German Autobahn has nearly half the death rate per million as on US roads. When speed limits were lifted in Montana, the death rate per million dropped by 50%. This, despite lawmakers insistence that "speed kills".
People drive at speeds they're comfortable at. People drive at speeds their vehicles can comfortably and safely achieve. When I'm driving our Toyota Highlander, I spend most of the time in the right lane because the vehicle does not handle properly above 80mph. It's a large vehicle and the tires and brakes are not capable of high performance. However, when I'm driving the BMW 335i, I can drive safely and easily on many parts of our freeways in Northern California at around 120-140mph.
Laws are supposed to be about enforcing safety, not about establishing an artificially low speed limit purely for revenue generation. Our laws were written so police have the discretion of enforcing them in times of when someone is actually jeopardizing their own safety or the safety of others. Many vehicles cannot safely travel at high speed because of suspension limitations, wheel and tire combination limitations, and braking limitations. In the name of safety, it would certainly make sense for highway patrol to issue a speeding citation to someone driving an economy car at 140mph.
But in the name of safety, it makes zero sense to issue a speeding citation to someone driving a well maintained late model Lamborghini, on the basis of speed alone. These vehicles are vastly more safe than economy cars traveling at half the speed. There are MANY factors that need to be taken into account. Weather. Disk brake diameter. Vehicle condition. Road conditions. Pavement quality. Traffic density. Tire width. Tire tread. Tire speed rating. Independent suspension vs. solid rear axle. Weight of the vehicle. Height of the vehicle.
Beyond the serious problem of police agencies using speed laws as sources for revenue, there is the dubious rationale for speed limits themselves. If you were to talk about the prospect of having no speed limits with a police officer, their opinion is that our freeways would turn into pure carnage. Horrific carnage. Vehicles would shoot off the road like out of control slot-cars, flinging bodies from the windows.
Studies prove this is not true. When speed limits are lifted, people actually become MORE courteous drivers. Accidents become far fewer. In fact, the most amazing thing happens; Drivers actually practice lane-courtesy. Gone is the attitude of "What do you mean you want to go faster than me? I'm going the speed limit. No, I'm not moving right." People stay right unless passing, almost by instinct. People do not need a sign telling them the appropriate speed of travel. Interestingly, lowering the speed limit does not serve to slow people down. Similarly, lifting the speed limit doesn't speed people up, either. People drive the speed they're comfortable driving.
Did you know that vehicle insurance companies actually lobby lawmakers for lowered speed limits to keep premiums high, and vastly improving profits? Did you know that they actually purchase lidar and radar guns for police agencies to facilitate the ticketing process, thus perpetuating the revenue generation process for police and themselves, and allowing police to maintain their payroll budget years into the future?
So, should speed limits exist in the United States?
Fascinating reading:
http://www.motorists.org/speed-limits/faq
http://autos.aol.com/article/driving-the-autobahn/
http://smh.drive.com.au/motor-news/s...0304-pjin.html
http://www.funandsafedriving.com/ftopict-145.html