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Re: Unfair speed limits



Eric Bin (ebin@malibu.sfu.ca) wrote:

: A large number of experts believe that the biggest cause of accidents
: on the highways is speed differential.  For example, a Trabant leaps
: into the left lane to pass but he's passing at 70mph while you in your
: shiny new NSX are closing in a 140mph.  Your risk of an accident is
: very high in this case.

I agree that speed differential is a concern;  but, the *MAIN*
cause of accidents is driver inattention and/or incompetence.
Speed differentials on the German autobahns are *ENORMOUS* --
closing speeds of well over 100 mph are commonplace;  yet, the
accident rates are lower than on US interstates.  No, I'm *not*
suggesting that speed limits should be abolished in the US --
at least not any time soon.  US driver-training (and attitude!)
would need to be vastly improved before that would be practical.


: Everyone should travel at the same sppeed for maximum safety.

For *MAXIMUM* safety, automobiles should be totally abolished;
that's *almost* as practical as insisting that everyone drive
at the same speed.  There are lots of *excellent* drivers who
wisely choose to go slower than "the flow" of traffic -- maybe  
because of advancing age...  or an older car...  or a 3000 lb
sailboat back there on the trailer.

...why outlaw common sense?

Mark


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