| Car Speeding
Speeding and speed limits
Speeding is taken as a major factor in nearly one-third of motor vehicle crashes. Speeding limits are used in most of the countries to regulate the speed of road vehicles. Speeding limits are explained at different rates such as maximum, minimum or no speed limit by using a traffic sign. These speeding limits are usually the responsibility of state government. The state police implement these speeding limits to impose traffic law.
Speeding limits are usually set up to improve the road safety. It also helps to reduce the number of road traffic casualties from traffic accidents. There are many people who exceed speed limits at least occasionally just for fun. A study of 'drivers on limited access highways' discovered that high speeding drivers are more often male drivers and more often younger than 30 years of age. Speeding is caused by younger drivers who have more violations and crashes on their crashing records.
A study in California found out that the rate of speeding violations per mile traveled for drivers aged 16- 19 years was three time higher than the drivers aged 30 and above. Many differences in speeding are unavoidable because of the slower speeds of turning or merging vehicles. The high speeds of other vehicles worsen this problem.
Drivers all over the world are instructed to drive at a safe speed. In the United States, this requirement is called 'basic rule'. Lower speeding may be required because of fog, heavy rain, and conditions such as freezing, gravel or where it is impossible to stop.
Most countries have a legally defined numerical speed. It applies on all roads or else stated. Lower speeding limits are often shown through a sign at the beginning of the restricted sections. Sometimes streetlights or the physical presence of the road can also be used. Highlighted speeding limit may only apply to that road or for all the roads ahead of that sign. Some roads also have minimum speed limits where slow speeds can slow down the traffic flow or might be dangerous. These speeding signs are drawn by using blue circles as based on the compulsory signs of the Vienna Convention Road Signs and signals.
The first variable speeding limit signs were started in 1965. It took place on a 30 km stretch of German motorway A8, between Munich and the border city of Salzburg, Austria. Variable speeding limit signs displayed speeds at 60, 80 and 100 km/hr and danger zone or accident.
'Speed limit enforcement' action is taken by authorized authorities. It will help to ensure that the road vehicles are complying with the speed limits. There are various methods used to enforce this law. These methods include roadside speed traps set-up' that are operated by the police and automated road side speed camera systems. The automated road side speed camera systems might also include the use of an automated number plate recognition system.
The Synthesis of Safety Research Related to Speed and Speed Limits report supported by the Federal Highway Administration published in 1998 discovered that changing speed limits on low and moderate speed roads have no significant effect on traffic speed or the number of crashes. On the other hand, changing speed limits on high-speed roads resulted in higher number of traffic speeding and crashes. |
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