There’s a little more to it than that. They also need to consider that, in cars with an analogue speed dial, the actual speed is not displayed precisely. Plus, there may be minor discrepancies between the speed dial and the actual speed, which can be affected by non-standard tyres etc. So a small “buffer” in acceptable speeds is pretty reasonable.
I recall being told by someone at a Mitsubishi factory that car manufacturers actually intentionally set the speed dials to be slightly higher speed than reality to accommodate for people’s need to break the rules just a little…!
I was also told it’s about the calibration of the radar guns. They are calibrated to -7/+0 meaning if you are going 47 mph there is a chance you are picked up as going 40. That said if you are going 41 or 42 there is a good chance the cop picks you up as going less than 40.
Because when the road is built for a safe speed target of 65, then the limit is set at 55 instead, yeah you get people who are breaking the legal limit but not the actual safe speed.
tl;dr: design speeds and speed limits are not necessarily related. “Selection of a posted speed is an operational decision for which the owner and operator of the facility is responsible.”
So dumb that society collectively agreed that 35 means 40, 40 means 45, 45 means 50, etc.
There’s a little more to it than that. They also need to consider that, in cars with an analogue speed dial, the actual speed is not displayed precisely. Plus, there may be minor discrepancies between the speed dial and the actual speed, which can be affected by non-standard tyres etc. So a small “buffer” in acceptable speeds is pretty reasonable.
I recall being told by someone at a Mitsubishi factory that car manufacturers actually intentionally set the speed dials to be slightly higher speed than reality to accommodate for people’s need to break the rules just a little…!
Can confirm the last part.
Almost every car with speed control set to, for examole, 50 kph was metered at 45kph on GPS.
I was also told it’s about the calibration of the radar guns. They are calibrated to -7/+0 meaning if you are going 47 mph there is a chance you are picked up as going 40. That said if you are going 41 or 42 there is a good chance the cop picks you up as going less than 40.
That I understand, but as the person I replied to said that I hope you read, people intentionally go 50 in the 45.
So the grace window you mention is irrelevant; you’d be doing 51 in the 45.
In Germany there are speedtraps everywhere.
No bs cop on-site decides, that today you have chosen a bad day.
It makes us feel like we’re speedy little rebels. 🤣
But then why don’t we all shoplift packs of gum every week?
Speeding is the one law everyone agrees is fun and acceptable to break a bit, despite being more dangerous than many actual crimes.
Because when the road is built for a safe speed target of 65, then the limit is set at 55 instead, yeah you get people who are breaking the legal limit but not the actual safe speed.
Edit: forgot a link: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/design/standards/151007.cfm
tl;dr: design speeds and speed limits are not necessarily related. “Selection of a posted speed is an operational decision for which the owner and operator of the facility is responsible.”
Do you think that every or most roads have the wrong speed limit? I sure don’t.