TX may increase speed limit to 85 MPH

[Chaotic_Warlord]

http://www.aolnews.com/2011/04/08/texas ... ch-85-mph/

Why not just say that the same roads that this new law applies to are the American Autobahn, because really if you wreck at 85 or 150 the results will be the same, you dead.

[sbird1]

What do wrecks have to do with the name?

EDIT: I see what you're saying. You're saying that since the speed limit is 85, there might as well not be one?

[AppleBonker]

Holy crap!!!






Aol still exists?

[zacmil]

Holy crap!!!






Aol still exists?

I'm really kinda divided on the issue. On the one hand, I think that safe, responsible drivers should be allowed to travel as fast as they feel comfortable with. If that sort of driver wrecks, it's likely just some stupid mistake or bit of bad luck, which could happen at any speed. On the other hand, I feel like the sort of driver who is busy playing with their iPod, texting, or--heaven forbid--using their laptop* shouldn't be allowed behind the wheel. Unfortunately, I feel like the bulk of the population falls into the latter category as opposed to the former.


*side note: this actually happened in my area recently. Some moron was driving down a nice, straight, new section of road and decided that it would be a great time to pull out the laptop. He ended up hitting a woman and killing her.

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

We suck at driving at current speeds. How will this help? I'm amazed they are even considering it considering how much more fuel it takes to go that extra 5 mph.

[Encryptshun]

... considering how much more fuel it takes to go that extra 5 mph.

*cough*cough*texas*cough*cough*

[AZ89two4Tsx]

Yeah, the only reason the autobahn is successful is because everyone sees driving as an activity that should only have your undivided attention. And, there are very strict penalties for not following the rules.

Here we think it's okay to browse the web and stuff our faces while behind the wheel. It's amazing how many people are on their phone at any given time while driving. Around here, I'd say it's at least one in three.

[Dattebayo]

Holy crap!!!






Aol still exists?

They are based out of an office not too far from me, actually. I just did a job there a couple of days ago...

Their employees have some great perks, like free soda, pizza and fresh made sandwiches anytime the kitchen is open.

[Amays U G37S]

This is completely unsafe and they should not pass the law. Are you crazy? If the speed limit is 85, I am doing 20 over, possibly 30 especially on the interstate. Car are way faster then they used to be and can easily cruise at these speeds now. You know you do 75-80 in 55-65 mph areas already... Don't deny it!

Half of people do not want to drive this fast such as Church vans, people with their kids, etc... If there is a slow car and you are doing 90, and weaving in and out of traffic, bam. Come on, the speed limit in atlanta was 10mph faster then it is now, but people used to drive like idiots and do 90 on the interstate. 17-25 car pile ups all the time, morning rush and afternoon. Now they passed strict laws against it, and lowered the speed limit drastically, and all of that doesn't happen anymore, at all.

Texas installed the death penalty on the interstate too. Mass genocide? Move to Texas.

[JTR]

... considering how much more fuel it takes to go that extra 5 mph.

*cough*cough*texas*cough*cough*

I have to agree with both of these points.
Worst time to raise the speed limit, but that Texas for you.

[alphapig]

This is completely unsafe and they should not pass the law. Are you crazy? If the speed limit is 85, I am doing 20 over, possibly 30 especially on the interstate. Car are way faster then they used to be and can easily cruise at these speeds now. You know you do 75-80 in 55-65 mph areas already... Don't deny it!

I thought this was satyr at first.

The WHOLE POINT of a 85mph speed limit is the LIMIT part.

It will no longer be acceptable to go 5 or 10 over. Like it should be, literally.

[zacmil]

This is completely unsafe and they should not pass the law. Are you crazy? If the speed limit is 85, I am doing 20 over, possibly 30 especially on the interstate. Car are way faster then they used to be and can easily cruise at these speeds now. You know you do 75-80 in 55-65 mph areas already... Don't deny it!

Half of people do not want to drive this fast such as Church vans, people with their kids, etc... If there is a slow car and you are doing 90, and weaving in and out of traffic, bam. Come on, the speed limit in atlanta was 10mph faster then it is now, but people used to drive like idiots and do 90 on the interstate. 17-25 car pile ups all the time, morning rush and afternoon. Now they passed strict laws against it, and lowered the speed limit drastically, and all of that doesn't happen anymore, at all.

Texas installed the death penalty on the interstate too. Mass genocide? Move to Texas.

You also need to remember that they are talking about raising the limit in rural areas. I'm assuming that they are talking about areas in the northern and western parts of the state, which, to my knowledge (and please correct me if I'm wrong), is pretty straight and flat. Furthermore, some of those counties have populations of less than 1000 people, so there shouldn't be much traffic on the roads.

Again, I'm not necessarily saying that I think it's a great idea, but I can understand why they aren't more worried about safety.

[coupecrazy1232]

^^^^ is right...the speed limit is 80 right now and its 90% open flat roads...people are going to drive 85-90 anyways and there arent that many accidents now...i honestly have no problem with them doing this

[Encryptshun]

You also need to remember that they are talking about raising the limit in rural areas. I'm assuming that they are talking about areas in the northern and western parts of the state, which, to my knowledge (and please correct me if I'm wrong), is pretty straight and flat. Furthermore, some of those counties have populations of less than 1000 people, so there shouldn't be much traffic on the roads.

Again, I'm not necessarily saying that I think it's a great idea, but I can understand why they aren't more worried about safety.

Rural roads? Are there deer in Texas? Wolves? Armadillos? Longhorn cattle that are allowed to roam freely?

I'd think those hazzards would be quite a bit more dangerous than traffic.

[OriginalWheelman]

You know you do 75-80 in 55-65 mph areas already... Don't deny it!

I don't. I'm serious.

The reason the Autobahn is safe at those speeds is a combination of things. The first is generally better driver training in Europe. Secondly, the police are strict about lane courtesy (keep right) and tailgating. The roads are also strictly maintained.

[zacmil]

Rural roads? Are there deer in Texas? Wolves? Armadillos? Longhorn cattle that are allowed to roam freely?

I'd think those hazzards would be quite a bit more dangerous than traffic.

But isn't it crazy flat out there? You should have pretty good visibility and be able to spot those sort of hazards from a good distance.

That's not to say that you don't make a valid point, I'm just playing the devil's advocate.

Also:

The reason the Autobahn is safe at those speeds is a combination of things. The first is generally better driver training in Europe. Secondly, the police are strict about lane courtesy (keep right) and tailgating. The roads are also strictly maintained.

this.

From what I understand, most of Europe takes driving a lot more serious than we do.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Worst time to raise the speed limit, but that Texas for you.

Fuel economy and cost are the WORST REASONS IMAGINABLE for picking a speed limit.

We've got 80mph speed limits on stretches of I15 in utah. People do 85. I have commuted hundreds of miles at 85 in an '04 Max and guess what my fuel economy was? 31MPG. THIRTY f*** ONE. Stop WHINING. I want to get where I'm going faster. If you want to hide from the world because you're afraid of a couple MPG or a dollar or two max every fillup, be my guest, but don't get in MY way. You get in the right lane and do 65. I'll be in the left lane enjoying higher posted speed limits.

And for everyone bitching about safety:
http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/29/2941.asp

Stop whining. STOP WHINING.

This is a good thing. I can't believe I'm on an automobile enthusiast website and hearing people complaining about increased speed limits. I feel like putting my head through a wall.

[IBCoupe]

This is completely unsafe and they should not pass the law. Are you crazy? If the speed limit is 85, I am doing 20 over, possibly 30 especially on the interstate. Car are way faster then they used to be and can easily cruise at these speeds now. You know you do 75-80 in 55-65 mph areas already... Don't deny it!

I thought this was satyr at first.

The WHOLE POINT of a 85mph speed limit is the LIMIT part.

It will no longer be acceptable to go 5 or 10 over. Like it should be, literally.

How come that doesn't apply to the current "limits?" What's so special about 85mph (aside from the fact that you can almost travel through time if you're in a Delorean)?

[IBCoupe]

You know you do 75-80 in 55-65 mph areas already... Don't deny it!

I don't. I'm serious.

The reason the Autobahn is safe at those speeds is a combination of things. The first is generally better driver training in Europe. Secondly, the police are strict about lane courtesy (keep right) and tailgating. The roads are also strictly maintained.

Also, a license is an investment. you need something like $2k in order to get a German license.

[MinisterofDOOM]

How come that doesn't apply to the current "limits?" What's so special about 85mph (aside from the fact that you can almost travel through time if you're in a Delorean)?

See the link in my post above. Where the speed limit was raised to 80 from 75, 85th percentile speed didn't really change, it simply became legal. And the number of people exceeding the legal posted limit decreased.

I don't pretend to understand why that works that way, but that's what happened. I suspect is has to do with people feeling like 85 is a reasonable upper-end speed. Modern cars can do it safely, comfortably, smoothly and relatively efficietly. I wouldn't do 85 in my old Ranger, but my Max, Q, or LS are very very happy at that speed. And so am I.

[IBCoupe]

It should be noted that speed limits aren't about safety. They're just not. They were implemented after the '73 oil crisis as a means to improve national fuel economy.

What's unsafe is not high speeds. What's unsafe is disparate speeds. Two cars driving perpetually at 90 mph have nothing to fear from one another, even if one is tailgating the other. If one car is traveling 90mph and the other 45mph, then there's a potential problem.

If we're no longer concerned with national fuel economy (not saying that we shouldn't be), then we need one of two scenarios:

• - No speed limits, but strictly enforced lane etiquette laws (e.g. keep right except to pass), or
  - Very strictly enforced speed limit and speed minimum laws, with very little space between them.

[IBCoupe]

How come that doesn't apply to the current "limits?" What's so special about 85mph (aside from the fact that you can almost travel through time if you're in a Delorean)?

See the link in my post above. Where the speed limit was raised to 80 from 75, 85th percentile speed didn't really change, it simply became legal. And the number of people exceeding the legal posted limit decreased.

I don't pretend to understand why that works that way, but that's what happened. I suspect is has to do with people feeling like 85 is a reasonable upper-end speed. Modern cars can do it safely, comfortably, smoothly and relatively efficietly. I wouldn't do 85 in my old Ranger, but my Max, Q, or LS are very very happy at that speed. And so am I.

That's pretty interesting. I'd like to see some other experiments, though, that don't just involve a few stretches of highway in one very rural state.

[themadscientist]

Wait, so I was not supposed to go that fast yet? Whoops. Much like the pirate's code, I view speed limits as "guidelines."

In all seriousness, though, the drivers scare me less than some of the poorly-maintained ribbons of asphalt that passes for roads in many areas.

[Encryptshun]

It should be noted that speed limits aren't about safety. They're just not. They were implemented after the '73 oil crisis as a means to improve national fuel economy.

Also at the request of both insurance companies and as a way to reduce road maintenance costs.

What's unsafe is not high speeds. What's unsafe is disparate speeds. Two cars driving perpetually at 90 mph have nothing to fear from one another, even if one is tailgating the other. If one car is traveling 90mph and the other 45mph, then there's a potential problem.

What's unsafe is (1) the driver and (2) the capability of a vehicle to perform defensive maneuvers at high rates of speed. Your analogy only works if the road is straight, flat and dry.

[IBCoupe]

Sure, and if the drivers are cruise control computers. My pointing that it's the differences that make the difference. In bad conditions, most drivers will slow down.

Maybe one if the things that needs to happen in both of my solutions is to place tighter standards on driver's licenses.

[themadscientist]

Tiered licensing, yes!

[zacmil]

Tiered licensing, yes!

I've actually said that this would be awesome for a while now. The problem is, it wouldn't be very feasible to implement.

What's unsafe is not high speeds. What's unsafe is disparate speeds. Two cars driving perpetually at 90 mph have nothing to fear from one another, even if one is tailgating the other. If one car is traveling 90mph and the other 45mph, then there's a potential problem.

If we're no longer concerned with national fuel economy (not saying that we shouldn't be), then we need one of two scenarios:

• - No speed limits, but strictly enforced lane etiquette laws (e.g. keep right except to pass), or
  - Very strictly enforced speed limit and speed minimum laws, with very little space between them.

Well said... for the most part. I honestly believe that even with things like cruise control, some people shouldn't be allowed to go that fast. Of course, these are generally the same people I don't think should be on the road at all. I couldn't agree more on the etiquette laws though. Nothing makes me angrier when I see someone traveling in the passing lane below or, let's face it, even at the speed limit. Kentucky is one of a handful of states that actually has traffic laws that require you to remain in the right lane(s) unless passing. The problem is, this never gets enforced.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Well said... for the most part. I honestly believe that even with things like cruise control, some people shouldn't be allowed to go that fast.

It's not so much the static speed difference that presents a problem. It's the complications created by having two or more relatively massive objects moving near each other at different speeds. It's a TRAFFIC problem, not a car problem. And by that I mean it only becomes a problem when the cars have to interact. Which is where all driving complications come from: most drivers fail miserably at interacting with other traffic on a functional level.

At worst, higher speeds merely exacerbate the problem. They are not the source of the problem. If you can teach people to be aware and attentive, the dangers of speed, even widely varied speeds on the same road, would probably decrease. Granted, I still don't like the idea of doing 80 one lane over from someone doing 45, but the simple solution is for people who don't want to do 65 or faster can take a different road. Or, if you want to look at it the other way, people who want to go fater than 65 can take a different road.
I realize that doesn't quite work with rural freeways, but you have to serve the broader need. A few people being terrified of speed is not sufficient reason to hold the rest of the world back.

[zacmil]

It's not so much the static speed difference that presents a problem. It's the complications created by having two or more relatively massive objects moving near each other at different speeds. It's a TRAFFIC problem, not a car problem. And by that I mean it only becomes a problem when the cars have to interact. Which is where all driving complications come from: most drivers fail miserably at interacting with other traffic on a functional level.

At worst, higher speeds merely exacerbate the problem. They are not the source of the problem. If you can teach people to be aware and attentive, the dangers of speed, even widely varied speeds on the same road, would probably decrease. Granted, I still don't like the idea of doing 80 one lane over from someone doing 45, but the simple solution is for people who don't want to do 65 or faster can take a different road. Or, if you want to look at it the other way, people who want to go fater than 65 can take a different road.
I realize that doesn't quite work with rural freeways, but you have to serve the broader need. A few people being terrified of speed is not sufficient reason to hold the rest of the world back.

Yeah, that's what I was trying to say. I guess I wasn't too clear lol. I also agree with you on the whole serving the broader need thing. Nothing bugs me more than when I come up on a huge line of traffic because someone is doing 30mph and refuses to pull over so everyone can pass.

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

This is a good thing. I can't believe I'm on an automobile enthusiast website and hearing people complaining about increased speed limits. I feel like putting my head through a wall.

Oh mah gawd...people with different opinions from your own. That wall of yours have any free space?