30 percent of traffic deaths are related to speeding. By contrast, 39 percent are related to alcohol. But with alcohol, we go to every possible length to keep tipsy drivers from their cars, up to and including embedding a breathalyzer in the steering column. When it comes to speeding however, we're doing the equivalent of outfitting cars with a bottle of Jack in the cupholder. It's not legal anywhere in America to drive over 100 miles an hour. Hell, it's not legal to go over 80. But most all cars can do that, and much more. Kent Sepkowitz has an easy fix: Build cars that cannot. Top them out at 75. Prevent 13,000 or so deaths. And it makes sense: We all agree -- well, most of us -- that there should be speeding limits, so why shouldn't cars conform to them? In some ways, it would make it easier: You would no longer zone out on a long drive and find you'd pressed up to 85 and the cops were now behind you.On the other hand, what Sepkowitz calls an "adolescent thrill" is also a pretty powerful joy. Ripping up the coast at 85 is a pleasure. And It's not like I've seen a tremendous number of folks pushing 140. But it would seem, like with alcohol, that there's a middle ground here, where repeated violators -- or simply unsafe drivers -- have their car's engine lock engaged, and find themselves unable to break 75. They might not like it, but if you're a reckless driver, your car is a weapon, and your right to speed is not nearly so inalienable as to keep society from disarming it. Relatedly, I liked McMegan's suggestion from a few weeks back to attach a little sticker to the driver's licenses of drunk drivers that makes it illegal for the bartender to serve them. Hit 'em where it hurts.Image used under a Creative Commons license from JPC Talbot. CRACKING DOWN ON SPEEDING.
30 percent of traffic deaths are related to speeding. By contrast, 39 percent are related to alcohol. But with alcohol, we go to every possible length to keep tipsy drivers from their cars, up to and including embedding a breathalyzer in the steering column. When it comes to speeding however, we're doing the equivalent of outfitting cars with a bottle of Jack in the cupholder. It's not legal anywhere in America to drive over 100 miles an hour. Hell, it's not legal to go over 80. But most all cars can do that, and much more. Kent Sepkowitz has an easy fix: Build cars that cannot. Top them out at 75. Prevent 13,000 or so deaths. And it makes sense: We all agree -- well, most of us -- that there should be speeding limits, so why shouldn't cars conform to them? In some ways, it would make it easier: You would no longer zone out on a long drive and find you'd pressed up to 85 and the cops were now behind you.On the other hand, what Sepkowitz calls an "adolescent thrill" is also a pretty powerful joy. Ripping up the coast at 85 is a pleasure. And It's not like I've seen a tremendous number of folks pushing 140. But it would seem, like with alcohol, that there's a middle ground here, where repeated violators -- or simply unsafe drivers -- have their car's engine lock engaged, and find themselves unable to break 75. They might not like it, but if you're a reckless driver, your car is a weapon, and your right to speed is not nearly so inalienable as to keep society from disarming it. Relatedly, I liked McMegan's suggestion from a few weeks back to attach a little sticker to the driver's licenses of drunk drivers that makes it illegal for the bartender to serve them. Hit 'em where it hurts.Image used under a Creative Commons license from JPC Talbot. 
