Quote:
Originally Posted by Mortis
I'm Canadian and I doubt there are many Canadians that actually follow the speed limits, so by your reasoning Canada might as well repel the speeding laws?
|
Perhaps. I know you tossed this out as an example of taking my idea to the absurd extreme, but I don't think it's a particularly good example.
I'm Canadian too, and what I see is that the vast majority of people on the highway drive at about 120 kph. That's because everyone knows that there's virtually a zero probability of being pulled over for any speed under that. Above 120 kph and the probability rises.
So I'd say that they way that the speed limits have been enforced, and the way that people expect them to be enforced really does affect the meaning of the law. You could say that it's a de facto change to the law.
The other thing that does change is the minimum fine for speeding, since by the time the police do decide it's worth ticketing you, you're up into the second fine bracket.
Going beyond that, I'd be willing to bet that if you did a poll you'd find that the average Canadian feels that 120 is a safe speed to drive on the highway, and that they'd be happy if the speed limit was increased to 120 and then enforced more strictly. Which to me, at least, would be a strong argument to change the speed limit.