I like that solution much better. I find that a driver should always be free to make a cost/benefit calculation. The ideal, in my view, would look something like this:
- Speed of every car on the road is recorded continuously.
- If you stay within the limit, you pay nothing.
For each second that you are faster than the limit, you incur some financial penalty, where the amount is calculated based on both the speed difference and the purpose of the limit (pedestrian safety vs. noise pollution, for example). In extreme cases, you can lose your drivers license.
- Speed data is also made available to your insurance. So drivers know they won’t get away with somebody else paying for any damage they may cause.
As a driver, I very much prefer this not to exist. But I think it would be the right thing from a “veil of ignorance” perspective of justice.
