Should speed limits be abolished?

[khtm]

I know some european countries (germany, I think is one) don't have any speed limits. And I've also heard they have less accidents per capita, and people are usually better drivers.

Any thoughts?

*EDIT* More specifically, should speed limits be abolished *on highways* (not in cities) ??

-khtm-

 

[777joee]

On some roads in the outback of Nevada or something like that it would be OK but arround town I don't think so.

 

[Colt45]

i think it would be ok on highways, but we would have to eliminate all the stupid people before it could work in the city

gee i guess that sounds kinda harsh..

EDIT: and for it to work on highways they would have to be divided, and preferably 3 lanes or more wide
with no POTHOLES!
argh i hate potholes

 

[GasX]

<< Any thoughts? >>



Yes, you couldn't possibly over simplify the issue more...

Every first world country in the world has speed limits. Some countries have highways that have no posted limit, but those highways represent a tiny proportion of the roads available to drive on...

 

[gopunk]

And I've also heard they have less accidents per capita, and people are usually better drivers.

i seriously doubt this is because of the lack of a speed limit.

i can think of no good reason to abolish speed limits... can you?

 

[khtm]

<< Yes, you couldn't possibly over simplify the issue more... >>


Sorry, I meant to leave the question rather vague so that the discussion wouldn't be so specific.

Let me rephrase. Should *highway* speed limits be abolished? I'll use Germany for example again, because on highways (like the Autobahn (sp?)), there are no posted speed limits.



<< i can think of no good reason to abolish speed limits... can you? >>


One good reason - you could get to your destination faster. Another - road rage would probably decrease since morons driving *the limit* in the left lane would realize that they should always be in the right lane, except when passing.

 

[Pr0Hawk]

I saw a picture of a car wreck on one of those german highways that have no speed limits...the car was smashed so badly and the people in it were in pieces. I don't think letting people go as fast as they want is a good idea at all. There is a reason we have them.

 

[worth]

<< I know some european countries (germany, I think is one) don't have any speed limits >>



You are incorrect. Germany has speed limits everywhere except on the autobahn.



<< And I've also heard they have less accidents per capita, and people are usually better drivers. >>



I don't agree. They don't have better drivers, it's just that only good drivers drive in Germany. A lot of people in Europe ride bikes/walk/use public transit system. In the US, it's common for every household with kids to have 3+ cars. On the other hand, in Europe 1 car is usually the usual.

Thus, usually only one person in the family drives (no soccer moms ).

 

[yoyo25]

The problem is not speed limits in America, it is stupid drivers. Getting a driver's license is a joke, there is no skill involved. I have heard that in other countries it is very hard to get a driver's license and often time people have to take a long(weeks-months) course to get properly trained to drive safe.

 

[khtm]

<< You are incorrect. Germany has speed limits everywhere except on the autobahn. >>


Sorry. I mentioned that in a later post.

-khtm-

 

[Lucky]

<<
I'll use Germany for example again, because on highways (like the Autobahn (sp?)), there are no posted speed limits.

>>






Well, not exactly. See here.

 

[randomlinh]

yeah, stupid drivers are bad. it was too easy to get a license.

 

[PsychoAndy]

no way....too unsafe.....besides, the only reason that germany has no limit on the autobahn because the drivers are better skilled....and they have a huge concret barrier between opposing lanes to prevent people from crossing over at 200km/h and hitting another car head on

 

[GasX]

<< Another - road rage would probably decrease since morons driving *the limit* in the left lane would realize that they should always be in the right lane, except when passing. >>


You actually have a point here. In Europe, the left lane is for passing ONLY. If you are going 120, it is pretty much your lane. You are not likely to have a problem with tailgaiting.

To anyone who thinks that the left lane is for passing in this country, I agree with you in theory. Unfortunately a large number of F-tards don't, which renders our opinion (and the law) moot :|

 

[Zenmervolt]

Should speed limits be abolished? No. Should certain low-traffic roads which are straight (more or less), flat (again, more or less) and have large amounts of available run-off area have no daytime speed limit? I think that might not be a bad idea. To eliminate speed limits safely, one would have to build a road with that intent from the start. The current interstate system was designed for 80 miles per hour when it was built if I recal correctly. As for your use of Germany as an example, it is a bit flawed, although it does point out what I feel is the biggest limitation in the American driver's licensing system, which is a lack of proper training for new drivers. Again, if I recal correctly from 5 years of studying the German culture and language in school, a German driver's license runs roughly 1500 USD, and their supervised driver training period includes several hours at night, several hours in the city during the day, and several hours on the Autobahn during the day. For America to go without a speed limit on highways without instituting some sort of retroactive driver training program would be to invite disaster. A different solution that I have heard proposed and am not sure if I support or not, is to allow persons holding "special" licenses signifying greater training and the passage of additional tests to drive at a speed higher than that of a normal driver. I like this idea in that it only allows those persons who are capable to drive faster, but I also recognise that differences in speed between cars on the road is the main cause of accidents, so it is a two-edged sword.

Zenmervolt

 

[Bulldozer]

I believe it is not only much more difficult to get a license in Europe, but it is also somewhat expensive.

I think that speed limits in town and in areas like neighborhoods and campuses (any place where people are near the road) should be strictly enforced. On expressways and in remote areas it should be at driver's discretion. People will only drive at speeds with which they are comfortable. It really bothers me when idiots exceed the speed limit in populated areas. If you're in the middle of nowhere, however, I see no reason to go only 55mph. I realize many city dwellers never see these rural roads but I'm on them often and average atleast 70mph on them. And of course driver's license exams need to be much more difficult. My grandmother is 78 years old and I feel that her license should have been revoked atleast 5 years ago. She can't turn around to look and see where she is going when she is backing up.

 

[Danman]

No way, I wouldn't drive anymore if there was no speed limits. People in this nation already drive nuts.......what would you think if the government abolished it? There would be no order at all, and that isn't good.

 

[dethman]

i think i heard they don't have speed limits on the boonie interstates in montana.

but even if it's true, who cares. does anyone actually live in montana?