Look - it is plain common sense that speed limits are a crude instrument. I accept without hesitation that in certain circumstances it would not be dangerous to drive at 40 mph in a 30 limit. That is beside the point however. Speed limits are necessary to curb the excesses of the minority and, so far, no country has found a viable alternative to them. If they are necessary then they must be enforced - because if you don't enforce them they are ignored. A set limit has to be decided upon that is considered to be the best possible for the area (although frequently this set limit is wrong - I accept). The authorities do not say: The limit here is 30 mph and every driver who exceeds that limit by any amount will be prosecuted - what they say is: "We will allow a margin for error. That margin (other than in particularly hazardous zones) will be 10% + 2 mph. Now when someone gets done for driving at 38 mph in a 30 it is not because that speed was, per se, dangerous. It is because speed limits are necessary for the overall benefit of all road users (including pedestrians) and ignoring them is wrong - because if you do it, and get away with it, you will do it again - and again - and again - and if you get used to ignoring them all the time then you will start to do it when 38 mph in a 30 *is* risky.
Kev
