I agree that every practical measure that can be taken should be taken to improve road safety, but cost will always be the limiting factor here. As a country we seem to have reached the limits of what is practically affordable in infrastructure and service provision long ago, unless the endless parade of companies or institutions saying they need more funding to provide said infrastructure or service are lying.
I don’t see the emphasis on speed limits as futile, over time it may well be successful in modifying drivers’ attitudes and take some of the impatience out of the equation (which is the main issue I see on a daily basis in my travels.) Like with seatbelts, or drink driving (attitudes have changed towards both over time.)
No doubt there are many drivers out there who are competent enough to drive or ride at speeds on or above the speed limit, the problem seems to happen when they encounter traffic which isn’t, and too many end up making extremely poor decisions in trying to pass. That slower traffic is always going to be there, regardless of the speed limit.
I think we need to ask ourselves what is it really that makes being held up by slower traffic so frustrating, and why that seems to override normally sensible decision making in the heat of the moment.
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