Is speeding really all that bad?

[RaiderJ]

Originally posted by: UF Matt
What started out as a safety measure long ago morphed into a multi-billion dollar industry. A tiny one-horse town near here (Waldo, FL) pulls in over 33% of their revenue from speeding tickets. Designated a AAA Speed Trap to avoid/watch out for. The place is littered with traffic cops.

Yup. It's all about the $$$.

 

[LordMorpheus]

Originally posted by: Brainonska511

Originally posted by: Number1

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

Originally posted by: Imp
I've taken courses with highway design and pretty much every formula is based on a design speed (i.e. speed limit). With that, they factor in average reaction times to design for curves and sight distances. There's a lot of thought put into it, so you're pretty much screwing yourself and others by going over. Maybe you're one of the 'above' average people it's designed for, but you're just screwing yourself and the cars in the pileup you cause. Or maybe just the guardrail and ditch you go into...

But most of the highways have design speeds which are well over the posted speed limit. The posted speed limit came as a result of the desire to save fuel following the 1973 energy crisis. It was only after the fuel shortage let up did the reason for the speed limit change from fuel efficiency to "safety".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/55_mph_national_speed_limit

Replacing 70 mph sign with 55 mph sign

Keep in mind this was in the mid 70's, and you know how well those river barges handled. Cars handle much, much better now, so if anything the speed limit should be increased over the pre-1974 limit.

However, states found that a TON of money was made by enforcing the lower speed limit. Even after the national 55 mph limit was lifted, states could not break free of their revenue addiction. "Safety" is the propaganda they use today, but it's interesting to know the real story.

I disagree with your conspiracy theory bull. Safety is the reason why we have speed limits. Your idea that lowering the speed limits provides more revenues is bogus. There will always be plenty of people who drive above the posted speed limits, no mater what they are, and provide a never ending source of revenue for the states. Personaly I always drive 5 to 10 KM above the posted limits on main divided highways.

No. He's right for the most part. Speed limits were instituted nation wide during the oil crisis of the '70s. Afterwards, states decided to keep the revenue generator. Whenever they need more money, they raise the cost of the fines and have cops issue more tickets (another words, being stricter with who they pull over); it's a way of raising taxes without raising taxes.

Sure, there are cases where speed limits are in place for safety, but on a long, straight highway, a speed limit of 50 (such as in NYC) is ridiculous and just a way to raise money when you want to set up a speed trap.

I disagree. If the interstate speed limit was moved to 90 mph I'd go 90 mph.

Out in west Texas where it's 80, I generally won't go faster than 85.

That national 70 speed limit usually sees me doing about 80.

90 is as fast as I'd want to run my car for an extended period of time. That said, I really wouldn't want to be hit by a tractor trailer going that fast, and I don't think they'd even be safe to drive at those speeds.

Most of the 'action' on the interstate is passing trucks, and if suddenly the gap in speeds was opened up even farther it could get dangerous.

 

[Auryg]

The main point I have against highway speed limits is this- in MN, when we have a snowstorm, people still try to go the limit. It's like this number you want to reach. If there were no numbers telling you how fast you should go, people would go exactly as fast as they feel safe doing.

I used to drive an '88 Grand Marquis here, rear wheel drive of course, and a real boat. The big SUVs and trucks would still go atleast 55 when it was (really) icy, whereas I only felt safe going 45 or so. However, if I went that speed, I could cause an rear-end collision, because nobody would expect it.

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: Imp
I've taken courses with highway design and pretty much every formula is based on a design speed (i.e. speed limit). With that, they factor in average reaction times to design for curves and sight distances. There's a lot of thought put into it, so you're pretty much screwing yourself and others by going over. Maybe you're one of the 'above' average people it's designed for, but you're just screwing yourself and the cars in the pileup you cause. Or maybe just the guardrail and ditch you go into...

Is there a design with those warning signs? My brother told me some poppy-cock about 2x + 5 and your car will flip. I took a turn designated at 25 at 55 and my car didn't flip 😛. I also laughed at his blanket statement since the cornering capability in cars varies not to mention there's quite a few lines to take around a turn... if I took that same turn at 55 with a different line, it would've been a different story.

Irresponsible driving kills people. Speeding can sometimes be caused by irresponsible driving as a good driver will know limits and never try to pass them. But I usually just do 5-7 over the speed limit.

 

[allisolm]

Originally posted by: Brainonska511

Originally posted by: Number1

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

Originally posted by: Imp
I've taken courses with highway design and pretty much every formula is based on a design speed (i.e. speed limit). With that, they factor in average reaction times to design for curves and sight distances. There's a lot of thought put into it, so you're pretty much screwing yourself and others by going over. Maybe you're one of the 'above' average people it's designed for, but you're just screwing yourself and the cars in the pileup you cause. Or maybe just the guardrail and ditch you go into...

But most of the highways have design speeds which are well over the posted speed limit. The posted speed limit came as a result of the desire to save fuel following the 1973 energy crisis. It was only after the fuel shortage let up did the reason for the speed limit change from fuel efficiency to "safety".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/55_mph_national_speed_limit

Replacing 70 mph sign with 55 mph sign

Keep in mind this was in the mid 70's, and you know how well those river barges handled. Cars handle much, much better now, so if anything the speed limit should be increased over the pre-1974 limit.

However, states found that a TON of money was made by enforcing the lower speed limit. Even after the national 55 mph limit was lifted, states could not break free of their revenue addiction. "Safety" is the propaganda they use today, but it's interesting to know the real story.

I disagree with your conspiracy theory bull. Safety is the reason why we have speed limits. Your idea that lowering the speed limits provides more revenues is bogus. There will always be plenty of people who drive above the posted speed limits, no mater what they are, and provide a never ending source of revenue for the states. Personaly I always drive 5 to 10 KM above the posted limits on main divided highways.

No. He's right for the most part. Speed limits were instituted nation wide during the oil crisis of the '70s. Afterwards, states decided to keep the revenue generator. Whenever they need more money, they raise the cost of the fines and have cops issue more tickets (another words, being stricter with who they pull over); it's a way of raising taxes without raising taxes.

Well, no. Speed limits were mandated by the federal government in the 70's and the states had no choice about adopting them. If they failed to comply, the federal government cut off their highway funding. They had to keep the 55 until the government repealed it in the 90's. I believe that as soon as the 55 mph was repealed about 35 states raised their limits.

 

[overst33r]

Originally posted by: Old Hippie

Nah, he didn't have to pass on the right with that kind of speed, that was his mistake. What bothers me is the complete disregard for traffic rules by the majority of people.

You mean like driving 85 in a 70 zone and passing on the right?

As an effect of their left lane blocking...

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: mrSHEiK124
Speed doesn't kill, driving like an idiot does. Speeding on an empty stretch of highway hurts nobody.

'cept yourself, which is fine by me.

 

[manlymatt83]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
i wonder how many of those who were speeding and caused fatal accidents were also weaving in and out of traffic?

QFT!!

 

[imported_Imp]

Originally posted by: Aikouka

Originally posted by: Imp
I've taken courses with highway design and pretty much every formula is based on a design speed (i.e. speed limit). With that, they factor in average reaction times to design for curves and sight distances. There's a lot of thought put into it, so you're pretty much screwing yourself and others by going over. Maybe you're one of the 'above' average people it's designed for, but you're just screwing yourself and the cars in the pileup you cause. Or maybe just the guardrail and ditch you go into...

Is there a design with those warning signs? My brother told me some poppy-cock about 2x + 5 and your car will flip. I took a turn designated at 25 at 55 and my car didn't flip 😛. I also laughed at his blanket statement since the cornering capability in cars varies not to mention there's quite a few lines to take around a turn... if I took that same turn at 55 with a different line, it would've been a different story.

Irresponsible driving kills people. Speeding can sometimes be caused by irresponsible driving as a good driver will know limits and never try to pass them. But I usually just do 5-7 over the speed limit.

Shoulda mentioned, the stuff I learned is used in he States, but the focus was on Ontario. That and it was introductory (I hate the transport aspect of Civil). Regardless, the general point I was trying to make was that they design roads and whatnot for safety, putting a lot of thought and work into everthing (should see how accurate they make surveyors stake things out😉). I'm not sure exactly if they used the design speed as a speed limit (should edit that part), but once you start going over, you are starting to make it more dangerous.

One thing I learned studying Engineering is that they LOVE safety factors. So aside from design speed, average reactions, they put in a bunch more friction, road material, grade, vehicle type coefficients with some more safety factors ontop because they KNOW people are 'geniuses'...I mean going to be slow/fast and that there are unavoidable variations in empirical values. Most people are just ****** drivers, so the speed limit is too high for them. Can't go wrong being safe.

As for the OPEC/corporate conspiracies... guess they won't tell me about that yet😉.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

speeding drivers dont kill people, CARS kill people

i demand car control legislation

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: Number1


I disagree with your conspiracy theory bull. Safety is the reason why we have speed limits. Your idea that lowering the speed limits provides more revenues is bogus. There will always be plenty of people who drive above the posted speed limits, no mater what they are, and provide a never ending source of revenue for the states. Personaly I always drive 5 to 10 KM above the posted limits on main divided highways.

You're dead wrong.

It's not a conspiracy theory- that's actually what happened. The national speed limit was due to the oil crisis, NOT safety. You'd have to be an uneducated moron to believe otherwise, considering that the information is so easy to find. I suggest you educate yourself on the matter before arguing with me.

"As an emergency response to the 1973 oil crisis, the U.S. Congress and President Nixon imposed a nationwide 55 mph (90 km/h) speed limit in 1974 by requiring the limit as a condition of each state receiving highway funds, a use of the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution[2].

It was also believed that, based on a drop in fatalities the first year the limit was imposed, the 55 mph limit increased highway safety. Later studies were more mixed on this point, and available statistics show that the safety record actually worsened in the first few months of the 55 mph speed limit and further suggest the fatality drop was a short-lived anomaly that regressed to mean by 1978.[3] After the oil crisis abated, the 55 mph speed limit was retained mainly due to the perceived safety aspect."

Also, Link from the State of New Jersey website

In 1995, the United States Congress repealed the National Maximum Speed Limit of 55 MPH (in effect since 1974 when it was started as a fuel-saving measure) and returned to the states the responsibility for setting speed limits on major highways

Wow, I guess the state of New Jersey is in on the conspiracy also. They also claim that it was started as a fuel-saving measure, and not a safety measure.

Next time, if you want to argue, please come prepared.

 

[BUTCH1]

The only type of speeding that ticks me off is people flying around side streets with kids
playing on them. Yea I know it's a parents job to monitor them but kids can disappear
in a second, meanwhile I've seen people going 40-45 on my street, a 25mph zone. Just
take it to a safer area is all I would ask.

 

[imported_Imp]

Originally posted by: BUTCH1
The only type of speeding that ticks me off is people flying around side streets with kids
playing on them. Yea I know it's a parents job to monitor them but kids can disappear
in a second, meanwhile I've seen people going 40-45 on my street, a 25mph zone. Just
take it to a safer area is all I would ask.

So true. People can speed all they want, I just laugh when I see cars buzzing by everyone while the vehicle I'm in is already slightly over the limit.

But the real pisser are the idiots who go through small side streets where it is the most dangerous for pedestrians. It's also the most annoying. We don't have AC so in the summer, we're being bombarded by super loud motorcycles, jacked-up street racers, stereo dudes with 1000000 Watts of bass and fast cars zipping down the road flopping over the speed humps. It's almost funny when the cops set up at the Stop sign on the street🙂.

 

[BUTCH1]

The latest trend in car audio (for some) is to put the largest sub they can into the car
then let the panels vibrate like hell for a "getto" sound. What these people don't know
is they can seriously damage their hearing over time, besides annoying everyone for
blocks.

 

[Number1]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

Originally posted by: Number1


I disagree with your conspiracy theory bull. Safety is the reason why we have speed limits. Your idea that lowering the speed limits provides more revenues is bogus. There will always be plenty of people who drive above the posted speed limits, no mater what they are, and provide a never ending source of revenue for the states. Personaly I always drive 5 to 10 KM above the posted limits on main divided highways.

You're dead wrong.

It's not a conspiracy theory- that's actually what happened. The national speed limit was due to the oil crisis, NOT safety. You'd have to be an uneducated moron to believe otherwise, considering that the information is so easy to find. I suggest you educate yourself on the matter before arguing with me.

"As an emergency response to the 1973 oil crisis, the U.S. Congress and President Nixon imposed a nationwide 55 mph (90 km/h) speed limit in 1974 by requiring the limit as a condition of each state receiving highway funds, a use of the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution[2].

It was also believed that, based on a drop in fatalities the first year the limit was imposed, the 55 mph limit increased highway safety. Later studies were more mixed on this point, and available statistics show that the safety record actually worsened in the first few months of the 55 mph speed limit and further suggest the fatality drop was a short-lived anomaly that regressed to mean by 1978.[3] After the oil crisis abated, the 55 mph speed limit was retained mainly due to the perceived safety aspect."

Also, Link from the State of New Jersey website

In 1995, the United States Congress repealed the National Maximum Speed Limit of 55 MPH (in effect since 1974 when it was started as a fuel-saving measure) and returned to the states the responsibility for setting speed limits on major highways

Wow, I guess the state of New Jersey is in on the conspiracy also. They also claim that it was started as a fuel-saving measure, and not a safety measure.

Next time, if you want to argue, please come prepared.

Big 91 is all upset because I dared disagree with him and out come the name calling.

Relax or take a valium buddy.

You are dead wrong.

Your idea that speed limits are artificially being kept low just to generate extra revenue for the states is just ludicrous (see my previous post for an explanation).

Today, speed limits are designed to provide safer roads to our citizens. NOT to generate extra revenue for the states.

Who the F care about speed limits in the 70s?

 

[icelazer]

I think anything <= 7 mph over is crap altogether. Past that, if I'm going over the speed limit without a good reason, I'm willing to accept getting a ticket and paying the fine...however, I think the double-jeopardy involved in getting hit with the fine and then getting hit with the (mandatory) insurance rate increase is bullshit. Getting a ticket for 1 mph over the speed limit costing $300 shouldn't also cost another $1000/year for 3 years because of some ridiculous cop...

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: Number1

Your idea that speed limits are artificially being kept low just to generate extra revenue for the states is just ludicrous (see my previous post for an explanation).

Today, speed limits are designed to provide safer roads to our citizens. NOT to generate extra revenue for the states.

Who the F care about speed limits in the 70s?

The energy crisis is what kicked it off.

How can you be so naive as to say "Who the F care about speed limits in the 70s", when that's what started it all?

Montana had no daytime speed limit for a while, I guess someone like you would think that it would have been a total deathtrap, a huge pileup due to the amazing speeds, right?

You lack the knowledge about this subject to effectively argue about it. You're merely spouting the propaganda you're fed, because you're either too trusting or just not smart enough to see through it.

 

[RallyMaster]

Originally posted by: joshsquall
Speeding on highways at 75-85 during normal conditions by an attentive driver is no more dangerous than driving 65.

115 mph on an empty, straight country road FTW.

 

[Vic]

Speeding doesn't cause crashes, it just makes them worse. The true leading cause of most crashes is that most drivers are inattentive and poorly-skilled. The higher the speed, the more demands are placed on the driver to be attentive and skilled. So there's your speed caused accidents right there.

While 91TTZ is correct that the National Speed Limit of 55 was implemented during the Oil Crisis of the 70s, speed limits themselves have been around much longer than that. In fact, Ulysses Grant got a ticket in Washington DC for "speeding" on his horse while President of the United States.

BTW, car "accidents" don't exist. They are crashes or collisions. Not one of them was or is ever an "accident." They only happen because some driver was either stupid, not paying attention, or both.

 

[Whisper]

As others have said, I definitely believe that the majority of accidents attributed to "speeding" are not necessarily caused by driving over the speed limit, but instead by differences in speed, and lack of driver awareness, care, and/or skill while traveling at those speeds.

As for "drunk driving," I'd imagine that they essentially add any crash to those statistics in which alcohol was in any way involved. This is why I always take accident statistics (or any statistics for that matter) with a grain of salt.

 

[Number1]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

Originally posted by: Number1

Your idea that speed limits are artificially being kept low just to generate extra revenue for the states is just ludicrous (see my previous post for an explanation).

Today, speed limits are designed to provide safer roads to our citizens. NOT to generate extra revenue for the states.

Who the F care about speed limits in the 70s?

The energy crisis is what kicked it off.

How can you be so naive as to say "Who the F care about speed limits in the 70s", when that's what started it all?

Montana had no daytime speed limit for a while, I guess someone like you would think that it would have been a total deathtrap, a huge pileup due to the amazing speeds, right?

You lack the knowledge about this subject to effectively argue about it. You're merely spouting the propaganda you're fed, because you're either too trusting or just not smart enough to see through it.

You're switching the subject now and just throwing in irrelevant facts. The truth is that you are just plain WRONG in your assertion that some states keep speed limits deliberately low so they can generate more revenue by issuing more speeding tickets.

Your theory belongs in the ?no planes hit the tower? or ?the plane won?t take off? categories.
I am disappointed in you on this issue. I usually tend to agree with your opinions.

 

[thomsbrain]

The NHTSA counts ANY crash in which a vehicle was traveling over the limit as "caused by speed." the car could be driven by a drunken 3-year-old on sleeping pills, and if he was going 36 in a 35 at the time he runs into a tree, the car was "caused by speed."

 

[Ackmed]

I got pulled over today for the first time in about 5 years. But being a Marine on Memorial Day, got me off. 🙂

 

[overst33r]

Originally posted by: Ackmed
I got pulled over today for the first time in about 5 years. But being a Marine on Memorial Day, got me off. 🙂

you have a weird fetish...

 

[XZeroII]

Originally posted by: mariok2006

Originally posted by: Ackmed
I got pulled over today for the first time in about 5 years. But being a Marine on Memorial Day, got me off. 🙂

you have a weird fetish...

LOL. That was seriously the funniest thing I've read in a long time 🙂