Why do people ignore speed limits without caring for the consequences of their speeding?

I'm just back of a trip to France where we were hit by a car driving over the limit. We got out lucky only minor injuries, yet the guy that hit us just had a ripped pants...

Is it so much fun to cross the speed barriers?

about the accident: it was raining heavily, getting dark, we weren't speeding (something the driver never does) the guy that rammed us was driving 30km/h over the limit without lights on.

I think most people speed (I know this is why I do) simply because they don't believe that breaking the speed limit is actually more dangerous than driving below the speed limit. (And by "more dangerous," I mean, more likely to have an accident at all; I recognize that between two accidents, one accident where at least one of the cars was breaking the speed limit and in the other accident all cars were obeying the law, the second accident is much more likely to have less serious injuries.) The truth is speed limits are only estimates for what the highest safe speed is for the average driver in the average car. In actuality, I am a young, alert driver with 20/10 vision and I drive a fairly safe 2006 Jetta with traction control, etc., so I can drive safely at a higher rate of speed than can my 68-year-old father who drives an old Honda and is slow to react and needs to wear glasses to correct his vision, for example. In the same way that "age is just a number," so speed is. Local governments often do a poor job of estimating the maximum safe rate of speed. A recent short film produced by college students in Georgia displays this fact in grand fashion. The film is titled, "A Meditation on the Speed Limit." I've attached a link for you below. It is only about 5 minutes long. Drivers frustrated with speed limits that are clearly and dramatically too low, disobey them when it is not dangerous to do so. This, perhaps, creates an attitude in a driver's mind that speed limits are mere "suggestions," so drivers may disobey the law when it is perhaps not safe to do so. Bottom line, drivers need to know their own limits, and local governments need to say forget politics and push speed limits as high as is safe for the average driver.

You would think getting an expensive ticket would cure that. For some it doesn't and they end up getting their license taken away. I guess they get a thrill out of it. I used to until I realized how bad I could hurt someone.

Dude thought he was Jeff Gordon or something..

White People.

Just kidding.

all people do that because they love the thrill of driving like a Nascar driver.

no just people are stupid and speed thinking they wont get caught and when they drive fast you cant catch there license plate # so they still speed cuz they now you wont send them in.

hope your ok though!

It seems that the only some people need rules is to break them. Take care!

You obviously don't drive, or u would know some speed limits r ridiculous. Sorry about your wreak.

rush,rush,rush.....everyone in such a damn hurry to get nowhere

unless he hit you going really really fast his speed is not what caused the accident, it had to be unassured clear distance, talking on the phone, or otherwise not paying attention
speeding is not inherently bad, it's not driving properly at high speeds that is dangerous

People in Europe generally drive crazy, especially cab drivers!

Because the speed limits are often unrealistic. You should go with the flow of traffic. Going much slower, creates a more dangerous situation.

Not that it's fun, but sometimes people get to be in a hurry and don't realize they are speeding.....

That kinda speeding is very stupid ,
i myself tho speed a little . i go 45 in 30 zone when i'm in a major hurry , I have never caused a wreck tho , nor have a sped when ,my baby was in the car ..I guy like that was probaly on drugs or just real stupid ...I also believe in certain areas the spped limits are to low , and if there isnt a copper around i'm ready to break that law ,,,if i get caught i just get a slap on the hand ...

In France the law says that no matter how much damage is done or whose fault it is, both parties pay half of the bill. Also, the cars in France are generally cheap and therefore they don't mind damage done to their vehicles. If you've ever noticed how their cars are tiny and packed together along the sidewalk, it is because the French bang their cars into eachother to get into those small spaces. Otherwise, no one would ever have a place to park.

They don't think of the consequences when they are doing it and being that most of them are young, they don't really know or ignore the consequences altogether. They do it for the thrill and feel that nothing is going to happen.

some people think that it is either fun or they jusy don't care about other people and they don't care about the consequences of their actions.

well, for one, humans are selfish creatures and love nothing more than to do what they want to do....
second of all, breaking the law is like a rush to a lot of people...it gives people the feel of power that they can thumb their noses to the law when they do that...

it's reckless and stupid and maybe if there were harsher punishments for breaking the speed limit, people would obey the law more and be more considerate...

I would like to say that these persons are just irresponsible. They are irresponsible towards themselves, towards their family members, toward society and so they are irresponsible to their country.

cause they are getting wherever they r going faster