Speed Limit Signs Without "Speed Limit"

[jakeroot]

Everyone knows that speed limit signs say "Speed Limit", "Speed" or "Maximum Speed" on them. While this convention is in honour of the fact that most state's book of codes use the words "speed limit" or "maximum speed" in them (read: Oregon dumping "Speed" for "Speed Limit"), perhaps the whole idea of a speed limit is, well a bit old-fashioned. Statistically, most people drive at the speed they are most comfortable with (National Motorist Association). Most of the time, this is around the posted speed limit, or above (85th percentile).

Occasionally, people cite their reason as to why they drive below the speed limit as that speed limit signs quite literally have "limit" plastered on them, and therefore, the given speed limit shall not be exceeded. But the existence of tolerance in police patrolling easily rebut this reasoning. Police fully expect us to exceed the limit; perhaps not by 20, but by at least 3 or 4 miles per hour (again, 85th percentile).

My thought is that we could modify our law books so that, in place of "speed limit" or "maximum speed", we could use a term along the lines of "around this speed". Our speed limit signs should just read out the speed limit as a number, without any of the former terms above it. You would have to create a sign unlike any existing number-only sign (state route shields), and one that can be easily identified from a distance; below you can see my idea as to what this sign could look like:

Yes, the numbers on the top two are different from the bottom two, and yes, the bottom right red is different. These are all on purpose. And finally, yes my sign looks like the 'Vienna Convention' speed limit sign. This was somewhat intentional.



One major question does come into play with this type of sign: when do police write tickets? As speeding accounts for only 3 percent of accidents (Daily Mail, UK study) perhaps we ought to think about just ticketing the major offenders (25+ over the speed limit), and focusing our energy on things like mobile phone use, driving under the influence and street racing.

I want to know what you all think. Is my idea silly? Am I moving into a grey area into a world of black and white (laws)? Have I not fully explained my idea? Are people going to see this new sign, and given that the sign forgoes the use of "speed limit", treat it as a "go as fast as you want" sign? Are people too ignorant to accept that other people use the road as well, and therefore Interstate 5 is now Washington's newest F1 track?

[KEK Inc.]

I like how Australia does it, personally.



The red circle implies limit; however, I don't know many people who absolutely consider the speed limit sign as the absolute ceiling for acceptable speed.  Usually people think it's OK to speed up to 5 MPH over.  Most cops I know don't care unless it's 10 MPH or higher over.

[NE2]

Anything that cites the Daily Fail is automatically Buncombe.

[sammi]

The Vienna Convention speed limit sign looks like:



It's supposed to be circular, but the way Australia does it (as KEK posted) is because the old American-style speed limit signs were only overlaid with the new ones, and apparently so people wouldn't be confused by the shape.

There is also a sign for an advisory speed:



Commonly seen with "130" on the Autobahn.

[Brandon]

I like how Australia does it, personally.



The red circle implies limit; however, I don't know many people who absolutely consider the speed limit sign as the absolute ceiling for acceptable speed.  Usually people think it's OK to speed up to 5 MPH over.  Most cops I know don't care unless it's 10 MPH or higher over.

It's the Mexican way as well.

Personally, I'm more of a fan of the Canadian way:

MAXIMUM
70

with no silly circle that means nothing in the MUTCD.  Plus, the Aussies do that (as well as the Mexicans and others) as they use rectangular regulatory signs as we do.  Hence, the red circle must be on a white square/rectangular blank.

[Brandon]

Anything that cites the Daily Fail is automatically Buncombe.

Didn't realize anyone here cited a UK paper.

[sammi]

Anything that cites the Daily Fail is automatically Buncombe.

Didn't realize anyone here cited a UK paper.

[...] speeding accounts for only 3 percent of accidents (Daily Mail, UK study) perhaps we ought to think about [...]

[jakeroot]

Anything that cites the Daily Fail is automatically Buncombe.

Can't say I'm super familiar with the authenticity of the Daily Mail, but they are themselves are citing government figures. Obviously the Daily Mail has bias but I thought we could put that aside and simply acknowledge whatever facts were given.

Also, as I don't think I mentioned it in my original post, I am fully aware that America is not the UK, but I was not able to find any study performed within the US, minus a small mention on the first cite, the NMA, question #6:

"Research conducted by the Florida Department of Transportation showed that the percentage of accidents actually caused by speeding is very low, 2.2 percent."

I hate re-using citations, as you can tell by my Daily Mail cite.

[KEK Inc.]

The Vienna Convention speed limit sign looks like:



It's supposed to be circular, but the way Australia does it (as KEK posted) is because the old American-style speed limit signs were only overlaid with the new ones, and apparently so people wouldn't be confused by the shape.

There is also a sign for an advisory speed:



Commonly seen with "130" on the Autobahn.

New Aussie speed limit signs maintain that shape.  Here I think it would be good so idiot drivers wouldn't confuse it as a route marker. 

[KEK Inc.]

How about this?  eh? 

[jakeroot]

IMG
How about this?  eh?

I like this very much. To be honest, I think you understand my idea more than I even do.

[vdeane]

It's the Mexican way as well.

Personally, I'm more of a fan of the Canadian way:

MAXIMUM
70

with no silly circle that means nothing in the MUTCD.  Plus, the Aussies do that (as well as the Mexicans and others) as they use rectangular regulatory signs as we do.  Hence, the red circle must be on a white square/rectangular blank.

I presume the circle is to remind people that the speed limit is in metric on those signs.

[Zeffy]

Considering that the word 'LIMIT' means nothing to more than half the motorists, there isn't any reason to change it. The US should NOT adopt any Vienna Convention signs anytime soon.

[jakeroot]

Considering that the word 'LIMIT' means nothing to more than half the motorists, there isn't any reason to change it. The US should NOT adopt any Vienna Convention signs anytime soon.

The Vienna Convention can take a hike. The whole bit about "pull[ing] a page out of the Vienna Convention" was because my sign design was similar to their speed limit sign. That's it. I have edited my original post to reflect this change.

[KEK Inc.]

Considering that the word 'LIMIT' means nothing to more than half the motorists, there isn't any reason to change it. The US should NOT adopt any Vienna Convention signs anytime soon.

What if we finally adopt metric to everything?  Though removed in the 2009 MUTCD, the MUTCD DID have circumscribed metric speed limits.




---
The reasoning behind my design not needing a border is similar to a DO NOT ENTER sign.  It's distinct in its own way and easily recognizable without unnecessary text.  'SPEED' could be replaced with 'MAXIMUM'.

[Truvelo]

Why shouldn't the US adopt the red circle? It is universally understood everywhere else and I believe it's only the US and Canada that doesn't use it.

[Brandon]

Why shouldn't the US adopt the red circle? It is universally understood everywhere else and I believe it's only the US and Canada that doesn't use it.

Why should the US and Canada adopt the red circle?  It means nothing in either country, and it's not like people can drive to most other countries from either.

[PColumbus73]

Here's my idea of a Vienna/US hybrid.

I color coded the different speed limits:

Green= Current maximum speed (outside of work/school zones, etc.)

Yellow= School maximum speed

Red= indication that the current maximum speed is ending. This would only appear on speed transition signs (bottom two).

Orange= Construction zones

I made these signs as if they were going to replace the current 'Speed Limit' signs, thus the 'Speed' text. After enough time that the new signs become understood, the 'Speed' text, and possibly all text could be removed leaving the circle with the number.

[Zeffy]

Here's my solution:


Instead of 'LIMIT', the word 'MAXIMUM' is used instead. These signs would have the limits assigned to what the traffic engineers feel is the maximum speed one could safely go - for example, on Interstates it could be 'MAXIMUM SPEED 75'. This also removes confusion with 'well, how fast can I go over the speed limit without getting ticketed?' If you are going over the maximum, you can expect to get ticketed should you find a cop patrolling the road.

Keep the speed limit circle out of the US. We are our own unique country with our own unique rules and regulations.

[jakeroot]

These signs would have the limits assigned to what the traffic engineers feel is the maximum speed one could safely go - for example, on Interstates it could be 'MAXIMUM SPEED 75'. This also removes confusion with 'well, how fast can I go over the speed limit without getting ticketed?' If you are going over the maximum, you can expect to get ticketed should you find a cop patrolling the road.

I think that would work as well. Though it might require a level of constraint that much of the US might not have. Though by saying that I'm contradicting myself entirely (based on my original post). I would like to think that, over time, people become more obedient. The law just has to become less and less if we want that to happen (people who are under great restriction are more likely to disobey, and not just because there are more laws to disobey). That might be why Germany's suggested speed limit, as seen on multiple points along the Autobahn, works so well. Less law = greater obedience.

[myosh_tino]

Here's my solution:

This is not a new concept.  It's been around in California since the mid 70's...


These types of speed limit signs were in use all over California up until about 10 years ago and were a result of the implementation of the NMSL which conflicted with California's Basic Speed Law.  While some "MAXIMUM SPEED" signs are still in use, they're slowly being phased out.

[Pete from Boston]

Here's my solution:


Instead of 'LIMIT', the word 'MAXIMUM' is used instead. These signs would have the limits assigned to what the traffic engineers feel is the maximum speed one could safely go - for example, on Interstates it could be 'MAXIMUM SPEED 75'. This also removes confusion with 'well, how fast can I go over the speed limit without getting ticketed?' If you are going over the maximum, you can expect to get ticketed should you find a cop patrolling the road.

Keep the speed limit circle out of the US. We are our own unique country with our own unique rules and regulations.

Our US peculiarities include the understanding that it's ok to drift over the speed limit and be safe.  Changing the posted limit to the maximum safe speed would likely entail a fair number of sacrificed lives to get the point across.  Not worth it.

[PHLBOS]

I'm surprised that nobody has yet mentioned the Oregon model:

[myosh_tino]

I'm surprised that nobody has yet mentioned the Oregon model:

You know what that sign made me think... you speed has to be 65 MPH... not 64... not 66... but *exactly* 65! (or 55 if you're a truck driver)

[sammi]

You know what that sign made me think... you speed has to be 65 MPH... not 64... not 66... but *exactly* 65! (or 55 if you're a truck driver)

That might be why they're phasing this out in favor of the national-standard SPEED LIMIT sign.