Motonormativity and Speed Limits

The safe system approach to traffic danger proposes kinetic energy as the primary hazard. However, speed limitations are imposed on new travel options like e-bicycles that do not pose the same hazard as cars. This uneven application of rules to cars has been termed motonormativity. This research examined whether the general population would apply the same speed limits to the two vehicle types and asked why those limits should exist (or not). Individuals were randomly assigned to questions related to one mode. In conflict with the hazard approach, greater restrictions were proposed for e-micromobility modes.

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Publication Details

Journal
Findings
Published
2026-03-12
DOI
https://doi.org/10.32866/001c.158762
Primary Topic
Traffic and Road Safety
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Motonormativity and Speed Limits

Owen Waygood, Xiaoyu Zhang, Alessia Vinet, Jeremy de Sousa et al.
Findings
Traffic and Road Safety
article

Motonormativity and Speed Limits

Owen Waygood, Xiaoyu Zhang, Alessia Vinet, Jeremy de Sousa, Frédérick Chabot
article en

Abstract

The safe system approach to traffic danger proposes kinetic energy as the primary hazard. However, speed limitations are imposed on new travel options like e-bicycles that do not pose the same hazard as cars. This uneven application of rules to cars has been termed motonormativity. This research examined whether the general population would apply the same speed limits to the two vehicle types and asked why those limits should exist (or not). Individuals were randomly assigned to questions related to one mode. In conflict with the hazard approach, greater restrictions were proposed for e-micromobility modes.

Findings
Polytechnique Montréal (CA)
Hydro-Québec, Mitacs, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies, H2020 European Research Council
Openalex Percentile: Top 33%
Traffic and Road Safety
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