The Need For Speed

A letter to the editor bemoans how fast people now drive. A columnist criticises the police for raising the de facto speed limit by only stopping drivers more than 15 kph above the official maximum.

It’s true: the speed at which many Islanders drive is shocking. It’s far too slow.

35 kph. 22 mph. That’s the official speed limit everywhere in Bermuda. It’s so sluggish – even for Bermuda’s narrow, windy roads - it’s no wonder that most drivers routinely exceed it and that the police only stop those doing over 50 kph.

That’s precisely why the limit should be raised. 50 kph seems like a sensible speed if a single limit is to be enforced Island-wide. But wouldn’t it make more sense to vary it according to the road as well? 40 kph on Harbour Road, say, or 60 kph on Kindley Field Road.

There are those who will say that this would just encourage everyone to drive faster. I see no reason why, particularly if the police were to enforce the limit itself rather than 15 kph above it.

Others will ask why waste time and effort codifying what’s already a de facto limit. The answer: because a legal limit of 35 kph legitimises those who do drive at that speed, even though they’re probably more likely to cause to an accident than those doing 50 kph. The drivers in the long line of traffic that builds up behind these laggards get frustrated and so their driving becomes more dangerous. At best, they start to tailgate. At worst, a car two or three places back in the queue will jam his foot to the floor and attempt to overtake every vehicle in front of him. I recently witnessed one cretin performing this manoeuvre as he approached the brow of a hill; an oncoming vehicle had to slam on its brakes to avoid a collision.

As I’ve said before, I believe laws are there to be obeyed. But obeying Bermuda’s current speed limit is likely to make an accident more likely, not less. That’s why it’s time for it to be raised.

Comments

[John on 10.09.04 at 18:33]

I agree with your sentiment but doubt it would work. The people driving at 35 kph now are not trying to obey the limit. They just drive like that because they are maybe nervous, old or a combination of both. Are you saying that driving below a new 50 kph limit should not be allowed?
And the police probably don't have the manpower to enforce a higher limit. It seems to me their occasional blitzes on speeders is done just to keep the number of tickets written to an acceptable amount. Lets face it, they could park in Flatts Village and practically nick everyone who drives past on a bike or in a car. I think it's another good idea that won't work in Bermuda.

[Xando on 10.09.04 at 18:52]

I once heard a piece of Bermuda lore, which said that polls showed that Government's popularity took a hit whenever the Police started to clamp down on speeding and road safety. Hence the perpetual squeeze on Police traffic resources.

Also, when visitors primarily rode mopeds, the tourism sector needed to portray Bermuda's roads as slow and safe.

The issue that many countries have in raising speed limits is that drivers' "speeding tolerance" merely shifts upwards with the new speed limit.

[alex on 12.09.04 at 22:38]

As a frequent tourist, I support your raising of the speed limit. There is nothing more unnerving than being tailgated by a taxi, car, or tour bus on a bike. Although I certainly drive much slower on your roads than on mine (owing to a relative unfamiliarity with motorbikes, driving on the right side of the road, and the size and curvaceousness of the roads), the speed limit seems too slow. It's obvious that Bermudians don't obey it (just like in the States!), and as a tourist, you know, when in Rome...