Ep. 21: Speeding - Speed Limits, Traps and What Is Safe

Why do speed limits feel so random? In Episode 21, Randy breaks down the difference between design speed and posted speed, exposes how speed traps are often about revenue—not safety—and reveals why your safest speed isn’t always the one on the sign.

We also revisit ideas from Episode 4, where we explored the psychology of speeding—why people go fast even when they know they shouldn’t, and how social driving pressure makes it hard to stay slow.

Plus: practical tips for driving safely in bad weather, how to avoid being the “fastest car in the pack,” and when it’s smarter to back off the flow.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I speeding… or just keeping up?”—this one’s for you.

Chapters

• 0:21 Introduction - Speeding and Limits
• 1:23 Speed Limits and Road Designs
• 2:24 Speed Traps
• 3:33 Ultimate Speed Traps to Avoid
• 4:30 Speeding in Adverse Conditions
• 5:39 Closing
• 6:02 Call to Action

Transcript

"You ever been on a road where the speed limit says 65, but everyone’s going 85? And you wonder... am I the crazy one for doing 70?"

🎵 [Bumper Music Fades In & Out]
Voiceover: “This is Mastering the Commute... Episode 21... Speed Limits and Traps: What Are We Really Following?
Here’s your host—Randy Keith.”

👋 Welcome + Show Update
Welcome to Mastering the Commute! I’m Randy Keith—and today, we’re talking about speed: how fast we go, why speed limits are set the way they are, and what’s actually safe versus what’s just legal.
Quick heads-up: new episodes now drop every Thursday, so hit that follow if you haven't already. And if you haven’t checked it out yet—my new site, drivingwithrandy.com, is live, packed with narrated driving videos all over Florida—real traffic, real conditions, and real talk.
Alright—let’s hit the gas on this topic.


🛣️ Segment 1 – Design Speed vs. Posted Speed (Expanded)
Here’s the thing: speed limits aren’t always rooted in physics—they’re often rooted in politics.
Most drivers don’t realize that every road is engineered with a “design speed”—that’s the speed traffic engineers determined was safe when the road was first built, assuming perfect weather, visibility, and vehicle performance.
But then comes the posted speed—the sign you actually see—which is often lower.
Why? Because lawmakers, police departments, and local city councils all get involved. The posted speed limit might be adjusted due to:
• Public complaints about speeding in nearby neighborhoods
• Crash history—even if it wasn’t speed-related
• Noise concerns (especially near residential areas)
• Political optics (officials wanting to appear "tough on speeders")
• Budget decisions related to enforcement or speed camera placement
📊 STAT: A 2017 study from the Institute of Transportation Engineers showed that 70% of roads in the U.S. have posted limits at least 5–10 mph below their original design speed.
🎙️ Optional Personal Insert (your voice):
I remember back in LA, driving the 118 through Simi Valley—wide open, fresh pavement, and yet the limit was still 65. You could see clear for miles, but CHP was posted up under every overpass. It was designed for 80, easy—but driving it like that was just asking to get pulled over.
🧠 Takeaway:
Just because a road feels safe to go fast on doesn’t mean you’re free from a ticket.
But it also doesn’t mean the limit is always fair or current.
🚘 Smart move: Pay attention to traffic flow and road design—know when you’re on a trap-prone road vs. a high-speed corridor.

🚓 Segment 2 – Speed Traps & Why They Exist (Expanded)
Let’s get real: speed traps aren’t about traffic safety 100% of the time.
They’re often about revenue.
In fact, some towns in the U.S. have been called out by watchdog groups and state audits for relying on traffic fines to fund large parts of their budgets.
📊 STAT: A 2021 analysis by Governing Magazine found that over 600 municipalities in the U.S. generate more than 10% of their revenue from traffic tickets. Some rely on them for 50% or more.
One of the most infamous examples: New Rome, Ohio, a village of just 60 people that issued over 4,000 tickets a year before being dissolved by the state for corruption and abuse of traffic enforcement.
🎙️ Optional Story Prompt for You:
Have you ever been caught in a speed trap? Maybe one that surprised you with a sudden speed drop, like from 55 to 35 in under 1000 feet?

⚠️ Tip for listeners:
Speed traps are often found:
• Just past curves or hill crests
• After ramps or transitions from highways to surface roads
• Near toll plazas
• In tiny towns where you wouldn't expect a sudden drop
🧠 Takeaway:
If enforcement was really about safety, we’d see better signage and design—not sudden drops and hidden cops. But hey—it’s your wallet on the line.
🚘 Smart move: Use Waze or Google Maps with “speed trap alerts” turned on. And always watch for speed limit drop signs before you exit a freeway or enter a new town.

⚠️ Segment 3 – The Real “Limit” in Bad Weather (Expanded Lightly)
Let’s clear up a common misunderstanding:
The speed limit is the maximum speed in ideal conditions.
It’s not a recommendation or a target.
If it’s raining, foggy, or the road is slick from oil buildup after a dry spell, the posted limit may be too fast for safety—or even illegal, depending on your state.
📊 STAT: According to the U.S. DOT, nearly 22% of all crashes are weather-related, and wet pavement alone accounts for 70% of those.
That means if you’re doing 65 in a downpour and hydroplane into someone, you could be found at fault—even though you were “doing the limit.”

🧠 Takeaway:
Don’t just follow the number on the sign—read the road and weather too.
🚘 Smart move: In wet or foggy conditions, drop your speed, double your following distance, and turn on your headlights even if it's daytime.

🧠 Segment 4 – How Fast is Too Fast? (Expanded Lightly)
We’ve all heard the “+10” rule:
“It’s okay if I do 10 over—cops don’t care.”
Sure, you might get away with it… but if you’re the fastest one in the pack, you’re the one that stands out. And if there’s an accident, speed is one of the first things investigated.
📊 STAT: The NHTSA reports that speeding is a factor in 29% of all fatal crashes, killing over 12,000 people annually in the U.S.
There’s also the argument that “going slower is more dangerous”—because it disrupts the flow of traffic. And there’s some truth to that—but only if you’re unpredictable.
The real key is predictability + positioning.
🚘 Tips to blend in smartly:
• Stay in the correct lane for your speed (right or middle, not left)
• Avoid sudden lane changes or brake taps
• Leave space ahead so you’re not tailgating a speeder

🧠 Takeaway:
Speed is less about the number and more about context—conditions, flow, visibility, and what other drivers are doing.

📬 Let's Connect
I want to hear from you:
• Do you speed?
• When do you feel it's justified?
• Have a speed trap story or a crazy posted limit in your area?
💬 Drop me a message at freewaytrafficexpert.com
📲 Or DM me @masteringthecommute on YouTube or Facebook

📚 Support the Show
Check out my upcoming book, Mastering the Commute: The Smart Driver’s Guide, and don’t forget to visit drivingwithrandy.com for narrated driving routes across Florida.
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