What if there were graduated speed limits based on the class of vehicle? They already have this for passenger vehicles and commercial trucks on some roads.
It is silly to think that 70mph is a suitable limit for all vehicles. At that speed a high performance vehicle or even a normal passenger car has a much larger margin of safety than an SUV or truck. Underlying the speed limit is the assumption that it creates a suitable margin of safety. For example, if we determine that to be X then an Enzo can easily travel at a speed over 100mph while maintaining a margin of safety equal to X. On the other hand an SUV can only travel at 70mph or less in order to maintain that margin.
Additionally, sports cars are more aerodynamic than SUVs. They can cruise at a higher speed without decreasing fuel efficiency as much.
Furthermore, SUVs are heavier and cause more damage in a crash. Limiting their speed will compensate for that and make them equally as dangerous as other vehicles from a kinetic energy standpoint.
To make it simple only 2 classes could be created: trucks/SUVs and cars.
That policy would encourage more people to drive cars, as they could drive faster legally. It would get more SUVs and trucks off the road, which is better for everyone. The SUV size battle has created a prisoner's dilemma. Each trying to outdo the other, while endangering everyone.
It is silly to think that 70mph is a suitable limit for all vehicles. At that speed a high performance vehicle or even a normal passenger car has a much larger margin of safety than an SUV or truck. Underlying the speed limit is the assumption that it creates a suitable margin of safety. For example, if we determine that to be X then an Enzo can easily travel at a speed over 100mph while maintaining a margin of safety equal to X. On the other hand an SUV can only travel at 70mph or less in order to maintain that margin.
Additionally, sports cars are more aerodynamic than SUVs. They can cruise at a higher speed without decreasing fuel efficiency as much.
Furthermore, SUVs are heavier and cause more damage in a crash. Limiting their speed will compensate for that and make them equally as dangerous as other vehicles from a kinetic energy standpoint.
To make it simple only 2 classes could be created: trucks/SUVs and cars.
That policy would encourage more people to drive cars, as they could drive faster legally. It would get more SUVs and trucks off the road, which is better for everyone. The SUV size battle has created a prisoner's dilemma. Each trying to outdo the other, while endangering everyone.