Editing Speed limit (section)

==Advocacy==
Speed limits, and especially some of the methods used to attempt to enforce them, have always been controversial. A variety of organisations and individuals either oppose or support the use of speed limits and their enforcement.

===Opposition===
Speed limits and their enforcement have been opposed by various groups and for various reasons since their inception. In the UK, the Motorists' Mutual Association (est. 1905) was formed initially to warn members about [[speed trap]]s; the organisation would go on to become the [[The Automobile Association|AA]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theaa.com/aboutaa/history.html|title=AA History, The story of the AA since 1905|quote="A group of motoring enthusiasts met at the Trocadero restaurant in London's West End on 29 June to form the Automobile Association (the AA) – a body initially intended to help motorists avoid police speed traps."|publisher=[[The Automobile Association]]|access-date=2008-10-26}}</ref>

More recently, advocacy groups seek to have certain speed limits as well as other measures removed. For example, automated [[Speed camera|camera]] enforcement has been criticised by motoring advocacy groups including the Association of British Drivers, and the [[ADAC|German Auto Club]] (ADAC).<ref name="Autobahn-Temporegelung">{{cite web|url=http://www.presse.adac.de/standpunkte/Verkehr/Autobahn_Temporegelung.asp?active1=tcm:11-18784-4|title=Autobahn-Temporegelung|quote=German:Der ADAC hält ein allgemeines Tempolimit auf Autobahnen für nicht erforderlich... Ein Zusammenhang zwischen generellem Tempolimit und dem Sicherheitsniveau auf Autobahnen ist nicht feststellbar. Die Zahl der Getöteten auf Autobahnen pro einer Milliarde Fahrzeugkilometer liegt in Deutschland bei 2,2, mit fallender Tendenz. Zahlreiche Länder mit genereller Geschwindigkeitsbeschränkung schneiden schlechter ab, z.B. Dänemark, Belgien, Österreich, USA. In Österreich, wo ein generelles Tempolimit von 130 km/h gilt, ist die Getötetenrate auf Autobahnen etwa 1,5-mal höher als in Deutschland. English: ADAC holds a general speed limit on motorways to be unnecessary... A connection between general speed limit on highways and safety is undetectable. The number of deaths on motorways per 1 billion vehicle-kilometers in Germany is 2.2 with a falling trend. Many countries fare worse with a general speed limit than Germany (e.g. Denmark, Belgium, Austria, USA). In Austria, where speed is generally 130, the death rate on motorways is about 1.5 times higher|access-date=2010-11-22|archive-date=2015-01-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101021255/https://presse.adac.de/standpunkte/Verkehr/Autobahn_Temporegelung.asp?active1=tcm:11-18784-4|url-status=dead}}, Press Release, June 2010.</ref>

Arguments used by those advocating a relaxation of speed limits or their removal include:

* A 1994 peer-reviewed paper by Charles A. Lave et al. titled "Did the 65 mph Speed Limit Save Lives?" which states as evidence that a higher speed limit may create a positive shift in traffic to designated safer roads.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Lave|first=Charles|author2=Elias, Patrick|url=http://www.uctc.net/papers/069.pdf|title=Did the 65 mph speed limit save lives?|publisher=Elsevier|journal=[[Accident Analysis & Prevention]]|date=February 1994|volume=26|issue=1|pages=49–62|doi=10.1016/0001-4575(94)90068-X|pmid=8110357|s2cid=21929276|quote=This study analyzes the statewide consequences of raising the speed limit, treating highways and enforcement as a total system. We find that the 65 mph speed limit reduced the statewide fatality rate by 3.4%-5.1%, compared to those states that did not raise their speed limit.on rural interstate highways [p.49] VMT grew 1.62 times faster in the 65 mph states than it did in the 55 mph states...These numbers are consistent with the expected pattern of traffic shifts [p.53]|access-date=2010-04-20|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512173343/http://www.uctc.net/papers/069.pdf|archive-date=2011-05-12}}</ref>
* A 1998 report in the ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'' titled "Highways are safe at any speed", stating when speed limits are set artificially low, tailgating, weaving and speed variance (the problem of some cars traveling significantly faster than others) make roads less safe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://saferoads.org/press/press2006/WSJ%20Editorial%20July%207%20Safe%20At%20Any%20Speed.pdf|title=Highways Are Safe at Any Speed|first=Eric|last=Peters|work=[[Wall Street Journal]]|date=1998-11-24|access-date=2012-02-17|quote=When speed limits are set arbitrarily low–as under the old system–tailgating, weaving and "speed variance" (the problem of some cars traveling significantly faster than others) make roads less safe|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120412003252/http://www.saferoads.org/press/press2006/WSJ%20Editorial%20July%207%20Safe%20At%20Any%20Speed.pdf|archive-date=2012-04-12}}
</ref>
*A 2007 ePetition to the UK government calling for speed cameras to be scrapped on the basis that the benefits were exaggerated and that they may actually increase casualty levels, conducted by [[Safe Speed]], a UK advocacy organisation campaigning for higher speed limits, which received over 25,000 signatures.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.safespeed.org.uk/speedlimits.html|title=Speed limits|work=Safe Speed|access-date=2010-04-17|quote="Note that the "average" driver at the 50% percentile has a greater crash risk than the 85th percentile driver. Below the 30th percentile, crash risk is significantly increased, and these speeds tend to be used by less skilled and competent drivers ... Doddery old fool at 30 mph / 50 km/h on a UK "A" road suitable for 60 mph / 100 km/h. Of course, he has an elevated crash risk. He does not know what he is doing ... A single vehicle in lane 3 of a busy motorway. It's obvious that as the speed is reduced below 55 mph / 90 km/h the crash risk will increase"}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.safespeed.org.uk/|title=Welcome to Safe Speed|last=Smith|first=Paul|date=2007-03-14|work=Safe Speed|access-date=2010-04-18|quote="In March we learned via Freedom of Information request that the speed camera side effects research (announced in May 2005) had been axed. It is inconceivable that the side effects DON'T cost more than 25 lives per year, meaning that speed cameras are making road safety worse. But DfT doesn't want to hear this, which is the only possible reason for axing the most important research. So here's the truth. Speed camera policy has failed catastrophically. Department for Transport KNOWS that it has failed but won't admit their deadly mistake and pull the plug."}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/road-safety/2747604/Scrap-speed-cameras-now.html|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/road-safety/2747604/Scrap-speed-cameras-now.html|archive-date=2022-01-12|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|title=Scrap speed cameras now|last=Smith|first=Paul|date=2007-06-23|work=The Telegraph|access-date=2010-04-17|location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
* A 2008 declaration by the [[Verband der Automobilindustrie|German Automobile Manufacturer's Association]] calling general limits "patronizing",<ref>{{cite web|title=VDA opposes using speed limit to patronize the public: General Speed Limit Will Not Help with Climate Protection or Safety|date=March 2008|publisher=Verband der Automobilindustrie|url=http://www.vda.de/en/meldungen/archiv/2008/03/26/2028/|quote="A general speed limit on Germany's autobahns will not offer additional benefits in terms of climate protection or driving safety," said VDA Managing Director Dr. Kunibert Schmidt... "Much more important than the mantra-like repetition of old demands are measures designed to prevent motorists from driving at speeds that are not in line with weather conditions and the flow of the surrounding traffic - the leading cause of motor vehicle accidents."|access-date=2011-07-02|archive-date=2011-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928221757/http://www.vda.de/en/meldungen/archiv/2008/03/26/2028/|url-status=dead}}</ref> arguing instead for variable speed limits. The Association also stated that "raising the speed limits in Denmark (in 2004 from {{cvt|110|to|130|kph}})<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cphpost.dk/news/higher-speed-limits-reducing-accidents-on-rural-roads.8662.html|title=Higher speed limits reducing accidents on rural roads: Few accidents stem from cars overtaking|quote=Nine years ago the speed limit on certain motorways was increased from 110 km/h to 130 km/h, and this resulted in fewer traffic fatalities on those stretches of road.|access-date=2014-02-22|archive-date=2014-02-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221105613/http://cphpost.dk/news/higher-speed-limits-reducing-accidents-on-rural-roads.8662.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Indland/2012/07/11/214016.htm|title=Socialists open up several highways to 130 km / h (S åbner for flere motorveje med 130 km/t)|author=Carsten Thomsen|date=2012-06-11|quote=Socialists are now open to raising the speed limit to 130 km/h on several of the country's motorways. Previously, the party was strongly opposed when the Liberal government in 2005 raised the speed limit from 110 to 130 on several stretches. However, it has not resulted in increased fatalities. Which it has convinced the Socialists, says Transport Coordinator Rasmus Prehn. 'There might be places where you can raise the limit from 110 km/h to 130 km/h. There should be a detailed assessment of that. What is important is that people get a feeling that there is a correlation between how things are and how fast you can drive, says Rasmus Prehn. The number of fatalities last year was 220, which is the lowest since World War II. Only 12 were killed on motorways. (ORIGINAL DANISH: Socialdemokraterne åbner nu for at hæve fartgrænsen til 130 kilometers i timen på flere af landets motorvejsstrækninger. Partiet var ellers stærkt imod, da VK-regeringen i 2005 hævede fartgrænsen fra 110 til 130 på en lang række strækninger. Men det har ikke betydet flere dræbte i trafikken. Og det har overbevist Socialdemokraterne. trafikordfører Rasmus Prehn. Der kan godt være steder, hvor man kan hæve grænsen fra 110 km/t til 130 km/t. Det skal der en nærmere vurdering til. Men det, der er vigtigt, er, at folk får en oplevelse af, at der er en sammenhæng mellem hvordan forholdene er, og hvor hurtigt man må køre, siger Rasmus Prehn. Antallet af trafikdræbte var sidste år 220. Det er det laveste siden Anden Verdenskrig. Kun 12 omkom på motorveje.)}}</ref> and Italy (2003 increase on six-lane highways from {{cvt|130|to|150|kph}}) had no negative impact on traffic safety. The number of accidental deaths even declined".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vda.de/de/publikationen/publikationen_downloads/detail.php?id=919|title=Fakten gegen ein generelles Tempolimit ("Facts Against A General Speed Limit")|date=2007-03-31|quote=Thus, Denmark in April 2004 increased its speed limit 110 km/h to 130 km/h on all highways. Italy enacted its 2003 speed limit on six-lane highways of 130 km/h to 150 km/h...Raising the speed limits in Denmark and Italy had no negative impact on traffic safety. The number of accidental deaths even declined over the year before the increase in the limit of -10% (Italy) or -15% (Denmark).(German) So hat Dänemark im April 2004 sein Tempolimit von 110 km/h auf 130 km/h auf allen Autobahnen heraufgesetzt. Italien setzte 2003 sein Tempolimit auf sechsspurigen Autobahnen von 130 km/h auf 150 km/h herauf. Auch die schwedische Regierung hat jetzt eine Anhebung des Tempolimits auf ausgewählten Streckenabschnitten wie auch auf vierspurigen Landstraßen beschlossen. ...Die Anhebung der Tempolimits in Dänemark und Italien hatten keinerlei negative Auswirkungen auf die Verkehrssicherheit. Die Zahl der Unfalltoten sank sogar gegenüber dem Jahr vor der Anhebung des Limits um –10 % (Italien) bzw. –15 %(Dänemark).|access-date=2011-07-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928221832/http://www.vda.de/de/publikationen/publikationen_downloads/detail.php?id=919|archive-date=September 28, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*In a 2010 ADAC report, it was said that an autobahn speed limit was unnecessary because numerous countries with a general highway speed limit had worse safety records than Germany.<ref name="Autobahn-Temporegelung" /> However, more recent data show that Germany ranks in the lower middle field in a Europe-wide comparison regarding the number of fatalities per billion vehicle kilometers traveled on motorways.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|title=Infografik: Todesfälle auf Autobahnen im Europa-Vergleich|website=Statista Infografiken|url=https://de.statista.com/infografik/16765/todesfaelle-auf-autobahnen-im-europa-vergleich/|access-date=2021-06-06|language=de}}</ref> ETSC considers that those data are not comparable, because estimations of the number of kilometers traveled are not estimated the same way in different countries.<ref name="flash-report-28">{{cite report|title=RANKING EU PROGRESS ON IMPROVING MOTORWAY SAFETY: PIN Flash Report 28|date=March 2015|url=http://etsc.eu/wp-content/uploads/2015-03-pin-flash-report-28.pdf}}
</ref> Since 2020, the ADAC is "{{Lang|de|nicht mehr grundsätzlich}}" ("no longer in principle") against a speed limit on autobahns.<ref>{{cite news|date=2020-01-24|title=ADAC sperrt sich nicht mehr gegen Tempolimit auf Autobahnen|url=https://www.zeit.de/mobilitaet/2020-01/adac-tempolimit-geschwindigkeitsbegrenzung-autobahnen-automobilclub|access-date=2021-06-06|newspaper=Die Zeit|last1=Luther|first1=Carsten}}</ref>

===Support===
Various other advocacy groups press for stricter limits and better enforcement. The [[Pedestrians Association]] was formed in the [[United Kingdom]] in 1929 to protect the interests of the pedestrian. Their president published a critique of motoring legislation and the influence of motoring groups in 1947 titled "Murder most foul", which laid out in an emotional but detailed view of the situation as they saw it, calling for tighter speed limits.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://issuu.com/carltonreid/docs/murder-most-foul|title=Murder most foul|author=J.S.Dean|date=2010-04-18}}</ref> Historically, the Pedestrians' Association and the Automobile Association were described as "bitterly opposed" in the early years of United Kingdom motoring legislation.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kjyua9Ood38C&q=Criminal+on+the+Road++By+T.+C.+Willett|title=Criminal on the road|page=102|year=1964|publisher=Tavistock Publications|access-date=2010-04-27|quote=Moreover it has been the result of a continued compromise between two bitterly opposed factions: those who are against the motorist and will do all they can to constrain him, and those who oppose constraints unless they are relatively minor in their effects. Examples of both sides are, respectively, the Pedestrians' Association and the Automobile Association. The survey also shows that motoring law in 1903 and 1930 wa framed by legislators who knew little of the motor vehicle.|isbn=978-0-415-26416-7}}</ref> More recently organisations such as [[RoadPeace]], [[Twenty is Plenty]], and [[Vision Zero]] have campaigned for lower speed limits in residential areas. In the United States, advocacy groups favoring stricter limits and better enforcement include the [[Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety]], [[Insurance Institute for Highway Safety]] and the [[National Safety Council]].

In the US, the DOT FHWA has written in a report that "For a given roadway type, there is a strong statistical relationship between speed and crash risk for speeds in the range of 15 mph to 75 mph (25 km/h to 120 km/h). When the mean speed of traffic is reduced, the number of crashes and the severity of injuries will almost always go down.".<ref>Methods and Practices for Setting Speed Limits: An Informational Report, page 4, April 2012</ref>