How do you Feel About Speed Limits?

[Kortpeel (imported)]

It seems to me that most speeds limits on our are roads are ridiculously slow and are inappropriate for most of the time.

When they do apply, ie at peak traffic hours, you cannot go faster than the limit in any case. In fact, at those times you can hardly move at all.

With the advent of long range radar for speed trapping, I am convinced that it is just a revenue generating racket by the authorities, not a road safety measure.

Who sets speeds limits and decides what is safe or not? Why does a speed limit apply all the time, regardless of traffic density?

The traffic cop with his radar is just a modern form of highway robbery. I think the roads would actually be safer without him.

I am angry. I just got a ticket for doing 70 Km/hr in 60 zone.

Kortpeel

[incuse (imported)]

Years ago I lived near an airport with my parents. The road that went along side the road was limited to 35mph in one area and 45 in the rest. I thought it was low.

I wrote the DOT (Dept of Transportation) and I told them that I thought the road was way too low of a speed limit. They let me know they had no control over it since it was a county road and I should write the county Road dept. So I did that and I got told they weren't responsible and referred me to the Sheriff's dept.

The case i built for them to raise the speed limit was that this county road had less traffic and less surrounding population than a nearby hwy that was under DOT control which was rated 55mph.

So, the sheriff then told me they had no control and that I should talk to the road dept. ?!?!?! I went BACK to the road dept and apparently they got sick of me so forwarded my letter to the sheriff and next thing I know I wake up one morning to a sheriff showing up in the yard.

This took about 6 months or so to do. I never included my phone number and forced them to go back and forth with letters. Once one of them didnt reply and I had to follow up a few weeks later reminding them I had sent them a letter.

The sheriff that came by the house told my dad and I that he'd raise the 35 to 45 mph, but that I'd have to petition to get the 45 to 55mph. During our conversation dad & I both asked why the conflict of interest. The sheriff, that wrote the tickets and benefited from the payment of tickets, also set the speed limits. I just got a shrug out of him -- that was the way things were.

I didn't petition to get it raised to 55mph as I moved a month later.

I still travel slow down that road near the airport -- damn speed trap. I got caught twice there.

So, at least in Mississippi, the DOT has some sense on speed limits. You know, they're the civil engineers that designed the roads and set it with safety in mind. County roads though -- in my case were set by the same people collecting the fines, so they have something other than safety in mind.

To bring up something else, this is the same idea why yellow lights have been reduced in areas that have cameras installed -- even though shorter yellow lights are tied to higher traffic accidents.

[Arab Nights (imported)]

The traffic cop . . .

. I think the roads would actually be safer without him.

Kortpeel

You'd love Venezuela. Stuff like roaring at 120 in a 60 zone and speeding upon a cop doing 80 and he just waves you by. But if you ever are involved in an accident, you are making him actually do some work and I have heard you are in deep shit.

The traffic cameras are a big controversy here now. They have a 10 mph grace and they are thinking of upping that to 11 or 13 so it focuses on the folks really speeding. It really has made a difference in how people drive. Much less assholism on the road, including myself. There is a mindset with going fast that expresses itself in some people as just being a jerk. When you get into a slower mindset, there is much less of that. It has really been noticable and the accident rate has really dropped. On the other hand, I have to admit that there are getting to be enough cameras that it resonates with something deep inside that I do not like and I actually am beginning to have thoughts of moving. I guess it is the age old internal tension of where is a cop when you need him vs. so many cops around that you get nabbed for every little infraction.

[chilliwilli (imported)]

I ride a bike, with pads and a helmet. Sometimes it's hard to steer with the padded gloves...but I never speed...unless I'm strapped in. But sometimes the driver will take the bus way faster than I can pedel. It kinda sucks 'cause their is no way to bite or punch with everyone wearing their helmets and padded mitts. One kid shits in bag and it really stinks!

chilli-

[fhunter]

In Russia there is a joke -

"traffic cop writing to his superior: Because of the hard financial situation, I ask for temporary sign - speed limit 40km/h"

[Dave (imported)]

I'm usually not the fastest car on the highway near my house but I'm seldom the slowest. I try to position myself with lots of room at the prevailing speed. Police in Pennsylvania go after the very fast and the very slow -- the obvious offenders. They seldom haul a half dozen to dozen cars off the road. Traffic usually flows at 60 to 65 mph. (120 to 130 kph).

When gas was cheap and I had to drive 70 miles of highway to Morgantown WV, 90mph was my top speed. That's 150kph for all you metric people.

[ramses (imported)]

While I am often one of the faster vehicles on the road, I'm glad there are speed limits (just wish they were a bit faster). There are just too many people that are irresponsible to let everyone decide on their own safe speed.

It is safer for all traffic to travel within a general expected speed due to the fact that we make many split decisions based on assumptions. When I enter a roadway, I assume that the guy coming over the hill will NOT be doing 160mph. I can generally guage that certain roads will be a certain speed limit and can make decisions based on how fast other traffic will be travelling.

I admit, I drove like a total idiot when I was a teen and I'm lucky I survived and didn't harm anyone else. Without speed limits, I doubt I would have survived and I'm sure the same would apply to many teen drivers today. The worst ticket I got was at age 18 for 104mph in a 55 zone. Racing, no insurance, after a few drinks (not drunk). I got of VERY lucky with just a speeding ticket.

[kennath7 (imported)]

Speed limit ! what’s that ?

And what are those white sing’s with black numbers on it

is 140 my oil pressure

[chilliwilli (imported)]

Speed limit ! what’s that ?

And what are those white sing’

s with black numbers on it

is 140 my oil pressure

kennath-

My speeding days are over. This desperado is hanging up the wheel, parking the porsche, tradin' the GSXR for the family car, no more chasing the horizon, no more outwitting the highway patrol, just call me the old fart in the go-cart if you want, I'm going straight...not!!!!!!!!!

chilli-

[chilliwilli (imported)]

While I am often one of the faster vehicles on the road, I'm glad there are speed limits (just wish they were a bit faster). There are just too many people that are irresponsible to let everyone decide on their own safe speed.

It is safer for all traffic to travel within a general expected speed due to the fact that we make many split decisions based on assumptions. When I enter a roadway, I assume that the guy coming over the hill will NOT be doing 160mph. I can generally guage that certain roads will be a certain speed limit and can make decisions based on how fast other traffic will be travelling.

I admit, I drove like a total idiot when I was a teen and I'm lucky I survived and didn't harm anyone else. Without speed limits, I doubt I would have survived and I'm sure the same would apply to many teen drivers today. The worst ticket I got was at age 18 for 104mph in a 55 zone. Racing, no insurance, after a few drinks (not drunk). I got of VERY lucky with just a speeding ticket.

Ramses-

I have learned places where it is safe to speed and places it is not. I have never had an accident and have about 30 tickets in 20+ years of driving. I see a citation as another tax. I drive about 40,000 mile per year.

Driving while tired is supposed to be as dangerous or worse than DUI. I pull over and sleep when beat. I wish CALOSHA would require sleep breaks for people stuck on night shift.

chilli-