Speed Limit Ridiculously Low – No
The speed limit is intended to be the maximum safe speed for any given roadway. On two-lane roads, there are often signs posted where road conditions change, such as a bridge or sharp turn, that indicate a different safe maximum speed for that area of road. These speeds often range from 25 to 50 mph. If 25 is safe for a sharp turn, and 50 is safe for a straight stretch of two-lane highway, why would 55 mph- only five mph higher than a backroad- be reasonable for a highway, which was built to move traffic quickly from one location to another?
Some people may argue that slower speeds mean less gas is used. This is true, If you were to go half the speed you normally drive, you would burn about half as less gas per minute than you normally would. However, you would also take twice as long to reach to your destination, and would therefore burn the same amount of gas, effectively changing ntohing except the amount of time wasted driving.
Many people seem to think that a slower speed is a safer speed. It is a fact that a slow-speed collision is preferable to high-speed one. However, have you ever noticed that student drivers usually favor slower speeds? Oftentimes, those who are less confident about their driving ability will drive at slower speeds, such as student drivers or the elderly. Therefore, while not all drivers that prefer higher speeds are great drivers per se, a large percentage of them could be described as such. Therefore, the only major risk that increases at higher speeds for these drivers, would be in the case of an obstacle in the road, or a malfunction, such as a tire blow-out.
In fact, most of my encounters with bad drivers are at slower speeds. I had a tail light broken once by someone who thought he could pass me in a single turn lane, even though moving traffic was clearly preventing either of us from going anywhere. He misjudged the width of the turn lane (it must be hard for some people to believe that a single lane is built for a SINGLE car, and not two), cracked my tail light, and immediately took off thinking that I would not catch up with him to get his license plate (I did). I have seen the front end of cars taken off because people think they can wait to turn on to a main road with the front half of their car sitting out in traffic, as if it won't be hit. There are people who put only their front tires into the center turn lane when waiting to turn, and leave the rear half of the car out in traffic, or those who leave their turn signal on when they don't actually intend to turn, confusing other drivers who might accidentally cross oncoming paths. These are all relatively low-speed crashes, but they are the most common.
Speed limits should act as a maximum, but even as they are today, they act as a minimum, if that. If the highway speed limit was 80 mph, I cannot say that I would travel at the speed for fear of my own safety if something such as a tire blow out occured. However, that is my concern, and therefore my decision. 80 mph itself is not a ridiculous speed. Above that? Yes, I do feel that would be unsafe. However, the beauty of a speed limit that acts as a maximum, as it is intended, is that it gives the driver freedom to choose a reasonable speed. When I travel 65 mph, I am the ONLY person travelling at this speed on the highway.
Even the police seem to agree that speed limits are too low. I live on a two-lane highway, and the speed limit is 40 mph. This is a very difficult speed to maintain on this road because the hills cause constant acceleration, and to go forty you must brake heavily the entire time, even if you never use the gas pedal. I can understand wanting a reasonable speed on this road because I live ther, and know that crossing the street to get the mail is difficult with traffic flying by at high speeds. But that is just it: the speed limit is forty, but traffic CONSISTENTLY travels at around 60 mph. And you know what? When I drive on this road, it is SO easy to drive at that speed, that I do not see a problem with it. There are clear warning signs when approaching turns, and the only time there has been any problem with high speeds has been when the roads are icy. This should not be surprising- when the weather is hazardous, slow down.
However, one night, at 1 am I was pulled over only a few driveways away from my own by a police officer who had been pulled over on the side of the road using radar. I was the only car on the road, and I was going 55 mph in a 40. Fine, I took the warning and went home.
Police cars tailgate me constantly because I now travel at the posted speed limit on my road for fear of being pulled over again. It is nice to know the speed limit is only enforced when there is a quota to fill. In fact, I even see police on the interstate flying by at about 75 mph. But once a month they will all set up their radar traps and pull over anyone going over 65. How is that fair?
Therefore, since the speed limit now is not even effective or reasonable, WHY lower it? This would do nothing but increase travel time, and make it easier for police officers to write tickets before speeding off to 7-11.
Note: I have friends in the police force, and do not mean to disrespect them. Even they admit they speed when on patrol, and find the speed limit ridiculous.
