Speed limit, or speed order?

When I see a road sign indicating a speed limit I consider it to be specifying the top speed allowable at that point on that road. However it seems that most, if not all other drivers, consider the sign to be informing them of the speed that they must now attain – no matter what.

I can understand that some people wish to get somewhere as quickly as possible, so will drive at the ultimate speed limit allowable. Hopefully these are confident and competent drivers. But, why can’t others drive a little slower than the maximum allowed? Isn’t that a little safer even? Certainly the slower driver/s would have to stay in the left lane (or right lane in some countries other that Australia). I fail to see why motorists think that the speed limit is a speed instruction – or order.

Sure, I’m a careful (some would say, nervous) driver and have always been so but my carefulness and caution when driving was increased some years ago when I was involved in a road accident. Another motorist drove his car straight at mine, from a side road, and ever since I have been aware that there is simply nothing you can do when another car barrels towards your car as you travel along a highway. Had that driver not been travelling so fast, he may have been able to stop before colliding with my car and me.

To drive at (perhaps only slightly) below the maximum speed allowed, surely makes the road a safer place. Or am I wrong? Should all vehicles travel at the same speed  - and that speed be the speed limit as shown on the sign? Which is the safer option? I know which one I prefer.

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