91 MPH!

[Phil Mastro]

"....crash data recorder retrieved from the vehicle." WT*? His car had a crash data recorder?

In the past few years (I'm not sure about the time scale), car manufacturers have been installing the equivalent of airplane black-boxes in their vehicles. They usually record the last 5 seconds of data for your speed. So if you crash, the black box recorded the speed you were going at when you crashed.

 

[RWP]

In the past few years (I'm not sure about the time scale), car manufacturers have been installing the equivalent of airplane black-boxes in their vehicles. They usually record the last 5 seconds of data for your speed. So if you crash, the black box recorded the speed you were going at when you crashed.

Thanks, guess that would be easy for the computer to do, record speed just prior to air bag deployment. Heck I bet it records all the relevant parameters. Seat belt, tire pressure, radio station etc.

 

[burk48237]

"....crash data recorder retrieved from the vehicle." WT*? His car had a crash data recorder?

I'm assuming the vehicle was a State police vehicle, and they often have cameras and crash data recorders. Also a state trooper was driving. My question still applies. Shouldn't the business of State have the same priority as any other business? If I was late for a meeting, and driving 91 mph they would nail my A**. I can understand a true emergency, like the school shootings. But even on the Federal level, if your late for a meeting with some lobbyist or campaign fundraiser, should you be allowed to ignore traffic laws? I have a few friends in WA DC, who tell me that they have had several occasions where they have had to yield to a speeding motorcade so a congressman could get to a fundraiser.

 

[kobass]

"....crash data recorder retrieved from the vehicle." WT*? His car had a crash data recorder?

These are actually commonplace in most modern cars. They're certainly not as complex as those found in large passenger jets. They record things like vehicle speed, engine speed and braking (how long and hard the brakes were applied) etc. I don't know the specifics, but it's nothing more than a small "black box" that has about $5 worth of electronics in it. I believe it records a moving window of about 15-30 seconds. The original intent was to protect auto manufacturers from certain liability claims.

 

[Ed Goode]

... My question still applies. Shouldn't the business of State have the same priority as any other business? ...

According to most every report regarding this issue, the prevailing wisdom is that the motorcade drives at a speed that prevents another vehicle from driving along side the Gov's car. So if some citizen is driving 70 mph, the motorcade could drive, say, 75-80 mph to get by the citizen's car. In theory, this is done to prevent the Gov from being a "sitting target" (my interpretation), so to speak.

But in actuality, the area where Corzine was isn't a densely populated section of the state .... in fact, it is not heavily populated or traffic laden at all. So that excuse about getting away from the traffic congestion doesn't hold water in this instance.

But it is also true that the speeds driven on most NJ major thorfares is extremely high. I can't say that the driving is the worst in the nation, but it's gotta be close to the top of the list. Driving at 80 mph in a 65 zone is routine, so in that light hitting 91mph is not unusual. Frankly, it isn't so much the speed that has NJ residents upset, it's the complete BS explanations from the Troopers and Gov's office that has everyone PO'd. If I, as an average NJ resident, was involved in a 91mph accident, they'd have me handcuffed to the hospital bed. The hypocracy is staggering ....

 

[Relic]

Driving at 80 mph in a 65 zone is routine, so in that light hitting 91mph is not unusual. Frankly, it isn't so much the speed that has NJ residents upset, it's the complete BS explanations from the Troopers and Gov's office that has everyone PO'd. If I, as an average NJ resident, was involved in a 91mph accident, they'd have me handcuffed to the hospital bed. The hypocracy is staggering ....

And there you have it in a nutshell.
I wish the guy a speedy and full recovery, but being that NJ is the poster child for stupid nanny laws + we have mucho corruption, this is p*ssing off a lot of people.

 

[Bryan316]

Funny how they mention the governor's list of injuries, but say nothing about the condition of the state trooper who was driving him.

 

[Ed Goode]

Funny how they mention the governor's list of injuries, but say nothing about the condition of the state trooper who was driving him.

The Gov was the only injured person. The driver was wearing a seatbelt, and the aide in the back seat walked away from the accident unharmed ..... Corzine was seriously messed up in the accident, according to reports he lost a massive amount of blood ....

 

[Basshole]

Speed limits are and continue to be unreflective of actual real-world speeds. Proper traffic regulation and control would be safer if the government would stop pretendeding that people actually drive around the entire time watching their speedometers.

What we all instead REALLY do, is drive at a speed that doesn't require too much attention, so that we can think about other things. Your subconscious mind takes over the task of driving...and since unless you are mentally unbalanced, your subconscious isn't trying to kill you, it generally drives a safe and reasonable speed. Even traffic experts suggest that speed limits should reflect the 85 percentile of drivers.

They have for years disregarded this recommendation, and traffic is no better controlled. Speeds on the GSP average 80-85 mph. The speed limit should probably reflect that, and enforcement should center on lowering closing speeds in each lane, by keeping slower traffic to the right, and out of the stream of faster moving traffic.

I understand the trooper position, but also feel there is a double-standard being used here. There is truth on both sides, and hypocrisy everywhere, but the entire thing underscores the fact that there is a problem here.

 

[Ed Goode]

Speed limits are and continue to be unreflective of actual real-world speeds. Proper traffic regulation and control would be safer if the government would stop pretendeding that people actually drive around the entire time watching their speedometers.

What we all instead REALLY do, is drive at a speed that doesn't require too much attention, so that we can think about other things. Your subconscious mind takes over the task of driving...and since unless you are mentally unbalanced, your subconscious isn't trying to kill you, it generally drives a safe and reasonable speed. Even traffic experts suggest that speed limits should reflect the 85 percentile of drivers.

They have for years disregarded this recommendation, and traffic is no better controlled. Speeds on the GSP average 80-85 mph. The speed limit should probably reflect that, and enforcement should center on lowering closing speeds in each lane, by keeping slower traffic to the right, and out of the stream of faster moving traffic.

I understand the trooper position, but also feel there is a double-standard being used here. There is truth on both sides, and hypocrisy everywhere, but the entire thing underscores the fact that there is a problem here.

Basshole, I agree 100% with everything you said here ...

 

[Michael Jewels]

As for his recovery, he's probably screwed. These types of accidents take years to make even a partial recovery. The fact that he was in the front passenger seat makes it even worse, because that is the most dangerous part of a car. If the airbag went off and he wasn't wearing a seatbelt, he'll also have severe lower body injuries. For example, in a front end collision with a brick wall, the femurs would be pushed back into the pelvis, breaking both hips and smashing the sciatic nerves. Such injuries were common when airbags first came out, because people thought that seatbelts weren't necessary. I have a family friend whose legs sustained major permanent damage from such an accident.

When I heard he'd broken six ribs on each side among his other injuries, I said to myself, there's got to be something we don't know yet. The 91 mph speed without wearing a seatbelt does fill in the blank.

One guy who was one of the first on the scene after the crash said when he went up to the SUV, both of Corzine's legs were hanging out the passenger window, and he was moaning, "MY LEG, MY LEG!"

To me, this sounds like he was probably very close to being thrown out of the vehicle during impact.

He was lucky he wasn't killed.

Mike

 

[Michael Jewels]

NJ, easily the single most corrupt state in the nation ....

I'm not a Jersey resident, but my sister is, and she says this all the time.

Mike

 

[tplyons]

1) I believe this is the third time Cody has been acting governor of NJ. When Whitman resigned as governor to be sworn in as EPA Administrator. When McGreevey resigned due to the scandal, and now with Corzine's injuries.

2) This is the third consecutive NJ Governor to suffer a broken leg while in office. 1) Whitman broke a leg while skiing. 2) McGreevey broke his leg while walking on the beach at night with his wife. 3) Corzine.

3) 91 mph on the GSP or NJTP is fairly common in the left lane. 80 or so will keep up with the middle lane, 85 isn't a stretch, and 91 certainly isn't out of the question.

4) He wasn't wearing his seatbelt. Hope he gets fined for this one. It's a law he is supposed to uphold, and if nothing else, this incident shows that seatbelts DO save lives. The aide and the driver were wearing them and walked away with cuts and bruises. Corzine, who was not wearing a seatbelt bounced around like a ragdoll.

I don't mind the guy, I just think he's setting an awful example.

 

[Ericman197]

This might be an urban legend, but I've heard that he isn't required to wear a seatbelt, or at least that he can't be ticketed for not wearing one.

As for corruption, New Jersey may tie with New York City. I always wonder how it's possible that 70 some odd years ago we could afford to build all these bridges and tunnels, yet with all the NYC taxes we can't afford to paint them... hmmmm. Washington DC may also be a close call for having so many politicians in such a small area.

 

[tplyons]

This might be an urban legend, but I've heard that he isn't required to wear a seatbelt, or at least that he can't be ticketed for not wearing one.

Actually, nobody can be pulled over for not wearing a seatbelt. It's a secondary offense. One must be doing something else visibly wrong in order to be pulled over.

However, once pulled over, it's fair game. I can imagine no reason why any single individual could be exempt from a law this basic. Urban legend is my vote.

 

[ryco]

Rules are for everyone else

 

[Supertanker]

One guy who was one of the first on the scene after the crash said when he went up to the SUV, both of Corzine's legs were hanging out the passenger window, and he was moaning, "MY LEG, MY LEG!"

Makes me think of the crash scene in Grindhouse when Stunt Man Bob crashed into the girls at night.

Talk about gruesome...

Click it baby! Period. It ain't worth the alternative...

 

[Relic]

Click it baby! Period. It ain't worth the alternative...

I think the only graceful way for Corzine to spin this - have that same quote above a pic of him in the hospital bed on a ventilator, and have the guy fully endorse it.
Damn I outta be a PR person.

 

[Brad Johnson]

According to most every report regarding this issue, the prevailing wisdom is that the motorcade drives at a speed that prevents another vehicle from driving along side the Gov's car. So if some citizen is driving 70 mph, the motorcade could drive, say, 75-80 mph to get by the citizen's car. In theory, this is done to prevent the Gov from being a "sitting target" (my interpretation), so to speak.

But in actuality, the area where Corzine was isn't a densely populated section of the state .... in fact, it is not heavily populated or traffic laden at all. So that excuse about getting away from the traffic congestion doesn't hold water in this instance.

But it is also true that the speeds driven on most NJ major thorfares is extremely high. I can't say that the driving is the worst in the nation, but it's gotta be close to the top of the list. Driving at 80 mph in a 65 zone is routine, so in that light hitting 91mph is not unusual. Frankly, it isn't so much the speed that has NJ residents upset, it's the complete BS explanations from the Troopers and Gov's office that has everyone PO'd. If I, as an average NJ resident, was involved in a 91mph accident, they'd have me handcuffed to the hospital bed. The hypocracy is staggering ....

I just made the trip to Woodcliff Lakes last week and going and coming it was very common to see people going between 85 and 90+mph.

The traffic on the Washington Beltway usually runs at 80+ mph... in the slow lane. It's not like 90 IRL is that fast on that type of road.

Just don't get caught.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Speed limits are and continue to be unreflective of actual real-world speeds. Proper traffic regulation and control would be safer if the government would stop pretendeding that people actually drive around the entire time watching their speedometers.

What we all instead REALLY do, is drive at a speed that doesn't require too much attention, so that we can think about other things. Your subconscious mind takes over the task of driving...and since unless you are mentally unbalanced, your subconscious isn't trying to kill you, it generally drives a safe and reasonable speed. Even traffic experts suggest that speed limits should reflect the 85 percentile of drivers.

I'm one of those people who actually does pay attention and keeps an eye out for those people who are driving in the zone.

I'd much rather drive with people at a higher speed who are paying attention than near the speed limit with a bunch of distracted, clueless drivers.

They have for years disregarded this recommendation, and traffic is no better controlled. Speeds on the GSP average 80-85 mph. The speed limit should probably reflect that, and enforcement should center on lowering closing speeds in each lane, by keeping slower traffic to the right, and out of the stream of faster moving traffic.

There's money in traffic enforcement.

I understand the trooper position, but also feel there is a double-standard being used here. There is truth on both sides, and hypocrisy everywhere, but the entire thing underscores the fact that there is a problem here.

There will always be a double standard.