MLOC with style 1087

I'll try.

Fine, I accept what you said there.

How does a maximum speed limit buttist in avoiding subjective judgements?

Either you impose a maximum speed limit which is the MINIMUM safe speed for any conditions which will occur on that stretch of road, or you leave drivers open to being accused of dangerous driving (at below the speed limit) for entirely subjective reasons.

The problem is that the limits are too low in some places and too high in others. They always will be. You could set the limit to the lowest possible safe speed, to guarantee that anyone driving at or below the limit would be safe. You could set the limit to the highest possible safe speed, to guarantee that anyone prosecuted for driving above the limit was a danger to someone.

However, conditions change, speed limits don't. It will always be possible to be convicted (subjectively) for dangerous driving below the speed limit. With any speed limits likely to be implemented in the UK, it will often be possible to drive safely at above the limit.

Or, IOW, limits should be high enough to allow reasonable drivers in reasonable cars to drive too fast for conditions in poor conditions.

There's no getting away from it -- drivers have to be trusted to pick an appropriate speed for conditions, regardless of the speed limit.

If they make this choice incorrectly, they can be judged to be driving dangerously -- entirely subjectively -- regardless of the speed limit.

There's already no guarantee though, at least without a maximum limit there would be no reason NOT to expect a car to be coming too fast towards you.

I doubt it would be any worse.

It would certainly be interesting. snip

That sounds interesting...

-- David Taylor