speeding, why?

Question

Why do people break the speed limit? Why not just leave earlier? Don't you know you could kill someone? My mum was killed by someone who was going too fast, and I get so wound up by people speeding past me when I'm doing the speed limit.

Answer 1

I agree, my mum was run over and killed last September, and he got away with it. The law in this country makes me sick. We are left to greive and suffer our loved ones are gone, but that don't matter to them. Just fill the roads with speed bumps, that's their answer.

Answer 2

First off, sorry to hear about your mum. Really.
To answer your question, as honestly as I can, if I travel on the motorway in UK I am amazed when I see a single car travelling at the speed limit. From that it is reasonable to assume that in some cases 'speeding' is arguably safe. That is to say, going at 80, as opposed to 70 makes little difference.
Sometimes, on an open, clear road with no roads off, or joining it, the road speed limit is not entirely relevent to that particular stretch of road, as it may have been set as a general rule for the surrounding areas- ie built up locations.
In some cases 'speeding' is merely going faster than a government decree, or council decree... it is not neccessarily going too fast. There is a difference.
I understand your angst, and concern, but when I drive faster than the sign instructs me ( for example) I am arguably doing so with more caution than when I travel at the speed limit.
Your mothers death was a tragic event. But please don't get too stressed by those that go 5, or 10 mph over the 'limit'. I think if you did you'd never come to terms with your terrible loss.

Answer 3

I'm so sorry to hear about your mother being killed by a speeding driver. I used to speed alot when I was younger, but then I guess having children made me really observe my speeding as a risk to others. I've never hit anyone and am glad that I didn't. I don't know how I would be able to live with myself. I do drive the speed limit/under now and can see how stupid speeding looks to the observant person. LOL God Bless!

Answer 4

You mum maybe wasn't killed by somebody going 'too fast', as 'too fast' is a personal perception & not purely objective.

She was most likely killed by an arrogant driver not paying attention to their surroundings and driving at an unsafe speed that the conditions did not allow for.

It's this FIXATION on a NUMBER that the public have been brainwashed into.
All the government adverts say (30)safe, (31)=killer. This just makes people blindly do (30) irrespective of any prevailing conditions because 'it's safe'. Much the same as morons doing (70) in blizzard conditions - because 'I was told this speed is safe, any faster & I'm a menace though'.

More education of perception & surroundings instead of forcing people to look at their speedos all day.

Answer 5

People break the speed limit because of the "I need to get in front of you" mentality. Driving fast doesn't necessarily mean that you will get to your destination any faster. A case in point was when 2 identical cars set off to the same destination at the same time. One driver was instructed to obey all the road signs and speed limits, the other was told to go as fast as possible, ignoring all the speed restrictions. The faster car arrived at the destination 90 seconds before the other one. So breaking the speed limits means you gain very little but can lose a lot.

Answer 6

In 1989 the State Troopers in the state of Illinois made freeway traffic do the speed limit on all freeways into Chicago. It caused a 21 mile traffic jamb and more letters email and phone calls to the Governors office of Illinois than for any other reason. Needless to say, they never did that again.

I think that pretty much sums it up.

Sorry about your mom :-(
but the fact is, 99% of fatal accidents involve things other than just speeding. In Germany the Autobon has "no speed limit" yet has virtually the same accident and fatality rate as the US per capita.

Answer 7

Unfortunately it's the racer in us. The fact that you can put your foot down is an encouragement. As an ex mechanic I cant see why the government dont bring in a law where cars are fitted with a restrictor which in fact some cars have which restricts the highest speed your car can do. Having said that with technology the way it is people speeding will soon be a thing of the past when cars will drive themselves.

Answer 8

Its does my head in too. I obey the speed limit because its there for a reason. I'm glad i don't live in the USA with their lovely long straight roads and silly limits though. I'd like to get flame throwers on the back of my car to stop the tailgaters who insist on going at 40mph everywhere, from 30 limits right through to the motorway. Total bras they are.


I like the idea of the Autobahn in Germany where you are penalised for driving too close rather than your speed. Makes sense to me.

Answer 9

I'm with you on this - I try as best I can to do the speed limit all the time. Don't understand people who complain when they get caught by speed cameras - surely the answer is slow down!

Answer 10

when i was 17 i had the option to drink or drive i chose to drink and didnt take any more driving lessons - people make bad choices speeding is one of them, i think i took the better course i don't drink and drive because i dont drive, my drinking might damage me but it's not making me into a lethal weapon in a ton of speeding metal if (ok i have enough driving ability so if i was at the scene of an accident and needed to move a car i could but id prefer someone else did, id be better dealing with the injured)

Answer 11

I totally agree. I am training to be an advanced driver, and always get a huge tailback when in a 30mph zone. People are just basically selfish I'm afraid, they do not think of the possible consequences of their foolish behaviour. Like speed? Then find a race track. It's not so funny when you or your family are strapped to a spinal board or dead. Nothing gets through to some people.