RE: Ticket Advice Needed - Long

[Aleksander Mierzwa <alex@matrix.pl>]

Ed wrote:

	>As I recall, speed limits used to be set rather scientifically,
instead
	>of being motivated by revenue.  A road was studied and the speed of
	>vehicles on it were tabulated.  Then the speed limit was set to the
85th
	>percentile.  Now, that makes sense.

In USA, I believe the national 55mph speed limit was introduced during oil
crisis in 70s to reduce overall fuel consumption, so it was economically
motivated. US listers may correct me if I'm wrong. 
In Poland on main streets and roads the traffic generally moves at above the
speed limit - the cops even stopped ticketing people doing 110 in 90, cause
they'd have to stop 9 out of 10 cars - instead they wait for people doing
130 and more :-) (I'm referring to kph, not mph of course ;-) ). So I doubt
the limits are set using any scientific approach, there's too much evidence
that they're either set to increase revenue or to ensure that even least
skilled driver driving total crap would be safe doing that speed. I believe
the only place left where the limits are set taking the motorists' needs
into account is the German Autobahn, I'd love to be wrong, though.

	>Of course they used to set traffic
	>lights so that if you went the posted speed limit, you would catch
them
	>all green too...

Funny thing, here in Warsaw the traffic lights seem to be set using the
"scientific" approach you mention, on main, multi-lane streets you'll catch
all green if you are driving with the average speed of traffic - like 80 in
60 ;-)

Aleksander Mierzwa
Warsaw, Poland
mailto:alex@matrix.pl
87 Audi 5000CS turbo (mine)
88 Renault Medallion wagon (mom's)
91 mountain bike (just in case both cars broke at the same time :-)