7 ms·
Do you have any evidence of this? My understanding is that speed limits have been largely unchanged for the past 50+ years. Car safety, on the other hand, has
by chillwaves 6y ago
Do you have any evidence of this?
My understanding is that speed limits have been largely unchanged for the past 50+ years. Car safety, on the other hand, has increased by a great deal.
It seems likely to me that speed limits are conservative when it comes to safety.
- silly-silly 6y agoI imagine because they are catering to the lowest common denominator, the human behind the wheel.
- waterhouse 6y agoI suspect it has more to do with the incentives faced by those who set the speed limits. I don't know exactly how it goes. If it's chosen (or heavily influenced) by politicians, I suspect politicians can win some votes by saying they'll improve safety by lowering speed limits (particularly around schools or other places where children might be); while they'd be less likely to win as many votes by saying they'll raise the limits (exposing them to the risk of their opponents calling them reckless/irresponsible). If it's chosen by non-elected officials, that's less of an issue, but something like it may still be there; or it may be that raising the limit and then there being a fatal accident will damage your career, while lowering the limit and irritating everyone will not damage your career.