What is the point of having speed limits?

[calin]

No one abides by them anyway. People don't care. If the speed limit is 35. they go 60. If it's 80, they go 95 or 100. Aren't we just wasting metal by erecting these signs all over our roads?

The police are powerless to enforce these limits anyway. For one thing, it's impossible to catch all people speeding at one time. For another thing, people who receive speeding tickets seldom even pay them - they either ignore the notice (especially if their vehicle is registered out of state), or they dispute it in court and have the fine thrown out.

Other methods to enforce speed limits (such as cameras) don't succeed either, because people whine about these and they eventually are scrapped due to public pressure. Phoenix tried this and they're on the verge of doing away with their system of speed cameras because the public's opposition has been too overwhelming.

[condan]

Speed limits are at best a guideline. They are a general average of the speeds that 85% of drivers would operate their vehicles if there were no limits on the road. Higher speeds make for more deadly accidents, not necessarily more accidents. Speed enforcement is usually aimed with reasonable margins of error, and speeding fines are also based on a sliding scale. Enforcement action is rarely taken on a dry road on a clear day on a limited access highway for speeding 10-15 mph over the limit. Yet, 10-15 mph over the limit poses a much more serious hazard on a residential street.

Luckily, your opinion means nothing, and we will continue to enforce speed limits (usually successfully - too many tickets mean suspended licenses). I spent 6 years supervising a unit that was responsible for fatal crash investigations. I have seen the results of people who feel that speed enforcement is futile or pointless.

[sylvester37]

Try crossing the street with someone driving different speed limits and I'm willing to make a bet, you will have a change of heart with this question. Have you ever seen a old lady crossing the street?

[ammi]

Try crossing the street with someone driving different speed limits and I'm willing to make a bet, you will have a change of heart with this question. Have you ever seen a old lady crossing the street?

It's dangerous, and it doesn't matter what other people do, if you get caught your ******! What if you cause an accident and kill a whole family? You will never be able to forget, plus you'd go to jail.

[gillian59]

How else will Prius owners know what number to subtract 10 from?