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A restatement of the case for speed limits

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  • Elvik, Rune

Abstract

This paper provides a restatement of the case for speed limits. The paper argues that driver speed choice cannot be granted any normative status (i.e. be regarded as optimal from a societal point of view) unless it is "objectively" rational, even if it can be reasonably interpreted as "subjectively" rational. A distinction between "subjective" and "objective" rationality is very rarely made in modern analyses relying on the theory of rational choice, but it makes sense with respect to the choice of speed. Studies that have assessed which impacts of speed drivers consider, whether drivers correctly assess these impacts, and how drivers coordinate their choice of speed with other drivers are reviewed. It is concluded that driver speed choice is not "objectively" rational. It is concluded that the lack of rationality in driver speed choice implies that this choice needs to be regulated by means of speed limits.

Suggested Citation

  • Elvik, Rune, 2010. "A restatement of the case for speed limits," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 17(3), pages 196-204, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:trapol:v:17:y:2010:i:3:p:196-204
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Oliver E. Williamson, 2000. "The New Institutional Economics: Taking Stock, Looking Ahead," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 38(3), pages 595-613, September.
    2. Andersson, Henrik, 2006. "Willingness to Pay for Road Safety and Estimates of the Risk of Death: Evidence from a Swedish Contingent Valuation Study," Working Papers 2006:5, Swedish National Road & Transport Research Institute (VTI).
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Noland, Robert B., 2013. "From theory to practice in road safety policy: Understanding risk versus mobility," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 43(1), pages 71-84.
    2. Sebastian Martinez & Raul Sanchez & Patricia Yañez-Pagans, 2019. "Road safety: challenges and opportunities in Latin America and the Caribbean," Latin American Economic Review, Springer;Centro de Investigaciòn y Docencia Económica (CIDE), vol. 28(1), pages 1-30, December.
    3. Reza S. Shirazinejad & Sunanda Dissanayake, 2020. "Speed Characteristics in Relation to Speed Limit Increase and Its Influence on Driver’s Speed Selection Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-10, February.
    4. Mercedes Castro-Nuno & José I. Castillo-Manzano & Diego J. Pedregal-Tercero, 2013. "The Speed Limits Debate: Is Effective A Temporary Change? The Case Of Spain," ERSA conference papers ersa13p160, European Regional Science Association.
    5. Thiedig, Johannes, 2018. "An economic cost-benefit analysis of a general speed limit on German highways," Discussion Papers 2018/17, Free University Berlin, School of Business & Economics.
    6. Mera, Zamir & Fonseca, Natalia & López, José-María & Casanova, Jesús, 2019. "Analysis of the high instantaneous NOx emissions from Euro 6 diesel passenger cars under real driving conditions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C), pages 1074-1089.
    7. Silvano, Ary P. & Koutsopoulos, Haris N. & Farah, Haneen, 2020. "Free flow speed estimation: A probabilistic, latent approach. Impact of speed limit changes and road characteristics," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 283-298.
    8. Yi He & Yixiong Fan & Lixin Yan & Jianhua Peng & Zhiqiang Li, 2022. "Visualization and Analysis of Global Vision Zero Studies and Policy Orientation in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-15, November.
    9. Tscharaktschiew, Stefan, 2016. "The private (unnoticed) welfare cost of highway speeding behavior from time saving misperceptions," Economics of Transportation, Elsevier, vol. 7, pages 24-37.
    10. Nitzsche, Eric & Tscharaktschiew, Stefan, 2013. "Efficiency of speed limits in cities: A spatial computable general equilibrium assessment," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 23-48.
    11. Siren, Anu & Sørensen, Claus Hedegaard, 2015. "Immense changes in traffic – Considerable stability in discourses. Road speed in Danish parliamentary documents 1900–2010," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 1-7.
    12. Tscharaktschiew, Stefan, 2020. "Why are highway speed limits really justified? An equilibrium speed choice analysis," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 317-351.

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