Who decides the speed limit? There is actually a speed limit order that is supposed to set it but it appears subjective. For example, Barlow Trail north of the airport had a 80km speed limit as a two lane road. It is now four lane divided and the speed limit has reduced to 60, why? Stoney Trail, speed limit was 90 km as a two lane road, as a 5 lane divided freeway it varies from 50 to 80km, why? It drops to 50 km approaching Country Hills so it is a frequent radar trap. Country Hills Blvd was 80 west of Deerfoot and a big interchange was put in. Traffic travelling eastbound now has a highly enforced 70km speed limit and are limited to 80 km fpr the merge lane onto Deerfoot. How do you safely merge 30km BELOW the speed limit?? (It is 110 there). So again, is it safety, or revenue?
In some US states, the signs "Slower traffic keep right" are on all roads except their signs state "Drive in right lane except to pass by law" and similar and they enforce that instead of speeding.
I am not endorcing 30km over the speed limit. I believe in speed limits where obstacles or pedestrians or animals or dangerous situations might exist, such as construction, National Parks, school zones, playground zones, residential areas, etc. However, those places must be effective. There are several playground zones in this city that serve no purpose due to fencing and lack of access to the road. However, the radio reported a few days ago that City administrators have not been able to go forward on elimintating some of those zones as it is not a City Council. However, enforcement is in full effect in the meantime at those zones. The four lane divided road into my subdivision has a heavily enforced speed limit of 50 but so does my residential street not wide enough for 2 opposite direction cars to pass each other. Safety or revenue?
As I said, go check the actual police stats. Unfortunately, they won't show you my observations. Most of the 15-20km over speeders I see on Calgary streets are some of the few that use their turn signals, have functioning equipment such as brake lights, and are courteous to other drivers. They generally follow all the other rules of the road. Look around you next time you see one if you don't believe me. Other than speeding, I find them generally the most concientious drivers - they aren't doing their makeup, reading a book, or eating their lunch while they drive. I think we have all seen flying jerks 30 or 40 over that weave in and out and cause near misses and they deserve whatever they get. But it is just as against the law to drive below the speed limit and how often do you see cars below the speed limit on Deerfoot? Believe it or not, it was also in the Alberta Highway Traffic Act that you must drive in the right lane except to pass - I don't know if it is in the new Safety Act. These drivers cause frustration and people do stupid things they otherwise normally wouldn't.
Think about the facts and reality and look around you when you drive. Revenue? or Safety? And why have so many other jurisdictions gone away from speed enforcement except in Canada? And why did the Province of BC have an entire commission to research increasing speed limits in the province?
Need more proof?
http://sense.bc.ca/research.htm You will notice that it makes reference to AVERAGE SPEED, not the speed limit. Or one of several studies done for the US Department of Transport and individual States:
http://www.ibiblio.org/rdu/sl-irrel.html .
Now go ahead, start yelling at me, lol.