What you need to know about speed limits

It’s happened to all of us – you’re cruising, listening to the radio, enjoying your drive time when all of a sudden, you see red and blue lights flashing behind you. You’re getting pulled over, and with one glance at the speedometer, you know exactly why. You’re breaking the speed limit.

Toyota of Clermont explains speed limits and why they exist

Unfortunately, many of us have been there. Speed limits exist for a reason (and are backed by both the law and actual science) and are strictly enforced with the risk of a penalty if you break them. And a ticket is the least of your worries if you’re caught speeding; you could also run the risk of losing your license or even jail time. That’s why it’s so critical to obey the speed limit but even more importantly, know why they exist and how they’re formulated. Toyota of Clermont is here to explain.

A speed limit is essentially a determination of how fast you can both safely and legally go on any particular road. If you go over it, you can get in trouble because you’re putting others at risk. If you go too far under it, you can get in trouble because you’re impeding the flow of traffic and can cause an accident.

When a road is first proposed, it has to be blueprinted, planned, and surveyed. After that, it’s time for the infrastructural engineers to step into the process. They have to consider quite a few different elements to determine the final speed limit for that specific road, including:

• How much pedestrian traffic is on and around the road. Speed limits tend to be lower in areas where there’s a lot of foot traffic, like around schools or in urban or suburban areas.
• How much housing is around the road and how close it is to the road itself. You don’t want people flying by homes, especially if they’re close to the road.
• The state of the road itself. Is it in good physical condition? Is it winding or straight? Does it have any hills or elevation changes?

So while you may think speed limits are arbitrary, they actually are determined through a lot of careful thought, planning, and consideration. That’s why our Clermont Toyota dealership is so adamant about you following them!

Speed limits are designed to keep EVERYONE on and around the road safe. Just like car seats and seatbelts and anti-lock brakes, they’re part of your drive time safety and should be obeyed. Don’t forget – you can get in trouble for going over them as well as under them. Our Clermont Toyota tip? If you stick to a range between five over and five under, you should be good to go. But remember, no matter what speed you’re going, you should always keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road.

Get all of your safe driving tips from Toyota of Clermont

Want more tips on speed limits and safe driving? Toyota of Clermont has all the info you need. Call us today at (352) 404-7000.