• Got the Contributing Memberships stuff finally worked out and made up a thread as a sort of "How-To" to help people figure out how to participate. So if you need help figuring it out, here's the thread you need to take a look at -> http://www.corvetteflorida.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3581 Thank you, everyone! Rich Z.

316.2024 Coasting prohibited

Rich Z

Rich Z

Internet Sanitation Engineer
Staff member
316.2024 Coasting prohibited.--

The driver of any motor vehicle, when traveling upon a downgrade, shall not coast with the gears or transmission of such vehicle in neutral or the clutch disengaged. A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a moving violation as provided in chapter 318.

History.--s. 1, ch. 71-135; s. 1, ch. 76-31; s. 154, ch. 99-248.
Note.--Former s. 316.094.
 
Yeah, it does seem pretty nonsensical to me. Not that there are all that many significant hills in Florida anyway, but when on a substantial downgrade in a manual transmission vehicle, I would normally take it out of gear to just coast down the hill.

So yeah, what in the world would have prompted the legislators to make a law AGAINST such a thing?
 
I do it all the time.

My guess would have to be that if you needed to take immediate action by pressing the accelerator, you would first have to put it in gear. Maybe Gordon can give us his :twocents:
 
I'll see what I can find out Scott. The only thing I can imagine is the compression braking effect the car in gear would have in slowing the vehicle and as you mention, the ability to make an immediate reaction. Other than that,I'm sure it dates back to the stone age...now where is it that I can hitch my horse?:rofl1:
 
Shadow said:
I'll see what I can find out Scott. The only thing I can imagine is the compression braking effect the car in gear would have in slowing the vehicle and as you mention, the ability to make an immediate reaction. Other than that,I'm sure it dates back to the stone age...now where is it that I can hitch my horse?:rofl1:
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I was thinking about this a little more. Driving to work, I do 45 in a 40 down 113th St. In 6th gear, which I'm in when the traffic is very light, the rpm's are about 1200. That's pratically neutral. So if I need to make a sudden acceleration, I'd still have to change gears. You'd get more compression braking in the lower gears.

And secondly, let's say a LEO wanted to bust balls on something like this. How does one know if someone is coasting up to a red traffic light? Or down a slight grade? Is it something that's provable without a mathematician calculating it?
 
I use to work for a Saab dealer. Back in the 60's and 70's Saab made a model called the Saab 93. It was a three cylinder two stroke that had a freewheeling mode. It had a lever on the dash and when you engaged it it would let the little Saab coast in the freewheel position increasing the gas milage dramatically. Prople still drive them and even race them. Just another little tidbit from my past that stuck in the old brain.
 
Just politicians making laws to feel important. Then when it's election time they can say "Look I've made the world safer, re-elect me!"
 
Z06 Rocket said:
Just politicians making laws to feel important. Then when it's election time they can say "Look I've made the world safer, re-elect me!"
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Thats probably more like it;)
 
In the state of Florida that is one dumb a$$ law.:thumbsdown: Now up in NC now that could come in played.Some of the Mountains there i put my truck 2nd gear to come down. It's just to hard on the brakes having it in neutral or in hi gear. Besides those winding mountain roads could Kill someone if you was going to fast. In Florida how far could you really coast? :rofl1:
 
I can see the logic about it not being safe to coast down a steep or even relatively steep grade. Maybe this is just one of those laws were the politicians felt that they needed to "protect" people from themselves, even if it is something that is almost impossible to detect. Still, it would be interesting if the history behind why this law was passed/enacted could be uncovered...
 
Z06 Rocket said:
Just politicians making laws to feel important. Then when it's election time they can say "Look I've made the world safer, re-elect me!"
Click to expand...


Or: Just another way that they can fine us drivers....remember it's all about the money...:rolleyes: :mad:

I use my gears for backing down on compression all the time and when time, throw it up into neutral and coast to the light. I never ever ride the clutch.
 
mrcoupe2002 said:
I can see the logic about it not being safe to coast down a steep or even relatively steep grade. Maybe this is just one of those laws were the politicians felt that they needed to "protect" people from themselves, even if it is something that is almost impossible to detect. Still, it would be interesting if the history behind why this law was passed/enacted could be uncovered...
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You could probably say that about half the friggin' laws on the books.

They ought to make a law that says for every new law enacted, an old one has to be removed....

None of us have any idea about all the completely inane ludicrous laws on the books today....:rolleyes: :rolleyes:
 
Heck, I've thought for years that the law makers should be placed under tighter control and responsibility for their actions. After all, that's what the laws are doing to us.

I would REALLY like to see the following conditions and restrictions put on the books for legislators at all levels:

  • All laws MUST pass a consitutionality check before being passed.
  • All legislators voting FOR the enactment of a law can be held legally liable for any negative impacts it may have on their constituents.
  • All bills must contain only ONE item to be voted on rather than a stew pot full of items that must be taken in a "all or none" manner.
  • Lying to the public will result in their immediate removal from office. NO lie shall be considered as "justifiable" for ANY reason.
  • If a bill is presented as a correction or withdrawal of a previously passed law, the legislators who passed that previous bill shall have to PAY for the expense incurred in order to correct their mistake.
  • All bills most be subjected to public scrutiny for one year in order to have the public provide feedback to their representatives prior to it being voted on. NO secret laws, or 11th hour laws shall be passed.

There are probably more I have thought of over the years, but that will get them started, I guess..... :)
 
Rich Z said:
Heck, I've thought for years that the law makers should be placed under tighter control and responsibility for their actions. After all, that's what the laws are doing to us.

I would REALLY like to see the following conditions and restrictions put on the books for legislators at all levels:

  • All laws MUST pass a consitutionality check before being passed.
  • All legislators voting FOR the enactment of a law can be held legally liable for any negative impacts it may have on their constituents.
  • All bills must contain only ONE item to be voted on rather than a stew pot full of items that must be taken in a "all or none" manner.
  • Lying to the public will result in their immediate removal from office. NO lie shall be considered as "justifiable" for ANY reason.
  • If a bill is presented as a correction or withdrawal of a previously passed law, the legislators who passed that previous bill shall have to PAY for the expense incurred in order to correct their mistake.
  • All bills most be subjected to public scrutiny for one year in order to have the public provide feedback to their representatives prior to it being voted on. NO secret laws, or 11th hour laws shall be passed.

There are probably more I have thought of over the years, but that will get them started, I guess..... :)
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Have you thought about politics???....:D


RichZ's running slogan: "A Vette for every garage"......:thumbsup:
 
Rich Z said:
[*] Lying to the public will result in their immediate removal from office. NO lie shall be considered as "justifiable" for ANY reason.
Click to expand...

It's for your own good, Rich! :rofl1:
 
Well, I've been in the cop-shop biz for nearly 30 years. I don't believe I've EVER seen a citation for this. :shrug01: For an officer to issue a citation, the officer must first observe the violation.... beats me how one would do that... sooooo, this must be one of those laws left over from antiquity, similar to the steamboat racing prohibition in the intracoastal waterway....
 
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