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Re: Repeal of the National Speed Limit Law
aaprrb@aol.com (AAPR RB) writes:
<edit>
> Almost 18 million traffic accidents are reported in the United States
>annually, and more than 450,000 are reported in Canada each year. Human
>error is responsible for about 90 percent of these accidents.
> The most frequent traffic violations committed by poor drivers are: (1)
>speeding--the principal contributing factor in fatal and nonfatal traffic
>accidents; (2) failing to yield the right-of-way--ranks second in nonfatal
>and third in fatal accidents; and (3) driving under the influence of
>alcohol--a factor in at least half of the fatal accidents." Comptons
>Encyclopedia
Speeding in residential areas? On trafficways? On a rural interstate? State
highway? County road? Gravel road? Hello? I'm talking about rural
interstates where the speed limit is now 65 (55 in those few Neanderthal-run
lower 48 states)
<snip> {yawn}
>I haven't mentioned this before but will now. I am not oppsed to a raised
>speed limit being passed by the govt. In fact I am slightly for it.
>However, I'm also pretty sure that many states won't change their speed
>limits even if they were given control of them. If they did, only in
>select (probably rural) areas.
I sure hope you don't mean the Federal Government. The Federal Govt has no
business setting speed limits. That moron from New Jersey, Lieberman, doesn't
need to be telling me what is appropriate in the middle of nowhere Kansas.
And you mean when the states are given BACK control of them. Currently, they
are being blackmailed by the Feds to adopt a lower speed limit due to an oil
embargo that ended years ago or face the withdrawl of Fed Highway funds. May
I say it was a time when the Tenth Amendment actually meant something.
>Raise the speed limit, all traffic speeds increase.
Actually, raise the speed limit when it doesn't make sense and all traffic
speeds increase. But......
There is a section of road in my neighborhood where the limit is 30. However,
it's hilly, there are cars parked on one side of the road, it's fairly narrow,
and there are lots of trees and other obstructions. I rarely get above 25
because I'm always on the lookout due to past potential troubles. I'm not
saying the limit should be changed to 25, or even 20 (which is what I and most
other drivers usually go), but I'd be nuts to take it at 30 mph, especially 35
to 40 (unlike some other wide, open roads in the area)
>Assuming that all traffic will stay at the same average speed even with an
>increase in posted speed limit and without adjusting to the newer speed
>over time is unsound logic and psychology. History has taught us that. No
>matter how good we have it we always want more. The first prison in
>america had its first riot over the food the inmates were served. What
>detestable food were they made to consume? Lobster. Raise the speed limits
>now and in a few years they will be too slow again. That's just they way
>things go.
Er, 20-some years ago we had our interstates taken over by people who "knew
better" for a "higher cause" by people who didn't drive (they had limos) In
the mean time, our cars have become so much more than the lumbering, bloated
creatures of 20 years ago. It just makes sense to let STATES have a say in
the matter rather than the Freakin' Feds.
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