The law is the law, regardless if everyone else is doing it and the fact that it's safer to go the prevaling rate. The fact is that your safest speed in any given situation is the mean speed of the traffic in that area. Federal studies have shown that going 10 miles per hour UNDER the prevaling rate, even if that rate is 10 mph or more over the limit, subjects that driver to six times the danger of being involved in a fatal accident. At 5 MPH under, the danger is only 2.5 times as great. So, if you are going 65 in a 60 and most traffic is going 70, you could get a ticket for speeding but are going 5 MPH slower than what is scientifically proven to be the safest speed. Go figure. Life ain't fair.

Further, traffic engineers use the "85th percentile" (the rate or slower that 85% of the traffic is traveling) in the establishment of speed limits. Unfortunately, engineers have been overruled by politicians and overzealous revenue bureaucrats in most areas. Revenue priorities and political expediency have taken priority over safety, it seems.

The problem is most cops have never heard of the 85th percentile. More, though not all, are aware that the mean speed is the safest and react accordingly. Cops are hard-wired to see speed limits as "The Law" (caps intended), and facts, safety, and rational thought are not to be thrown into the equation. I don't intend to blaspheme all cops, as many are rational and practice "selective" enforcement--i.e., enforcement of laws as the public safety is jeopardized. But you ran into the former, it seems, and there likely isn't a damn thing you can do about it except pay the ticket and watch your insurance company gouge you on your next premium invoice. Take it to court and you'll likely pay the ticket plus court costs, not to mention wasting a half day of your life in the practice of futile frustration. Remember, in traffic court you are guilty until proven innocent, and you'll be in foreign territory: another state. You were speeding, right? Guilty. Were you going the safest speed? Probably, but that's irrelevant.

• DAMN STATIES!!!!, Jason S., Thu, 7 Dec 2000 08:33:53
  • The brass tacks about speeding (long rant), Robert Davis, Thu, 7 Dec 2000 18:09:13 <-- Viewing This Message
  • Check out the big reckless driving ticket thread. . ., Rafe, Thu, 7 Dec 2000 17:22:40
  • Some links, advice and such..., Craig, Thu, 7 Dec 2000 16:08:53
  • Hunter says . . ., Erik M., Thu, 7 Dec 2000 15:53:36
  • unfortunate victim of speeding tax (long), Erik A, Thu, 7 Dec 2000 11:49:33
  • Screw him., Erik M., Thu, 7 Dec 2000 10:53:50
  • Re: DAMN STATIES!!!!, paul , Thu, 7 Dec 2000 10:16:17
    • Re: DAMN STATIES!!!!, Jason S., Thu, 7 Dec 2000 10:19:43
    • Re: DAMN STATIES!!!!, Jason S., Thu, 7 Dec 2000 10:17:29

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