What is the ideal speed? Well, there again is no consensus. Every county has its speed limits, as does every state, county, and city to some extent. Why is it so challenging to agree on the appropriate speed limit under various conditions, such as freeways/highways, city streets, etc.?
In Germany, the suggested speed limit on the autobahn is 130 kph (81 mph). But, again, it is proposed and not mandated nor a law. In the US, Washington, DC has a speed limit on freeways that is 88 kph or 55 mph, which is not only suggested, it is enforced and punishable if you exceed it.
So why speed limits. To guide us, to provide safety, and protect us. But, interestingly, we are protecting ourselves from whom. Well, we as a society.
So let’s look at these limits. The limits in the US remain mostly unchanged for almost five decades. Some states have increased them, yet no national limit was created. History of US speed limits.
What about the cars?? In the 60s’ the fastest production car was the Maserati Ghibli SS – 170 MPH, and in 2020 the Koenigsegg Agera RS clocked 277.9mph. So while the speed of production cars has increased dramatically, speed increases have been marginal, if at all. Safety standards have improved. Cars design today is far better than ever before in offering protection for drivers and passengers.
We now have rockets we drive daily, yet one thing has hardly changed – the training and the requirements to get a license to drive a car, which is accurate in the USA.
Possibly we are imposing restrictions and limitations on elements we have no real need to. Instead, we should focus on factors that equip us to perform better, handle difficult situations, and understand and appreciate the road rules (which include fast lanes and overtaking).
Do we put people into machinery when they are inadequately trained and prepared? In some cases, yes, but at what cost?
What about life. Why do we impose speed limits on our progress? It relates to many facets of our lives. For example, why are speed limits imposed on us by others who think we are too fast? Or why do we even ask why we are going so fast. After all, is it the speed that matters, or is it our ability to handle and manage the pace we have chosen? Are we prepared, comfortable, and feel somewhat confident? If so, what is truly holding us back?
It is not the speed that matters, but rather how well we can handle it.
