-
Why does everyone drive 10-15 miles above the speed limit?
-
Why don’t we raise the speed limit if that’s how fast everyone wants to go?
-
Why is traffic enforcement given to very expensive and ineffective police instead of cheaper and more automated traffic cameras?
-
Why do we refuse to ever use ANY traffic calming measures? Yes, than you flashing digital sign for telling me I’m going 10 miles above the limit on this incredibly wide and straight and flat road with high curbs and perfect visibility.
It’s a serious confusion I have about how society is supposed to operate because it seems like a complete and total breakdown of logic and sense.
And, yes, I know there’s some thing people did long ago to set the speed limit at some percentile of what people were already traveling at, but that’s obviously a stupid way to do it and we did it anyway. So why?
I think the dissonance about speed limits is why there are so many awful drivers, at least in my neck of the woods. You go through drivers ed and you’re trained to go exactly the speed limit in all circumstances, and then you get let loose and find out on some highways, driving under the speed limit is so slow compared to the actual rate of traffic that doing so would be dangerous. People learn that and figure that all of the rules of the road are stupid and bad and you have a country of awful drivers
it doesn’t help that, as another commenter mentioned, you can be ticketed for not moving with the flow of traffic. follow the law, and you’re still breaking the law! plus all the asshole drivers who will get right up on your rear bumper if they decide you aren’t going fast enough. damned if you do, damned if you don’t! although ultimately, going slower is almost always the better choice from a safety standpoint because of that whole “physics” thing