By far the most violated offense in the traffic code is speeding. The Ohio Revised Code only gives more print to the offense of OVI when it comes to actual explanation of the violation.

ORC Section 4511.21 covers rear end accidents, going too fast in various zones such as school, business districts, residential, through streets, rural streets and interstates. Alleys, bridges and construction zones also have their limits. So one of the most common excuses given to me over the years was, “Oh, I didn’t know that was the speed limit.” Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t.

What people don’t realize, at least with me personally, I gave more warnings than citations in my years. Obviously a person with multiple warnings did not get the break as they did not heed the previous warnings, it was time to hit them where it hurt.

I’m not talking in the fine, but in the insurance. A repeat offender eventually pays in having their points add up and the insurance rates increasing which in the long run cost more than the original fine.

The complaint that police only write tickets for the revenue is hogwash. I was never told to go out and write speeding tickets. My impetus was from seeing the damage done to the soft flesh and bone called humans when a speeding projectile strikes another projectile with a combination impact of 70 mph or more. Two vehicles colliding at 35 mph even at a side impact causes the brain to bounce off the skull a couple of times, blunt force impact breaks multiple bones and sharp steel and plastic cuts through skin like it was warm butter.

Fatalities and lifetime maiming would cause anyone to do what they could to limit damage done to innocents by those who do not believe they should follow the rules. “Questioning Authority” does not begin with the gas pedal.

So let’s begin with chapter A of the ORC Section 4511.21.

4511.21 Speed limits - assured clear distance.

(A) No person shall operate a motor vehicle, trackless trolley, or streetcar at a speed greater or less than is reasonable or proper, having due regard to the traffic, surface, and width of the street or highway and any other conditions, and no person shall drive any motor vehicle, trackless trolley, or streetcar in and upon any street or highway at a greater speed than will permit the person to bring it to a stop within the assured clear distance ahead.

Notice the first chapter does not even mention a speed limit. What it does say is that the vehicle must be operated at a speed that is reasonable and/or proper. One must take into consideration the traffic volume and the speed traffic is able to maintain reasonably.

All factors must be taken into consideration such as the road surface, width and any other conditions. A road covered in fresh rain water or a light sheet of ice cannot be traveled at the same speed as the maximum speed limit allows. Maximum speed limit means just that, the maximum limit the road can be safely used under ideal conditions.

Pick an intersection, Main St. at IR 75 in Troy or Tipp City is much more dangerous at 5or 6 p.m. on a Friday than the same intersection at 3 a.m. on a Wednesday morning. The reasonable driver will recognize this and accept that 35 or 40 mph is just too fast when traffic is backing up, trying to beat the red light and quickly changing lanes in an attempt to jockey for a better position.

When we investigate a rear end accident, we don’t even have to prove the speed of the driver who struck the other from the rear. Section A states very clearly a driver must not drive a vehicle “…At a greater speed than will permit the person to bring it to a stop within the assured clear distance ahead.” The accident results in a speeding ticket to the violator.

So what does the first chapter in the speed limit section say? Use common sense, operate at reasonable and proper speeds for the conditions when aiming your projectile in the path of other humans.

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