slight vent about speed limits
 

Ok so the other night I got lost, and ended up on a 2 lane each way road (fairly big). So not seing any signs, I assume the speed limit is 45, and I was doing 50. Now mind you im pretty much the only person on the road, doing 50mph is very reasonable. So I just start entering a slightly populated area, and bam there is a cop behind me, pulls me over, and tells me I was doing 25 over the limit! So in the end he lets me off with a failure to obey traffic device, which is no points just a fine, and he actually seemed like a nice guy for a cop (prolly woulda got a warning if is wasent the end of the freaking month).

So the convo I want to bring up is what do you guys think about those roads that have really unneccarily low speed limits? The road I was on was 4 lanes total, it was a slightly populated area, and the speed limit is 25mph! what the fuck!

And for the people that say "oh man your doing 25 over the limit" I was almost the only person on the road! There defentially was no reason that going 45-50 was unsafe, I wasent doing any weaving, etc, just cruiseing.

I know the law is the law, but what do you guys think?

I suspect that roads speed limits were so low was because it was a slightly populated area. Its better than those people having to pull out into 45mph traffic. Point here is, you just missed out on the city commisioners meeting a few years ago were they decided to lower the speed limit in that area for the sake of homeowners/business owners in the area. For the most part, speed limits are usually justified.

I disagree: there is normally a reason, but that doesn't mean they're justified.

Indeed, not always justified. There are several good examples of tiny-ass towns in FL where their income comes from tickets (looking at you, Waldo and Lawtey) so the limits are artificially low, and adjacent counties actually contain billboards warning unwary tourists of the upcoming trap.

Did you know that when redlight cameras were installed in some areas the length of the yellow light was decreased? Wonder what the justification for that one was...

i was doing 155 in a 50 a few weeks ago, lol

During the week of the Woodward dream cruise Woodward is PACKED! Now, the actual event only goes on for the weekend. The cruisers are out 2 weeks in advance. I live about 3 blocks away and my shop is actually on Woodward.

During that week I get pulled over at least 3 times for "speeding". I'm actually doing the 45mph limit, but due to the cruisers they "lower" it to 35. No signs, just decide to do it. Thankfully they just "warn" me and let me go. It's BS what people can get away with.

Im glad some people can relate, its really a shame...

Yup because most cops are assholes and every department has quotas due at the end of the month. Always.

Glad he didn't stroke you for speeding.

A lot of speed limits and road signs are implemented because people kill themselves or other people on that road or at that spot. There's this farm at a T intersection around my area and there's a fence at the T. Nyways one day the fence had been smashed through because i guess someone didn't see the stop sign or the fence. Next week the state put up yellow diamond signs in front of the rebuilt fence...

Don't get me started on this one...

The law is the law, that's the problem. Lawmakers think they can do whatever they want, and we let them get away with it. 55 mph nationwide speed limit, remember that? I have a good series of rants about nanny government at my blog, starting with the first post:
http://keepusfree.blogspot.com/2005_04_01_archive.html

As far as speed limits, they're set arbitrarily low in almost every state with the intent that if they're arbitrarily low, there will always be people to pull over and collect revenue from. This creates two distinct groups of drivers on the road: 1) Drivers who obey the letter of the law. 2) Drivers who drive a safe, reasonable speed, regardless of the speed limit. Since 55 mph (or even 70 mph like here in Michigan) is almost always exceedingly low based on the road and conditions, most folks drive 5 or 10 over at a minimum. Others in sports cars on empty roads can drive 20 or 30 over the limit with no problem whatsoever, and pose no threat to anyone on the road (including themselves). The problem arises when you have two distinct groups going two different speeds, that's when accidents happen.

The National Motorists Association has some good articles on this:
http://www.motorists.org/mi/85th.html
http://www.motorists.org/mi/stats.html
Check out their whole site, it's got great info on this.

That safety crap is for the Nieve. It is all about revenue. If they were worried about safety, they would not stop people for tickets during rush hour traffic. Causing a 7 mile backup, atleast 3 wrecks from people rubbernecking and causing people to lock up brakes. Which like a wip roles through traffic till someone can't stop. And BAM they have neck injuries for life.
Rush hour tickes cause alot of wrecks and traffic jams.

I lived in North East Arkansas. The land is flat and nothing but farm land. You can literally see for miles. The road speed limit was 55. I was late and doing 80. The guy stopped me and started giving me a lecture about if one of those tractors turned around on that road, You would just run into them and DIE.

I WANTED TO SAY If I can't see a 15 FT TALL, 45 ft long, 8 WHEELED tractor 3 miles ahead of me, with no trees, buildings or life in sight, heading for the street. I would have to be a Stupid As YOU!

This guy was Jethrow off Beverly Hill Billy's. He was a stupid as a rock. I could see if there were hills, trees or even one thing to block the view for 15 miles. But we are talking Nothing. Not even traffic.

So then why dont we do something about it?

Not all people are assholes, at all times. However, if you're working as a police officer you are required to write tickets all the time.

Actually I was being sarcastic. I only wrote 2 tickets last month.