Are speed limits a restriction on personal freedom?

candid_carnage

Your father may have been a safe fast driver, and `you` may be a safe fast driver, but the toddlers who play at the side of the road and the teens who walk out without looking aren't acting safely, and like it or not, the law has to make *all* drivers account for them in the same way; speed limits in built up areas and on winding stretches.

How about this. You're driving fast and you're keeping your eyes peeled. You pass a car parked on the side of the road and as you approach, the fool inside opens his door into your path. You can't possibly stop because there's hardly a meter between you.

He's much more likely to get his arm inside- or at the very least keep it attached to him- if you're only going 20mph.

~ Carnage

falconrf

Yes, a restriction on your ability to kill yourself or someone else in a car accident

jamesmom

go to your local city council meeting and suggest they lift all speed limits in your city, people can drive as fast at they want by the schools, in the neighborhoods, through business parking lots
the local undertaker will probably be on your side

y2bmj

To a degree, but what you have to realize is personal freedoms end where they encroach on someone elses personal freedoms. In this case if you were allowed to go as fast as you wanted and would only be ticketed if the officer felt you were outside of your ability it would be a huge risk to other motorists, if something went wrong with your car etc you'd be much more likely to cause a fatality of someone ELSE in an accident. The personal freedoms argument is much more valid against the "why do we have to wear seatbelts" law, but it doesn't hold much water in relation to speed limits.

Fred C

Considering driving is a priviledge not a right, your question is ridiculous. People are also the worst judges when it comes to assessing their own ability to drive.

John Sr.

Speed limits are imposed for reasons outside of a person's abilities (or lack thereof) to drive. The major factors in imposing speed limits is community infrastructure and road conditions (which is why you see "yellow" MPH signs on curvy roads, suggesting slower speeds). The second thing to consider is that driving is not a right. Therefore any judge can revoke your privilege at any time for any reason.

JAMES S

Does not sound like your dad was responsible to me. I don`t think driving as fast as you think you can on a government highway is a personal freedom.

eldude

That's ridiculous. I'm sure you're dad was a safe fast driver. Wow. Who isn't? Ask anybody they will tell you they are totally safe drivers and some even drive better when they have been drinking. Whatever, the problem is, you can't go around making special laws for different kinds of people because then not everybody has the same opportunities. Even though they may merit being able to drive faster, they can't because not everybody else can do that as safely. Maybe it's not fair, it probably isn't but thats the American way. Don't expect the slow people to catch up anytime soon, just keep, lowering the standard so we are all even. That way, life is fair.

Porterhouse

Due to the overcrowding and underplanning of traffic volume, we really do need these limits in heavily populated urban areas. I would agree that in empty rural areas, roadspeed could be increased to a higher rate of speed. Speeding in cities is a bad idea as there are too many people, not all of them are focusing on what they are doing. Too many random pedestrians, school zones especially need special care. We all know that it doesn't take any time at all to have something go horribly wrong.

I'm not going to wave my arms and claim wild doomsday predictions as many people are good drivers when they are attending to the road and how they are driving. As the old saying goes "I'm not worried about me, so much as I am the other guy" which is why I base my argument that speed limits are not a restriction on personal freedom.

You think it's safe to do highway speeds near a school?

I think speed limits were put there for a reason. If you want to speed, it's your money you're wasting and your driving record that's getting trashed--as long as you keep off my bumper we'll be fine.

Stony

You're right, but then, more people die if we do it your way. Your dad may be a great driver, but how will you feel if a bad driver hits him and kills him?

jim0007766

Ironball

Your are a liberal puke.

Krainzy D

yes and I agree with you
confidence is the thing to make you a good driver

falk

yes. of course you should be free to drive as fast as you please. pedestrians need a good cull.

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