Rural Dictionary

speed limit

An arbitrarily set 'maximum legal speed of travel' that is almost always disobeyed, except in horrible conditions. However, even then, you'll find some still ignoring it. Nonetheless, only the latter in dangerous, and speed limits serve little purpose aside from bringing in revenue. Used also as an excuse for stupid drivers to be able to stay on the road as long as they 'obey the law'. Remember, speed doesn't kill people, people kill people. Aggressive drivers tend to speed a lot but not all speeders are aggressive. The autobahn in Germany has a lesser accident rate than almost every US highway and this includes many out of country drivers (Austria mostly) that are far more dangerous. Out in the midwest, people are usually more laid back, so they drive closer to the limit (though usually slightly above still).

In the east and west, people are usually going 10-15 above (sometimes more in areas with even lower limits). This is great for city and state coffers because people who are only going 5-10 above the usual traffic speed (often to pass) are ticketed for 20, sometimes 25 over the limit. It's also a very easy way to profile certain groups because everyone is already speeding anyway. Realistic limits, or better yet, no speed limits might cause a few idiots to run off the road, but most slow drivers AND fast drivers go the speed they do because they are not comfortable with any faster. Keep right unless you are passing or have nowhere else to drive.

So, next time you get pulled over, remember that you're just being taxed further. Unless of course, you were weaving through traffic like an asshole and really deserved it. However, most people ticketed are just average Joes attempting to get from point A to point B. There's little evidence that speed limits actually increase 'safety'. The assholes who cut people off and fail to use turn signals are the real danger, not speeders.

Also, 'enforcing' these limits is a waste of time, waste of our money, and a danger to police officers who sit on the median and the drivers who panic when they see them.

I went the speed limit because it was pouring rain.

50 mph? What the fuck? Should be more like 75 mph, AT LEAST.

by Shadow Creator January 2, 2008

120👍 21👎

speed limit

1. A series of antiquated historical markers posted along federally and state maintained roads and highways displaying speeds commonly traveled in those places during the 1950’s.

2. Posted warnings suggesting minimum safe traveling speeds on United States interstate highways.

3. A single “local” sign with unusually small print posting a shockingly low limit. Used by small towns to supplement income, this sign is typically placed precisely at the town limit behind a large bush or other larger sign as a “speed transition point” on rural highways of much higher speed. (to find the secret speed limit sign, look roadside for the projecting front end of the police cruiser pointed in the direction you are currently traveling)

--Speed limit signs are still in black and white as there have been no real reasons to bother updating them to color since most people no longer use them.

A> "Did you see the speed limit sign just now, it said 55 miles per hour"

B> "If we ACTUALLY GO 55mph on the Beltway we will get KILLED."

by Full Nondisclosure October 3, 2006

67👍 16👎

Speed Limit

The minimum speed that should be even considered safe to travel at, unless weather conditions are that messy to deem otherwise.

Speed Limit 55 on the Interstate means driving below that speed can be considered an impediment to the flow of traffic.

by NWeiner July 19, 2010

24👍 5👎

speed limit

A suggestion for the speed you should drive on a road. Except for a few idiots everyone drives at least 5 MPH over the speed limit.

Whenever there is a cop around people slow down to the speed limit.

by lazylatvian May 8, 2005

83👍 37👎