Speed Limit

Speed limit - A law limiting the maximum speed at which a vehicle can be driven

In 1865, the British government passed the Locomotive Act (also known as the Red Flag Act), which set a speed limit of 4 mph (6 km/h) for steam powered vehicles in the countryside and 2 mph (3 km/h) in towns. One reason for this introduction was concern about damage that the large, heavy locomotives were causing to the roads; it was argued that by reducing their speed. , their impact on the road would be lessened. The other main argument for a speed limit was public safety-hence why the Act also stipulated that all-propelled vehicles must be preceded by a red flag held by a pedestrian as a warning to horse-drawn vehicles and pedestrians. Unsurprisingly, the Act received a great deal of support from those with horse and railroad interests and its implementation did much to hinder the early development of road transport in Great Britain.

The first comparable U.S law was introduced in Connecticut in 1901 with a limit of 12mph (19 km/h). With the arrival of internal combustion engine, the red flag was dispensed with and speed limits were raised first to 14 mph (23 km/h), then to 20 mph (32 km/h). In 1934, after a short unregulated period, a standard limit of 30mph (48 km/h) was introduced into U.K urban areas.

This urban limit is now the norm for most countries. In Europe the Italian autostrada has a maximum limit of 81 mph (130 km/h), the same as the advisory speed limit on the German autobahn. Limits in Japan are low in comparison with the urban limit at 25 mph (40 km/h) rising to 50 mph (80 km/h) on expressway and 62 mph (100 km/h) on some highways. U.S speed limits are set by state authorities and vary from one territory to another.

The introduction of speed limits proved to be the first step in a whole raft of legislation governing road safety. Acceptance of restrictions marked a new realization that consideration for other road users should be a matter of law, not just moral obligation.