Have you ever really wondered as to why there are speed limits? What makes them tick? What is the basis for their being; the need for the superfuzz to constantly harrass our every move; the need for tickets, fines, court dates, and the abuse surrounding our transportation? If so, you are not alone! I am not for the complete abolishment of speed limits. However, I AM for the abolishment of speed limits in certain areas of the country.
Speed limits are a necessity in highly congested areas, stretches of road which wind and curve, and places where pedestrian traffic is evident. These areas, commonly known as residental areas, county roads, state highways, and city thoroughfares all need speed limits to protect those who cannot protect themselves. These speed limits must be obeyed in order to save lives; lives which depend on safe, rational, and accountable drivers. Of course, going 25 miles per hour in an area where you can very safely travel 45 is somewhat of a pain. However, driving 25 miles per hour on a local road will end up saving the lives of people who may be unaware of the dangerous motorist zooming around the very next corner.
My point of contention is that of the Interstate highways. I believe that there should be 3 distinct zones of speed, and 3 distinct zones of safety. The first zone is that of the city metropolitan area. This area should be reserved for the current speed limit regulations. These areas, usually within city limits, suburban communities/exit ramps, and commercial development, all call for areas of increased awareness and safety. The current speed limit regulations are appropriate, and do not need revision.
The next zone would be the "secondary" zone. This zone should range from 0 to 20 miles outside of city limits. Due to the geographical arrangement of cities throughout the United States, this zone usually represents the buildup of development upon entering a city. These areas consist of exit ramps, smaller out of the way exurban areas, and initial development of commerce. In this area, congestion is TYPICALLY lower, thus causing the need for the same speed limit to be revised. As an example, if the speed limit in the city limit/metropolitan zone is 45-55mph, then this zone should dictate a 65-75mph speed limit. With this speed limit, highways can remain relatively accident free, while providing enough time and distance for the driver to react to circumstances on the road. However, this zone must meet new Federal Regulation standards, such as congestion standards, the geographical lay of the road, and the intended short term development of the surrounding community. If congestion is too high, there are too many curves/changes in elevation, or if the local community is rapidly developing, then the standard accepted speed limit should still apply.
The last zone is that of the "tertiary" zone, or "open road". These areas are typically low in congestion, low in structural development, and sparsely populated. Such areas considered would be that of: The Great Plains, The Midwest areas (ex: I-70 West of Columbus, OH), and other sparsely populated regions. Today, speed limits in these areas typically range from 65-70mph. My question is... WHY!? In these areas, we should not be forced to obey and antiquated system of speed regulation. In today's society, with the development of bigger, faster, & stronger vehicles, the owner of a Porsche 911 or a Dodge Viper should have the authority to make decisions for themselves. These cars are designed to travel at high speeds, and the owners of these cars should be allowed to "test" them out! The reason why we have these speed limits in effect in these locations is NOT to protect the safety of the persons on the road. The real reason is to pad the wallets of the local and state governments which control and regulate the speed limits. Taxes today are a large point of contention for the US Citizen. Tax increases are taboo. In that case, why not tax the velocity of your car! If your velocity is too high, then you get taxed (fined)... Hmmm... seems like just another way to force the hard-working and successful into paying more of their hard-earned income to the government.
I propose that we abolish the speed limit in the areas known as the "Open Road". I propose that we revise the speed limit regulations currently forced upon the citizens of the United States. I propose that we do away with the commonly accepted speed limit regulations and introduce the 3 Zone system of speed control! The main point of this argument is NOT to propose some type of non-conformist propaganda, but rather, argue that we as citizens deserve the opportunity to choose! I believe that the common citizen is a RATIONAL, ACCOUNTABLE, and SAFE driver, capable of making decisions for themselves. If a person chooses to speed in an area where congestion is high, children are at play, or pedestrians aggregate, then they should face an extreme penalty. However, I also believe that the open road is the last vestige of what we call vehicular freedom. We, as citizens, need to realize that for every action that we take, there are consequences for these actions. If a person chooses to speed in the open road, then they make the choice, and will face the consequences personally. I do not believe that the government should provide those consequences, and determine our fate.
In Freedom,
Jeff
January 23, 2004
If you agree or disagree, feel free to contact me!