I dislike speed limits. It’s not because I necessarily want
to drive fast, it’s because they are a lie, and I hate the deceit. If you’ve
ever been on a speed awareness course, the instructors want everyone to agree
with the mantra “speed kills” (going over the speed limit kills - that’s why
you’re on the course because you’ve gone over the speed limit, so they want you
to agree that going over the speed limit kills), but it doesn’t, it’s careless and
stupid driving that kills.
Here are a few examples of why being strict about speed limits is plain silly:
1) German Autobahn de-restricted zones:
Germans' are clever people, so why would they allow
people to drive at unlimited speed on motorways that aren’t any wider than the
UK’s motorways? Is it unsafe (does Germany have a problem with their Autobahns)?
No. Does speed kill? No. Can you drive at 200mph and still be safe? Yes.
2) The road that starts
off as a 60 limit, then becomes a 50, then becomes a 40 (maybe even a 30 in the
future):
Do you remember that road that was a 60-limit, then it
becomes a 50-limit, then it becomes a 40-limit? We all do.
So does that mean we were unsafe when we were legally
allowed and doing 60? Of course not!
3) Obsessing about
your speedometer:
Do you find yourself watching your speedometer and
looking out for speed cameras with more concentration than you’re actually applying
to minding that you’re driving safely? I think everyone does. And this is one
of the biggest reasons I dislike speed limits (at least enforced speed limits - it should be more like just a guide and you won't be persecuted unless you're driving like an idiot). I’d much rather people were
keeping their eyes on the road and driving safely, than having their eyes on their
speedometer and stressing about speed cameras/police/speed signs.
4) Overtaking:
There’s nothing wrong with overtaking, it’s not illegal
(even though some people seem to think it is). If someone is going 50 in a 60
limit, to overtake safely (minimize time exposed to danger for yourself and
others) you’ve got to accept that you’re got to speed (this is safer than not
speeding - or do you want to overtake slowly and dangerously!?) Yes, you could
sit back and not overtake, that’s completely up to you, but if you like a
spirited drive - and you’re confident in your driving and overtaking - then
overtake where you’ve got the view and the safe opportunity (and there's somewhere to land).
5) Driving too
fast for the conditions/road:
Speed limits are of course a maximum, and we’re falsely lead
to believe that if we stay under that maximum we’re driving safely (if we go
just 1 mph over the maximum we’re being terribly reckless and dangerous), which
is rubbish: icy conditions, tight bends, etcetera... very often driving to the
limit is unsafe!
Note: I disagree
with people driving fast because they want to get somewhere earlier, or they’re
in a rush - that’s plain stupid. If you want to get somewhere 5 minutes
earlier, leave 5 minutes earlier, simple! You should never rush your driving -
everything’s got to be considered and safe. And the road definitely should not
be confused with a race track, if that’s what you want to experience, get it out of your system on a
track day!
I want people to drive safely, and pay attention to what’s
going on all around them. Everyone’s choice of speed is individual to
themselves. If someone wants to drive under the speed limit, fine - as long as
it’s safe and they’re not holding up reasonable traffic flow. If they want to drive
over the speed limit, fine - as long as they’re driving safely and keeping in
mind the safe stopping rule “got to be able to stop on your own side of the
road in the distance you can see to be clear”.
One thing I’ve learnt about driving (and really about all
of life) is that you’ve got to do your own thing - don’t worry about what other
people think. Don’t try to keep up with some driver if it feels unsafe. Don’t
try to impress the driver behind (leave them for dust). Do you own thing and be
relaxed whilst driving. Concentrate on driving safely in the way you want to
drive, and position yourself on the road where you want to be.
"The duty of an individual is to accept no rule!" - Ursula Le Guin
"The duty of an individual is to accept no rule!" - Ursula Le Guin
The System of Car Control taught by Institute of Advanced
Motorists, has 5 phases:
Information ->
Position -> Speed -> Gear -> Accelerate
I prefer a simpler system with just 1 all-encompassing phase
made up of 3 inter-relational elements (3 is a sweet spot for me):
View - Position -
Speed
Image: View -
Position - Speed
I think view, position, and speed, all inter-relate.
And back to speed limits... Well, of course I don’t want fines
and points on my license, so yes I’ll be mindful of the speed limits, yes I’ll
be mindful of speed cameras and police, but my driving priority is not adhering to speed
limits, it’s driving safely and doing it my own way/my style (not someone else’s, not
trying to impress).
And regards oppression (as I put in the title)... The
definition of oppression is “prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or exercise of
authority” and this is exactly what speed limits are. I’ve twice (in 25 years
of driving) been done for speeding (never by that much), and neither time was I
driving dangerously, both times felt like “unjust treatment” and a mindless “exercise
in authority” (and it's more than prolonged since the injustice of speeding convictions will never go away - motorists are a soft target for law enforcement, and they always will be). Yes, there are idiots on the road and they need to be
reprimanded (there needs to be more funding for proper down-to-earth common-sense
traffic cops to be on the road, not funding for mindless speed cameras) but it’s
their carelessness and stupidity that makes them dangerous, not the fact they’re
exceeding very arbitrarily applied numbers.
Drive at an appropriate speed for the conditions and environment (like 20mph outside a school during school time is plenty fast enough.) Drive safe!