I just got back from a trip down south. Hitting West Virginia was like getting on the Autobahn. Posted speed limit was 70mph. I was going 80. The natives passed me like I was standing still. The only cop I saw was in a gas station getting coffee.

Virginia had troopers at what seemed like every 5 miles. Virginia's finest were using decoy cars, cars parked pointing down entrance ramps, with the chase car a few miles down the road, etc. Business was very brisk for the flatfoots(Can a State Trooper be called a flatfoot?)

Speed limits are about revenue generation.

From what I’ve seen in this part of North Carolina if you ask the general driving public if they obey all speed limits of those that said yes the majority are liars.

quote:

Originally posted by Wyatt Earp:
I'm done. You must be one of those AH who sit in the left lane blocking everyone because you are obeying "the law".

Now that's a great way to get your point across.

I picked "2," but in my younger days, I viewed speed limits as suggestions made by those with no need to get anywhere. Having driven many, many miles at speeeds exceeding 100mph, and never having been jailed, in a serious accident or killed, I've slowed down a bunch, on the theory that I may have met some kind of lifetime quota. Back when I would have impromptu, illegal road races with friends, there were not nearly as many cars on the road, nor as many traffic cops. I NEVER speed through a school zone and never have, and usually run no more than 3-5mph over the posted limits. Wyatt got it right when he said that most speed limits are not based on sound principles, and even a good traffic engineer will tell you that they are not safety-based, either. Some are DELIBERATELY under-posted to serve as easy pickings for the tax-by-another-name of speeding ticket issuers, and I do my best not to feed that beast. Now, left lane bandits, that's a "don't get me started" issue!

In general, I "go with the flow" in traffic. To do otherwise would be foolish. If it means that I have to speed.....well, I will speed!!! Bob

Voluntary compliance with the law is the essence of civilization. A person who routinely ignores the law in one area will ignore it in others, too; such a person is not reliable and is a threat to others.

Voluntary compliance on the road provides an example to others, educates others about proper conduct, and exposes those by the contrast who are driving irresponsibly.

The speed limit isn't there to limit how fast you can drive; it's there to control the distance within which you can safely stop, and represents society's judgment about dangers in an area that you may know nothing about.

Two additional notes: some people argue that the law enforcement community is incompetent generally because they can't even handle a simple thing like speeding violations, but that's not it at all: the law enforcement community is not interested in stopping crime - the more crime there is, the more money and power we're willing to give them. Secondly, if you're in Virginia, and you drive like a maniac and get caught, I'll defend you and if there's a way you can be found "not guilty", I'll figure it out or at least get you a plea bargain. See, I make my money out of more crime, too. But I know it doesn't matter what I say about it, so I may as well be honest: there are always going to be self-important arrogant people who just do what they think best for themselves and some of them are going to be caught. They pay me whether they like my opinions or not.

quote:

A person who routinely ignores the law in one area will ignore it in others, too; such a person is not reliable and is a threat to others.

There has been that epidemic of speeding serial killers lately....

Shorty

quote:

Originally posted by user:
A person who routinely ignores the law in one area will ignore it in others, too; such a person is not reliable and is a threat to others.

You have no idea of what you are talking about.

quote:

Originally posted by user:
The speed limit isn't there to limit how fast you can drive; it's there to control the distance within which you can safely stop, and represents society's judgment about dangers in an area that you may know nothing about.

I actually know a hell of lot more about stopping distances and how to account for them than 99% of the lawmakers who come up with arbitraty speed limits. I am an engineer. They are mostly lawyers.

I routinely ignore highway speed limits. I always have and always will.

Here in southern Florida we have speed suggestions and are not limits. Our section Interstate 95 has a 65 MPH speed limit. If you travel during the day I would think the average speed is about 78. THere are some that will be in the left lane and will be probably going about 90 or so. Now and then the police will set up a laser speed check and will just pull over as many cars as they can and then after they go the speeds seem to follow the natural limit...78.
I have heard that if they remove the speed limits and audit many cars they should set the limit at about 80 percent of the natural limit.

quote:

"Obey the Law!"
"Law-abiding"

Liberty isn't about obeying the (codified) law.

Some laws are immoral.
Many laws on the books today are unconstitutional.
A great many laws are altogether arbitrary.

Those that reflect societal norms for the sake of protection of the innocent are already evident and obvious to the morally-enlightened man; everyone knows it's wrong to murder and steal, for instance.

The spirit of obedience and submission to proper rule and authority is a good thing, but slavishly obeying any and all laws at all times and at all places is not only impossible, but often counterproductive and fortunately unnecessary.

I probably "break" a dozen "rules" in a day, yet no one comes to harm, is made less safe, or is discomfitted or inconvenienced in any way.

quote:

I have heard that if they remove the speed limits and audit many cars they should set the limit at about 80 percent of the natural limit.

Generally they consider the 85th percentile of free-flow traffic as where the speed limit should be as long as an engineering study supports that as "safe", meaning they also consider crash history, types of crash likely to be reduced or increased with a lower speed limit, access points, sight distances, etc.

...and then they add the politics.

About the Germans who go faster and are safer:

1. A German drivers license costs a couple of thousand dollars. Those people protect their licenses.

2. They get in a car to drive. Cell phones, coffee, candy bar WILL cost your license if seen.

3. Those cops are really sneaky. The use hidden high-speed electronic surveilence to keep an eye on you as you go by.

Boy wyatt earp is really ticked off at truck drivers. I guess I need to be on the look out for you. what is it that you drive so I can get out of your way?

quote:

Originally posted by rchance:
Boy wyatt earp is really ticked off at truck drivers. I guess I need to be on the look out for you. what is it that you drive so I can get out of your way?

I'll let you know on the road.