In San Antonio, where traffic is already bad, raising the speed limit is a poorly thought-out solution to alleviate transportation issues. Increasing the speed limit may appear to be simple to implement and regulate, but upon further inspection, the consequences presented by the move deem it ineffective and dangerous.

For starters, raising the speed limit by 10-15 miles per hour does little to save time. Mathematically, as cars travel faster, increases in speed are less significant in reducing how long it takes to get from point A to B. Traveling 10 miles at 85 mph as opposed to 70 mph shaves off a little under a minute, and that does not take into consideration congestion, stop lights and road diversions that already limit speed.

So what about areas that are not as fast? The answer to that question ends in dire consequences. Sure, raising the speed limit in residential areas will save far more time. Going from 30 mph to 60 mph in a neighborhood means drivers save twice as much time, but it also means a higher likelihood they will shorten that of pedestrians as well. The convenience of faster travel simply does not justify the heightened risk of accidents, which, in addition to deaths, can often mean more congestion that impedes travel.

Continuing on the theme of backward logic, cars are not built to function optimally at extreme speeds. Tires sand themselves into obsolescence, gas is chugged and batteries are overtaxed. These come at a cost to both the driver and the earth. They mean more refueling, more maintenance repairs and ultimately more spending that could have been prevented in the first place. Additionally, the current condition of the planet demands a reduction in greenhouse gasses, a directive that faster driving outright contradicts as gas consumption and CO2 output rise with higher speeds.

San Antonio has a transportation problem that needs to be resolved; however, the solution does not lie in increasing speed limits. Residents need smarter and safer solutions, not faster ones. Expanding public transportation and improving road infrastructure not only achieves more efficient travel but also offers strategic benefits to San Antonio’s development. If planners and residents are serious about solving the city’s transportation issues, then they should start there instead of speeding to conclusions.