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I studied Structural Engineering in University, which was under the Civil program, and, at least in Canada, we don't design for what people will go, but for how
by 3pt14159 12y ago
I studied Structural Engineering in University, which was under the Civil program, and, at least in Canada, we don't design for what people will go, but for how drivers can handle unexpected conditions, like cars turning out in front of them, a loss of traction due to ice, and visibility at night. I've also seen multiple studies that show that during high visibility / traction days (summer during the daytime) the speed limit can be safely raised to at least 130km/h for most highways that are 100km/h.
One interesting thing I observed while driving to university was that there was this one section of highway that was marked at 60km/h, but everybody drove around 95km/h. Every now and then there would be a cop that would give out a bunch of tickets, but it didn't seem to change the speed people went.
Well it turned out that the person that ordered the sign had a dyslexic moment, and the speed limit was later changed to 90km/h. What was interesting was that the design of highway (the guards, the lane width, the shoulder, the banking of the ramps) were all cues for drivers and they drove the actual intended speed without regard to the maximum speed sign.
I think that's neat.
- chrishacken 12y agoExcellent example. I've noticed a few roads by me that are marked for 45mph that made me think, "woah, that speed limit is quite high for this road", but then I realized that it's actually on-par with the actual speed that people drive on that road (40-45). Then, there are other roads that are marked for 30mph that everyone drives 50mph on and you wonder wtf they were thinking when they set that limit. Also, the State Police in my state, PA, typically won't pull you over on a highway marked 55mph unless you're doing over 80mph, so what does that tell you?
- pchristensen 12y agoWhen I lived in Lincoln Park, Chicago (a dense urban neighborhood), there were no speed limit signs. I think the speed limit was 25 mph, but between the narrow streets, parked cars, frequent intersections, and lots of pedestrians, I rarely felt comfortable going faster than 20. They could have had 100 mph stop signs all over the place and I still wouldn't have gone faster than 20.
- selectodude 12y agoThere really aren't any speed limit signs anywhere in Chicago, and people drive a sane speed depending on the street. And it seems to work, too. http://www.suntimes.com/27575224-761/chicago-among-safest-us-cities-for-pedestrians-study.html http://www.suntimes.com/27575224-761/chicago-among-safest-us...
- mseebach 12y ago> I've also seen multiple studies that show that during high visibility / traction days (summer during the daytime) the speed limit can be safely raised to at least 130km/h for most highways that are 100km/h. In France, that's how the law works: http://www.americansinfrance.net/images/Driving_School/Road_Signs/Indication/big/C25b_ex1.gif http://www.americansinfrance.net/images/Driving_School/Road_...