Two birds, one stone: lower speed limits for safety and climate

Sounds to me like it might be a way of dealing with the population explosion?

I remember reading in another article about a study (also done in Germany) which came to the conclusion that most motorway (autobahn) accidents were caused by failure to observe correct lane discipline. I am all for banning speed limits on inter-state highways, but enforcing lane rules (…yeah, I hear you "…what lane rules?")

 

About 1,500 deaths per year, vs a population growth of over 2,000,000 people per year. It would take hypersonic speed limits to take care of the population growth.

 

Yes, think it'll take that.

In BC, the previous "liberal" government raised quite a few highway speed limits. There was a concerted effort by a doctor's association to stop the increases, without success. That bunch is out now, and I believe at least some of the speed increases have been rolled back.

 

You just need a "do not impede traffic" rule that defines impeding as when traffic needs to pass the offender on the right.

 

Going down the usual rabbit hole?

 

having just returned from a 4,000 mile road trip to florida, i saw almost zero enforcement out, and experienced worse than usual erratic driving.

i really think government has given up, and cops can't be bothered anymore.

i don't know what happened to the old belief that a lot of money could be brought in to city coffers with speeding and other tickets

 

Hey, our rural secondary road has a 30mph speed limit, but if I do 40mph on this road I am tailgated by big pick-up trucks. They go around me doing 50mph on the no-passing zone. Speed limit means nothing around here.

 

That is true in some places. Though often the cops haven't merely given up but were even ordered from above to stand down.

This isn't uniform across the country. Some places still have stronger enforcement. When I was taking Driver's Education, the local pattern was that a habitual 5 mph over the limit would collect points quickly enough to trigger license revocation in about a year.

I still visit there regularly, and a relative is now a magistrate judge there. That old local pattern hasn't relaxed nearly as much as elsewhere. He receives numerous appeals from out-of-region folks who are so unaccustomed to enforcement in their home regions, that they actually (mis)perceive a birthright to drive 10 mph or more over the posted speed limit. Some of them get quite furious, even comically so, at the culture clash and their loss of sense of entitlement. But sorry, appeal denied. Didn't you notice how many local plates you were passing?

Separately, I should also point out that when more allowance or discretion is left to individual enforcement officers, then more festering 'white privilege' and 'driving while black' issues will crop up. Tighter, more uniform enforcement ought to reduce such discrimination.

 

even my local town, cop told me his orders were for warnings only, and then, only for extreme behavior.

50mph on a windy hilly two lane 40mph country road is expected, or you're holding up traffic.

if 50 is expected, i wonder what would be considered extreme.

funny part is, we have a lot of deer and bicycle accidents due to the speed and inability to avoid many situations, but that matters less than expedience i guess.

 

In Vancouver, right turners approaching a red light: no one does a legal stop. The norm is to roll through, head turned left, checking for through traffic. Pedestrians and green light traffic beware.

Similar situation at all stop signs.

 

cruisers@14. Looks like 50 shades of gray:

Pennsylvania State Police Cars

 

Personally, I would prefer Autoban rules:

• Outside lane - trucks and slower traffic
• Inside lane - no speed limit and slow traffic move outside lane if overtaken

Bob Wilson

 

even though i only drive the limit, i won't drive in the right lane. too many crazies getting on and off.

if it is a two lane road, your stuck behind me until there is safe room to pull over.

 

But, but, but, in many states, I think MA included, slow vehicle is required to stay on right lane. I got a ticket one time driving west of Boston on left lane when there was no other cars on right side, but a cop behind me. I was not speeding. Of course, you can argue if you are doing the limit, then you are not a slow vehicle. But still... In many states on interstate there is prominent sign that post "Keep Right Except to Pass"