| Most drivers have at one point in time had this feeling: | | | | and pedestrians and bicyclists will be a factor |
| you are driving down the road with the music blasting | | | | If the area is close to a school or a park |
| and feeling great. As your mind drifts away from the | | | | What the past accident and fatality statistics are |
| road, you start moving faster and faster and don't | | | | for the area |
| think a thing about it. But when you are least expecting | | | | How good the road itself is |
| it, you hear the dreaded sound of sirens and the | | | | Any other potential hazards that may exist on that |
| flashing lights of a highway patrolman pulling you over | | | | particular roadway |
| and you know that it's for speeding. Your stomach | | | | This is why speed limits change all the time depending |
| sinks and you probably groan because you know a | | | | on where you are. It is also up to the local cities or |
| talking to and big fat ticket are soon to follow. | | | | towns near by. But the main thing about speed limits is |
| But as much as this scenario is not a pleasant one, a | | | | that the faster a car is going, the more likely you are |
| much more unpleasant scenario is getting into a | | | | to: |
| serious accident at a high speed. Speed limits are | | | | Lose control-fast speeds make things like steering |
| there for a reason-they save lives. And they are not | | | | and breaking very difficult. You are much more likely to |
| just set out wily nily. A great deal of thought, research | | | | have a vehicle flip or spin at very high speeds on the |
| and engineering go into the setting of speed limits. A | | | | highway. |
| speed limit at any one point will take into account: | | | | Reaction time-your reaction time is drastically |
| The amount of traffic in the area | | | | reduced with speed. This makes responding to factors |
| If the road is a highway or just a regular public | | | | such as pedestrians or other drivers very difficult. |
| road | | | | Breaking distance-breaking distance increases |
| If the area is rural and will have additional hazards | | | | greatly with every increase in speed. This is the cause |
| such as loose livestock and sharp turns or if it is urban | | | | of many highway pile up collisions. |