Apparently going beyond the posted maximum speed limit is unsafe.  To protect members of society against this terrible danger we attempt to curb it’s occurance by leving a fine against those that transgress.

Is speeding really a danger to all?

Driving an automobile at a speed unsafe relative to the road conditions can lead to an accident.  This could lead to damage, personal injury or death.  If everyone drove at no greater than the posted maxiumum would there be fewer cases of damage injury or death? (Apparently the maximum is  a safe speed although given varible conditions I am not sure this is true.)

Tax Grab

While  it is probably true that controling the speed drivers choose as safe and appropriate has some value toward ensuring the safety of the innocent, I tend to view the fines associated with speeding as somewhat of a tax grab.  That is a way for municipalities to supplement their revenues.  Consider the traffic camera, its weeks before you even find out you were speeding and are being fined for it.  This does not alter your driving behaviour the way being stopped and presented a ticket right at the time of the offence would. It is also interesting that the speed traps are almost always in places where people are likely to speed, construction zones and the like, not in places where excessive speed is most likely to cause an accident.  This is likely because the revenue from fines is higher and easier to gather in the trickey places.

What happens when ther are no limits?

In Germany there are no speed limits on the autobahn (major highways) and although there can be many factors, like skill of drivers, there is not a significant difference in the accident rate.

Full Disclosure

I recieved a speeding ticket today in a construction zone where other than the officer of the law there was not another person in sight.