It's far more likely that most people feel they are better drivers with quicker reaction times than they actually have.ĮDIT: Quick elaboration. You can think what you want, but I can assure you that speed limits inside cities are not some sort of conspiracy.

The 55 MPH speed limit was also not a matter of safety, but of energy savings. There are many types of traffic that do not conform to our 'car society' but are still legal users of roads. Views are often blocked by building, landscaping etc.ģ. Non-ideal conditions with many traffic lights require slower speed limits.Ģ.

They are designed because that is the safest speed to drive.

In the city, speed limits are not designed for revenue or assuming most people will exceed them. So, I'm not a traffic engineer, but I do work with several on different projects.