Oh, I’m sorry, didn’t realize Hitler was back from the dead. That’s right, and it’s not even a false analogy! Whopee!

“Some people are better drivers.”

By construction, regardless of how good a driver you are, there is some speed at which when an unexpected event occurs – such as someone stepping out into the road, or a car cutting into your lane – your reaction time will be strictly larger than the amount of time required to adequately respond to the threat. This speed is in general defined on a case by case basis, again by construction. In fact if you can predict this speed in all cases, I submit that you should get a Fields medal, because by golly you are modest. “inconceivably intelligent” is more like it than “smart”. And good luck finding others like you.

I’m sorry, but your reasoning is broken – as you say – in so many ways that I am a loss.

Of course, it should go without saying that I speak only to first order.

Some European cities have done this with excellent results.

but the posting of, say, a 60 or 70mph speed limit is because that’s the range where most standard motors achieve the greatest mpg. nationalized speed limits achieved their widest distribution decades ago when gas was actually scarce in the US, and people would literally wait in line for hours at the gas station. not because there were so many people, but because gas was so scarce. ask your parents if you don’t already know.

considering that gasoline availability is dependent on active pursuit by american public policy, it is reasonable that its use be mandated to some degree of efficiency. the failing is found, as mentioned, in SUV’s and the like, but in time i imagine that problem will be addressed.

note: i drive fast, and am not a fan of speed limits, but their presence is legitimate.

The vast majority of drivers think they are “better than average” drivers. The people you see driving like complete idiots, barely avoiding accidents? They think they are good drivers. They might even think they are great drivers.

So, the only way to truly set speedlimits would be to have widescale proficiency tests where every driver every few years is tested for their skill in driving and then got a personal speedlimit…. which I think would be rather amazingly expensive, not to mention most people would still blow it off thinking they were a bit off that day or that the test is flawed.

As much as I like the idea of no speedrestrictions, it is just never going to happen. I’d suggest you aim your thinkingcap in the direction of solving the problems you mentioned instead… It makes lawbreakers out of us? Why? Because we speed? Right, so find a way to make us stop speeding.

I say stopping speeding is fairly simple, just build cars unable to speed. A drive by wire system (Electronic control rather than direct) can easily be built to limit the top speed to certain limits. Rather than to set these limits arbitrarily high, like car companies tend to, just set them at freeway speeds. You’re not legally allowed to go faster, so problem solved.

Put a hefty fine or loss of license on removing the block on a stree-legal car outside of set racing areas. In races professionals can stand by to remove and then reinstate the block. Side benefits? Adjustable top speeds… set a transmitter in the city limit signs, and any car passing by the signs suddenly cant go at freeway speeds anymore. Emergency vehicles need to pass? Zap, all cars infront of them suddenly slow down, providing plenty of incentive to get out of the way so they can get back to their regular speeds.

But of course, human psychology… again not a possibility. While it would be the logical thing to do, we as a race do not enjoy having our lawbreaking capabilities taken away from us.

Going from 12 MPG to 15.7 saves more gallons of fuel than going from 50 MPG to 1000 MPG over the same distance. Do the math.

MPG and CAFE standards are frauds perpetuating over consumption and leading to too-small cars being built to justify Expeditions and Suburbans. This only leads to the perception that saving gas is dangerous since clearly a Geo Metro will not survive a crash with a Expedition. However if more people drove middle-of-the-road cars (bad imagery I know) such as Malibus, Maximas and Tauruses or even RAV4′s, Caravans and Sorento’s and the like we’d all be buying gas for $1.25 and safe as well.