Speed Limit

[Ganesha]

If the sign on the road says, 80km/h, then it means UPTO 80 km/h in the BEST of road conditions. It does not mean you hurtle down the road at 80 when its raining cats and dogs or are passing through heavy snowfall.

Also, it is illegal to travel any faster than 80km/h on the passing lane either, if the sign says 80km/h. Just because you are in the left lane does not automatically give you the privilege to increase your speed limit.

[kazi]

Yep, that's a politically correct statement. As usual, I have two comments:

1. You know how it is with real driving conditions. I think its more important to be perceptive to the environment and other drivers and their speeds. Sometimes, in passing one may go to speeds above the limit, or, if the other drivers are going a little faster on the high-speed lane, its really not polite to stick to the maximum limit. But again, it really depends on the other driver. Having said that, my suggestion would be to stick to the right lanes and follow this rule.

2. Driving on toll-ways and toll-free ways is a bit different and the same rules may not apply. But whatever the condition, alertnessness and responsiveness, is always necessary.

[kazi]

Recently I noticed that drivers normally go about 10kmph higher than the maximum speed. I do not know why this is the case but it is the truth. For example, if the max is 55kmph, drivers are at 65kmph; and when the maximum speed is at 65kmph the drivers go at around 75-80kmph. I mean one doesn't mean to go above the recommended maximum, but its easier to keep pace with the other driver. And in some odd sense, it makes long drives less stressful. Its only when you see the posted maximum speed, you realize that you are going faster than the recommended speed and then slow down.

But if you really think about it, the extra speed in highways really does not matter all that much. It the max speed is 40kmph and you travel at 50kmph, then you might make a significant gain. but if the max speed is 80kmph and you are going at 90kmph, then the gain is not significant enough to risk life and limb.

Often times, I have found myself matching those other drivers' speed at +10kmph. And then, I remember, I conquer my speed.

[Ganesha]

A small detail. If you are in the US, going 10 units more than the prescribed speed limit is going 1.6 km/h more. So if you are travelling at 70 mph and you follow the additional 10 units rule that most commuters seem to follow, going 80 mph is doing 16kmph more than the speed limit, instead of just 10kmh had the units of measurement been in kmph.

[kazi]

Its too complicated for me. Would you please give an example?

[kazi]

@Ganesha, a second and a third attempt later I got your point. And yes, I agree with that. And I have to admit its a problem with me. I can juggle and comprehend numerous abstract ideas, and in parallel. And yet sometimes the simplest of common sense eludes me. But not this time. I think this time round I was trying to associate your point to my point and could not get a snug fit. It was only after I removed my argument from the flow of discussion that I really understood your point.

However, I must point out that your point is neutral to the point I was driving at, because whatever unit you use, the percent of gain is not affected. For example if the speed difference is from 40 to 50 units, the gain is 25%. But if the speed difference is from 80 to 90 units, the gain is 12.5%. To be more explicit, if you are travelling 160 units and you have a 25% as in the first case, you reach your destination in 3 hours 12 minutes instead of 4 hours. And if your gain is 12.5% as in the second case, you reach your destination in 3 hours 48 minutes instead of 2 hours. The first case gives you a gain of 48 minutes and the second case gives you a gain of 12 minutes. In other words, at higher speeds, the gains in speeding with risk to life and limb is insignificant enough so that rational people should really obey the traffic speed regulations.