Most speed limits today are set to make revenue not for safety reasons. In the old days they used the 85th percentile principle. This is the principle of setting speed limits as near as possible to the speed at or below which 85 percent of the drivers are traveling.

Contrary to popular belief, speed in itself is not a major cause of accidents. In fact, there is a consensus of professional opinions that many speed-related accidents result from both excessively low and high speeds.

Unrealistic speed limits are also of public importance for the following reasons:

1. They do not invite voluntary compliance, since they do not reflect the behavior of the majority.
2. They make the behavior of the majority unlawful.
3. They maximize public antagonism toward the police, since the police are enforcing a "speed trap."
4. They create a bad image for a community in the eyes of tourists.

The above info was from: http://www.azdot.gov/Highways/Traffic/Speed.asp

We really need speed limit reform in this country. Most interstates in rural areas should be bumped up to 85-100mph & left lane blockers targeted more that speeders.

 

Amen brother!

 

Actually, most drivers in the US (and probably most of those posting in this topic) don't have the car control skills to handle the car at 85-100mph. They especially can't handle an SUV or van or pickup truck at those speeds.

Oh sure, they can do 90 with the cruise control engaged on a straight road, but that doesn't mean they are driving safely. Most drivers don't look far enough ahead, for one thing. And can they change lanes at 100 without losing control? That takes much more input smoothness than most drivers realize.

 

[QUOTE=e3opian,Jul 23 2006, 07:53 PM] You got caught breaking the law.

 

Some good points here and I agree.

Driving 80-90 on the highway in today's cars is probably as safe as 60 in the cars we were driving 30 years ago.

 

I remember my first drive in a car. A 1950 Chevy. To maintain a straight line I was constantly sawing on the steering wheel. 50 mph was fast in that car. In contrast 90 mph feels about right in the S.

 

i agree however that may not happen in the near future since local government makes too much money on the existing speed limits.

 

among the dozen of cars travelling over the speed limit i got pulled over twice. one cop even blatantly said "all of these cars (pointing at the cars in the road) are speeding right now, BUT I CAN'T CATCH THEM ALL (smiles at me while handing me his ticket holder for me to sign)" yeah sometimes it's BS.

 

Obviously this is your first ticket...

$294 is cheap... 85 in a 65?? i would be more concerend with the insurance implications, rather than the fine.

 

its all about the money. Even the ride hight "fix it " ticket, i mean headlights must be 22" off the ground.... why?? ppl are driving drunk, wreckless, and then they have cops pulling ppl over for ride height and giving tickets...