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October, 2007

Who decides on what speed limits should be?

Location: Blogs Sly Comments
Posted by: Emory Schley	5/18/2007 8:01 PM
I’ve often wondered what standards, if any, are followed by whoever it is who decides what speed limits should be established, and where. Many of them seem to make no sense at all. I once received a speeding ticket, decades ago, for doing 40 mph in a school zone. And I admit I was probably guilty as charged, however, there were no children outside in the playground, and the playground was separated from the street with a chain-linked fence that was eight feet tall. This was an elementary school, up to fifth grade. I passed by that school perhaps hundreds of times, and not once did I ever see anyone, child or otherwise, trying to scale that fence to get to the street. The fence was almost twice as high as the tallest students there. And all the students were in class, or wherever they go to whenever they’re not outside in the playground. I was in a hurry to return to work after attending to a task that absolutely had to be taken care of that day. And we were short on employees that day as well – plus a major deadline was approaching. The speed limit was 15 mph, and I was anxious about getting all the work done in time. So the cop flagged me down and presented me with a speeding ticket for about $120 as I recall. I was given the option of keeping the points off my license by going to a traffic school, which I did. I was reminded of this long-ago incident the other day, as I passed another school with a similar chain-linked fence. There was a playground, then an eight-foot fence, then the street. Oh, yes, there was also a speed limit sign at the side of the road. It said “Speed Limit – 40 mph”. Hmmm... go figure!

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Re: Who decides on what speed limits should be?	By Mike Johnson on 5/19/2007 6:37 PM
Get over yourself, convicted law breaker! If I wanted to read views of citizens who were convicts, which you admit that you are, I would read a jailhouse newspaper.

Re: Who decides on what speed limits should be?

By John W. Goodspeed on 5/20/2007 7:49 AM

As a former police officer, and as the appointed chairman of the West Michigan Regional Planning Commission's Transportation Task Force, I can answer that question.

The normal method of establishing a speed limit is to use what is called the "eighty percentile rule." That is a very effective way to determine the best "safe and appropriate" speed for a particular road. It's also easy to do. On several occasions a radar speed checking devce is positioned next to the road. All traffic is clocked. The traffic engineers know that, without a posted speed limit, there are going to be people driving well below a safe and appropriate speed, and people driving well over it. They have also determined that 80% of the drivers will operate their vehicles at a safe and appropriate speed based on their own instincts. The results of the radar study are tabulated, and the speed being traveled by 80% of the traffic is determined, rounded to the closest 5 mph so speed limit signs don't read, for example, "Speed limit 43 MPH," and that's what is posted.

The other way is to let the politicians get involved. Neighbors on a given street get together, talk it over, decide that the speed limit on their street is too high for the safety of their progeny, or too fast to read their business signs smallest print, and go pack a town council meeting and make sure they don't leave until they get what they want. That is commonly known in traffic planning circles as the "wrong way" to set a speed limit. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most common ways. Live with it and look for the really creative "traffic cops" that have found a speed limit that makes absolutely no sense, and hang out there to get as many scalps as they can in the shortest amount of time. They'll get pretty close to 80 percent of everyone out there!

Emory is a "convict?" You, Mr. Johnson, are an idiot!

Re: Who decides on what speed limits should be?	By Mike Johnson on 5/20/2007 2:26 PM
I am an idiot? Merriam-Webster defines convict as "a person convicted of and under sentence for a crime." As Emory admits, he was guilty and paid a fine. Meriam-Webster defines idiot as "stupid person." Because you obviously have a poor command of the English language, I will refrain from stooping to your level by name calling.

Re: Who decides on what speed limits should be?	By John W. Goodspeed on 5/20/2007 2:59 PM
A traffic violation, unless very very serious, is a violation of Civil Law and is called a "tort." A violation of criminal law, misdomeanor or felony, is a "crime." And you, sir, are still an idiot!

Re: Who decides on what speed limits should be?

By Mike Johnson on 5/20/2007 11:49 PM

First of all, I feel that you are a very shallow human being to participate in name calling, which I have not done to you, and will not, because I am above juvenile phrases like "idiot", unlike yourself. To prove you wrong a second time... Are you honestly suggesting that violations of the law, no matter how minute, is not a crime? If a person pleads guilty to a violation of the law and pay a fine or serve time, by DEFINITION, they are a (ex) convict. If I get ten tickets for traffic violations, have I not just broken ten laws and committed ten crimes? I feel bad proving you wrong, but Merriam-Webster defines a "crime" as an act or the commission of an act that is forbidden. I believe that breaking the traffic laws is forbidden by state laws, and that is why Emory paid the fine; he was guilty of a CRIME. Again, I apologize for proving you wrong, and I would like to point out that I have not done what you do and call others names.

Re: Who decides on what speed limits should be?	By Steven Patterson on 5/21/2007 12:42 AM
This dude could have killed a kid, and he did not care because he wanted to get to work on time? How could a former cop defend somebody who does not even care about laws?

Re: Who decides on what speed limits should be?

By Lakisha Steves on 5/21/2007 7:39 AM

Bottom line: there a laws and rules in this society for a reason. Break a law, pay a fine (or do time). It's pretty simple. Emory talks like he is above the law. Where wouuld we be if more felt this way? Have any of you gentleman read "Lord of the Flies?" Mr. Johnson, I agree with you completely. John, you are way out of line. Is this not supposed to be a forum for adults to discuss their views? Why resort to your middle-school persona? Grow up....

Re: Who decides on what speed limits should be?	By L Reed on 5/21/2007 9:48 AM
I have asked the same question as I drive on 17th St. at 45 mph past front doors of residences and entrances to businesses. The new 32nd/42nd connector with turn lanes and wide views is posted at 35 mph - go figure!

Re: Who decides on what speed limits should be?	By Polly Schill on 5/22/2007 10:29 AM
Don't y'all feel much more comfortable knowing those big, cute policemen are watching out for us all and keeping those big bad speeders in check?

Re: Who decides on what speed limits should be?

By Ray Cates on 6/4/2007 4:32 PM

I live close to the curve on N.E. 2nd Street (near NE 12th Terrace and NE 13th Ave.) and the speed limit is 25 MPH. I have seen carss try to see how fast they can go around this curve. Speeds of 60 miles per hour are not uncomon. THIS IS NOT AN AREA OF OCALA WHERE THE SPEED LAWS ARE TAKEN SEROUSLY. I have never seen a policeman stopping lawbreakers on this curve. This is very dangerous because all sorts of little children live in the duplex next to me, and they all have bicycles. The Ocala Police Department will probably be forced to moniter this AFTER A CHILD IS KILLED.

When I slow down to obey the law --which is every time --well people honk at me because I am slowing them down! Poor babies! They are trying to beat the mob over one street on Silver Springs Blvd. Poolr little things! Every ticket they get would be a gain for the children. It is where children live around busy streets that should indicate what the speed limits are in Ocala.

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