Speed Limits

[fluffy]

Call me old fashioned or just call me old, but I believe in speed limits. Especially 55 mph on highways, all highways. I remember the last oil crunch when everyone fussed about high gas prices and I can remember that speed limits were enacted not only to save fuel, but also to save lives. I know that a human body can survive a crash at 55 mph with appropriate restraints and that the odds of surviving a crash drastically decrease when you approach 70 mph. Cars may be safer these days, but they really aren't much more fuel efficient. Why does it seem that for every step forward we take, we fall back two??

[anb_swrk]

Is this a spiral off my question of 25 on tucker drive? I too believe in speed limits, but I also believe that you can't punish everyone for the stupidity of some. People are going to speed whether the limit is 55 or 70. And most likely people go 70 in a 55 zoned area anyway.

[kdown]

I tend to agree with you both. No matter the speed limit there are many who exceed it whether it is 25 on Tucker Drive or 70 on I-75. Actually, there is NO WAY to legislate stupidity. Consequently, still, after all these years, over 45,000 people a year are killed on our highways with the major cause being speed.

[tkcomer]

Actually, speed is not the major cause of wrecks. A few years ago, Car and Driver listed the top 20 causes of wrecks. Speed was 11th. DUI was way down too, but I can’t remember what spot it held. The number one cause is driver inattention. How do you patrol for that? Crossing the centerline was a biggie. Pulling out in front of someone ranked up there too. Heck, people don’t even seem to know what a directional arrow is in a parking lot. I’ve talked to the Maysville police. They don’t like those “radar runs” anymore than we do. And they admit it doesn’t work. You can’t stop stupid people from wrecking. Artificially low speed limits don’t work either. All they do is direct scorn at the cops who didn’t set the speed limit, but are told to enforce it. And fill government coffers from fines. But then again, passing stupid laws and concentrating on what doesn’t work keeps the fine money rolling in.

[Foxy]

My hubby was rear ended at US 68 and the AA last year. He was sitting at a red light, about 4 cars back. A lady on a cell phone rear ended him at 45 MPH. Wanna know why she never "saw" him? She was talking on a cell phone! I have the wireless blue tooth head set, and voice dial. When I remember to charge that thing, I never have to take my eyes off the road while I am driving. I am guilty though. I still drive and talk on the phone, I try to use voice dialing, and my quick dial buttons. Where all I do is hold down a number and calls the preset number.