The United States is often viewed as a country highly reliant on automobiles, driven by the prevalence of suburban living, lower population density, and a culture valuing individual independence. Unlike densely populated areas in Europe or East Asia, where public transportation is more accessible, American society has made the car its primary means of mobility. This reliance on personal vehicles has shaped how Americans interact with their roads and highways, creating an image of a nation that is highly skilled in the art of driving. However, this perception may not be entirely accurate, especially when considering the safety and responsibility of American drivers.
High Mortality Rates on U.S. Highways
Despite the widespread use of cars in America, the country has consistently experienced a higher motorway mortality rate compared to other developed nations. One major factor contributing to this is the perceived irresponsibility of the average American driver, particularly with regard to speeding. In 2020, writer Eben Weiss highlighted this issue, referencing data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which revealed that speeding played a significant role in traffic fatalities. Speeding-related accidents are a common occurrence on U.S. highways, suggesting that many drivers may not be fully aware of the risks or consequences associated with driving over the speed limit.
The role of speed limits in reducing highway fatalities is another area of debate. Speed limits are set as the maximum allowable speed on a particular stretch of road, yet many drivers exceed these limits by small margins without facing immediate consequences. In some cases, highway patrols do not enforce the law strictly when drivers exceed the limit by a mere 5 miles per hour, as this does not significantly disrupt traffic flow. This raises the question: should we be focusing on penalizing drivers who exceed the limit by 5 miles per hour, or should we target those who engage in more reckless speeding, going 20 or 30 miles per hour over the speed limit?
The Case for Abolishing Speed Limits
One suggestion to improve highway safety is the abolition of speed limits altogether. Without arbitrary limits, it would be easier to identify drivers who are acting recklessly, whether they are driving too fast or too slow. Instead of focusing on whether someone is a few miles per hour over the limit, law enforcement could focus on identifying more extreme cases of dangerous driving. This approach could potentially reduce the number of drivers who are not driving responsibly, and it might also lead to more effective enforcement of laws against extreme speeding, which poses a higher risk to other road users.
A potential model for the United States to consider is Germany’s Autobahn system, which features stretches of road without any enforced speed limit. Despite this, Germany has a much lower fatality rate on its highways compared to the United States. The key to their success lies not in speed limits, but in strict enforcement of laws regarding alcohol consumption, drivers’ education, and vehicle safety standards. If the United States could adopt similar measures, it might be possible to create a safer driving environment, where personal responsibility and the ability to drive safely become the primary factors determining road safety, rather than arbitrary speed limits.
