How is it even possible/practical to obey traffic laws?

Ocelot@lemmies.world to Asklemmy@lemmy.ml – 88 points –

I'm talking specifically about obeying the speed limit, doing a full stop at stop signs, etc. After receiving a speeding ticket for doing 53 in a 50, As an experiment I went a full day obeying all traffic laws 100% and it caused so much road rage. For example, there is a 2 lane road near me with a speed limit of 50 (where I got the ticket), traffic usually moves at about 60/65. There was a huge line of cars behind me and nowhere to pull over. As soon as an opening came up on the shoulder I was about to pull over and one of the cars behind me blew past me on the on the right blaring their horn. Then another truck passed me at the next opportunity and brake checked me. Both of these cars proceeded to run a red light about 1/4 mile ahead of me endangering others. By far the worst part of driving on this 2 lane road was the 25 mph work zone which is completely ignored by everyone else. It effectively resulted in me doing 25 mph in a "60" which is very dangerous.

Having needed to spend the entire day pulling over at every opportunity to let people pass I inevitably picked up a drill bit and got a flat tire.

Even matters as simple as stopping completely at a stop sign for 1 second cause immediate anger and dangerous behavior from other drivers.

What on earth are we expected to do? All I want is to avoid speeding tickets and drive safely.

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You're not supposed to obey traffic laws. They're designed to fund local governments and give police arbitrary power.

Many laws are. But basic things like speed limit serve a very good purpose: reducing fatalities caused by cars. Speed limits are proven to do this.

Yes but the speed limits posted are outdated, arbitrary, and just too slow

I wholly disagree with this. Cars have gotten faster, more capable, and more reliable over the years but physics and forces involved when you hit something (like a pedestrian) haven't changed. If anything we should be going slower since cars have gotten heavier.

Not at all. What makes you think they are arbitrary? Have you reviewed the method by which they are usually determined? Speed limits are often times too high, and contribute to a high number of preventable deaths. Speed limits must be lowered, not raised. Preventing deaths is more important than saving 2 minutes on your trip.