In the context of speeding tickets...

In a recent study, it has been self-reported that FORTY percent of drivers have exceeded the speed limit by more than 20mph. 48% of men admitted to it, and 30% of women.

http://www.allstatenewsroom.com/channels/News-Releases/releases/new-allstate-survey-shows-americans-think-they-are-great-drivers-habits-tell-a-different-story

Interesting. Rather than indicating Americans are "bad" drivers, I wonder if this is saying anything about speed limits?

CW

 

Possibly. It might suggest that speed limits are set at a limit whereby they know you'll probably exceed them and there's higher likelihood they can ticket/tax you?

 

Excellent, this shows the Human spirit is still alive in almost half of American drivers. I have no problem with speeding fines, but draconian penalties such as in Virginia where they treat speeding 20+ like a DWI makes me sick to my stomach. Driving fast may or may not be reckless driving. When it is not, a simple fine is appropriate. Whew, that touched a nerve.

Dave

 

It might indeed...

 

That's IT? More people have probably done crack.

 

EVERYONE has gone 35 at least once through a 15 mph school/church/playground/speed trap zone.

 

speed limits on the highway are a joke. I respect limits around town it makes sense with pedestrians to be extra cautious. It's all about revenue and politics. Small few always ruin it for the majority.

I wouldn't even mind tickets if it were just a fine, you pay it and be done with. The insurance hikes, the court trips, it's absurd. Hypocrisy at its finest.

 

+1

Stay in the limits in town that is where the lives of others are truly at risk, however a ticket for anything under 100 on a rural straight interstate highway is nothing but a revenue stream/cops boredom break.

 

i wonder why speeders all think they are such great drivers. the majority of speeders shouldn't even be behind the wheel. they roar through traffic, weaving in and out tailgating their way to the next traffic light where they then fly off like a dragster only to jam on the brakes at the next light. on the highway they all think they're some kind of nascar driver. tailgating, lane changing like mad. you can't leave a half car length in front of you that some nitwit doesn't squeeze into. traffic laws are far too lenient. there is a place for speed; it's called a racetrack. speeding is great fun until someone gets killed. seeing an entire family laid out on the side of the road covered in a tarp because some speeder ran them off the road is lots of fun. slow the fu@k down! you're not that good. if you were you'd understand.

 

painting with broad strokes aren't we?

 

A large percentage of accidents are due to excessive speed. I'm guilty from time to time at chosen places and times, but many do not. The speed limits are set fro those who can't handle speed and there are lots of them.

 

The other issue with speeding if done in a sports car is that every 16 year old that sees you will think they are a race car driver and try to pace you. I've seen it on bikes and the less skilled can die that way.

 

New cars today can safely go much faster than could new cars in the 60's and 70's.

Ah, if only the infrastructure was in the same shape now as it was then.

It ain't.

As cars get better, the roads deteriorate, and the limits stay pretty much the same.

 

Speeders wouldn't have to change lanes like mad, flash their lights, blow their horns, etc if the general public didn't spend most of their time doing 10 under the speed limit, while talking on a cell phone and eating jelly donuts, in the passing lane.

Look, I can assign the attributes of the few to the many as well.

 

Note: Anyone can drive fast in a straight line--that takes no skill at all, just a nerve. What takes skill is comming down off the banking at 162 MPH into turn 1 at TWS and not loosing it.

If you attempt to develop this skill on public roads, you will not reach retirement age.

 

due to excessive speed? or ....due to other causes including incidents where excessive speed is a CONTRIBUTING factor?

 

Isn't this the truth. Too many people think its their god given right to drive and not follow another car in the same lane even if they are driving the same speed. Its obnoxious. If you are not passing, stay right, like the law says.....

 

While cruising I95 north through Philadelphia today I decided to preform an informal experiment.

I did the speed limit. Set the cruise on 55 MPH, and didn't wander over.

EVERYONE WAS PASSING ME LIKE I WAS STANDING STILL. Cops, little old ladies, a-holes in Prius's, dump trucks, tractor trailers, hell, scooters were blowing my doors off.

under 50%? How about 99.9% passed me at 75 or more.

Oh, and southbound there were about 40 state troopers pulling folks over during the course of my 20 mile drive like it was for sport. I literally saw at least 30 folks pulled over.

Speeding is endemic, it's part of the plan when driving. No one goes the speed limit.

Except me, today, for fun. And boy, was I pissing folks off.

DM

 

You know what they say. Its not excessive speed that gets you. Its suddenly coming to a stop.

 

i think it was Clarkson that said: "An Aston can stop at half the distance so it should be go twice as fast."

 

Just proves that the speed limit is too low.

Kai

 

Possibly.

IT could also simply prove that everyone, including the cops, ignores the speed limit.

D

 

Just wondering, if they raised the limit to 70, would folks do 70, or 85-90?

D

 

No they are not. Majority of accidents happen in the 20-40mph range and are a result of careless driving(not paying attention, or not driving based on current conditions).

Most people have been lied to about the government imposing speed limits in order to maintain safe roads. They refuse to accept/believe that the government lies, and that the saftey bs is false. Stockholm Syndrome 101.

Majority of interstate speed limits were introduced during the 1970's oil crisis in an attempt to increase fuel economy. Once the municipalities and states saw the ridiculous $$$ being generated they hoodwinked the public and created the safety excuses. Government is a growth industry.

Speed limits do not matter. Without speed limits, countless studies have found people tend to drive what they perceive is safe. All the signs do is encourage drivers to behave like robots, instead of being aware of their environment.

Speed limits matter for police departments and the state, they create a revenue source. "You are breaking the law".

http://www.ibiblio.org/rdu/a-slmatr.html

Montana had no official highway speed limits for awhile, "reasonable and prudent" was what the law stated. Once the 75mph state speed limit was introduced, accidents increased.

Speed limits keep thousands of otherwise unproductive police officers employed, endless traffic courts that add no value, and support pointless ticket fighting cottage industries.

 

there are accidents and there are accidents. true, most accidents are low speed fender benders but also true most accidents involving serious injury or death are high speed accidents. certainly our highways can support higher speeds and our vehicles are faster and safer but the determining factor is, as it's always been that most fallible part of the car, the nut behind the wheel. driving 80mph on an open highway in montana cannot be compared to driving 80mph on a crowded throughway. people speed because they're selfish and self centered. their time is more valuable than everyone else on the highway and they have the right to endanger everyone else's lives by their reckless behavior. slow down. enjoy the road.