Quote:
Originally Posted by NJblue
Which is why I really don't like the unrealistically low speed limits and the strict enforcement of them. It stacks the deck against people around here in terms of the potential for increased insurance costs. After over 40 years of driving, one gets to intuitively know what the speed limit of a road should be by its layout. When the limit is artificially reduced it makes it very difficult to drive within the law.
Besides, slower is not necessarily safer. When a speed limit is much lower than the conditions would normally call for, it creates a situation where you have two different types of drivers - those who go the speed limit and those who drive based on the condition of the road. It is the resulting inequity in speed that produces an unsafe condition.
However, if safety were the real issue, the cops would be far better off camping themselves at a traffic circle and ticketing those who insist on using the outside lanes no matter where they want to end up. These are the people who are the cause for most of the close calls that I have had while being here. I have never seen a near accident caused by someone going 45 on Buena Vista.
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What you said is exactly on the mark. I'm a retired traffic engineer, and what people don't realize is that artificially lowering speed limits actually can increase accidents rather than reduce them. The best speed limit on a roadway is the speed that the majority of the traffic want to drive and is generally based on the geometry of the road, amount of roadside development, driveway density, accident history, etc. School zones are an exemption to this rule. Also, urban areas are often zoned a particular speed - such as 30 mph within the city limits. The goal in setting speed limits is to maintain free flowing traffic. This tends to reduce accidents and congestion. In NY state the speed limits are set by a joint analysis done by traffic engineers and the state police. I'm not familiar with the process here in Florida, so will not comment on the situation here in The Villages.
There is a big problem at the roundabouts when people get in the wrong lane and cut others off. I think they need an education plan, along with posting police at some of the major trouble spots and giving tickets and/or warnings.