Speed Limits
Going a bit over the speed limit? Who doesn't do it? Sometimes if you're doing the posted limit you're holding up traffic.
Me? I usually do the about the limit, maybe just a little faster. (I don't get on the freeway much but that is another story.)
Our county sherriff's department has a well known policy of not stopping you for less than 10 over unless they want to see you about something else. (Though there is a village here that is notorious for nailing out of town speeders.)
The American Spectator has an article on speed limits and suggests that they be replaced with the idea of safe and reasonable speed. That leaves too much to interpretation and can be misused. I would instead suggest that speed limits be re-examined and made more realistic, while maintaining safety. There would be less speeding if speed limits were set to the natural speed of most traffic in the situation.
But then what would some towns do for revenues?
Me? I usually do the about the limit, maybe just a little faster. (I don't get on the freeway much but that is another story.)
Our county sherriff's department has a well known policy of not stopping you for less than 10 over unless they want to see you about something else. (Though there is a village here that is notorious for nailing out of town speeders.)
The American Spectator has an article on speed limits and suggests that they be replaced with the idea of safe and reasonable speed. That leaves too much to interpretation and can be misused. I would instead suggest that speed limits be re-examined and made more realistic, while maintaining safety. There would be less speeding if speed limits were set to the natural speed of most traffic in the situation.
But then what would some towns do for revenues?
posted by shoprat at 9:52 PM
13 Comments:
I intentionally drive above the speed limit. It helps with the focus on the surroundings. I find if I drive the speed limit for any period of time, i tend to look around, and not pay as much attention to the road. IMHO they've slowed everyone down so much, their getting in accidents from lack of concentration.
It is quite a revenue stream, as you said Shoprat.
I visited Quebec last year and rented a car. I was surprised at a couple of things: They're RUDE! They think the speed limit is a SUGGESTION. I drive fast, but I'm safe because when the conditions warrant, I slow down! Those people didn't. They have no common sense! The suggestion idea doesn't fly with me because I've been to Quebec!
A safe and reasonable speed? FLOOR IT AND GET OUT OF MY WAY!
I drive for a living.... so I tend to stay 10 over in the big truck and 10-15 in the car, I agree with ABF that it keeps the concentration level up, but safe and sane???? just because I feel I am capable and safe at 90+ does that mean that I or my vehicle really is????? Also who decides if you are or aren't safe at what speed?? Me? You? I know some people (a brother we have in common) that is "bullet proof" how many people will he take out with him proving he's "safe" ?!?!?!
funny - - we design and see some of the most powerful and fastest passenger vehicles in the world! just listen to the commercials - 280 horsepower, 0-60 in 2.6 seconds, "i could find a speed limit i liked in America"; so we build and sell all these wonderful cars/trucks and then set the most unreasonable speed limits on our highways under the guise of "saving lives from automobile accidents". are we delusional or what!
abf There are times I feel that way too.
cug It is a very good revenue source for a small village that joins a state highway and a freeway.
lp It must be their ethnic blood.
tim I know people who really think like that.
Skip I don't even want to imagine what our brother would do without speed limits, but then is it any different than what he does now?
dml You're right. I hadn't thought of that.
thought you might get a kick out this video...
http://www.zippyvideos.com/1933475081959706/speed_saves_lives/
Montana posted 'safe and reasonable" speeds for a few years.
Its big and lonesome and the natives took this to be 95-100.
Even on glare ice. Now they have gone back to 75 mph, I go 80-85, and the natives still like 95-100.
The most I ever drive over the limit is five mph.
We have the weirdest speed limits around here. There's a road I drive often full of dangerous curves, some of them nearly 90 degrees, and the limit is 70. If you drove 70 mph on it you'd never drive again! I drive 35 miles of that road and then get on a four lane highway that's straight as an arrow and the limit is 65. Go figure! Someone was smoking some funny stuff when they installed those speed limit signs.
The speed limit on the freeways around Chicago is 55. On the tri-state tollway the other day I was doing 70ish to keep up with traffic, and was passed by two state troopers going closer to 80.
Funny, my family is always making fun of me because I drive to slow. Do the math, you ain't getting there that much faster, just with less fuel in your tank.
I hate to admit it but whatever the speed limit is I tend to go 10 over. The only tickets I've gotten have been for 15 over so I always try to stay below that.
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