What is the purpose of the highway's posted speed limit?

The primary purpose of a highway's posted speed limit is to ensure safe driving conditions. Speed limits are established based on various factors such as road characteristics, traffic flow, visibility, and accident history. These limits are designed to promote safety by reducing the likelihood of collisions and facilitating smoother traffic movement.

When drivers adhere to the posted speed limits, they are more equipped to respond to unexpected circumstances, such as sudden stops, pedestrians, or changing weather conditions. Speed limits help set a standard that can prevent reckless driving and minimize the risk of accidents, which ultimately contributes to the safety of all road users, including pedestrians and cyclists.

In contrast, while faster travel times may be an incidental benefit of higher speed limits, safety remains the foremost priority. Lower speed limits do not exist to reduce traffic enforcement but are implemented because they are viewed as the most effective way to protect drivers and passengers. Similarly, speed limits aren't meant to manage vehicle types; they are broadly applied to all traffic on the road to ensure a uniform standard of safety.