8 ‘3 MPH’
8 ‘3 MPH’
When I was younger, about 10 or 15 years ago, there was a thought train that the radar equipment was not accurate so one could speed a little and not get caught.
This was true; radar had an accuracy ratio of plus or minus 1.5 MPH totalling a 3 MPH difference. That’s 5 Km in today’s lingo.
So, you travel 5 Km over the speed limit and don’t get caught. Pretty soon, everyone is traveling 5 Km’s over the speed limit. [It’s that monkey see, monkey do rule] Who are they going to stop, everyone?
Now everyone is going 5Km over the speed limit so, some try 10Km over the speed limit. It’s only 5 Km faster than everyone else and the law enforcement officers get used to this small change. More and more people move up to 10 Km over the speed limit until everyone is now travelling 10 Km over the speed limit. Again, who are they going to stop? Everyone is doing it.
Then we try 5 Km more because everyone is going 10 Km over the speed limit, 5 more is hardly noticeable and is easily reduced when one sees the law around. We have got away with it for so long that a large percentage of drivers now habitually travel 15 Km over the speed limit and are not stopped.
Now we have the bold criminals trying another 5 Km. This means that we now have a group of drivers going 20 Km over the speed limit and only slow down when they see a patrol car; as soon as it passes, they go back up to 20 Km over the speed limit.
This has been going on for so long and has become accepted by so many drivers that 85% of the drivers on our roads are speeding. [I’m being conservative with the 85% figure. I could say 95% and still be accurate.]
These are all people going faster than the posted maximum allowable speed that they are legally allowed to drive and doing it in rain, snow, high wind, heavy traffic and all kinds of adverse conditions where they are supposed to slow down.
Add to that all the new, inexperienced drivers that get their licence every year and the older slower and more nervous drivers and we now have a speed difference of about 30Km on our roads.
Today, in North America, the most dangerous thing that you can do is jump in your car and go for a drive. There are thousands killed every week on our highways and 98.7% of those crashes are caused by going too fast for conditions.
Now consider that the car manufactures are making cars safer and stronger all the time and the road builders are making the roadways wider and safer. The cars are doing more of the thinking for the drivers when it comes to conditions and safety.
Transports are governed so they cannot go fast and are kept in restricted lanes for the motorists’ safety.
We have electric signs warning us of hazards, concrete barriers that keep us from unsafe places and on and on.
It all started with a 1.5 Km variance in an electronic, hand-held device but we proved that people can forget faster than technology can advance.
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Most collisions that happen relating to "speed" on highways and freeways are due to improperly driving in adverse conditions (like snow, fog, etc). Almost ZERO percent of collisions on highways and freeways under normal conditions occur due to "speed"...and it is ALWAYS with another reason, namely driving under the influence of something (like alcohol).
Nice try on your anti-speeding proproganda, though.
The statistic was 'to fast for CONDITIONS'
Intersections are not to be negotiated at the speed limit but are areas that are supposed to be negotiated at a slower rate because of the congestion [a condition].
'Another reason' is also a 'condition', The same as inexperience, egoism, inattention, etc.
Anything that takes away from your best driving form and your cars best performance is a 'condition' and reason to slow down. If you don't, then you are going too fast. The posted speed limit is for a clear day, dry pavement, good visibility, you being alert and attentive and your car at it's best. With all these conditions being met, then the posted speed limit is the safest speed for you and those around you.
I know of at least one condition [slanting wet ice] that just moving is too fast.