> It causes the speed limit on a majority of roads to be set to a level that is well below a safe speed to drive, instead of setting reasonable limits in most places and then carving out exceptions in places that are more dangerous.
OK, I'll bite.
I'm assuming you're talking about the US. Do you really think that a "majority" are set to a level "well below" a "safe speed"?
You think 25 mph on a residential street is too low? There's a British video of how even low-speed collisions can be fatal for pedestrians.
I've personally found the speeds in the USA to be eminently reasonable. 25 mph: residental, 30 mph on undivided business streets, 40/45 for multilane main streets. 50 mph for minor highways, and 65+ for interstates and major highways.
Edit: And my actual main point is: A) Speed limits are currently set politically, not scientifically, and B) Yes! let's have this conversation rather than shouting down anyone who wants to change the status quo and painting them as a child-killer.
I'm mostly talking about the US, although I've since moved to the UK, but I still do most of my driving when I come back to visit the US.
As a point of reference, I'm most familiar with Chicago/Illinois & St. Louis/Missouri speed limits, and I think Illinois speed limits tend to be set unreasonably low (lower than almost anyone on the road is actually driving), while Missouri speed limits are generally more reasonable, if a little cautious.
"You think 25 mph on a residential street is too low? There's a British video of how even low-speed collisions can be fatal for pedestrians."
And places where pedestrians are regularly crossing the middle of the street are perfect spots to implement Traffic Calming, and to be honest, 99% of my complaint is regarding non-residential streets.
"25 mph: residental, 30 mph on undivided business streets, 40/45 for multilane main streets. 50 mph for minor highways, and 65+ for interstates and major highways."
I would say this is generally what they are set to in St. Louis, but they're systemically 5 to 10 MPH lower in Chicago and most of the surrounding suburbs.
Missouri has recently also instituted variable speed limits that change based on weather and time of day. This to me speaks mountains about the true intention being closer to safety than either revenue or giving cops the ability to pull basically anyone over.
Fair enough. I now see that speed limits are set differently in different parts of the US. My driving has been mostly in the western and southwestern states.
OK, I'll bite.
I'm assuming you're talking about the US. Do you really think that a "majority" are set to a level "well below" a "safe speed"?
You think 25 mph on a residential street is too low? There's a British video of how even low-speed collisions can be fatal for pedestrians.
I've personally found the speeds in the USA to be eminently reasonable. 25 mph: residental, 30 mph on undivided business streets, 40/45 for multilane main streets. 50 mph for minor highways, and 65+ for interstates and major highways.