POLL: Speed Limits

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I was inspired on my way home from work the other day, and seeing as how this hasn't been talked about yet, I decided to.

The topic here: Speed limits, what do you think of them? Are they useful to protect our safety, or just another way of the government intruding in on our lives?

Poll Information
This poll contains 1 question(s). 30 user(s) have voted.
You may not view the results of this poll without voting.

Poll Results: Speed Limits (30 votes.)

Speed Limits (Choose 1)
* Useful, I follow them to stay safe and it is the right thing - 30% (9)
* I follow them when it suits me - 37% (11)
* I usually drive like a maniac and run people off the road if they don't race like me - 7% (2)
* I don't drive, so should not be participating in this poll. - 27% (8)

 

Here in Norway we have one short road distance where the limit is 100 km/h. Other than that it's mostly 80 or 70. And therefor we have a lot of problems with young drivers driving way too fast, especially on the new and modern highways. I haven't got the license yet, but many of my friends have had it for a while. They're not always driving below the limit . One of them has got his father's BMW 520, and another one has a Opel Commodore 2.8 litre (almost veteran), so I can't really blame them.

By the way, one of my friends lost his license after having it for 22 hours. Then he ended up in the woods with his Citröen turned over on the roof .

 

Or everyone like me can kick in and vote for "I don't drive, so should not be participating in this poll".

 

I'm with you, S_G!

 

I of able mind, body, and drivers license rarely if ever speed. Not that I haven't ever done so, or been caught doing so. I do beleive that they are there for our safety. I have been in a car wreck where the highest speed was 50 mph and I know how much damage a vehicle moving that fast can do. I could not imagine what would happen if someone got in an accident going 100, I am not sure I want to know to tell the truth.

And therefore deem speed limits acceptable and warranted in most occasions.

 

It's ugly, Satiana, the description is bad enough for me.
Another thing to keep in mind is that speed limits are also set to what the road can handle. a fast driving vehicle is harder on a road than a slow driving one, according to a friend of mine who's job is research and development for the DOT.
For the most part, I don't mind speed limits, and rarely go above them.

 

Just a quick point, i've always wondered why they make and sell cars that go over 200kph if the max speed limit in most parts of the world is 100kph?

Wouldnt it make more sense to curb speeding by stopping the production of fast cars for the general public?

 

Yes, and why do people drive those ridiculous SUVs when all they use them for is getting to work and back, and the road there doesn't have a single bump? I guess other things than functionality come into play when most people buy cars.

Speed limits are tricky: most people seem to drive about 10 km/h above them constantly, but then, you also have to adjust to the pace of everyone else on the road... if you drive strictly according to the limit when everyone else is above it, you may actually end up being the one causing an accident. In some way they definitely do serve a purpose though: I don't think it should be anyone's individual freedom to risk the life of everyone else who happen to get in the way. Personal freedom will never be complete, because no man is an island. Humans are meant to cooperate, not to hunt alone, and with all forms of cooperation there is a certain amount of adjusting to the group. In this case by following the speed limits, even if you don't feel like it.

 

Well, I am going to take my driving license next year, but I am already driving and this is a subject I waited for a long time to be put up.

Here in Greece most of the speed limits are unrealistic. For example the Highways speed limit is 120km/h. I mean, 120km/h is a good speed limit for a road that works are done or there is a lot of traffic, but if there is no traffic and there is a well-done, big, well-litted highway, are you going to stuck in 120km/h. Don't think so

I am driving my father's car (a Saab 9000CS Turbo) and I ussualy follow the speed limit only when I see a warning about cops that check for drivers that go past the speed limit. I usually keep my speed in certain limits because (as you know ) we have the worst roads in europe. I rarely go over 180km/h for that reason.

In general I think that the main problem is not the speed limit. There should be a change in the whole license giving system (at least in my country), because people get the lisence and they don't know how to handle the car in difficult conditions (rain, snow etc.) Another point is that more accidents happen from j*rks that drink and then drive, than from people who drive fast but know how to handle the car.

And btw Kitiara, cars is a passion and the people making fast cars have this passion inside them. You can't say them stop producting fast cars, because some idiot governors: don't train the driver's right, don't make good roads and set the speed limit at 120km/h. And as far as I know, there has been a conversation in the Italian Parliament about raising speed limit in 160km/h. Let's hope that this will extend to other countries soon

 

In germany we have speed limits of usually 100km/h, of course there are cunning arrangements of traffic signs with speed limits in combination with *radartraps*, so the speed limit is lower sometimes (and I have to admit that that particularly makes sense in cities ).

Only unreglemented areas in Germany are the famed autobahns. On most of them there is no speed limit, so you can drive as fast as you can - as long as the traffic allows it and there are no construction sites and so on.

Actually that works pretty well - the only ones seemingly having problems with it are the evil dutch (no insult intended), they speed here since they aren't allowed at home (insult intended actually I love the dutch method of punishing speeding - confiscation of the car) Well, seriously, the dutch lorry drivers have a tendency to drive too fast here - which is a little silly with a generously powered 60+ ton vehicle - in any other car you loose in an accident.

[ July 30, 2002, 10:51: Message edited by: Ragusa ]

 

That's why I love your country, Ragusa

 

WHat? No Speed Limits????!!!

/me steps on his mountainbike and cycles to Germany!

 

Well, so far it seems that almost everyone said either "I follow them when it suits me" or "I should not be participating in this poll", which is no surprise. Actually, I'm glad that we do have a lot of young people voting, as I was mainly aiming this poll at people under 30. They are the ones I usually see driving like idiots (admittedly, I'm in this age group). Surprisingly, not many Americans have voted, otherwise the maniac option should be the most popular. It's nice to hear your opinions on this, so everyone should feel free to speak up.

My personal opinion would be right along with the majority of you. I usually follow the speed limits, but I do occasionally drive a bit faster than I should, especially around turns. Oftentimes, though, if I'm going 10mph over the limit (That's about 15 or 16 kph or so), I'm getting passed by most of the cars on the road, which I think is kind of ridiculous.

[ July 30, 2002, 18:16: Message edited by: Rastor ]

 

For me, it really depends if my driving instructor falls asleep.

 

Speeding is OK, but only if you keep it within 20% of the maximum speed. As long as you do that the ticket won't be that high if/when you get busted.

[ July 30, 2002, 22:53: Message edited by: Silverblade ]

 

The one speed you must never reach at any point by law, unless you want to lose your license is 100MPH ... as far as i know its only a British law ... other countries, please verify me on that.

 

Oops, I just voted. Forgot to do that last night

 

This doesn't exist here Sniper
Just a question to BTA: AFAIK the speed limit in USA is 55(or 60?)mph and I also think that your highway police is very ehm.. good How do you managed not being caught in that speeds?