New Speed Limits

cars · Post by **cars** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 6:22 pm

Just read the news on line where Texas is raising the Speed limit on some roads to "80" MPH ! Many other states are raising the speed limits on some of their roads to "70" MPH. I think this will become disasterous, because many drivers always exceed the speed limits any way. So now many cars will be going 100 MPH! Their first crash will be their last crash! :wah:

Especially since it seems they are still leaving the minimum Speed limit at 40MPH, the excessive difference between the two speeds is too drastic for the fast car overtaking the slow car not to hit it, or cause an accident swerving away. :wah:

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 6:25 pm

Yaaaayyy Freedom!!

:yh_dance :yh_party :yh_dance

cars · Post by **cars** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 6:29 pm

Accountable wrote: Yaaaayyy Freedom!!

:yh_dance :yh_party :yh_dance

Freedom rushing to the grave!:wah:

Tombstone · Post by **Tombstone** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 6:29 pm

cars wrote: Just read the news on line where Texas is raising the Speed limit on some roads to "80" MPH ! Many other states are raising the speed limits on some of their roads to "70" MPH. I think this will become disasterous, because many drivers always exceed the speed limits any way. So now many cars will be going 100 MPH! Their first crash will be their last crash! :wah:

Especially since it seems they are still leaving the minimum Speed limit at 40MPH, the excessive difference between the two speeds is too drastic for the fast car overtaking the slow car not to hit it, or cause an accident swerving away. :wah:

If you've driven across Texas you'd realize that even 80 is not fast enough. :driving:

cars · Post by **cars** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 6:34 pm

Tombstone wrote: If you've driven across Texas you'd realize that even 80 is not fast enough. :driving:

That's kinda my point, most drivers exceed the posted speed limit anyway, so now they will be going close to 100, if not 100. (or more)

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 6:38 pm

The speed limit increase is only in the rural areas, and does not require anyone to drive faster.

cars · Post by **cars** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 6:47 pm

Accountable wrote: The speed limit increase is only in the rural areas, and does not require anyone to drive faster.

Anyone is not required to drive either, but . . . . . . . . . .

The first response seems like an indicator that at least one car will be going at least 80mph! :-2

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 6:47 pm

SnoozeControl wrote: hahahahaha!:wah:

Take that, Accountable! :sneaky:Everybody slows down for San Antone. :driving: :guitarist

cars · Post by **cars** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 6:50 pm

SnoozeControl wrote: The speed limit through much of Nevada is 75. Thank god.:rolleyes:

Ok Snooze, & how fast do you go? Possible good bet it's better then 75! :-2

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 6:57 pm

I drove on the autobahn once. It was thrilling to go 110 for awhile because I felt like I was breaking the rules, then I slowed down to about 80 & let the Mercedes station wagon full of kids fly by.

It's not the high speed limit, it's the limit, full stop. Lift the rules and you take away the temptation to break them.

Tombstone · Post by **Tombstone** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:10 pm

cars wrote: That's kinda my point, most drivers exceed the posted speed limit anyway, so now they will be going close to 100, if not 100. (or more)
I gotcha. I guess I just don't see that much out here in the Western states. Most of the open areas have speed limits of 75 mph already and I don't see too many people who go much faster than that.

What does make my hair stand on end though are the truckers who run their 40,000 lb. loads at 75.

And....no disrespect for Texas! Love the Lone Star State! I've drven across the state several times and it's a loooooong drive and not much to look at.

Tombstone · Post by **Tombstone** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:15 pm

And speaking of driving: I'm heading south next week. Going to be driving from Northern Idaho down to NorCal.

My preferred route? Down through the desert! Open, desolate, and beautiful in my opinion.

The biggest drag? Driving through the People's Republic of Oregon - land of 55 mph.

Tombstone · Post by **Tombstone** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:16 pm

SnoozeControl wrote: The speed limit through much of Nevada is 75. Thank god.:rolleyes:

And Nevada has some of the nicest highways too! Big lanes, smooth concrete, and no traffic. :p

LilacDragon · Post by **LilacDragon** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:17 pm

The speed limit on most highways in Michigan is 70 and has been for several years. I don't think our traffic death tolls are any higher then anyone else's, but then, I haven't really looked.

I spent 4 years in Germany and had to go on the Autobahn to get anywhere. I found that I rarely went over 80 (I am a big chicken). I heard someone telling someone else once that it really didn't matter - if you lost control and hit a tree going 100+ miles an hour, the car would pretty much disinegrate around you.

Tombstone · Post by **Tombstone** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:19 pm

SnoozeControl wrote: And those gas nazis won't let you fill your own car. :-2

That's right! And they *always comment on my plates. "I see you're from Idaho! Do you hunt? Fish? I hear you can ride motorcycles there without a helmet...."

Tombstone · Post by **Tombstone** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:21 pm

LilacDragon wrote: The speed limit on most highways in Michigan is 70 and has been for several years. I don't think our traffic death tolls are any higher then anyone else's, but then, I haven't really looked.

I spent 4 years in Germany and had to go on the Autobahn to get anywhere. I found that I rarely went over 80 (I am a big chicken). I heard someone telling someone else once that it really didn't matter - if you lost control and hit a tree going 100+ miles an hour, the car would pretty much disinegrate around you.

Boy, you got that right. There is still a big difference between 80 and 100. But alas, the tree will always win.

cars · Post by **cars** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:22 pm

Accountable wrote: I drove on the autobahn once. It was thrilling to go 110 for awhile because I felt like I was breaking the rules, then I slowed down to about 80 & let the Mercedes station wagon full of kids fly by.

It's not the high speed limit, it's the limit, full stop. Lift the rules and you take away the temptation to break them.

Yes going fast is an extreme rush! In my younger days, I got into my XKE after it just had a new clutch installed at the Jag dealer in NY. So as it turned out, on the way home coming back to CT, it was about 2am, & I was on the CT Tpk crusing at around 65mph. Then there was just a straight section of road for as far as I could see, & there was not a car in sight in either direction in front or back of me.

I thought, well lets see if this new clutch really works. So I punched it, pedal to the metal, & within seconds the car had this floating feeling, so I looked down at the speedometer & walla "130" Mph. What a rush! The guard railings & trees were just a passing blur, I dare not keep it there for more than a couple miles cuase I knew I was breaking the rules as you put it! The new clutch worked just fine, so I took my foot off the accelorator & it felt like I dropped an anchor out, as the car droped down to about 70 in like 3 seconds. It was a blast!

When I got home, I did not go to sleep that night, too pumped up on adrenalin!

Tombstone · Post by **Tombstone** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:26 pm

cars wrote: Yes going fast is an extreme rush! In my younger days, I got into my XKE after it just had a new clutch installed at the Jag dealer in NY. So as it turned out, on the way home coming back to CT, it was about 2am, & I was on the CT Tpk crusing at around 65mph. Then there was just a straight section of road for as far as I could see, & there was not a car in sight in either direction in front or back of me.

I thought, well lets see if this new clutch really works. So I punched it, pedal to the metal, & within seconds the car had this floating feeling, so I looked down at the speedometer & walla "130" Mph. What a rush! The guard railings & trees were just a passing blur, I dare not keep it there for more than a couple miles cuase I knew I was breaking the rules as you put it! The new clutch worked just fine, so I took my foot off the accelorator & it felt like I dropped an anchor out, as the car droped down to about 70 in like 3 seconds. It was a blast!

When I got home, I did not go to sleep that night, too pumped up on adrenalin!

In an XKE? Very sweet....

Tombstone · Post by **Tombstone** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:31 pm

Diuretic wrote: In Australia, in the Northern Territory - there is no speed limit outside of towns but you have to drive safely (as the kids say, "duh!").

I love Australia!

cars · Post by **cars** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:31 pm

Tombstone wrote: In an XKE? Very sweet....

It was always the most beautiful car in the repair shop, commonly know as the "Rack Queen"!:wah:

Tombstone · Post by **Tombstone** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:34 pm

cars wrote: It was always the most beautiful car in the repair shop, commonly know as the "Rack Queen"!:wah:

ha! My old boss had one.. He finally sold it.

Headlights stopped working - so did the engine.

Heater went on the fritz - so did the dash controls.

He was always working on it. When he owned it, he never had a car to drive. :-2

Sheryl · Post by **Sheryl** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:07 pm

wohoo - now i won't get a ticket for running so fast to my mother in law's house:D

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 4:30 am

Diuretic wrote: In Australia, in the Northern Territory - there is no speed limit outside of towns but you have to drive safely (as the kids say, "duh!").
Yaaaaayy Australia!!

jbbarker1947 · Post by **jbbarker1947** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 4:41 am

Accountable wrote: The speed limit increase is only in the rural areas, and does not require anyone to drive faster.

Correctimundo compadre. It is already 75 and it is jsut I-10 and I-20. Most would say the roadside rest areas are in BFE!

cars · Post by **cars** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 5:56 am

Just for ha-ha's I looked for some statistics on speeding & this link came up.

Just an interesting observation, it seems the "25 to 50" age bracket drivers have a staggering more number of accidents the the "Seniors"!

http://www.ksdot.org/burtransplan/prodi ... elated.pdf

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 6:03 am

cars wrote: Just for ha-ha's I looked for some statistics on speeding & this link came up.

Just an interesting observation, it seems the "25 to 50" age bracket drivers have a staggering more number of accidents the the "Seniors"!

http://www.ksdot.org/burtransplan/prodi ... elated.pdf
It doesn't mean anything without knowing how many drivers are out there. If a group of 4 people get into 2 accidents, 1 fatal, isn't that worse than 5 million people having 200 accidents with 50 fatal?

cars · Post by **cars** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 6:11 am

Accountable wrote: It doesn't mean anything without knowing how many drivers are out there. If a group of 4 people get into 2 accidents, 1 fatal, isn't that worse than 5 million people having 200 accidents with 50 fatal?

Look at the first chart, it is the 2005 Kansas Traffic Accidents facts! It is just an example of only "one" states facts. The point trying to be made here, is SPEED causes accidents!

sunny104 · Post by **sunny104** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 9:02 am

I think it's great to up the speed limit in west Texas, anyone that's driven it would agree.

I was a truck driver for 5 years and always did the speed limit of the state I was in and that in no way made trucks any more dangerous than any other vehicle on the road.

Marie5656 · Post by **Marie5656** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 9:12 am

On most highways here in New York it is 55. But if you are in a more rural area, it goes up to 65.

cars · Post by **cars** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 11:47 am

sunny104 wrote: I think it's great to up the speed limit in west Texas, anyone that's driven it would agree.

I was a truck driver for 5 years and always did the speed limit of the state I was in and that in no way made trucks any more dangerous than any other vehicle on the road.

Just curious, if your truck was carring a full load, and you had to jam on the brakes so as to avoid hitting another vehicle, would you rather rather jam them on at 65mph or 85mph? Most likely at 65 it would be rather very dificult to control, what would it be at 85?:-2

sunny104 · Post by **sunny104** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 12:46 pm

cars wrote: Just curious, if your truck was carring a full load, and you had to jam on the brakes so as to avoid hitting another vehicle, would you rather rather jam them on at 65mph or 85mph? Most likely at 65 it would be rather very dificult to control, what would it be at 85?:-2
one misconception to clear up is that it actually takes a longer distance to stop a truck when it's empty or carrying a light load than when it is fully loaded.

the other thing is that you would never 'jam' on the breaks of an 18 wheeler because it is all too easy to jack-knife if you do that.

driving a truck is just like driving a VERY large car so to speak, there is no greater difficulty 'controlling' it at 65 than there is at a higher speed limit.

cars · Post by **cars** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 1:45 pm

sunny104 wrote: one misconception to clear up is that it actually takes a longer distance to stop a truck when it's empty or carrying a light load than when it is fully loaded.

the other thing is that you would never 'jam' on the breaks of an 18 wheeler because it is all too easy to jack-knife if you do that.

driving a truck is just like driving a VERY large car so to speak, there is no greater difficulty 'controlling' it at 65 than there is at a higher speed limit.

So you're saying a loaded 40ton 18 wheeler at 85mph is capable of a "controled" panic stop in a shorter distance then an empty truck? If you say so. And the brakes if not jammed on, then it would seem to have to be pushed pretty hard, so as to avoid hitting the the vehicle in front that had to make a panic stop. I had to come to a complete stop on the Highway, when traffic ahead was stopped. Only to see an 18 wheeler in my rear view mirror about 100 yrds behind me trying to stop & then doing a Jack-Knifing stop. My life flashed before my eyes, I closed my eyes & waited for the crash! After an eternitity, fortunately the screeching smoking tires stopped. At this point I got out of the car & luckily for me the truck stopped "jack-knifed" about 20 feet from behind my car! And the point being, he was only doing about 60mph, cause I passed him a 1 mile before the traffic came to a complete stop. :-2

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 2:17 pm

Tombstone wrote: If you've driven across Texas you'd realize that even 80 is not fast enough. :driving:

Just cant get out of that God forsaken hell hole fast enough huh ?

You gonna bite his ankle acc ?

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 5:24 pm

cars wrote: So you're saying a loaded 40ton 18 wheeler at 85mph is capable of a "controled" panic stop in a shorter distance then an empty truck? If you say so. And the brakes if not jammed on, then it would seem to have to be pushed pretty hard, so as to avoid hitting the the vehicle in front that had to make a panic stop. I had to come to a complete stop on the Highway, when traffic ahead was stopped. Only to see an 18 wheeler in my rear view mirror about 100 yrds behind me trying to stop & then doing a Jack-Knifing stop. My life flashed before my eyes, I closed my eyes & waited for the crash! After an eternitity, fortunately the screeching smoking tires stopped. At this point I got out of the car & luckily for me the truck stopped "jack-knifed" about 20 feet from behind my car! And the point being, he was only doing about 60mph, cause I passed him a 1 mile before the traffic came to a complete stop. :-2Sounds like the professional driver maintained speed and distance appropriate for his load, and reacted as a professional should, saving lives and his cargo.

You're not making your point, imo. Why not have 35mph speed limits?

cars · Post by **cars** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 6:17 pm

Accountable wrote: Sounds like the professional driver maintained speed and distance appropriate for his load, and reacted as a professional should, saving lives and his cargo.

You're not making your point, imo. Why not have 35mph speed limits?

I'm not making my point? If that truck was going 85 instead of 60, I would not be posting this now!!!! SPEED KILLS, point made, case closed!

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 6:22 pm

cars wrote: I'm not making my point? If that truck was going 85 instead of 60, I would not be posting this now!!!! SPEED KILLS, point made, case closed!If that truck was going 85 it would have been following further back, as any professional trucker would. They want to live too.

Case still open.

Love ya Cars, but I can't agree with ya here.

cars · Post by **cars** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 6:36 pm

Accountable wrote: If that truck was going 85 it would have been following further back, as any professional trucker would. They want to live too.

Case still open.

Love ya Cars, but I can't agree with ya here.

At 85, the dead stop comes up a hell of alot faster then at 60. If the speed limit was 80, professional truckers trying to close the miles, always push the max speed limit and then some!

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 4:12 am

Always ...... uh huh.:yh_eyebro

Speed doesn't kill, just like guns don't kill.

Folks, Texas is bumping up the speed limit on their most remote interstate highways by 1.33%. Be aware of this when you're on those roads and use proper precaution.

woppy71 · Post by **woppy71** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 6:05 am

Accountable wrote: Speed doesn't kill, just like guns don't kill.

Totally Agree, Accountable.

Driver education and training is the answer. Teaching people to drive savelfy is the answer to safer roads, not speed limits.

cars · Post by **cars** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 6:29 am

Accountable wrote: Always ...... uh huh.:yh_eyebro

Speed doesn't kill, just like guns don't kill.

Folks, Texas is bumping up the speed limit on their most remote interstate highways by 1.33%. Be aware of this when you're on those roads and use proper precaution.

It seems you're taking offense to the "Texas" speed limit issue. The 80 mile limit was just used as an example, cause it was the highest one currently being posted. They are also increasing many speed limits here in New England from 55 to "70"! The problem is, with the "55" limit curently in place here, the majority of drivers are already going "75" & higher! Now that the limit is being raised to "70", many drivers most likely will feel free to cruise at 80 or better! And as for the 80mph limit on remote interstate highways, after going that speed, many drivers will not (just can't) slow down that much in a 60 mph zone, it's just human nature!

And You're right, Speed doesn't kill. "People's" Speeding vehicles KILL!

cars · Post by **cars** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 6:35 am

Accountable wrote: Always ...... uh huh.:yh_eyebro

Speed doesn't kill, just like guns don't kill.

Folks, Texas is bumping up the speed limit on their most remote interstate highways by 1.33%. Be aware of this when you're on those roads and use proper precaution.

Yes always! When I'm already going 10mph"past" the posted limit on the highways, all the trucks are still passing me by! :rolleyes: