Countries tend to impose speed limits to ensure the safety of drivers and pedestrians. However, some people claim this measure is hardly sufficient. While I admit that reducing speed limits can facilitate safety on roads, there are greater ways which aid in making roads danger-free.
Admittedly, imposing limits on speed can engender numerous safety benefits. This rule, firstly, enforces drivers to avoid increasing speed, eventually leading to fewer serious road accidents. Driving a car at low speed, drivers are less prone to slow reaction times, improper braking, and harsh turns on bends, all of which are most likely to happen with above-average speed. Not only can human error be avoided, but also speed limits might allow enough time to brake easily. Even if a road accident happens, the victim might have minor injuries like bruises or scratches.
Nevertheless, as for ensuring safer roads for people, I believe that more stringent punishments should be introduced. One effective alternative is imposing heavy fines or imprisonment on lawbreakers. Having been aware of serious punishments, both pedestrians and drivers become less reckless and comply with traffic rules. Even harsher measures might be to revoke an offender’s driving license, temporarily or permanently, depending on the severity of the accidents. Only when road users are faced with stricter punitive measures do they make an effort to uphold them.
In conclusion, although imposing speed limits offers safety to some extent, I think that only this initiative can hardly be compared to even more effective alternatives, including heavy fines, imprisonment, or suspension of driving licenses.