MisterMMM.com: Why have speed limits?

March 19 2011

Every time I watch Top Gear and the boy presenters start complaining about speed cameras, I have this irrational urge to talk to the telly.

On page 8 of this link , there is a brief history of speed limits.

What I find interesting is that in 1930 all speed limits were abolished for cars and motorcycles!

In 1934, the 30mph limit was introduced in built-up areas, and then in 1965, a national upper speed limit.

Of course, there are now limits everywhere, and speed cameras to boot. I like these ones that tell you what your speed is, even though they seem to be wrong. This apparently has something to do with car speedometers not being that accurate!

Now, with my drivers, I always talk about "driving to the conditions up to the speed limit". Of course, this means that much of the time we don't get anywhere near the speed limit, especially when school's out, and going round corners, or in heavy slow traffic.

Just occasionally we are on a big wide clear road, and the driver starts to build up speed, and the next thing, we are pushing the speed limit with no reason to be going so slow!

There are lots of studies on speed limits, many are referenced here. I am always surprised at the idea that speed limits were introduced at all.

If people were to drive to the conditions, then speed limits would be irrelevant, as there would be so few accidents, no-one would consider it as a contributing cause.

This means that drivers don't drive safely, or properly, or recognise the conditions they are driving though. This means that because they don't know what they are doing, they have to be told explicitly. It's why we have so many signs on the road telling you what you can and cannot do! And when you should or should not do it!

So when Jezzer, and Hamster start talking about those speed cameras as some evil thing, I just want to shout at them, that they should not want to drive too fast for the conditions. They should drive properly! The only reason people get caught on cameras anyway is that they are driving too fast for the conditions, and shouldn't be on the road.

Sorry, rant over!