new 3/31/02
Okay, here goes.
There two completely different factors taken into account when assigning speed
limits for a particular road.
1. What is the safe speed for a road for a single vehicle to travel on in good
weather with good visibility?
2. What is the safe speed for multiple vehicles to travel on of varying sizes
and handling characteristics in average weather for the geographical area.
The first example is the max speed that can be driven. The second is the 85th
percentile.
Multiple studies have proven that the 85th percentile prevents death and injury.
Other factors taken into account for the max and 85th% are:
a. Road surface characteristics, shoulder condition, grade, alignment and sight
distance.
b. Roadside development and culture, and roadside friction.
c. Safe speed for curves or hazardous locations within the zone.
d. Parking practices and pedestrian activity.
e. Reported accident experience for a recent 12-month period.
Obviously there are roads that can be driven safely at 80 or even 90 mph but
that is subjective to the vehicle being driven and the surrounding vehicles.
All major law enforcement academies address the 85th percentile
concept but ultimately it is up to the officer to make the judgment of what is
safe and what is not.
This is why I am opposed to organizations like the NMA. They propose to take
that safety judgment power out of the hands of the police and give it to the
average joe.
Think about that for a second, that idiot that just cut off a semi has the right
to judge for him or herself when it is safe to take the 85th percentile right up
to 100%.
I doubt very much that you will see any CHP or EMT personnel arguing in favor of
what the NMA wants. They are the people that see the results of individual
decision making with regard to traffic safety. I see it after the glass has been
swept up, the stitches sewn in and the last right have been given.
Also the vehicle itself plays a major factor in this. Is it safe to drive your
average V8 SHO with ABS, 4 wheel disks, 4 wheel independent suspension, and
awesome handling down the highway at 80 or 85mph in daylight on dry roads? I
would say yes. Is it safe for the guy in the 1976 Ford Maverick with who knows
how many miles on it to do the same? Uh NO! So who makes the decision for
Maverick Boy? The police do, and I sure am glad that they are there to do it.
So to answer your question, it depends. If it were me, I would pull you over,
ask you to pop the hood and B.S. for about an hour about how AWESOME that engine
is.
Brian