
Originally Posted by
jut703
Design speed is based on the capabilities of cars during the period that the road was built. Heck, RA 4136 states that the maximum speed for a major road such as EDSA is 50 kph, but that's because the law is outdated.
Given the road conditions of NLEX, 100-110 kph is a reasonable limit for most people given the capabilities of cars today and the volume of vehicles that normally traverse the highway. SCTEX and TPLEX should allow for 120-130 kph.
People antagonize going past the 100 kph speed limit as if it was such a bad thing, but really, it's your driving demeanor that causes accidents. You can stay under 100 kph but be an asshole swerver that catches others off guard and start multi-car pileups. Trucks going at 50 when everyone else is doing 100 also causes traffic congestion that leads to swerving, cutting, and even collisions in the case of people who have reflexes slower than what their speed requires (even if they're only going at 80).
Knowing what to do in cases such as tire blowouts are also more important than sheer speed. My batchmate died even if their van was only going at 70 because her dad who was driving slammed on the brakes when they had a tire blowout. The van's door opened and flung my batchmate around a tree. A good driver who was going at 120 but who knows how to react in emergency situations (and knows how to lock doors and make his passengers wear seatbelts) would've avoided that.
And just because you're past the speed limit doesn't mean you don't take into account the reflexes and possible actions of the cars around you in case of lost control. Some do drive at high speeds with reckless abandon, but not everyone.
Again, not saying that speeding is completely fine - there's still the law and you still deserve to get fined when you get tagged. But more than just fear of the law, people should respect their own driving capabilities first and only drive at a speed that they can be completely in control of the car even in emergency situations.