frankie_baby
Member
I remember the few times I've been on the m6 toll, we be doing like 90 in the slow lane and everyone passing us
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Is Every Speed Limit Too Low?
- Thread starter entremet
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I remember the few times I've been on the m6 toll, we be doing like 90 in the slow lane and everyone passing us
Enter The 36 Chambers
Member
I drive like a dick.
I always speed and drive aggressively. Always stay in the fast lane and sometimes bully people out of the lane.
So naturally im gonna say yeah they should be higher.
I always speed and drive aggressively. Always stay in the fast lane and sometimes bully people out of the lane.
So naturally im gonna say yeah they should be higher.
Hickbilly Deluxe
Banned
I dunno, I never have trouble following the speed limit. If it's 65, I hit 65 and set the cruise. That's also where my truck hits close to peak MPG, so why go faster and waste gas?
archreaper93
Member
It got raised to 70 in Illinois.
Charles Brandon
Member
Sometimes people need to be bullied. I don't know where you live or how it works there but in the UK you should always be driving in the left-most lane unless overtaking. In practice, that means that you get three lanes of traffic, inside lane (left-most) full of lorries, middle lane full of people driving at the limit and outside (right-most) lane full of people doing whatever speed. Because the two inside lanes are often busy, you are constantly overtaking and therefore don't need to pull in. However, and this is where bullying comes into it, you'll sometimes be driving at 80-90 in the outside lane when someone pulls in front to overtake from the middle lane. They'll be overtaking some bloke doing 65 and they'll be doing 70. That's fine. I'll slow down and give them room. And I'll give them at least two opportunities to pull the fuck back over when there is space. If they ignore those opportunities then the lights start flashing because by that point they are just being inconsiderate.
Charles Brandon
Member
dp
womfalcs3
Banned
Right. I even see cops going 80 mph. I go 80 in a 70 and they never stop me when they see me.
NoblesseOblige
Banned
As a Michigan resident the only place I ever feel a low speed limit is an issue is in the MSU residential areas.
Agent Gibbs
Member
finally a subject I truly know being a Traffic Officer! (watch me get it wrong)
As the above poster, the National Speed Limit is confusing
On a single carriageway (aka a road which is one continuous surface with no central reservation) the National Speed Limit for CARS* is 60mph
A single carriageway can have multiple lanes, you frequently get three lane single carriageways and infrequently get 4 lane single carriageways on rural UK roads
A Dual Carriageway refers to a road which the two opposing flows of traffic are separated by a central reserve, on which CARS* can do 70mph
You get single lane (one each side of the central reserve) and multi lanes (each side of the reserve), both are 70mph
country roads with no street lighting are unrestricted and default to the national speed limit
all roads with a system of street lighting (defined as no more than 183 m apart) are restricted roads and fall to the restricted national speed of 30mph.
Other speed limits that can be introduced by processing a Traffic Regulation Order, so ;
20mph limits and zones
30mph (on roads which don't have street lighting and thus are already 30mph)
40mph
50mph
60mph
the logic behind setting a speed limit is set out in various government guidance, which roughly follows what is quoted above (20/30 built up urban areas, 40mph semi urban areas, etc)
Whilst rare speed limits can also be raised and recently a lot of UK A class roads were reviewed and the speed limits altered, but the main problems with speed limits in this country is Political involvement!
Politicians like votes and pressurise local authorities to impose speed limits that will gain them votes, for example - the A58 going between Leeds and Wetherby, its a rural road which runs through fields and then comes through villages, villages which are predominantly made up of houses set back from the roads. The government criteria for such roads would be national speed limit for the completely rural roads or 50mph where sever bends/hazards are, then 40mph though the villages.
However if you google it the roads are between 50mph and 30mph despite wide roads with houses set back, they are completely inappropriate speed limits which drivers ignore - its so bad and so apart from standard the Police are exceptionally reluctant to enforce them
This is why their is guidance on speed limits, research undertake shows that if appropriate speed limits are imposed the majority (85%) of motorists will conform to them. However if an in appropriate speed limit is introduced a level of non compliance will occur that the Police cannot practically deal with, and introduces a situation where as motorists are already exceeding the (inappropriate) limit, that they are more likely to use excessive speeds as they are already breaking the law.
I'd hazard a guess (knowing what I do about US roads) that similar guidance is in place, but political pressure occurs that sees inappropriate speed limits introduced
*The national speed limit for large goods vehicles, vehicles with more than a certain number of seats (buses etc) are actually lower than that of cars e.g HGV's can only travel at 56mph as a top speed (56 or 55 it matters not), I believe vehicles with trailers have the same top speeds but you'll often see a nob with a caravan overtaking on a motorway
As the above poster, the National Speed Limit is confusing
On a single carriageway (aka a road which is one continuous surface with no central reservation) the National Speed Limit for CARS* is 60mph
A single carriageway can have multiple lanes, you frequently get three lane single carriageways and infrequently get 4 lane single carriageways on rural UK roads
A Dual Carriageway refers to a road which the two opposing flows of traffic are separated by a central reserve, on which CARS* can do 70mph
You get single lane (one each side of the central reserve) and multi lanes (each side of the reserve), both are 70mph
country roads with no street lighting are unrestricted and default to the national speed limit
all roads with a system of street lighting (defined as no more than 183 m apart) are restricted roads and fall to the restricted national speed of 30mph.
Other speed limits that can be introduced by processing a Traffic Regulation Order, so ;
20mph limits and zones
30mph (on roads which don't have street lighting and thus are already 30mph)
40mph
50mph
60mph
the logic behind setting a speed limit is set out in various government guidance, which roughly follows what is quoted above (20/30 built up urban areas, 40mph semi urban areas, etc)
Whilst rare speed limits can also be raised and recently a lot of UK A class roads were reviewed and the speed limits altered, but the main problems with speed limits in this country is Political involvement!
Politicians like votes and pressurise local authorities to impose speed limits that will gain them votes, for example - the A58 going between Leeds and Wetherby, its a rural road which runs through fields and then comes through villages, villages which are predominantly made up of houses set back from the roads. The government criteria for such roads would be national speed limit for the completely rural roads or 50mph where sever bends/hazards are, then 40mph though the villages.
However if you google it the roads are between 50mph and 30mph despite wide roads with houses set back, they are completely inappropriate speed limits which drivers ignore - its so bad and so apart from standard the Police are exceptionally reluctant to enforce them
This is why their is guidance on speed limits, research undertake shows that if appropriate speed limits are imposed the majority (85%) of motorists will conform to them. However if an in appropriate speed limit is introduced a level of non compliance will occur that the Police cannot practically deal with, and introduces a situation where as motorists are already exceeding the (inappropriate) limit, that they are more likely to use excessive speeds as they are already breaking the law.
I'd hazard a guess (knowing what I do about US roads) that similar guidance is in place, but political pressure occurs that sees inappropriate speed limits introduced
*The national speed limit for large goods vehicles, vehicles with more than a certain number of seats (buses etc) are actually lower than that of cars e.g HGV's can only travel at 56mph as a top speed (56 or 55 it matters not), I believe vehicles with trailers have the same top speeds but you'll often see a nob with a caravan overtaking on a motorway
It's the "drive the entire length of the M4 at 60mph in the middle lane" lot round here that cause a lot of the traffic problems.
Oh the fun I used to have when I had an ex-police escort bike
It's just unintuitive to my mind that's all, seeing how people even where I live where the speed limit is 40mph max anywhere, usually 30 in others still manage to flip their cars on a monthly basis, crash tons, etc. It's a small island so for that to happen so often is like :what are you doing:.
I always feel like the speed-limits are a limits you should be hovering around, rather than a actual upper limit you should never reach. I'm most often somewhere between -5 to + 10 the limit.
I actually don't know why cars haven't been legislated to never go above the maximum limit if that is actually to be enforced. Similarly, it baffles me that there is no automatic cruise control when by gps, the car determines the maximum it can reach, in case of radars.
I actually don't know why cars haven't been legislated to never go above the maximum limit if that is actually to be enforced. Similarly, it baffles me that there is no automatic cruise control when by gps, the car determines the maximum it can reach, in case of radars.
Nappuccino
Member
65 is about right, most of the time. Great for gas mileage, much better breaking distance than 70 or anything higher.
Y'all need to learn to leave earlier and drive safer.
Y'all need to learn to leave earlier and drive safer.
Jarth Mader
Member
Yes, they are way too low, but I almost never speed anymore. I've gotten too many speeding tickets over the years, the most ludicrous was being ticketed for going a mere 4 mph (yes, four, 4, 2+2, fucking ridiculous) over the limit (65 mph) on an interstate highway. I personally think they keep the limits low in most places to make it easy to hit their ticket quotas every month.
Charles Brandon
Member
Thanks for posting. Is it true that plod will probably not pull you for doing 70-79 on the motorway?
The point is the statistics show its actually safer to raise speed limits to about 75 to keep the flow of traffic closer to the same speed for all vehicles on the road.
entremet
Member
That's the truth. Especially the drivers that cruise in the hov or left lane without passing. Move to the right so drivers can pass on the left. It's frustrating.
thesoapster
Member
Totally depends. Some speed limits on the local side streets in town are too high. One of our main highways had its limit boosted from 55 to 65 in one area, then from 65 to 70 in the rest. I still drive about the same speed as before, only now I follow or break the speed limit by maybe 3-6 mph instead of 7-10.
On the other hand, I speed on my drive to work every day. Four lane road where all intersections have lights. 25mph limit. Everyone drives 35, and so do I. 25 is ridiculous.
On the other hand, I speed on my drive to work every day. Four lane road where all intersections have lights. 25mph limit. Everyone drives 35, and so do I. 25 is ridiculous.
womfalcs3
Banned
The issue is I think many people will always do +10 mph the speed limit, and thus the difference in flow speeds between cars.
Pankratous
Member
I always thought the reason for this was down to how speedometers work.
Speedo can never tell you that you are going slower than you actually are, but they can tell you that you are going faster than you actually are. If it reads 70 you might actually only be doing 65.
Hence the leeway. Doing 71-79 you still might only be pushing 70.
Charles Brandon
Member
Aye there is that too, I roughly know what the tolerance in my speedometer is though.
Again, read the article. That isn't what statistics show. People tend to self regulate their speeds in that range on the expressway regardless of speed limits. 85% drive those speeds regardless of the limit. So getting the lower speed people on the expressways ups to that range is actually the safest thing for the road.
peteykirch
Member
On the way home from work, the road used to be a 35MPH, but someone got hit jaywalking going from a church. The church protested saying 35MPH was too fast and unsafe, and the township lowered it to 25MPH. I swear it feels like you're standing still while driving down the road. What makes it worse is the fact they pay the township to have about 3 cops do traffic duty at the crosswalks, and this person didn't use the crosswalk, got hit, and was severely injured.
It was a crappy thing, but because of one mistake there's no reason to reduce the speed limit by nearly 30%
It was a crappy thing, but because of one mistake there's no reason to reduce the speed limit by nearly 30%
Charles Brandon
Member
it always blows my mind that 'jaywalking' is a crime in the US
Please be more... Responsible?
UpDownLeftRight
Banned
Fuck off should they. I'm already having to assume the maniac indicating isn't actually going where they say and instead will carve through me if I move. There's too many shit drivers out there to be trusted with higher speed limits.
Just look at this thread with people condoning pushing people off the road and bullying them out of your way. Something about cars makes people feel like superman. If you wouldn't go shove some guy on his ass in the street for walking, why does bullying people off the road make any logical sense?
Just look at this thread with people condoning pushing people off the road and bullying them out of your way. Something about cars makes people feel like superman. If you wouldn't go shove some guy on his ass in the street for walking, why does bullying people off the road make any logical sense?
poppabk
Cheeks Spread for Digital Only Future
You realize to some people you are the pain in the ass driving slow in the fast lane right?
This too. There isn't even a word for it in German.
Living in Indianapolis and the speeds are 55mph. I always feel like the people who actually go 55 are dangerous because so many times on my way to work they'll make their way over to the fast lane and it irks me.
Its more dangerous for them to do that speed than it is for me to do the 70-80 mph i go. Traffic is going too fast for them to make lane changes without disrupting nearly every driver around them.
Its more dangerous for them to do that speed than it is for me to do the 70-80 mph i go. Traffic is going too fast for them to make lane changes without disrupting nearly every driver around them.
Rhomega Beta
Member
The problem with me is that I end up going under the limit, especially on highways and roads I'm not familiar with, usually about 5 MPH under.
Enter The 36 Chambers
Member
Im usually 15-30 over the limit in the fast lane though.
Unfortunately I can't link it because it requires a paid account, but there is a really interesting Ask/Tell thread on Somethingawful forums where a traffic engineer answered a bunch of questions about his job.
Basically, all roads are designed for the least able drivers, old people. You can essentially add about 10-20 mph to any speed limit (except residential) and that's what it should be if roads weren't designed with old people in mind.
Basically, all roads are designed for the least able drivers, old people. You can essentially add about 10-20 mph to any speed limit (except residential) and that's what it should be if roads weren't designed with old people in mind.
Skellig Gra
Member
I speed all the time but I would say no considering how horrible most people are at driving.
There are stupid laws everywhere doesn't mean they're strictly enforced.
You won't be fined for Jay walking unless some sort of accident or another incident is involved.
As for raising the speed limits.... The US has a fairly high motor vehicle mortality rate percentage compared to many countries in Europe. Also many studies have proven that lowering speed limits actually causes more accidents than raising them.
As a former US resident my experiences in Europe outside of select cities and countries(Italy and Portugal are by far my worst experiences) generally people drive much better in Europe than in the US.
Hopefully people on the street would be courteous enough to move to the side when people want to go faster than they do.
While I don't really like pushing people, you need some way to communicate with the person going 65 in the fast/passing lane.
Frankfurter
Member
Chuckie
Member
Could it be because of the exam/test? I know in the Netherlands they are very strict. You have to drive in the city, on the high way, do some stuff like parking in backwards and stopping on a hill, brake and drive again (et cetera) and even small mistakes like driving too slow or insecure can cost you the test. Like if you don't merge with the traffic on a high way with enough confidence, you could already fail.
The most noticeable difference to me between driving in the US(tri state area) and Europe(spain/Portugal/italy) is the complete inability in the US for people to stay on the right side of the highway to allow others to pass.
This is how accidents happen and more times than not the accidents that do happen on us highways is from people trying to pass incorrectly.
I had to retake the driving exam in spain since they do not validate my us drivers license. I failed the written exam the first time but passed the driving exam on first try. The other person taking the driving exam with me failed. Lots of people in spain don't pass their driver exam until second or third try. I know of people that have gone 5+ times....
This is how accidents happen and more times than not the accidents that do happen on us highways is from people trying to pass incorrectly.
Yep that's partly to blame. When I lived in the US my driving exam was done on a closed course and the written exam was a joke and most people copied answers from each other since we took the exams in the high school.
I had to retake the driving exam in spain since they do not validate my us drivers license. I failed the written exam the first time but passed the driving exam on first try. The other person taking the driving exam with me failed. Lots of people in spain don't pass their driver exam until second or third try. I know of people that have gone 5+ times....
Charles Brandon
Member
I think a lot of that comes down to the test you have to pass to get your licence. The impression we have in the UK is that the test in the US is ridiculously easy. I've never taken it though so that may be wrong.
JasonUresti
Member
Don't know how you can bully someone in a car. Unless you mean tailgating which is moronic at those speeds ( and which would cause some people, like one of my best friends, to mercilessly fuck with you and keep you trapped behind him and a slow moving car in the other lane)
Usually around 65 but cops won't care unless you're going like 80
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