Constructivism - Speed Limits Question 1

Topic 1:  Do you think the speed limits in your state/area make sense? (e.g. MA and UT have different speed limits for the same types of roads; why? Does it make sense? Should it be changed? Etc.)

I am a speeder. I am constantly annoyed by the speed limits on Massachusetts roads. Reviewing the information and resources provided by the Constructivism group on this subject, helped solidify some of my views. The information about raising speed limits to meet the preference of 85% of drivers makes complete logical sense to me. Through observation and over 20 years of experience driving in Massachusetts, many other states in the US, and some foreign countries, I believe that it's the differential in speeds that cause the most accidents. Speeding certainly plays it's part in this, but it's the combination of people going too fast, going moderate speeds, and going too slow that create the potential for more accidents, beyond those caused solely by speeding.

However, if you ask me if the speed limits in Massachusetts as compared to Utah make sense, then I say yes, they do make sense...as much as I wish we could drive 80 on Mass interstates. All interstates and roads are not created equal. Utah's rural and urban freeways are very different than Massachusetts' rural and urban freeways. A rural freeway in Utah could be a two lane divided highway that stretches the length of the state, like Interstate 15. You will pass through a few "urban" areas that are densely populated and several rural areas with very small populations, but most of the road is straight and surrounded by the great wide open where there are no people and very few other cars on the road. An 80 mile per hour speed limit on this road makes sense.

Compare this to Interstate 90 in Massachusetts where you've got a road that crosses the entire state east and west, passes through many urban areas and where even the rural areas are populated for the most part. There are far more cars on I-90 at any given time and in any given location, whereas on I-15 in UT, you might see a good number of cars at rush hour going through Salt Lake City, but that's the exception to the rule and only for a short distance relative to the rest of the road. So, slower speed limits on an interstate in Massachusetts makes sense (begrudgingly).

Another consideration is that alcohol consumption and drunk driving rates in the two states are radically different. The number of incidents of drunk driving in Massachusetts is more than double what it is in Utah. Driving drunk on roads with more cars and higher population density is a recipe for disaster, so of course there are more deaths in Massachusetts from drunk driving than there are in Utah. This is another reason why speed limits should be kept lower in Massachusetts. Although I'm not sure if there is any correlation between lower speed limits minimizing accidents caused by drunk drivers - I hate to imagine a drunk driver giving themselves permission to follow an 80 mile per hour speed limit on any given road in Massachusetts. Very scary.