Quote:
Originally Posted by Davey
I understand the concept of 5 and 6-lane highways with 55 mph speed limits all too well, but I find it very difficult, if not impossible, to believe that setting the speed limit *lower* than the speed limit determined by a traffic study would make the road less safe.
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That was the fight 40 years ago when they managed to get rid of the nationally set 55 mph highway speed.
Traffic engineers understand this stuff. Virtually no one else does. I have a very minor understanding of some of the principles because my father practiced traffic engineering for many years when I was a child. They still don't make a whole lot of sense to me lol
But I know what you mean. Lowering the speed limit 5-10 mph below what the study finds to be the safest speed is not significantly altering the overall safety of the roadway. The problem I have is letting them get away with it at all. It's the principle. Municipalities shouldn't be taking advantage of their power to increase revenue at the expense of the public they are supposedly serving.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Davey
Isn't the purpose of such a study to determine the maximum safe speed?
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It's not about a maximum speed. The studies are designed to determine the safest speed for the traffic and conditions on that particular road. As has been mentioned, people are generally going to drive the speed they are comfortable driving given the conditions. Regardless of the posted speed limit. So the study is really about finding that sweet spot where the range of speed across the grandmas, normal drivers, and speed demons is the narrowest. That's what the speed limit should be set at. Some jackoff at the city council who thinks it's too fast should not be able to change it; nor should the police dept or other AHJ be able to influence a municipality to change it.
And for my final point ... you're a trolltard!
