Raising Speed Limits in the Name of Traffic Safety

An article by Alex Mayyasi makes the case that the system by which the United States regulates the speed of vehicles is irrational and unsafe. That is, as the headline of the article states, "There's convincing evidence that speed limits are way too low."

Mayyasi cites Lieutenant Gary Megge of the Michigan State Police as a leading advocate in favor of higher speed limits. Lt. Megge's argument centers on the 85th percentile rule, which traffic engineers are supposed to use to determine speed limits, though speed limits are often set below that level. Thus, according to Lt. Megge, most drivers speed. In his own words, Lt. Megge describes why he thinks that's wrong:

“We all speed, yet months and months usually pass between us seeing a crash,” Lt. Megge tells us when we call to discuss speed limits. “That tells me that most of us are adequate, safe, reasonable drivers. Speeding and traffic safety have a small correlation.”

Going a step further, Lt. Megge believes that raising speed limits would make roads safer by putting an end to the tacit understanding that the speed limit is set too low. Mayyasi explains: "With higher speed limits, Megge says, police officers could focus their resources on what really matters: drunk drivers, people who don’t wear seat belts, drivers who run red lights, and, most importantly, the smaller number of drivers who actually speed at an unreasonable rate." Megge also says that the only way to lower speeds is through engineering choices: "It’s more expensive, but unlike changing the number on a sign, it’s effective," paraphrases Mayyasi.