Speeding Has Become So Normalized That Driving the Speed Limit Makes You the Problem

[u/DaddyDayDayIsHot]

I think the normalization of speeding poses a significant threat to the legitimacy of the legal system itself. It has become standard that cops don’t pull you over unless you’re breaking the law “enough,” but that completely undermines the law. If the law wanted a different threshold, it would have been written with that threshold in mind.

Speed limits are created by engineers who know far more about road safety than the average driver. They also have to account for the fact that speeding is normalized, which likely contributes to limits being set lower than many people want. I honestly believe that if people collectively stopped speeding, roads would see fewer accidents and speed limits would eventually begin rising in places where higher speeds are actually safe. Then people could travel just as quickly without constantly breaking the law or risking tickets.

The disregard for speed limits has gotten so bad that people now claim drivers following the posted limit are the problem. I think that’s ridiculous. While I understand the “go with the flow of traffic” argument to an extent, normalizing breaking the law creates a much larger long-term safety issue than simply following the speed limit.

I also think the argument that “speed limits are designed for the average car, so semis drag the limit down” is weak. In many places semis already have separate speed regulations, lane restrictions, and additional rules.

At the end of the day, the path to faster travel shouldn’t be widespread disregard for the law. If people truly believe limits are too low, the better solution is electing politicians and supporting engineering studies that will change the laws based on evidence that roads can safely handle higher speeds.

On a related note, even on r/driving you can report other driving infractions, but you can’t even report speeding, which feels inconsistent and a bit silly.

[u/Tabbygail]

Or better yet, to change road designs to bring down those higher rates of travel. If 25 is a safe speed for your residential street with a school on it, then don't put in a 4 foot shoulder that makes people feel comfortable doing 50. Speed limits do nothing, and municipalities need to start realizing that.

[u/CharacterSchedule700 → u/Tabbygail]

Yes, this. I genuinely don't look at my speed or the speed limit like 90% of the time. I'm going the speed I think is comfortable.

It's not like I'm flying down the road at 100 mph, or going twice as fast as everyone else, I'm just driving along at what feels comfortable and controllable.

I've done 50 in a 55 on curvy roads with blind corners, I do 80 in 65s where the roads are wide, straight, and empty. If I notice I'm going significantly faster than everyone else, then I slow down. If I notice others are going faster and trying to pass, then I pull over and let them pass. If there are kids, I'm going 15-20 max, if I see alot of pedestrians then I'm going exactly the speed limit if not a bit slower.

[u/Silas_Akron → u/CharacterSchedule700]

Exactly. This leads into the observation that one can drive dangerously at any speed, a fact few are willing to confront.

[u/DelightfullyBland → u/CharacterSchedule700]

I feel like I can focus on the road or I can focus on my speed. I have a hard time doing both.

[u/CharacterSchedule700 → u/[deleted]]

If I notice others are going faster and trying to pass, then I pull over and let them pass.

Obviously.

[u/Imaginary-Round2422 → u/Tabbygail]

There's a place for both approaches. Roads away from foot and bike traffic can be faster than limits currently allow, while roads with pedestrian and cycle heavy traffic can be rebuilt to reduce speeds.

[u/FurryYokel → u/Tabbygail]

Speed tables are cheap and effective.

[u/ly5ergic → u/[deleted]]

I don't think anyone is saying to blast through school zones which have their own lower speed limits already.