting a car.

Fleet vehicle maintenance programs are based upon having a fleet of similar cars so that it becomes cost effective.

You are talking about a serious cap ex to start replacing these cars with other fleet vehicles and change maintenance programs and such...just to save some gas which is of paramount importance to you because it is something you can relate to in your own personal budget.

Running a town's fleet vehicle program is much more complex than just MPG ratings...your solution is a bit shortsighted.

[jma]

I believe that any savings is beneficial. Rather than wait for an opportunity to save a bundle in one swoop, the nickels and dimes may add up to the same amount. The gas is an issue because I'm sick and tired of seeing City of Meriden cars being operated out of town, filled with families. Take home cars should be used to drive back and forth to work, not used to transport the kids around and go grocery shopping. The City has cars being driven home to Madison, East Haddam, and Wolcott, just for examples. How does this benefit the City? Those are the nickel and dime costs that bother me.

[eds]

Well now that I can understand. Unnecessary use of city cars for personal reasons is a valid objection and is something that can be brought up as an issue and rectified without a lot of cost thus saving money. While I don't necessarily agree, in that I think that use is acceptable, I can definitely understand your perspective better than your case for MPG ratings and changing out fleet vehicles.

Why don't you bring this up as a concern with your area representative?

[jma]

good idea-I'll give it a try.

[tjohnl]

interesting that in past posts from a different thread that some people compared some four cylinders as too fast and now the four cylinders can't get out of their own way??
interesting

[jma]

I guess the person behind the wheel has as much to do with it as the amount of power. An inexperienced kid vs an experienced adult would certainly make a difference.

[eds]

Both 4 and 8 cyls can achieve the same speed. Its the speed that will kill you not how fast you get there. That's true for any car, except that driver's attitudes will be different driving a sports car vs driving a sedan family type vehicle. Driver age influences driver attitudes as well as peer pressure when driving with other equally immature people.

We have several different variables to consider. Driver's attitude, type of car, horsepower, and road conditions.

You also have to consider the weight of the vehicle which is called power to weight ratio. You put a 4 cyl two seater roadster against a large V8 Expedition style SUV and the 4cyl will win given equal driver skill.

4cyls do not have the throttle response that 8 cyls do. That's what makes the MPG go down on a 4cyl. People mash the pedal to get it up to speed faster considering the cars the town buys are not 2-seater lightweight roasters like the Nissan Z.

No 4 cyl can have more horsepower, at a given RPM than an 8. But horsepower does not dictate perceived "zoom zoom" as they say. Throttle response has to do with gearing as well. You'll see claims of 4 cyls having 500HP but that's with a blueprinted, and balanced engine running 8000 to 9000 rpms. You can get the same horsepower with an 8, at less RPMs. Then you have gearing to consider which will affect actual horsepower at the tires vs at the engine.

Bottom line a 4 cyl is always going to be a slower car than an 8 all other things being equal. 4 cyl will have to work harder which will lower gas mileage when driven by people used to driving a bigger engine. However it is still none the less dangerous. Any car can become a weapon in the wrong hands. But some cars have a propensity to become a weapon more so than others.

The biggest problem is driver age.

[tjohnl]

so the soulution is..raise the driving age, so younger drivers won't get experience, or is it to lower the driving age so some seniors will stop driving.

[Chriss P]

Yea!! raise the driving age so we get more mature responsible drivers behinde the wheel. Those 2 years can make a big difference and the fact they are out of highschool may help. Oh how us highschool students were eager to showoff in my days and be wild and crazy can't say it stopped there though but the urge seemed stronger in HS.

If at 16 make, driving suprvised for 2 years and keep them in training during that time.

I don want to suggest your logic would suit having drivers start at 10 so they can even get more experience. Im very fortunate my parents made me wait until after HS to throw me the keys although I got my license at 16. I dont believe I was ready for the responsibility then myself.

[eds]

Ah the "I need experience" argument. I wondered when that would be raised. You can get all the experience you need with a licensed adult driver, driving with the teen. We are talking about being allowed to drive on your own unsupervised. 16 seems real young for that. At 16, you can't be trusted to operate machinery on the job, even deli slicers, etc. At 18 you can. But you can operate a motor vehicle at 16? At 18 you are an adult. Raise the age. Require mandatory full written and behind-the-wheel testing every 3-5 years depending on driving record. After age 70, testing every 2 years and before age 25, every 2 years.

Age, physical ability, and mental attitude are what get drivers into trouble.

[Chriss P]

Said really well Eds

[JenMann]

how about something about how useless the cell phone driving ban is

or..

how about how ashamed the record - journal should be for giving all area teenagers a map to where they can drive fast and get some 'air'

John how many teenagers do you know of who actually read a newspaper when it isn't an assignment for school and I can see the cell phone ban not being enforced but the sad reality is if it was where would we get the police when another serious emergency happens besides everyone has it in their heads it will never happen to me such as I'm sure thats what the kid was thinking who was driving he knew that others had accidents on that strip of road before, that would have been like telling my friends not to race the berlin turnpike when I was a teen wouldnt have stopped them. You want to scream and yell, place the blame where it belongs not because a reporter has to report on an accident.

[eds]

You tell 'em!