Ask Arvada

Speed limits are established on the basis of traffic engineering surveys.  These surveys include an analysis of roadway conditions, accident records, and a count of the prevailing speed of traffic.  A safe and reasonable limit is set at or below the speed at which 85% of the drivers drive.

Traffic flowing at a uniform speed results in increased safety and fewer accidents.  Drivers are less impatient, pass less often, and tailgate less, which reduces both head-on and rear-end collisions.

Posting the appropriate speed limit eases the job of law enforcement, so that most of the traffic is choosing to abide by the speed limit posted.  Patrol officers are then not subjected to defend unrealistic and arbitrary speed limits.