The quality of attention

[Martin Cassini]

On a road with bus lanes, traffic lights, speed limits and cameras, the apparatus of control looms large. It demands disproportionate attention, which should be focused on the road. Isn't the task of negotiating traffic tricky enough without the added burden of fearing reprisal if you put a wheel wrong? On a road without controls, by contrast, you are free to concentrate on the job in hand: watching the road and other road-users, and getting from A-B safely and expeditiously.

[Martin Cassini]

Ian, I think you mean cars that are exceeding the speed limit make more noise. My interpretation of what Phil wrote (or maybe it's just my view), is that you adjust your speed up or down according to the conditions and context. I'd much rather trust my own judgement than a limit fixed by an absent regulator. - I contest your point about higher speeds involving higher pollution. Revs have a bigger effect on emissions than speed.

[Ian Perry]

How do you define “massively”? Is “massively exceeding the speed limit,” driving faster than I am? In the event that a vehicle collides with a person, just a single mph might mean the difference between life and death. Cars that are obeying the speed limit can contribute to an excessive noise level, even if as an individual vehicle, their noise is minimal, and just a small increase in speed increases pollution levels. Speed is not just about accidents/safety, but also making other road users feel safe (cyclists and pedestrians) and restricting noise and air pollution and road and tyre wear.
A researcher, reading the post above, would consider speed humps to be a successful deterrent to the problem of speed: “If I am driving through humps I will universally stick to the limit, hoping that they represent a justifiable hazard”. I would say that most drivers are aware of the damage that speed humps can do to their vehicles, but are oblivious to the impact they have on those around them – particularly those not in cars.
There are times when to drive on the speed limit is itself dangerous and inflicts too many negative externalities on other people and wildlife.

[phunksta]

Just to clarify; the minority I wrote about was the very small number of drivers who massively exceed the limit, cause noise and nuisance, and habitually drive dangerously.
Most people would point at the boy racer here - I am fairly sure the demographic is far more complex than that!
I do not count the large number who exceed the posted limit as a problem as there is very little - if any - evidence to say that this is the case.
For What it's worth: Do I count myself in that category?
Certainly I exceed the posted limit in some circumstances - mainly where that limit is so ridiculous it is universally ignored, and to try to adopt it would probably cause an accident. Other than than I will try my best to stick to limits and prefer activism to try and change matters so that such limits are changed or become unneccessary. Speeding just because you 'think it's right' to me is never going to acheive anything.
If I am driving through humps I will universally stick to the limit, hoping that they represent a justifiable hazard. I would equally stick to the limit if the hazard was visible or warned (and yes I agree funky road surfaces etc are useful here - it's a shame they are so badly and inconsistently applied in the UK).
For the remainder I would hope I'm a good enough driver to have picked a suitable speed for the road and conditions. I can only hope becasue who can say what tomorrow brings?

[Ian Perry]

Unfortunately, the problem of excessive speed is due to the majority of car drivers, not a very small minority. I include myself in the majority.
In the UK:
Around 17% of drivers say they enjoy driving fast and that it will always be difficult to keep down to the speed limit.
A mere thirteen per cent say they are fully compliant with speed limits
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/research/rsrr/theme2/summaryfindings93.pdf

In Australia:
85 percent say they usually speed and 72 percent exceed the speed limit to overtake another car
http://www.newsdigitalmedia.com.au/media-centre/australian-drivers-admit-to-breaking-the-law

If a road hump takes a driver closer to pedestrians, the driver should slow down and demonstrate responsibility. The problem with road humps is the wear and tear on vehicles, speeds between humps and the additional noise affecting local residents.

[Martin Cassini]

Personally I see road humps as a useful traffic calming measure as long as they are not overdone in height and frequency. Also I am aware of the negatives (ambulances, low-clearance cars, the cost and carbon footprint of installation). Of course I would prefer a culture shift from priority to equality, which might make humps redundant. To reinforce the desirable culture of equality and empathy, I prefer the idea of funky psychological traffic calming, e.g. painted street surfaces, bushes, fountains or old tractors in the middle of the road, as appropriate (see Road Witch). Another defect with speed cameras is they take our eyes off the road as we check the speedo. At the very least, they should remind us of the limit. Same beef with bus lanes: ludicrously inconsistent and deeply distracting.

[phunksta]

I would also add road humps. They move the driver's attention away from the road ahead to the area immediately in front of the car. They force a driver to take a road position that in some cases takes them closer to pedestrians. They are an unneccessary distraction for the majority of drivers, to 'fix' a problem caused by a very small minority.

[Ian Perry]

You can add to this checking your watch to check the time to see if the designated restrictions apply. Bus lanes that only operate at certain hours cause drivers to be distracted from the road as they check their clock or watch, and become overly concerned with time whilst increasing road capacity when there are fewer cars...