Why are motor vehicles built to go faster than the legal speed limit?
Posted by: RainbowSpirit
31st Aug 2011 12:53am
paradox
- 3rd Nov 2011 06:09pm
hi RainbowSpirit, love the name. I have lived in the Northern Territory for 46 years and have travelled on business a lot. just consider the 1500km drive from Darwin to Alice Springs. If you are stupid you could drive that distance in 10 hours and people did that all the time. If you are a reasonable driver you can make it in 15 hours like I did with a few rest stops in between. If you are comfortable with spending the night in Tenant Creek and driving on the next day that's fine too. between towns , in a good and well maintained car, a good stretch of road and being an experienced driver doing 160 km an hour requires concentration but is quite doable. I didn't drive at 160 the first time I had to travel a long distance by road. Speed developed with me gaining confidence in myself, the car and the road. and yes I have assisted at accidents and have seen the carnage that can occur. Accidents happen and kill even at slow speeds. As to why cars are built for higher speeds, I can think of one reason. To overtake requires instant extra power that would not be available if an automatic restriction on performance was incorporated. Also Cars are traded internationally and it would be difficult to develop all those different type of engines.
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