By Tom McCarey
The Pennsylvania Legislature is desperate for new sources of revenue. They know that everyone has to drive. They know that speed limits are under-posted by 8 to 16 MPH 90% of the time. They know that the posted limits de facto make 85% of drivers into speeders, likely to get a “speeding” citation. An unfair tax by any other name.
To greatly simplify the chore of catching all the “speeders” they want to arm municipal police with RADAR guns: Speed Trap Bill SB 607. This will open the floodgates for all of your money to flow into Harrisburg and local municipalities, and into special interest coffers.
There is no speeding crisis, no hoard of drivers running amok. People drive a speed they feel safe: this is a highway engineering principle called the 85th Percentile Speed. 85% of the time, drivers operate their vehicle in a reasonable and prudent manner (legal speak for “safe”).
Three urban myths about speed limits:
1. Low-speed limits will increase safety and decrease the number of crashes.
2. Raising the posted speed limit increases traffic speed.
3. Drivers will always travel at 5 mph over the posted speed limit.
RADAR for municipal police is a money grab and has nothing to do with safety.
Tell your Representative and Senator that you are tired of being their cash cow being milked at every turn for doing nothing harmful, nothing unsafe.
Tell them to vote NO on Speed Trap Bill SB 607.
