3 ms·

Like when

Sohcahtoa82 2y ago
Like when everyone else is speeding. If everyone is going 80 mph, then being the one driver actually obeying the 65 mph speed limit puts you and everyone around you in MORE danger. Would it be safer for everyone to be going 65 mph? Absolutely. I'm definitely not disputing that. But speed differential is more dangerous than speed itself. EDIT: To be more accurate, speed differential makes crashes more likely, but speed overall obviously makes the crashes more likely to be fatal. Whether it's safer to go 80 when everyone is going 80 to reduce the likelyhood of a crash, or if it's safer to go 65 mph to reduce the severity of a crash if it happens is very debatable, and I'm not sure there are good enough statistics to back up either claim.
- flerchin 2y ago
  Without data, this reads like self justification for poor behavior.
- foxyv 2y ago
  One thing to keep in mind is when is the breaking point? If one person drives 100mph, should every single driver match that speed? What about 90? 80? What is the cutoff? There is a reason there are speed limits. They are the cutoff.
  - Sohcahtoa82 2y ago
    > If one person drives 100mph, should every single driver match that speed? What about 90? 80? What is the cutoff? Completely irrelevant to my scenario. Let me try to be more clear. If everyone is driving 65 mph, then the person driving 80 mph is in the wrong. If everyone is driving 80 mph, then the person driving 65 mph is in the wrong.
    - foxyv 2y ago
      So who determines what speed everyone should drive? Maybe we should put up signs! Oh wait...
foxyv 2y ago
I've found that many drivers feel uncomfortable being passed by other drivers. They translate that discomfort to being "Less Safe." Despite the fact that they are objectively much safer traveling at slower speeds. Not many people appreciate the difference in fatality rates between 65 and 85 mph. Fatality rates go from 20% to 70%. In addition, your ability to control your car in a minor collision at high speeds is heavily compromised. https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/speedmgt/ref_mats/fhwasa1304/Resources3/08%20-%20The%20Relation%20Between%20Speed%20and%20Crashes.pdf https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/speedmgt/ref_mats/fhwasa1304/Res... Edit: It appears the source above is for pedestrian collisions in kph. However speeding is a factor in 1/3 of traffic fatalities. https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/speed-campaign-speeding-fatalities-14-year-high https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/speed-campaign-speeding...
- Sohcahtoa82 2y ago
  I've read both of your links, and both fail to address one scenario and a question regarding it: If EVERYONE is driving 80 mph, is it more dangerous to be the one person deciding to drive 65 mph? Most studies and statistics either focus on speed alone OR being the ONE person driving 80 while everyone else is driving 65. Speed differential increases the frequency of crashes, and overall speed makes crashes worse. I posit that the best crash is the one that doesn't happen, so reducing the frequency of a crash by going with the flow of traffic is the safer option.
  - foxyv 2y ago
    So you are arguing FOR speed governors which would keep everyone at the same speed?

Like when

Like when everyone else is speeding. If everyone is going 80 mph, then being the one driver actually obeying the 65 mph speed limit puts you and everyone around you in MORE danger. Would it be safer for everyone to be going 65 mph? Absolutely. I'm definitely not disputing that. But speed differential is more dangerous than speed itself. EDIT: To be more accurate, speed differential makes crashes more likely, but speed overall obviously makes the crashes more likely to be fatal. Whether it's safer to go 80 when everyone is going 80 to reduce the likelyhood of a crash, or if it's safer to go 65 mph to reduce the severity of a crash if it happens is very debatable, and I'm not sure there are good enough statistics to back up either claim.

flerchin 2y ago
Without data, this reads like self justification for poor behavior.
foxyv 2y ago
One thing to keep in mind is when is the breaking point? If one person drives 100mph, should every single driver match that speed? What about 90? 80? What is the cutoff? There is a reason there are speed limits. They are the cutoff.
- Sohcahtoa82 2y ago
  > If one person drives 100mph, should every single driver match that speed? What about 90? 80? What is the cutoff? Completely irrelevant to my scenario. Let me try to be more clear. If everyone is driving 65 mph, then the person driving 80 mph is in the wrong. If everyone is driving 80 mph, then the person driving 65 mph is in the wrong.
  - foxyv 2y ago
    So who determines what speed everyone should drive? Maybe we should put up signs! Oh wait...

foxyv 2y ago

I've found that many drivers feel uncomfortable being passed by other drivers. They translate that discomfort to being "Less Safe." Despite the fact that they are objectively much safer traveling at slower speeds. Not many people appreciate the difference in fatality rates between 65 and 85 mph. Fatality rates go from 20% to 70%. In addition, your ability to control your car in a minor collision at high speeds is heavily compromised. https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/speedmgt/ref_mats/fhwasa1304/Resources3/08%20-%20The%20Relation%20Between%20Speed%20and%20Crashes.pdf https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/speedmgt/ref_mats/fhwasa1304/Res... Edit: It appears the source above is for pedestrian collisions in kph. However speeding is a factor in 1/3 of traffic fatalities. https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/speed-campaign-speeding-fatalities-14-year-high https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/speed-campaign-speeding...

Sohcahtoa82 2y ago
I've read both of your links, and both fail to address one scenario and a question regarding it: If EVERYONE is driving 80 mph, is it more dangerous to be the one person deciding to drive 65 mph? Most studies and statistics either focus on speed alone OR being the ONE person driving 80 while everyone else is driving 65. Speed differential increases the frequency of crashes, and overall speed makes crashes worse. I posit that the best crash is the one that doesn't happen, so reducing the frequency of a crash by going with the flow of traffic is the safer option.
- foxyv 2y ago
  So you are arguing FOR speed governors which would keep everyone at the same speed?