[zaarn]

>you have to speed up above the limit to do that.

Atleast in germany you may only overtake a driver if you can do so without going over the speed limit. I would assume that this is that case for most western countries too, driving over the speed limit is illegal, if you do it while overtaking I see on reason why you should get an exception.

And after all, it's a speed limit, not a speed average or speed minimum.

[angeal1131]

Issue in europe is that most roads isn't super wide. Only two-lane; at times only one.. So to overtake, you have to drive into the other lane that's driving against you... so that's when you are forced to speed up.... On highways, then yeah not a issue, but most roads isn't highways.

[arethuza]

If you have to speed up significantly to over the speed limit then presumably the vehicle you are overtaking was already close to the limit so why do you need to overtake?

[NB Reformed speeder here - I used to speed a lot, but then got a ticket and decided to stick carefully to the limit at all times, which actually means less stress, less fuel used and I haven't noticed arriving places really any later. Have almost got in fights a couple of times though!]

[zaarn]

It's perfectly possible to overtake on a one-lane road without breaking the speed limit, it's something that is expected of your during the driving test if you drive behind someone sufficiently slow.

Even if you go into the lane of the oncoming traffic, you are still not allowed to break the speed limit.

If you're not part of the police, firefighters or ambulance drivers, I do not believe there is a single valid reason to break the speed limit.