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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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[–] 0 points 2 hours ago* (3 children)

Those cases are almost certainly because someone set a standard for roll, visibility, and reaction times relative to weather — because an objective reason is better than no reason. You have to account for cars that aren’t yours, people who don’t see as well as you, weather that isn’t today, and visibility that isn’t now.

The speed limit changes didn’t make sense to you at that time, and they were maybe was set to an older standard for vehicular performance, but it was set for a reason.

For example do those roads allow bicyclists? If so you need to add margin for error that the vehicle in front of you behind a blind corner is going a lot slower than you anticipate. Vulnerable road users are still road users.

I have worked for almost 10 years around road safety.

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  • [–] [S] 1 point 2 hours ago (2 children)

    Yes, you sound like an engineer that is frustrated their work isn't being properly appreciated.

    My point is when I hit the brakes at a lower speed change, I am always met with bewilderment from the cars behind me. So I think frequent speed limit changes probably don't do anything but drive revenue.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 hour ago (1 child)

    Unless it's a large speed change (50 to 30 for example), why are you braking? A 5mph change you can usually just take your foot off the accelerator and coast down to speed. It saves fuel, wear on your brakes, and helps prevent traffic from getting backed up in a wave of braking.

    That's potentially where the bewilderment comes from, they see brake lights and because people follow too close, they immediately brake much harder than you did because they can't tell how much you're slowing down or if you're stopping.

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