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Why are we so weird about speed limits (US)? (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 4 hours ago by to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world
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  1. Why does everyone drive 10-15 miles above the speed limit?

  2. Why don't we raise the speed limit if that's how fast everyone wants to go?

  3. Why is traffic enforcement given to very expensive and ineffective police instead of cheaper and more automated traffic cameras?

  4. 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?

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[–] 11 points 3 hours ago (13 children)

First off you are wrong. I for instance, drive the speed limit.

Secondly, because whatever limit you set, some people will speed, even if it kills them.

Many speed limits are set so that you can still drive the road in adverse conditions. If they chose to ignore that and kill themselves, well then, I hope they enjoy their Darwin Award.

The best illustrations is the current usa situation were about 40% support trump even as he destroys their livelihood and bulldozers the White House.

You will always get a large percent of people who are self destructive, selfish, ignorant and abusive, had a toxic childhood and grew up to be toxic adults.

I had a friend once who rescued a lady who put her car in a ditch driving to fast for the icy conditions. The moment he got her out, she sped off down the road, going way too fast and weaving all over the place.

You can't cure stupid. Just obey the speed limit and try and stay out of the crazy people's way.

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  • [–] [S] 7 points 3 hours ago (2 children)

    I also drive the speed limit as of about 2 years ago, which is why I bring this post up. But I'm basically the only one. People are constantly passing me, even on a double yellow line. In fact, it's gotten so obnoxious, that I'll sometimes drive just a touch below the speed limit when there's a safe pass (like a 4 lane road) to encourage people to pass me instead of them wondering, "Is this guy going to speed up?" for a few a minutes before finally passing.

    Anyway, I didn't mention my law-abiding ways because I assumed the hatetrain would derail the conversation.

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  • [–] 3 points 2 hours ago (1 child)

    I've always gone the speed limit or just a tad above (because of traffic flow) because going any faster is inefficient in so many ways and only increases risk. Even on a long trip that 10 mph over is only going to gain a few minutes, and you've used more fuel. Why bother? Plus there's the fact you mention elsewhere of not standing out as a target. Not that it matters, I feel enforcement is highly variable, and I've seen on highway trips people going 20 or more over in a construction zone, and I wonder where the cops are. Only when they feel like it, I suppose.

    The one good thing about a toll road that I'd support is how it can measure an average speed, and someone speeding that much over has no way to easier balance out the math at the end, so instant ticket/justice. I mean, they could just limp the last mile or pull off, but that's waving red flags to anyone monitoring.

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  • [–] 1 point 39 minutes ago

    Even on a long trip that 10 mph over is only going to gain a few minutes, and you've used more fuel.

    i've always 'had more time than money', and i've never had a car that was more fuel efficient at 70-80mph than at 50-60mph.

    we actually take the '2 laner' into the city over the interstate specifically because there isn't a bunch of morons doing 20+ over, weaving all over the place.

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  • [–] -1 points 3 hours ago (2 children)

    Many speed limits are set so that you can still drive the road in adverse conditions.

    This is not true. There may be some statutes in some jurisdictions with language that may suggest something like this is done, but the truth is, all speed limits were originally set by simply measuring how fast people drive, averaging all the number together, then reducing that number by 20%. From there, how it's changed over the years depends on where you are (with the exception of the nation-wide speed limit of 55 mph in response to the oil crisis in the 70s) but all of them started completely arbitrarily.

    It's also worth mentioning, car technology is such that a modern cars only needs about 40% the stopping distance of a vehicle made when the speed limit was decided upon. So, not only are they arbitrary, but if they truly were based on vehicle performance, they would be a lot higher today (at least on rural roads. City streets are another story).

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  • [–] -2 points 3 hours ago (6 children)

    Human beings are very bad at driving. I cannot wait until computers are driving our cars for us...

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  • [–] 4 points 2 hours ago (1 child)

    Human beings are very bad at driving.

    Yes, most of you are. The amount of training required before turning people loose in a two-ton death machine with 10 gallons of highly flammable fuel in the back is shockingly, pathetically minimal. The fact that you never need to re-take a driving test to demonstrate competency is a danger to others. The number of people driving around who don't even know how a four-way stop works is an unacceptable, systemic issue. The number of people who have dash cams is laughably low. The number of drivers who have never practiced safely losing and regaining traction under hazardous conditions is probably over 99%, which is absolutely bonkers when you stop and think about it.

    Driving is unbelievably dangerous and the number of people who don't realize and respect that and thus, approach driving with a dangerously casual attitude is a systemic issue that should be addressed.

    But, as a professional "computer person" the idea of a computer driving sounds more dangerous than a drunken eight-year-old behind the wheel.

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  • [–] -1 points 2 hours ago

    The danger is the mixing of humans, environment, and computers. Mostly the first, as environment can be predicted and adapted to a lot easier than human actions.

    Ever see the video of an automated warehouse? When it's just computers and no unknown variables, it's far more efficient and safe. But we started with humans driving first and computers are a newcomer, so short of a fully automated road system, it's not going to be perfect. Computers can see and react to things faster, so in some situations they are better than humans, and much of the newest safety equipment on cars required by regulations are because of that.

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  • [–] [S] 4 points 3 hours ago (3 children)

    Trains are better, but, yeah, humans really do suck at driving; whether or not computers would be better is a separate question (tip: LIDAR is better).

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  • [–] -3 points 3 hours ago (2 children)

    As much as current robo-taxis are still far from perfect, their driving is overall much safer than that of human drivers

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  • [–] [S] 3 points 2 hours ago

    I thought we were still waiting for the numbers on that. Do you have a study/article? Surely you can find a study funded by a self-driving car company that shows it's better, but the question is what actually shakes out in practice as evaluated by an unbiased researcher.

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