Why don't people obey speed limits?

Question

No matter what number is posted, it is always "too slow".

Answer 1

I drive the speed limit and sometimes I feel I'm the only one that does. There are even times when I will drive below the speed limit...not to be an *** but because I'm adjusting the speed of the vehicle to road & weather conditions. People who do not drive the speed limit, or anywhere near it....KILL ME!!! They're just impatient, ignorant a**holes with no regard for anyone else or anyone else's safety on the road. Period.

Answer 2

I don't know if this applies to everyone, but most people as human beings have a fixation on excitement and the buzz/energy that comes, something about speeding and close calls really turn on people I will try to give a decent example, try to think about something that you went through with but was really scared at first, you may be able to remember the rush of energy you got after you did it, or the first time you ever got into an accident that shaking feeling in your legs when you knew what happened but didn't know why. a lot of people get addicted to that feeling and keep on trying to get back to that situation by showing off, knowing speeding is illegal they feel they have the power by breaking the law.



I be the first to say, and probably the only one on here to say this, I love speed the ability to push your limits and grow as a driver and to improve your own skills, though it is one thing on a track where the worse case scenarios are being predicted and they have all the necessary equipment and are prepared, and the other drivers know that they may die or be injured from their own mistake or the mistake of another driver, but not on the roads where other people will get others involved in their stupid addiction for power... Its mainly something that the majority of people today no longer have self responsibility.

Answer 3

I think the best way to answer this is to ask another question. Is the speed limit appropriate.



As a traffic engineer, I can tell you that there is a lot of politics involved with determining the appropriate speed limit for a facility. Too often, traffic engineers will buckle under political pressure and reduce speed limits even though they know that it will only cause people to break the limit by higher speeds.



Being a person that has written over 700 speed limits, I can tell you that there were several times I was told to lower the speed limit or face the consequences of being jobless.



I can also tell you that people will call in and say that people are speeding in front of their homes but then they will turn right around a speed in front of somebody else's.



One funny story... I had this woman, who was the president of a Home Owner's Association of her subdivision. She called in and was all ticked off about the speed limit being 35 mph in her subdivision. She complained and complained about people speeding in front of her house. She finally complained to the right person and I was forced to reduce the speed limit in her neighborhood. A couple of week after the speed limit was signed I asked the local law enforcement agency to patrol the subdivision and guess who was the first person to receive a ticket for speeding in the neighborhood, in front of somebody else's house.



Anyway I could go on and on about speed limits....

Answer 4

You answered your own question

"No matter what speed is posted it's too slow for them." don't you know they are very important people and should not have to obey the limit if they don't want to---- they're just IDIOTS!!!

Answer 5

There are at least two philosophies. 1) Do the speed limit or 2) Speed to the limit. Most officers do not write tickets for less that 10 MPH over the limit. So if the limit is 60 MPH, the really limit is 69. This range is a little tighter in school zones. If it is 20, you shouldn't go over 24.



People will speed to the limit.

If your local police start writing ticket for 1 MPH over people will do the posted speed limit

Answer 6

Well, I don't worry about them. They must love paying the higher cost of fuel accellerating to those higher speeds. I cannot see any validity in peoples complaints of how much it costs to fill their tanks when they drive they way they do.



Kind of makes me think that the folks in charge of this country while Nixon was in office were genius, even the crooks were genius, compared to the ones we have today. Lowering the speed limit to 55 mph. to save fuel, nationwide. And creating that thing called Day Light Savings Time to save on energy usage nationwide.

I am sure there are people who would disagree with me on the point of the 55 mph speed limit. But most of them would argue their point from the aspect of higher safety standards on cars today and more fuel efficiency of cars today, compared to that time frame. But the thing they will not see is the fact that safety and fuel efficiency will help us today in stabilizing gasoline prices here, with a lower speed limit and few fatal accidents. Most people do not even realize that there costs behind the problem of the speed limit being "too slow", like higher insurance premiums.

It costs people more to accelerate their vehicles to 70 mph than it does to accelerate to a speed of 55 mph. I see no reason to go over the speed limit.

Now that I have gone this far astray of your question, I will put it to an end.

Answer 7

People don't obey the speed limit because they like the feel of speed. They feel they are immune to the effects of speed, and they are capable enough driver to handle their car at the higher speed.



If the speed limit was strictly enforced, you would have two groups of people. Those who obeyed, and those who purchased radar detectors to get around the law, because they like to go fast.

Answer 8

I do through fact I certainly have my enable, and would basically force with mommy and daddy. regardless of the undeniable fact that, my mum and dad say i'm rushing while i'm going 5 miles decrease than the fee decrease. =p can't wait to get my license and my very own automobile.

Answer 9

they r too caught up in their lives to care about a number in red and white alongside the roadway it takes too much time and concentration. plus most time they r late.



>>i'm in jamaica, 3 weeks ago i was stopped doing 110mph on a 40mph road, and got a serious ticket, now last week i was stooped again this time doing 80, just out of curiosity i asked the cop how much was i doing, he said "80mph" i started laughing he question my laugh and i told him "2 weeks ago i was doing 110mph and now i'm doing 80 thats a big improvement" the cop didn't bother to give me the 80mph ticket, they know we r human.

Answer 10

Its like an adrenaline rush. especially in a modified cars or trucks with performance exhaust system roaring and feeling the force push you into the seats. What a feeling!!!!!

Answer 11

some cars are built for speed! it's impossible to "go slow" in them.

Answer 12

They want to be the first one to get from point A to point B.

Answer 13

1. It's fun to drive fast. Unsafe, but definately fun.

2. They're either pissed off or in a hurry.

3. You can usually get away with it.

Answer 14

why dont most obey there mother ? cause they think they can get away with it ... and speed thrills

Answer 15

They're either above the law or in a hurry!

Answer 16

Isn't that how the human brain works?

Answer 17

why do people pick their nose, scratch their bums in public? all of lifes great questions

Answer 18

rules were made to be broken... if the speed limit was 90... we'd go 100. that is just how we work.

Answer 19

They have no sense.