Texas is blazing a new trail...

Texas_Pete · Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2006 6:52 pm Post subject: Texas is blazing a new trail...

Texas now lays claim to the highest speed limit in the country. Signs indicating the change from 75 mph to 80 mph began going up along 521 miles of interstates in 10 sparsely populated counties just days after state transportation officials approved the increase late last month.

The limit is 80 on an 89-mile stretch of I-20 between Monahans and the Interstate 10 interchange at the edge of the Jeff Davis Mountains. Same for the 432 miles between Kerrville and El Paso on I-10.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/060506dntexspeedlimit.53f162d7.html

Hell, California should be next. When I used to drive from San Diego to Temecula and was driving about 75, I got passed up like I was driving 55. Everybody speeds anyway, there should be a higher speed limit everywhere.

chef · Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 12:27 am Post subject:

I agree. When driving on the 405, most people are going around 80 (when there's no traffic)

Not a big deal in LA though, cops don't really enforce the highway speed limit anyways.

I wish they'd make the speed limit to Vegas 90mph on the 15 though.

Texas_Pete · Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 3:52 am Post subject:

I've never driven to Vegas, but a lot of my friends have and would agree.

Bergamotichek · Retired Number Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Posts: 16777206

Problem with raising the speed limit... is now people will just drive 5-10 mph over that.

So now you've got people doing 85-90 mph.

Not like I drive the speed limit... but raising the speed limit is not a deterrent to speeding.

audioaxes · Franchise Player Joined: 26 Apr 2004 Posts: 12573

LakersAFI · Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 6:55 pm Post subject:

85 sounds good, here in LA i think the cops will let you slip if you going around 77 79 most times

ShadyG · Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 7:35 am Post subject:

In L.A., I don't think they could get away with higher than 70, maybe 75. The traffic is too unpredictable. You could be headed down the 405 at 80 mph, and then it slows to 20 mph instantly. Now that's probably ok for everyone here, but there are older people on the road with slower reflexes. Have to draw the line somewhere, and studies show the correct point is 85th percentile. An engineering and traffic survey with this in mind would probably come up with a number between 70-75 for most parts of L.A.

Unfortunately, these studies are done all the time with the line drawn at 50th percentile, a speed that is actually less safe than the 85th. Speed doesn't kill; speed differential does.
_________________
Nerd rock in progress.
http://briangraymusic.com/?toptab=1

Mike@LG · Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 7:41 am Post subject:

I'm all for a higher speed limit.

I wouldn't only hope there's some requirement to access that kind of speed on specific roads.

Germany has the autobahn, but a FAR more rigorous driving test.
_________________
Resident Car Nut.

https://lakersdraft.substack.com/

I am not an economic advisor nor do I advise economic strategies or plans.

LA3Pete · Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 10:25 am Post subject:

I personally think it's pretty irresponsible for Texas to be raising the speed limit in this energy environment. Gas mileage goes down exponentially as speed increases.

I guess that's par for the course, though -- I lived in Texas for 3 years and never experienced a more selfish culture in my life.

ocho · Retired Number Joined: 24 May 2005 Posts: 53788

doesn't the autoban have less accidents than us? i remember hearing that somewhere.