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Seattle changed a bunch of speed limits to 25MPH but the problem is that the roads were designed for faster speeds so now instead of everyone predictably going

Seattle changed a bunch of speed limits to 25MPH but the problem is that the roads were designed for faster speeds so now instead of everyone predictably going similar faster speeds, you get an unpredictable mix of some people going the speed limit and some people going closer to the old speed limits. In reality I think you need to redesign roads for lower speeds if you truly want a large percentage of drivers to follow the limits.

paulryanrogers 4y ago
- coryrc 4y ago
  Of course they can, but: 1 it's America, cars matter, people don't 2 Seattle doesn't have police to be setting speed traps; it's also racist (I assume, since enforcing fares on transit and stopping cars with outdated vehicle tabs is considered racist here)
- californical 4y ago
  > Can drivers used to the higher speed not read the updated signage? I live near a road that looks like a highway, and is 55 mph through a quieter area between towns. As you approach the business-heavy area, it drops down to 45, 35 mph, but the design is the exact same. It’s impossible to feel how fast you should be going because the entire road still feels like a highway, so you’ll just naturally go fast. Most people don’t look down at their speedometer very often. I have to keep looking down and correcting because your speed just naturally creeps up when a road feels like a highway. And this is as someone who lives near there and drives it regularly! Imagine the people who don’t go that way as often and aren’t aware that they should be making adjustments all the time because of the terrible road design.
- occz 4y ago
  People don't follow speed limits, regardless of how literate they are. Relevant Not Just Bikes-video on the subject: https://youtu.be/bglWCuCMSWc https://youtu.be/bglWCuCMSWc
- ben-schaaf 4y ago
  Not Just Bikes has a great video covering this: https://youtu.be/bglWCuCMSWc?t=259 https://youtu.be/bglWCuCMSWc?t=259 TLDW: People don't obsessively check their speedometer and thus changing the speed limit largely doesn't affect the speed people drive at. To effectively change that you need to change the road design.
  - bluecalm 4y ago
    Or car design. Automatic speed limiters in cars would solve this. It's not rocket science tech wise but car lobby is fighting tooth and nail to delay and cripple the implementation (hence delays and softening of the regulation in EU).
    - someguydave 4y ago
      there is no doubt that speed limiting tech would save lives
bpye 4y ago
I guess you're referring to traffic calming? I'm not sure what Seattle has done but you don't necessarily need to totally redesign streets for that. Things like speed bumps or islands can be added so reduce the speed that drivers can travel on the road. Have they done anything like that?
- lostmsu 4y ago
  I was always wondering if speed bumps significantly reduce the lifespan of cars.

paulryanrogers 4y ago

coryrc 4y ago
Of course they can, but: 1 it's America, cars matter, people don't 2 Seattle doesn't have police to be setting speed traps; it's also racist (I assume, since enforcing fares on transit and stopping cars with outdated vehicle tabs is considered racist here)
californical 4y ago
> Can drivers used to the higher speed not read the updated signage? I live near a road that looks like a highway, and is 55 mph through a quieter area between towns. As you approach the business-heavy area, it drops down to 45, 35 mph, but the design is the exact same. It’s impossible to feel how fast you should be going because the entire road still feels like a highway, so you’ll just naturally go fast. Most people don’t look down at their speedometer very often. I have to keep looking down and correcting because your speed just naturally creeps up when a road feels like a highway. And this is as someone who lives near there and drives it regularly! Imagine the people who don’t go that way as often and aren’t aware that they should be making adjustments all the time because of the terrible road design.
occz 4y ago
People don't follow speed limits, regardless of how literate they are. Relevant Not Just Bikes-video on the subject: https://youtu.be/bglWCuCMSWc https://youtu.be/bglWCuCMSWc
ben-schaaf 4y ago
Not Just Bikes has a great video covering this: https://youtu.be/bglWCuCMSWc?t=259 https://youtu.be/bglWCuCMSWc?t=259 TLDW: People don't obsessively check their speedometer and thus changing the speed limit largely doesn't affect the speed people drive at. To effectively change that you need to change the road design.
- bluecalm 4y ago
  Or car design. Automatic speed limiters in cars would solve this. It's not rocket science tech wise but car lobby is fighting tooth and nail to delay and cripple the implementation (hence delays and softening of the regulation in EU).
  - someguydave 4y ago
    there is no doubt that speed limiting tech would save lives

bpye 4y ago

I guess you're referring to traffic calming? I'm not sure what Seattle has done but you don't necessarily need to totally redesign streets for that. Things like speed bumps or islands can be added so reduce the speed that drivers can travel on the road. Have they done anything like that?

lostmsu 4y ago
I was always wondering if speed bumps significantly reduce the lifespan of cars.