This report will deal with the very common issue of speeding. By using various search engines to plow through the Internet, several sites concerning the topic of speeding were uncovered. Here these sites, their authors, their motives, and their arguments concerning speeding will be analyzed and put under careful scrutiny. Traffic Psychology's role concerning these arguments will also be discussed.

The first site I happened upon didn't deal directly with the subject of speeding. The commentary titled "Do Speed Limits Matter?" concerns itself with discussing the National Speed Limit. The author(s) of this commentary are affiliated with the National Motorist Association (NMA). Although this site is presented in a very well organized manner and seems to discuss the topic of the speed limit, it raises some very important points. This commentary is written in a clear and understandable way. The author objectively critques both the pros and the cons of the speed limit here in the United States. The author's view concerning the speed limit is that, "the national 55 mph speed limit proved the folly of trying to use speed limits to slow traffic."

After stating this, the authors go on to clarify one very important point. "Speed limits do not regulate traffic speeds never did and never will. Properly applied, speed limits should reflect the speed of the large (and safe) majority of vehicles using the highway." By stating this, the authors come out at the start as being very logical and rational when discussing something that is potentially life threatening. They continue their argument by citing nmumerous examples of how other countries have virtually no speed limit yet maintain a very low traffic accident rate. The authors even link to a Federal Study done observing the effects of raising and lowering the speed limit. These authors clearly see the speed limit as being a tool to guide traffic in the most expedient yet safest manner possible.

The motive of these authors seem to stem from the sheer fact that they belong to the National Motorist Association (NMA), whose sole purpose is the elimination of the 55 mph National Speed Limit. The NMA's objectives are clearly outlined in their home page. These objectives are:

• To guarantee the retention of your individual rights when using public streets, roads, and highways.
• To support traffic laws based on sound engineering criteria and public consensus.
• To protect your right to own and use the kinds of vehicles you prefer.
• To support improved driver training and education.
• To oppose speed traps and other traffic enforcement measures carried out for revenue-generation purposes.

Although this may sound very extreme, the goals of this organization seems to be beneficial to society and its drivers. Everyone sees the 55 mph speed limit as law. We see this as such because we all know that to break this speed barrier means severe punishment ranging from simple monetary fines to the revocation of ones license and perhaps even some jail time. We have all been under this speed limit cloud for as long as most can remember. And because of this, we see no other viable alternative to this limit. The NMA seek to change all this. They forsee better driver training coupled with a more complete sense of road awareness by all drivers and the government. They don't seek to turn our highways into the Autobahn, but rather would like to curb the limited thinking that this 55 mph speed limit has imposed on the minds of society's drivers.

I basically agree with what the NMA stands for. I also see their cause as being noble and sincere. But I fear that they have a very long, if not impossible journey in front of them. When I first saw that they wanted to repeal the National Speed Limit of 55 mph, I was shocked. I had always thought that by having a lower speed limit, there would be less traffic accidents, and therefore less deaths. I now see the error of my thinking and realize the limitedness of the speed limit. As for the role of Traffic Psychology concerning the NMA and its goals, I feel that if both fields were to work jointly, much more could be accomplished. Both the NMA and Traffic Psychology share the ultimate goal: To make a person a better driver, therefore making the person better!

The next web site concerning speeding that really caught my attention was the "Top 10 Speeding Excuses" page. Although one may think this page was created from the minds of David Letterman and staff, it was, in fact, created by K40 Electronics. This company is dedicated to providing the customer with state of the art radar and laser detectors, and CB radios and accessories. When I first clicked on to the Top 10 Speeding Excuses, I was very amused by it. But after going to its parent home page, I saw that it was created by a company who in its most basic sense promotes speeding. Although this is a matter of personal opinion, companies that sell products such as radar and laser detectors, and CB radios seem to promote speeding. Although the Excuse page took on a very humorous tone, the rest of the site (ie: K40 Electronics) seemed to take on a very business like tone. It seemed to say, "Yeah, we sell radar detectors so cops can't catch us speeding." The motive for this company to poke fun at cops and speeding seems to be very clear.

"The System That Actually Disarms Police Laser Guns!"

The line above comes directly from K40 Laser Detection Page. The purpose of this product is to disable the laser detectors that police use to track speeders. It seems to do this by interfering with the laser signal that cops aim at the license plates of potential speeders. This company goes on to say that their products are so small or hidden that cops will never be able to see them or tell what it is. This implies that their products are not totally legal. If this example doesn't show their motivation, the company's guarantee will.

"1. Double immunity from Laser speeding tickets. We'll pay double the cost of your fine for any laser speeding tickets you get for one year after purchase."

The above guarantee comes from the Defuser Guarantee page. K40 is so sure of its products, that they will stake their reputation on it. This seems to be more a mocking gesture towards the police rather than a confidence in their own products.

K40 is dedicated to make sure that you can speed and never get a ticket. This type of reinforcement of such a maladaptive behavior is very wrong. Not only is this psychologically maladaptive, but immoral, unfair, spiritually wrong, and illegal. K40 does have a right to sell its products and conduct its business, but when it for the purpose of breaking the law, then it should be outlawed. What I can't fathom is why this is allowed to continue. Many traffic accidents occur each year due to excessive speeds (without the influence of alcohol). If one analyzes the clientele of this business, and those like it, they will probably see a trend as to the types of people (drivers) who purchase these types of products. Traffic Psychology would have a field day with drivers who pay money to be able to "get away" with speeding.