Changing speed limits does not alter driving habits. According to experts, most people drive at speeds that make them feel comfortable.
The California Vehicle Code is based on the premise that, on the whole, most people drive responsibly. Happily, local, regional and national statistics support that assumption. Motorists generally drive at a reasonable speed for the conditions present on any given road. Accordingly, the City of Carlsbad sets realistic speed limits in the upper half of the normal pace of traffic to achieve voluntary public compliance and to maintain unambiguous enforcement of the law.