An interesting thing is that I've observed a lot less speeding over the years, as more cars acquire active cruise control. Correlation or causation? Who knows. I don't think enforcement has changed.
I don't know where you are but that is not my observation. More cars are going 15+ over the limit than I can ever remember. I drive on Chicago expressways a few times a year and that is especially insane. Everyone is already driving 15+ over the limit, and then there are those in Chargers, Challengers, or tuned BMW or Mercedes just weaving from lane to lane through the slightest gaps at 90+
No cops ever to be seen. I have not seen anyone pulled over on a Chicago expressway since before the pandemic.
I don't know what happened, but since the pandemic it also feels like traffic enforcement is as lax as it's ever been here in Southern Ontario. And not just for speeding - I've seen more people run red lights in the last few years than in the 20 years before that.
Like actually run reds or sneak through as a yellow turns red?
I've never in my life seen anyone just full send it at a red light that's been red long enough the other side could have green but you see it in videos online so it must happen somewhere.
Literally had the same experience this past weekend driving out to the Chicago suburbs. Doesn't matter if general traffic is going 15 over, you're still going to have a handful of unsatisfied daredevils just blowing past at 30 or more over as they weave between those "slower" cars.
Due to local law changes, my 50k population town has had 10 weed shops open up in the past 6 months. Previous to that, the closest store was 4 hours away in another state.
No idea if it's just a coincidence, but people seem to be driving way slower on average compared to last year.
I think it's causal. The cruise control on my car is busted and I don't really feel like shelling out four figures to fix it, so I drive without. I also speed probably 10-15 over pretty often when I'm on long stretches of highway. Of course, I'm also in Texas where this is fairly common and poses less of a risk than eg in Virginia.
The funny thing is I might actually be safer without it, as it's the old static-speed cruise control not adaptive. While I'm less patient to idle along at 75, I am also more attentive. Who knows.
The biggest change for me I've noticed is I'm vastly less likely to speed with a digital speedometer than with a dial spedometer. Adaptive cruise control also helps a lot
(I was never particularly a speed demon in the first place though)
I think a partial reason for that is a ton of cars put 80 in the middle of the dial speedometer. So, it's bizarrely easier to see your speed accurately if you're going over the speed limit.
The speed of most traffic on the interstate I travel on most frequently was 67ish when I was driving home from college in the early 00s. I drove on the same road yesterday, and the average speed is easily 75, with many going much faster.
In my state enforcement went way down until cops were called out for it in the media last year. Lo and behold, crashes and injuries are down now that enforcement is up!
Personally, I tend to get irritated when someone swings 10-15 mph over/under the current speed limit. I often have to speed around them to avoid them. I probably would care less if the car just followed their erratic behavior for me.
