Okay, guys, fess up. We like fast cars. Something in our blood demands us to red line the tachometer as we shift through the gears -- hitting zero to 60 in 3.5 seconds. The throaty roar of a hemi accelerating past us on the Interstate creates envy. Driving through Indy in the family sedan evokes daydreams of left-hand speed turns and brick straightaways. We are attracted to fast cars like a moth to the flame.
And therein is the problem. There are more cars on the road each day; municipalities are downsizing law enforcement to save funds, which creates more danger as drivers push down the accelerator. Our need for speed has been checked by the threat of the random speed stop, but no more. (Now we even have unmanned speed cameras.) So what to do?
Posted speed limit signs just might be the answer. (I know it's a radical idea.) How about we all make a pact that says we will travel at the posted speed (or no more than five miles over any posted speed limit sign)? Perhaps, this will balance the urge to burn out the carbon while maintaining what some engineers believe to be a safe speed for the highway. If we all travel at the same speed, accidents will be reduced as we will not have to slow down for slower drivers.
And as long as I am on a soapbox what about those jokers that speed up to cut off the waiting cars in a construction zone or bolt across three lanes to exit the Interstate? These tactics serve no one's best interests except the mechanic who's repairing dents and dings. Let's face it -- these guys cause accidents and are dangerous to everyone.
What do you think? Can you gimme a high five?
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2 comments :
I believe there should be no basic speed limits. I do agree, we need speed limits in construction areas, and residential areas. And, although I like to generally drive fast, I totally agree that speed limits in these areas, should be strictly enforced. But I want to address general speed limits, like on interstates. Let me ask you. What is a reasonable speed for an interstate? The short answer is, whatever is a safe speed. But that can’t be determined without considering the circumstances. For example. The interstate highway system was designed in the 1950s, and was designed for speeds of over 100 mph. If you don’t believe me, check out curves on interstate roads, and note the huge radius of a typical curve. In some cases, when the curve has a smaller radius, it will often be banked. Again, this is to accommodate 100 mph + speed. Now, don’t get all excited. I’m not referring to interstate exits. I’m speaking of the basic roads. Remember also that the interstates were designed with 1950 vintage cars in mind. The tires, suspension systems, and safety features like collapsible frame and bumper systems, air bags and even seat belts, weren’t even thought of then. So, technically I could suggest that the design speeds on interstates with today’s cars may be even higher. But I won’t go there for now.
Let’s go back to speed limits. If the speed limit is 70 mph, and it’s a beautiful sunny day with no one else on the road, 70 mph is just not a reasonable speed limit. On the other hand, if it’s mid winter, in the dark, at rush hour, with congested traffic, with ice and snow on the road, 70 mph is also not a reasonable speed. So when is 70 mph the correct speed? The answer is when the conditions are right for 70 mph to be the correct speed. Now let’s consider an accident. If 100 cars are all moving at 50 mph on an interstate in a bunch, and one driver is going 90 mph, and rearends the pack of 100 cars, how many cars are involved in the accident? The answer is probably 2 or 3, because when the accident happens, the cars involved will stop, and the rest with continue on. On the other hand, what if the same 100 cars were going 50 mph, and they all came upon a single car driving 20 mph, and the front cars in the pack hit the slower car. Now, how many cars are involved in the accident? The answer could be many. So which is more dangerous, going too fast, or going too slow?
Now let’s address what is a reasonable speed limit. Some people say, “If we think the speed limit is too low, and we raise it, people will just go faster yet, because people tend to go 5-10 mph over the limit, whatever the limit is. I agree. In fact, if you post a limit of 80 mph, people will tend to go 85 mph. And that may be too fast for some drivers. The problem is that there is a limit at all. The limit becomes a target to shoot at. If you have no limit, people will tend to drive at whatever speed feels comfortable for them. And, for the most part, that’s probably the safest speed for them. In fact, that might even slow some drives down, because now there is no target speed for them to achieve.
One more point. If police did not arrest for speeding, but instead spent their efforts on helping motorist who needed help, or arresting bad guys like bank robbers, the general public would have a much better attitude toward the police, and would probably be more interested in helping them when needed. And you wouldn’t need as many, which would lower taxes. And, by the way, if a driver spent all of his efforts concentrating on safe driving, instead of keeping an eye out for speed traps, he would be a safer driver.
One more thing. I’m all for police arresting for reckless driving, like people weaving in and out of traffic in congested times, or driving much faster than others on the road at the time, or much slower than others. I just don’t want an actual speed limit that doesn’t consider the driving conditions.
I believe there should be no basic speed limits. I do agree, we need speed limits in construction areas, and residential areas. And, although I like to generally drive fast, I totally agree that speed limits in these areas, should be strictly enforced. But I want to address general speed limits, like on interstates. Let me ask you. What is a reasonable speed for an interstate? The short answer is, whatever is a safe speed. But that can’t be determined without considering the circumstances. For example. The interstate highway system was designed in the 1950s, and was designed for speeds of over 100 mph. If you don’t believe me, check out curves on interstate roads, and note the huge radius of a typical curve. In some cases, when the curve has a smaller radius, it will often be banked. Again, this is to accommodate 100 mph + speed. Now, don’t get all excited. I’m not referring to interstate exits. I’m speaking of the basic roads. Remember also that the interstates were designed with 1950 vintage cars in mind. The tires, suspension systems, and safety features like collapsible frame and bumper systems, air bags and even seat belts, weren’t even thought of then. So, technically I could suggest that the design speeds on interstates with today’s cars may be even higher. But I won’t go there for now.
Let’s go back to speed limits. If the speed limit is 70 mph, and it’s a beautiful sunny day with no one else on the road, 70 mph is just not a reasonable speed limit. On the other hand, if it’s mid winter, in the dark, at rush hour, with congested traffic, with ice and snow on the road, 70 mph is also not a reasonable speed. So when is 70 mph the correct speed? The answer is when the conditions are right for 70 mph to be the correct speed. Now let’s consider an accident. If 100 cars are all moving at 50 mph on an interstate in a bunch, and one driver is going 90 mph, and rearends the pack of 100 cars, how many cars are involved in the accident? The answer is probably 2 or 3, because when the accident happens, the cars involved will stop, and the rest with continue on. On the other hand, what if the same 100 cars were going 50 mph, and they all came upon a single car driving 20 mph, and the front cars in the pack hit the slower car. Now, how many cars are involved in the accident? The answer could be many. So which is more dangerous, going too fast, or going too slow?
Now let’s address what is a reasonable speed limit. Some people say, “If we think the speed limit is too low, and we raise it, people will just go faster yet, because people tend to go 5-10 mph over the limit, whatever the limit is. I agree. In fact, if you post a limit of 80 mph, people will tend to go 85 mph. And that may be too fast for some drivers. The problem is that there is a limit at all. The limit becomes a target to shoot at. If you have no limit, people will tend to drive at whatever speed feels comfortable for them. And, for the most part, that’s probably the safest speed for them. In fact, that might even slow some drives down, because now there is no target speed for them to achieve.
One more point. If police did not arrest for speeding, but instead spent their efforts on helping motorist who needed help, or arresting bad guys like bank robbers, the general public would have a much better attitude toward the police, and would probably be more interested in helping them when needed. And you wouldn’t need as many, which would lower taxes. And, by the way, if a driver spent all of his efforts concentrating on safe driving, instead of keeping an eye out for speed traps, he would be a safer driver.
One more thing. I’m all for police arresting for reckless driving, like people weaving in and out of traffic in congested times, or driving much faster than others on the road at the time, or much slower than others. I just don’t want an actual speed limit that doesn’t consider the driving conditions.
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