Editor:
In a recent article in Coast Reporter (“Speed and motor vehicle crashes,” Oct. 21), Dr. Paul Martiquet supports reduction of posted speed limits within municipalities to 30 km/hr. Since the majority of paved roads on the Sunshine Coast are within municipalities, this would mean a virtual Coast-wide 30 km/hr speed limit.
Driving a car is a surprisingly safe practice, considering the damage a vehicle is capable of. Since 1920, the death rate per mile has fallen 17-fold to 15 per billion miles driven. That’s “billion” with a B: the equivalent of driving across Canada over 3,000 times. This remarkable increase in safety was not accomplished because we now drive slower than a 1920s Model T.
The remarkable safety of driving is largely due to engineering of roads and vehicles. But the biggest safety factor is that most people are reasonable human beings who behave in a reasonable manner. In countries where there is no posted speed limit (such as the Isle of Man), drivers operate their vehicle reasonably, much the same as we do. Despite the fact that country is road-race obsessed: it is the last place on the planet where public roads are closed for cross-country professional road races.
Unreasonably low posted speed limits increase accident rates due to high variance in vehicle speeds. Optimum posted speed limits are determined by relying on the inherent reasonableness of drivers. The lowest accident rates occur with a speed which 85 per cent of drivers don’t exceed. In effect, drivers “vote” for what they judge to be appropriate. Since drivers are highly motivated to avoid injury and vehicle damage, most people choose a reasonable speed. Consider it a crowd-sourced speed limit.
I think we should recognize our inherent reasonableness and avoid ineffective reductions in posted speed limits. The bureaucratic need to be “doing something about it” should not be ruling us.
Bruce Woodburn, Sechelt
