Comments on: Imagine If People Really Drove the Speed Limit

By: Jordan Hare

Jordan Hare — Tue, 12 May 2009 17:02:06 +0000

It's a wise suggestion to increase enforcement of speed limits. But if you take a "good citizen" approach of enforcing it yourself, as Mitch points out, you will be the target of everyone's hatred. It's also true that this won't work in a big city like New York. Why not push for more extensive deployment of accurate speed cameras like those used on Britain's motorways? There are signs posted to indicate speed cameras are in effect, and violators are mailed tickets shortly after the sensor picks them up. You can use optical character recognition on the plates as well. If small municipalities used these as an enforcement mechanism, it would certainly lead to reduced speeds and by extension reduced fatalities. It would also increase revenues from fines.

By: Brian Ketcham

Brian Ketcham — Tue, 12 May 2009 16:37:54 +0000

Imagine is every motorist actually stopped at a red light. In NYC alone 250 million motorists run red lights every year. Speeding is not the only problem, although it likely contributes to red light running.

By: iso

iso — Mon, 11 May 2009 23:55:44 +0000

In my experience, most drivers behind me do obey the speed limit, but more than I would like pass me on the right (which can be a problem for bikers who are using that lane).

If you are going to drive slower than prevailing traffic, you should be on the right. It's common courtesy and is safer for everyone, including the bikers you mention.

By: Rhywun

Rhywun — Mon, 11 May 2009 18:23:59 +0000

allowed to speed while safely removed from others (autobahn)

The autobahn is fun but the crashes that do occur tend to be characterized by spectacular amounts of carnage.

By: James

James — Mon, 11 May 2009 17:51:57 +0000

Does the author of the article own a car? Driving the speed limit on a single-lane road in this area will get you run off the road. Drivers will eventually cross the yellow line to pass you if the opportunity arises and will be tailgating you the entire time. Newton, MA is not New York and the driving culture here is different than it is in New England. Here, a city leader could drive the speed limit all day and it would not make one iota of difference in motorist behavior. Drivers will do whatever they can get away with, which in the NYC area is much more than elsewhere due to sheer population density versus the amount of available traffic enforcement.

IMO, positive change needs to start with a realistic assessment of the situation. Appeals to motorists' better natures is not it.

By: Susan Donovan

Susan Donovan — Mon, 11 May 2009 16:34:39 +0000

People drive far too fast on the Grand Concourse-- I'd love it if we could just get down to the limit-- It'd be a lot safer here in the Bronx.

By: Boris

Boris — Mon, 11 May 2009 16:16:11 +0000

The best is to have no posted speed limits, but set up the conditions appropriately so that drivers are either afraid of speeding (cobblestone city streets) or allowed to speed while safely removed from others (autobahn).

By: Rhywun

Rhywun — Mon, 11 May 2009 16:02:12 +0000

You also see a lot of extended middle fingers on passing drivers' hands.

One of the reasons I don't drive is because it turns me into that kind of person--which is exactly the opposite of the kind of person I strive to be.

By: Rhywun

Rhywun — Mon, 11 May 2009 15:58:22 +0000

Well, you have to have some sort of posted limit -- would you prefer higher limits everywhere?

By: Mitch

Mitch — Mon, 11 May 2009 15:45:33 +0000

And, when I go the speed limit, everyone else behind me goes the speed limit.

If only this were true... In my experience, most drivers behind me do obey the speed limit, but more than I would like pass me on the right (which can be a problem for bikers who are using that lane). You also see a lot of extended middle fingers on passing drivers' hands.

By: Boris

Boris — Mon, 11 May 2009 14:54:35 +0000

This assumes that a given posted speed limit is appropriate for the stretch of road it's on. At best, it is an approximation. Most speed limits haven't been changed in many years, and are calculated using a decades-old formula that doesn't take into account factors like weather, the capabilities of new cars, and the presence of pedestrians or bikes. I drive slower now than when I started driving, for a variety of reasons, the biggest one being safety. I even suspect Mayor Bloomberg is not fixing city roads on purpose, since the potholes discourage fast driving (and driving in general). I would support this "policy" if I had an SUV, but since I have a sedan with a pothole-unfriendly suspension I'm often passed or honked at for going too slow.