Here in the States they are mulling over whether to institute a national speed limit for cars and trucks, to save gas. They want to go back to a 55 mph speed limit like they had in the 1970's. This is for divided highways or interstates. In Ohio, the speed limit is 65 mph on divided highways and 55 on 2 lane roads. Each state has different speed limits. Some states don't have any speed limits. It's what ever is a safe speed. Some states are 70 or even 80 mph. What are speed limits in outher countries?
The speed limits on our motorways is 70mph and on our dual carriageways it's 50-60mph (urban) and 70mph (rural).
And then on small suburban roads the limit can be anywhere between 20mph, usually school roads, 30mph for roads with pavements and houses and 40 mph for 'others'.
And much ignored to the delight of the Government which creams of the speeding fines as an extra tax on motorists!
Every road sign depicting the speed limits here are designated in kilometers per hour. On our national roads - these would probably what you would think of as highways - the limit is 120 km/h on main roads the limits - depending on whether it is residential areas or not - 60 km/h in residential zones and 80 km/h in commercial and industrial zones. in cities and towns - varying to the point where it is sometimes frightening. I say frightening because even thought the speed limit is sometimes given as low as 40 km/h - especially near pedestrian crossings and schools, there are always those motorists that ignore these and the traffic cops are so few that enforcing these limits is sometimes non-existent.
Here in Norway, around schools its 50km/h, we also use the Km/h. Our rural roads are 60Km/h, the highways are usually 80KM/h. Some highways go up to 120Km/h. But! Sometimes you see a sign that has 60 on it but it will have 3 lines going diaganal across it. It means you can go 60, 70 or 80KM/h using your own judgement on weather conditions or traffic flow. Thats either the highway or backroads. That goes for all signs that has those lines, no matter what the original speed is. If a person is speeding on the highways, there is whats called tin boxes, that records vehicles before and after they pass, and if someone is speeding usually they will get a nice fine thru the mail. Very few actual police cars drive thru here. I haven't seen a police car since last winter, drive thru our section of the island. But then its not really needed either. In the towns and cities we have whats called a Tiger Walk, its a striped walking area to cross the road for pedestrians, and not necessarily on corners either. All motorists are to stop when a person is at that crosswalk. The fines for not stopping are more than the actual fines for speeding. Motorist make sure they stop. At least up here pedestrians or cyclists never have to worry about crossing a walkway.
As I see it, a law reducing the speed limit isn't the best way to go at this time. In the 70s, there was a nationwide gas shortage. The reduced speed allowed the gas to go further for every one. There is no shortage now, just the high prices. It is an individual thing, if one finds the cost of gas too high, then he should drive at speeds, and have a car that produces the best mileage. While none of us like the higher costs, some are still willing to spend what it takes to drive that huge SUV or motor home at 80 MPH, so be it, and that's good for the economy, it keeps the money flowing.
