Speed Limits and Cars

[oppp7]

If certain speeds, like 120 MPH, aren't allowed just about anywhere in the US, why are cars still built to be able to go that fast? Is there a scientific reason?

 

[Gildan Bladeborn]

Speeding tickets - they're a major source of tax revenue!

 

[Insanum]

Because they can?

If you've ever done a track day, You'll learn to love the top speed. I know i cant wait to get my hands on a CBR600RR Track Bike.

 

[Poomanchu745]

Probably in case you get in a car case with a guy who wants to kill you. Then you would be pissed if your car couldn't go faster than 65. Or maybe its a conspiracy theory that car companies want people to speed and get tickets to help police make money.

 

[Chamale]

If your car's speedometer goes up to 260 km/h, as it does in my Honda Civic, going at 120 makes one think that the car isn't working very hard. If the speedometer maxed out at 130, going at 120 on the highway would make one think that the car is at the very limit of its ability. I highly doubt a Honda Civic can top 200 or even 160, but the speedometer goes very high anyway.

 

[Pimppeter2]

Rules are made to be broken.

 

[Undeadpope]

large,heavy masses going at high speeds scares me.
I dislike being in control in a car because of this,when it comes to driving I am more trusting of others than myself.

Why,some people actually enjoy large,heavy masses going at high speeds,I am not one of those.

 

[Sjakie]

Because people really like going fast from A to B, rules or no rules.
I see the logic and i agree with it, but since when are people logical beings?

 

[hey_iknowyou]

I don't know how true this is but I have heard speedometers are not designed to be used to go at the maximum speed. Basically, when your speeding up the needle is going upwards, which people perceive as speeding up which is correct. However, when the needle goes beyond the halfway point it then begins going down, which can confuse people as the direction of the needle has reversed.

A lecturer of mine was telling me about this so it's from a relatively reputable source, I still don't know if I believe it though. It seems like a reasonable explanation though . . . sort of.

 

[Randomvirus]

Because we have the freedom to choose to ATTEMPT to outrun the police!

 

[elementsoul]

Because then you wouldn't be able to bring your car to king of the hill night at stock car racing events.

 

[Monocle Man]

Mother of fuck.

Are you telling me you own a car and have never been late?

Amusingly, driving 10km/h faster than you're allowed grants only a very small time difference.

Example (My 2 week vacation is coming to and end now, my Mathematics might still be slumbering so bear with me):
Distance = 20 km
Max speed = 90 km/h
Time at max speed = 13 minutes and about 20 seconds
Time at 100km/h = 12 minutes

In Belgium you'd be risking your driver's license and an expensive "serious offence" for less than 2 minutes, isn't that a fun thought.

The likely reason cars are build to go faster than the allowed speeds is because driving at the maximum your car can drive isn't very good for the car (or at least for fuel consumption).
Don't you prefer to jog 1km over sprinting 1km?
I'm no car mechanic, mind, so don't kill me if I'm wrong.

I suppose they could put some electronics in the car to prevent your car going over the max speed, but surely people will mess with those.

 

[Kiriona]

Well, try living in beautiful Southern California for a bit. Everyone is in a fucking hurry to get nowhere.

As a result, there are cop speed traps everywhere these days.