Speed limits

If all drive the speed limit and even reduce speed because of weather conditions it would be much safer to travel. Break the law pay the price. No 5-10 mph forgiveness.

In my travels around the south east VA is the worst for having enforcement on the interstate high ways. It always seems strange that most of that enforcement is from county sheriff dept. Don't they have anything to do in their counties? They must collect a fortune doing this.

“How should we view speed limits?” As the maximum speed on that stretch of roadway.

I agree that the posted 90 through Banff is painfully low.

I drive that road a lot, and find everyone passes me. I used to be a road warrior in my younger years but now stick very close to the speed limit.

I can't tell you how many times I run through that area and see speed traps. Not uncommon to see 3 or 4 from the gate at Canmore to Golden. And they always have people pulled over.

Even though they have wildlife fences there are still those that make it past and cross the highway. That's one of the reasons they have it at 90. It's not until Canmore that it goes to 110. I'd hate to hit a deer while riding a bike.

I drove it yesterday and was about 25K out of Calgary when 2 deer entered the highway right in front of me. Very close call.

Groover wrote:
Speed limits need to be set to what the police are really going to enforce. What is legal and what you can get away with should be the same thing, especially as self driving vehicles become more common.

IMHO, you have that bass ackward. If a cop is seen in traffic running over the limit, he better explain what is more important he is doing or head for unemployment line.
Of course in many areas tickets are a tax. In my home town, every speed enforcement operation is out on the interstate. Limit 65, traffic moving 60+, tickets normally 75+, but all going the same direction. Most impact is between vehicles with a speed difference of maybe 20 MPH. Now look at the residential areas. Limit 25. At the limit, hit something coming out of cross street, 25 MPH impact. Then add the odds that crossing object might be a kid chasing a ball, 10 MPH over adds more risk. When the chief of police is asked, "It takes longer to spot 1 in light traffic, and cop is always facing the wrong way."

Speed limits need to be set to what the police are really going to enforce. What is legal and what you can get away with should be the same thing, especially as self driving vehicles become more common. One of the main issues with using Tesla self driving is that it won't let me keep up with traffic in many places. I can't blame manufacturers for not allowing people to use their programs to break the law since they could be held liable. Tesla does allow 5mph over the speed limit on non-divided roads and 10mph on divided roads but that generally isn't enough to keep up with traffic. If the cars were programmed to strictly follow the law there would be chaos on the roads. Limits should be limits, not political devices. They should also be reasonable.

Years ago, when riding my bike across Montana, I was riding over the posted limit, but being passed by many vehicles. When stopped at a rest stop, I asked a guy about speed limit enforcement. He replied "if stopped, the fine is only $5.00, and ticket doesn't show on your record". I rarely got passed after that, and did lots of passing myself.

I also remember riding in Canada, yes speeding, and many cars would pull to the shoulder to allow me by. Amazing, cars actually pulling over for a motorcycle! In my experience, Canadian folks were more courteous, which was noticed, beginning at the border crossings.

Jerry

look at the bright side. you can drive 80. we have to drive 48. take the lemon and make lemonade.
bumpuy