It's exactly that mindset that kills people by statistical inevitability. Each society is of course free to make the choice, and as a result the US has four times as many fatal accidents per capita as Sweden.
Also, 30km/h is used in the same places that would be 25mph zones in the US, i.e. residential areas and school zones on thoroughfares. The default speed on larger roads in cities is 50km/h, which is just below 35mph, a very common city throughfare speed limit in the US.
And on the flipside, many Swedish freeways have a speed limit of 120km/h, i.e. 75mph, which you're hard pressed to find in the US at all, and certainly not in California. It's only in the last decade they've changed the speed limit to 120km/h, but it's because freeways have been made safer, and cars have been made safer, so it makes sense to raise the limit.
Try getting the speed limit raised in California. I'm not gonna hold my breath waiting for that.
Also, 30km/h is used in the same places that would be 25mph zones in the US, i.e. residential areas and school zones on thoroughfares. The default speed on larger roads in cities is 50km/h, which is just below 35mph, a very common city throughfare speed limit in the US.
And on the flipside, many Swedish freeways have a speed limit of 120km/h, i.e. 75mph, which you're hard pressed to find in the US at all, and certainly not in California. It's only in the last decade they've changed the speed limit to 120km/h, but it's because freeways have been made safer, and cars have been made safer, so it makes sense to raise the limit.
Try getting the speed limit raised in California. I'm not gonna hold my breath waiting for that.