Gothamist: Corzine's SUV Clocked in at 91 MPH

Still Not Amused

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 10:59:24 -0500

I wonder if he's going to use this to further the call for safer driving conditions in New Jersey ? Also do the Troopers plan on handing the Governor his summons for not wearing his seat belt ? I think they should process him the same way they would a regular person . That would show that Jersey's serious about safety ! But we all know this won't happen .

David

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 18:50:50 -0500

"t doesn't matter what 'normal traffic flow' is. The only ting that matters is that Corzine broke two laws and he should be ticketed for breaking both laws just as you or I would be." And voted out of office.

Reality Czech

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 16:13:44 -0500

It doesn't matter what 'normal traffic flow' is. The only ting that matters is that Corzine broke two laws and he should be ticketed for breaking both laws just as you or I would be.

Spud Spudly

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 16:09:11 -0500

A State Trooper is in no position to disobey the governor if he says to drive faster than the speed limit. Obviously, there are times when the governor will legitimately need to speed for some kind of crucial state business. Speeding to a meeting with Imus was the governor's decision -- just as it was his decision to not buckle up. A trooper is in no position to disagree if the governor tells him to go faster.

Ricky Bobby

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 14:58:52 -0500

Owning a car or not, 90mph in Chevy Suburban -- any car, for that matter -- makes that vehicle a brick, stable in no direction but where it's pointed. At probably almost two and a half tons of vehicle weight, the driver's instinct of a behemoth like that should NOT be to steer away from a hazard but to drive through or over anything smaller than a tractor trailer.

jmchez

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 14:40:56 -0500

Anyone with common sense knows that the "Regular" speed limit is, or should, be based on traffic, weather and road conditions. Even in the best of times, I rarely go above 75-80 mph. If there's heavy traffic and everyone is going 70-75, you are asking for trouble if you push it far above 10 mph over that. Anyone in front could easily slow down for whatever reason and now you are going 30 to 40 mph above them. Believe me, reaction times when going 90 following a 60 mph car are much worse than going 70 following a 40 mph car. Aside form the logic of keeping up with traffic, and with all due respect, Corzine has a habit of not following rules because he's rich and powerful. He bought his way into the Senate. Then, when he felt that he had no real executive power, he bought his way into the Governorship. The man is hurt and I'm sorry, but he has had a mentality that he can buy or order his way out of following rules for regular folk.

Jen Chung

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 13:48:32 -0500

Hey, I know the GSP is in NJ! But it's true, I don't have a car. Sure, 91MPH on the GSP might be normal, but, as many people have pointed out, 91MPH on the GSP and sitting in the front passenger seat without a seatbelt is just not smart.

Anon E. Mouse

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 12:52:50 -0500

"And NOW they want to cite the driver, who was probably just obeying the orders of the governor?" They're both just as guilty. The trooper didn't have to buckle under pressure, and I'm sure knew full well, as IT IS HIS JOB to know and inform others that speeding to that extent isn't safe. I see troopers speeding like that on the GSP just to get back to their little hiding places in the median.

yupyup

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 12:02:01 -0500

91mph on GSP is normal traffic flow. But Jen Chung doesn't have a car. She probably doesn't even know where GSP is.

Spud Spudly

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 11:28:29 -0500

How ironic if it is true that the crash was caused by a driver trying to get out of the way of the governor's totally unnecessary lights and sirens. And how hypocritical of NJ to want to issue the trooper who was driving a citation. Don't you think Corzine travels like this all the time? And NOW they want to cite the driver, who was probably just obeying the orders of the governor? What's he supposed to do, say "I'm sorry Governor Corzine but the purpose of this trip does not justify excess speed and the use of lights and sirens"? Maybe he didn't know they were going to see Imus. Maybe he was just following orders and if he said no he would wind up directing traffic the next day at a rest stop in Elizabeth. Who knows? BTW, if the car's black box showed speeds of 91 MPH at the time of the accident it's still quite possible (probable actually) that they were actually going faster at some point during the trip.

Douchebag Internet Addict

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 11:16:16 -0500

Yeah and you liberal left wing douchebag internet addicts would be posting about A) how you wish that person were dead B) how much that person deserved it and C) how they should be issued a citation. All depends on your perspective. Keep typing, it makes you seem like the wonderful person I'm sure you are. By the way the calling me a "douchebag internet addict" was just too perfect. SP - Thanks for describing The Post's awful cover. I did a double take on Saturday when I saw the cover at the news stand.

hah

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 11:10:16 -0500

wow, you expect so much of the post. impressive.

kz

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 11:08:19 -0500

There is no way that trooper is going to go back on the job yet. Troopers get paid more on injury leave then on the job. He is probably going to wait 3-6 months before going back on duty, at the minimum.

Tim

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 11:06:20 -0500

If he was doing 91 on the GSP, he was probably still getting passed.

SP

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 11:01:33 -0500

#3 has a good point, the post had the headline "bucklehead" and a photoshopped crash test dummy with corzine's face on it, the second line, as if the illustration wasnt enough, literally called him a dummy. hardly a respectful or tasteful commentary for anyone, let alone an elected official, even if it was a stupid thing for him to have not had his belt on. had that been jeb bush or some other gop fuckwad, i'm sure the cover would have been all black with huge white type saying something retarded like "our prayers go out to so-and-so after horrific crash".

James

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 10:56:13 -0500

I just wonder if the taxpayers of the State of NJ will get stuck with Corzine's medical bills. He should pay it out of pocket - his injuries are his own damn fault for not wearing a seatbelt (trooper had minor injuries, is almost ready to go back on duty).

SP

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 10:36:28 -0500

the state trooper who was driving should be fired. he allowed the guv to ride in his escort vehicle without being buckled up. he failed to both enforce the law and guarantee the safety of his most important passenger. add to that the fact that he was speeding at almost 30mph over the limit, this guy should be toast. he wont be of course, he is i'm sure a "hero", most double standard hypocrisy. its disgusting.

Ricky Bobby

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 10:35:35 -0500

How ironic that the governor of the state that invented asshole driving just about gets done in by first-class asshole driving. I had thought initially that the driver of the red pickup that overcorrected out of the shoulder might be a fine example of retard driving -- hello, depth perception -- but the speed suggests the governor had ordered full berries and sirens for his mighty two-car motorcade. I can only imagine the self-important finance vibes he was giving off to the state trooper/driver, if not outright verbal lashing --those types never lose the compulsion to get there five minutes ago. "This is my chance! National news coverage! Racial reconciliation!"

whatever

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 10:35:09 -0500

Imagine if this happened to some republican big wig, the post and fox news would be crapping their pants with 24hr news coverage with minute to minute recovery updates. Yeah and you liberal left wing douchebag internet addicts would be posting about A) how you wish that person were dead B) how much that person deserved it and C) how they should be issued a citation. All depends on your perspective.

Tom

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 10:32:50 -0500

I would be terrified going 91 without a seatbelt on. How can smart people be so dumb?

Toby

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 10:31:14 -0500

I wonder if the speed of travel and the emergency lights were the orders of Corzine. Still, it is more proof that politicos think they are above the law.

'sif

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 10:24:45 -0500

what's the point of us talking about the speed limit.. its not like any of us are following it, so wouldnt it be a little outrageous for us to expect him to? and btw, the nypost still sucks. and probably always will.

DaveH

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 10:20:41 -0500

The speed limit is 65 m.p.h. on the stretch of the GSP where the crash occurred, according to this account.

devil's advocate

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 10:13:58 -0500

Although, to put in more in context, it the driver was trying to go slightly faster than surrounding traffic, 91 might not be that outrageous. If the speed limit is 65, on a relatively open road during non-peak hours, wouldn't it be safe to guess many drivers would be going 75 or 80? Then 91 wouldn't be THAT much faster. Using the lights is bogus though. A photo-op for a hot button issue that doesn't even concern the governor's office is definitely not an emergency.

Tasteless Post

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 10:13:55 -0500

Imagine if this happened to some republican big wig, the post and fox news would be crapping their pants with 24hr news coverage with minute to minute recovery updates.

Silversides

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 09:33:06 -0500

Jen, he broke his leg, not his leg leg :)

anna

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 09:18:58 -0500

I'm pretty sure the speed limit on the parkway is 55 mph (65 mph on parts of the turnpike some of the time).