> Sometimes shit happens.

But you’re also not supposed to drive as close to the speed limit as possible. That number is not a target to hit, it’s a wall you should stay within a good margin of.

I understand analogies are seldom flawless, but the speed limit one in particular I feel does not apply because you can get a fine proportional to your infraction (go over the limit a little bit, small fine; go over it a lot, big fine) but you can’t partially retract an award, it’s all or nothing.

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whatevaa 18 hours ago | parent [-]

No, everybody treats speed limit as expected speed as long as conditions allows it.

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latexr 18 hours ago | parent [-]

Whether “everyone does it” has no bearing on it being what should be done. Most people also speed up on yellow lights, but you should be doing the exact opposite.

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vulcan01 17 hours ago | parent [-]

This depends on the country. In certain countries, speed limits are set by civil engineers as a true upper limit that one is not supposed to exceed. In others, speed limits are set slightly above the average speed one is expected to drive at.

In the former sort of country, drivers are expected to use their judgement and often drive slower than the limit. In the latter sort of country, driving at the speed limit is rather... limiting, thus it is common to see drivers slightly exceeding the speed limit.

(I have a theory in my head that – in general – the former sort of country has far stricter licensing laws than the latter. I am not sure if this is true.)

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ghaff 16 hours ago | parent [-]

The problem I have with the whole "licensing standards" thing is that, for everyday activities for most of the population, it's not realistic to regulate to the point that there are really substantial barriers to entry to the degree there are for flying in general. And experience probably counts for more than making people shell out a couple thousand more for courses.

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vulcan01 15 hours ago | parent [-]

The usual argument in favor of stricter licensing is coupled with improvement in public transit.

	▲	ghaff 15 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Which is really going to help me living 50 miles outside a major city. (Which is considered urban according to the US Census.)