|
Originally Posted by JKDS
Mmm, risk increases with speed, sure.
But when does it become unreasonable risk? At what speed are we, as slow reacting distracted humans, unsafe to drive?
It's a weird question. Arizona, sunny, few cars in sight, and flat empty desert all around, what is the maximum safe reasonable speed in those conditions?
Hard to say. My old truck started disagreeing with me if I tried going over 85. But my current car could go 100 and feel like 50. What stops me is the fear that a coyote jumps out of nowhere into the street or something...but that has never happened to me in 10 yrs of driving.
IDK. Literally everything involves risk of fatal injury. Some probabilities are higher than others.
Safety is an illusion.
I tend to come down on the side that you're allowed to alter your own risk of death as much as you like, but you are not allowed to alter anyone else's risk of death. Yes, this is impossible to regulate and every action has a bearing on risks in it's immediate surroundings. Even still... I feel like speed limits are more about public safety than personal safety.
Speed limits have been on the rise since their first use. As technology and innovation make vehicles safer and increased prevalence makes them generally safe to pedestrians, the laws and regulations about speed limits have become more relaxed.
So, even law-makers acknowledges that the safety of a vehicle is a function of the quality of the vehicle.
IMO, we should implement a system whereby the speed limit is dependent on both the car and driver. I mean... it should be about reaction time and stopping distance. If you can't stop your vehicle in a given distance from the signal to stop, then you are speeding. You can get yourself speed-rated once a year or when you renew your license or replace your car. This speed rating is your personal speed limit, based on your primary vehicle. Cops aren't allowed to pull you over for speeding, but they can pull you over for any reckless driving, and IF you're speeding, then it's an additional fine.
Thoughts?
|