[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: >Here in the USA most speed limits in mph end in 5; >speedometers often end in those values (25, 35, 45, etc.) >for that reason.� There are some exceptions of course.
My awareness of the US is that speed limits change more frequently and are measured much more carefully against the 85%ile rule than in Europe. There are many more signs and much more tinkering and people seem to be often in dispute or debate about the limit. The relationship between citizen and police is different in EU and US in respect of speeding. I always remark on how slow Americans drive and how little debate seems to be entertained by the various police forces. On the rare occasions that I get stopped for speeding, I step out of my car and stand face to face with the bobby to talk about it. I am told that debate with police isn't an option in the US (I did try once but got an aggressive reply) and getting out of the car is dangerous (I never dared try). One of my hosts said she was ticketed for being 3 mph over. Thus I can see that the issue of a 'correct' limit seems much more important in the US than it is likely to be in Ireland. If I understand US law correctly, the various city, county and state jurisdictions can all apply their own limits. So it doesn't surprise me that US voters demand and get 5 mph increments. If Irish culture is anything like the rest of Europe, drivers and traffic engineers won't really care about an error of 5 mph either way and 10 mph increments are fine. The speed limit rules are much more general and will almost certainly result in widespread zones or error. The rule in the UK is: if it is urban (i.e. there are street lights), it is 30 mph unless otherwise indicated etc etc. In France and Germany this principle is evident from the fact that the town name sign indicates that you have entered the limited speed zone. Bends are not usually marked (maybe because we have more twisty roads and are used to bends). I have never heard of anyone being prosecuted for being less than 10 mph over. Thus 10 km/h increments will be even more acceptable.
