Report a Comment

For most of my driving, I attempt to following the speed limit, especially in urban areas where there are pedestrian and non-automobile users on the road. However, even when attempting to follow the speed limit, my speed will occasionally drift above the limit by a few miles per hour. IMO, it would be dangerous to enforce 1 mph over the limit, because that would force drivers to spend too much time looking at their speedometer. When you should be watching the road, being distracted watching your speedometer makes you a less safe driver.

In addition, I do think you need to take social conventions into account. In order to avoid looking a my speedometer so much, I could reduce my average speed, so example, I could slow down to 5 mph less than the speed limit to avoid having my speed drift above the speed limit. But that would draw the ire of other drivers and again, I think, make the roads less safe.

For the above reasons, I think a strict enforcement of the speed limit would make the roads less safe. In order to achieve optimum safety, I think enforcement should start at around 5 to 10 mph over the limit (it might depend on the road). I understand you believe its important to look at scientific evidence of what level of fines are sufficient to reduce speeds. Since safety is the ultimate goal, maybe you could also find scientific studies that focuses on safety and takes into account issues such as drivers being distracted by their speedometers.

by Alan on Aug 2, 2012 11:10 am • link • report