Tag Archives: traffic jams

How Do We Decide Speed Limits?

FK – “They lob off the speediest 15 percent…”

Does that explain why in most states the cops won’t write you a ticket unless you’re doing 12 – 13 mph over the limit?

I drive and have driven in most states and as a general rule only idiots do the speed limit, either on the interstates where you’ll get ran over or on good two lane highways. On country roads that have actual curves the top speed limit might not be safe, especially if you’re from a flat state and barely know what a curve is. Well, unless you’re young and extremely reckless like I used to be.

What I want ‘science’ to explain is the morons who drive at the speed limit or much less on wide/straight two lane roads and don’t have the brains to pull over and let the traffic that’s building up behind them go on instead of forcing them to pass creating a dangerous situation for all.

What’s most fun are the states like Connecticut and Arkansas that have those signs reading “Speed laws strictly enforced, no tolerance” or some such and everyone is driving just like everywhere else, or much faster.