If we're a democratic society, and people don't want speed limits, why do we have speed limits?

Well look at statistical facts. The Autobahn has less accidents and fatal accident per capita the the USA does with there speed limits. Plus this is not a democracy never was never has been and was not designed to be.

For proof read "The Irony Of Democracy" by: Thomas Dye and Harmon Zeigler. This country was started by rich white property owners and ever since has been run by the rich. You vote always counts for zippo. I politician will tell you whatever he or she needs to to get elected to get into the elite club. Only the upper 4% of rich people run or have a say in how this country is being run. Example oil companies, pharicutical companies.

Logic is predicated upon a Major Premise, a Minor Premise, and a Conclusion. One of your premises supposes that people do not want speed limits, which is erroneous and leads to an erroneous conclusion.

There are two reasons why cops target an area for speed enforcement. One is due to many complaints by the citizenry. The other is due to an unusually high number of accidents that involve speed.

Of course, when I'M doing 110, that's just a 'little' over the speed limit, while those maniac speeders are doing at least 115. Seriously, though, while 1 mph over the limit IS a violation, few cops bother with it, waiting for those doing 5 or more over. Around here, they actually wait until someone is 10 over the limit and STILL nail a lot of violators. Most people I've talked to, though, admit that they were speeding and just pay their fines.

Because we're a democratic society, not an anarchic one. There's always a balance between individual rights and public welfare. Speed limits save lives, which has greater value to society than someone's desire to cut five minutes off his driving time.

Because people *do* want speed limits. Try it. Put it to a vote -- they would vote in favor of them.

The reality is that, while we hate having to drive slowly and often disobey the limits, most of us think that their presence keeps us safer. And there's data to back it up -- states with higher speed limits have a higher rate of fatal accidents. Most people stay within 10 mph of the limit, so they do have an effect.

Because for everyone who wants speed limits repealed, there are more who recognize that lower limits save lives and gasoline.

We had a classic example of this when someone stood up in a village meeting and demanded that a certain road have its limit raised because he's gotten 3 speeding tickets there. He was shouted down by lots of people who walk along there (on legal walking paths) and are tired of speeders zooming by them.

BTW, his feelings have changed, now that he has a granddaughter and he takes her for walks along the path.

Who told you people don't want speed limits? Most people definitely do. By the way, did we get a speeding ticket recently??

Because we are a nation of laws. Laws to protect us from others as well as ourselves. Besides, as much as people don't like them, you would be very hard pressed to find 51% of the people willing to abolish speed laws.

Democratic? What country do you live in? We vote on 1 in about 50,000 laws passed...how is that democratic?