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Why are we so weird about speed limits (US)? (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 8 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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[–] 7 points 3 hours ago (1 child)

Seems anal given every other damn country would use a "yield" or "give way" sign which you can drive through if you see it's clear. Like, on a very open junction at an oblique angle you may barely need to slow down. Or just slow down enough to make the turn.

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  • [–] 3 points 2 hours ago*

    Yep. America used to have a shitload more yield signs, but they've almost all been replaced with stop signs because some stupid idiots can't be bothered to pay attention when driving. All these overdone rules exist to treat every driver as the lowest common denominator of intelligence and capacity, frustrating the fuck out of those of us who actually know how to drive well & don't like coming to a complete stop when it's unnecessary because it's inefficient, and often just "safety theater."

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