08-30-2013, 12:14 PM
Cary wrote:
The common practice for setting speed limits if that of the 85th percentile. Use of the 85th percentile speed concept is based on the theory that:
The large majority of drivers:
- are reasonable and prudent
- do not want to have a crash
- desire to reach their destination in the shortest possible time
- a speed at or below which 85 percent of people drive at any given location under good weather and visibility conditions may be considered as the maximum safe speed for that location.
In places where a vast majority of traffic exceeds the posted limit, those limits should be reconsidered. The 55 MPH speed limit has created a nation of scofflaws.
When I lived in Los Angeles, the speed limit on Franklin Ave. was increased from 30 to 35 MPH. There was public outcry about the lack of concern for safety. The traffic department and sheriff talked about the 85th percentile rule in explaining the increase. Guess what? Accidents went down the following year.
The Interstate system was designed for 85 MPH speeds, by the way.
In my opinion, speed limits should be reasonable, not arbitrary. Following arbitrary rules just because they are rules is ridiculous, in my opinion.
New Jersey just made a big deal of raising the fines for driving too slowly, supposedly reducing the possibility of road rage. Thing is, they already had the law on the books. It was never enforced. Did raising the fines do anything except possibly raise revenues?
Having said that, the intention of the NJ law is good. If someone wants to drive at 50-55 MPH, they should stay to the right. Issues arise when a slow moving vehicle (and yes, 55 is often considered slow) sits in the left lane, forcing cars to pass on the right. That, and the relative difference in speeds of vehicles, lead to accidents.
Lastly, traffic enforcement is (again, in my opinion) about revenue generation, not about safety enhancement. Red light cameras, for instance, have to produce a minimum revenue per camera according to the agreements between municipalities and the camera system companies. Famously, Lockheed Martin demanded that certain underproducing cameras in San Diego (IIRC) have their yellow light duration reduced. The result? More tickets, along with more rear end collisions.
/rant off
I disagree on almost every point here.
Red light cameras are a weak attempt to compensate for the lack of police on the road. I'll take 'em.
The idea that 55 mph was meant to increase safety shows a lack of historical perspective. In the 70s it was determined that less fuel is consumed when vehicles travel at 55 mph than at higher speeds-- it was enacted as part of a conservation effort. If you don't think conservation should be a priority, just say so.