Why are speed limits set low enough to make you feel safe but fast enough to kill you?

Question

Governments seem to be raising a lot of money from people that feel safe doing the speeds they are doing, and yet at the posted speed limits it would still be fast enough to kill any pedestrians in the way or occupants of the car. So what are the speed limits really for?

Answer 1

when the Dept. of Transportation sets the speed limit, they set it based on the following:

        -- how busy the area with walking people.

        -- how long it will take your car to make a full sudden stop

       -- how visible the area is... can you see both sides clearly

you can die from a hit at 5 miles per hour. however. if its your time .. its your time.

i did ask my local state patrol and i brought you the answer

Answer 2

no, you've got it wrong. at 30mph, there is a much much greater chance of survival than at even 35mph. it something like a 50% better chance, or some big number. however, the government does seem to be cashing in with the cameras. I agree with you there

Answer 3

You are absolutely correct of course, because speed limits are always a compromise between urgency and safety. Internationally it seems that 30mph (50kph) or so is a typical urban speed limit while perhaps 70mph (112kph) is the limit on an open highway. In both cases, the speed limit is the "best" compromise between motorists' needs to reach their destinations and safety, based on prevailing conditions.

Perhaps drivers would be well advised not to ever "feel safe doing the speeds they are doing". We know that cars kill people, even at speeds well below the speed limit and a false sense of safety cannot be condusive to safe driving habits.

Answer 4

Most states have a basic speed law which recognizes that driving conditions and speeds may vary widely from time to time.

No posted speed limit can adequately serve all driving conditions.

Motorists must constantly adjust their driving behavior to fit the conditions they meet.

Speed limits encourage consistent travel speeds, fostering safety for the traveling public by reducing the speed differentials between motor vehicles.

Answer 5

I agree with the first answer, but this is also a question of balance, of what's safe enough. Though it might be safer to have speed limits even lower, people want to arrive at their destinations in a reasonable amount of time.