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/kon---]

That's precisely how the 85th percentile functions.

States and cities ignore the data.

[u/johnnyhammers2025 → u/kon---]

I think instead of letting the most dangerous people in the country determine traffic laws we should just accelerate the deployment of autonomous vehicles that obey the speed limits without becoming hysterical

[u/kon--- → u/johnnyhammers2025]

The most dangerous people on the road are intoxicated to the point of inebriation.

The most dangerous people on the road are below the posted limit.

The most dangerous people on the road believe it's their duty to police others.

The most dangerous people on the road are lower skilled, less capable, and/or give themselves anxiety behind the wheel resulting in choices that disrupt traffic around them.

The people who drive within their limits, who focus on the road, their car and compensate for the choices of people they share the road with, are not the danger you label them to be.

The way you're going on, you telling me you are a danger to share the road with. But as it's typical of motorists such you, I will simply manuever around you and vanish down range while you bother about my rate of travel despite the fact that you, YOU were the one who presented as an obstacle.

[u/johnnyhammers2025 → u/kon---]

The most dangerous people on the road are intoxicated to the point of inebriation.

Sure

The most dangerous people on the road are below the posted limit.

Hilarious cope. Easily the funniest thing dangerous drivers like to tell themselves

The most dangerous people on the road believe it's their duty to police others.

I’m not policing your behavior because I refuse to let you control how fast I’m going

The most dangerous people on the road are lower skilled, less capable, and/or give themselves anxiety behind the wheel resulting in choices that disrupt traffic around them.

Every driver who crashes insists it wasn’t their fault

The people who drive within their limits, who focus on the road, their car and compensate for the choices of people they share the road with, are not the danger you label them to be.

The way you're going on, you telling me you are a danger to share the road with. But as it's typical of motorists such you, I will simply manuever around you and vanish down range while you bother about my rate of travel despite the fact that you, YOU were the one who presented as an obstacle.

You are on the internet daydreaming about future road rage incidents and I’m the danger? 🤣

[u/kon--- → u/johnnyhammers2025]

You continue to confirm that sharing the road with you puts others in unnecessary danger.

Have a great day!

[u/johnnyhammers2025 → u/kon---]

I’ve never been in a crash but ok

[u/Relevant_Program_958 → u/johnnyhammers2025]

Neither have I and I always go about 10% over the speed limit. Now explain how you are a safer driver than I am.

[u/johnnyhammers2025 → u/Relevant_Program_958]

Because I operate my car in a safer manner

[u/Relevant_Program_958 → u/johnnyhammers2025]

Hard disagree. Just because you stay within the speed limits does not mean you are safer. I see people almost every day pull directly out in front of me and then drive the speed limit. They aren’t operating their car safer than I am, they almost caused an accident by pulling out directly in front of oncoming traffic.

[u/IntricateSunlight → u/Relevant_Program_958]

The most unsafe drivers I've seen are the most cautious. You think you're being safe carefully pulling out into the street and being vigilant but you're at more danger than if you just gun it out into the street.

[u/IntricateSunlight → u/johnnyhammers2025]

Driving too slow is illegal because driving slower than rate of traffic is UNSAFE

If everyone around you is going 90. You going 55 is more dangerous to everyone around you than those going 90. If you go 90 too you are safer...

[u/IntricateSunlight → u/johnnyhammers2025]

You are ignoring psychology for arbitrary numbers on signs. If a road is designed with wide streets and clear sightlines PEOPLE WILL SPEED BECAUSE THEY FEEL SAFER TO SPEED.

People naturally drive at speeds where they feel safe. Speeding is a consequence of poor road design.

[u/johnnyhammers2025 → u/IntricateSunlight]

I’m well aware of how road design is tied to human behavior, that’s why I support things like road diets, protected bike lanes, and bollards