Who can drive 55

[Bruce]

I Can't Drive 55


Yet another state bumps up max highway speed to 70 miles per hour


Posted by Joshua Condon on Wednesday, March 17, 2010 8:24 AM
The national 55-mile-per-hour speed limit was enacted in 1973 -- but do you know why? Rather than a safety issue, it was a fuel-saving measure put in place as a response to the first OPEC oil embargo.

The law was later changed to allow speeds up to 65 miles per hour, and in 1995 the 55 mile per hour mandate was repealed, leaving states up to their own devices in regards to speed limits. Since then, some states have bumped that limit up to 70 miles an hour (or higher -- to 75 -- in some wide-open states such as New Mexico).

Virginia recently joined the 70-mile-per-hour club this week, according to the Wall Street Journal, after a newly elected governor made the issue a priority. All told, 34 states now allow highway speeds of 70 miles per hour or higher.

Raising speed limits rankle safety-advocate types, but I find their "more-speed-is-more-danger" reactions simplistic and, frankly, condescending. Modern cars are designed to travel safely and comfortably at 70 miles per hour (and some at much higher speeds), and while higher speeds to increase the repercussions of an accident, I don't find that enough of an argument to tell everyone they have to travel at a snail's pace -- really, have you seen how slow 55 is? -- when there's a safe, open stretch of road.

Case in point: I drove home to Los Angeles yesterday from Mammoth Lakes, about five hours North. Most of the drive is wide-open highway, with posted speed limits of 70 miles per hour, and guess what? The only time I was in a dangerous situation was when a distracted driver pulled out of a Wendy's parking lot in front of me in the small town of Bishop -- where I was traveling at 35 miles per hour. An idiot not paying attention at 35 mph is far more dangerous than an alert, responsible driver doing twice that speed or more.

[Sealy]

Re: Who can drive 55

I have no problem with the idea of unlimited, like Europe. However, there needs to be some caveats. Strict vehicle inspections (with the maximum speed for individual cars posted on the car), competency exams for the drivers (unfortunately we give the licenses away here), more taxes that are funneled directly into highway upgrades and maintenance, and maybe a few other safety related restrictions. Unfortunately, USAians are used to getting it all - full freedom/no responsibility. That's where it get's dangerous.

[FUN X 3]

Re: Who can drive 55

I voted for 65 mph because most will drive 70-75 anyway. Move it to 70-75, and you'll have people pushing 80-85. Drive on I-95 through Georgia and Florida and you'll see what I mean.

[5bird7]

Re: Who can drive 55

80 mph is legal on some interstates in TX.

There are a lot of long straight roads in this state with scenery that doesn't change quickly so any speed to get across the state faster is welcome - as long as the road is decent.

[Ediron]

Re: Who can drive 55

I voted for 70-75 as FunX stated in Florida if you don't do this on major roads you will never learn to drive on local roads which has 70-75 as a speed limit.

[Daktari]

Re: Who can drive 55

Hi there,

I have a tale to tell which fits into this topic of speed limits. (Maybe I have told it before but I do forget sometimes.... so please ignore if you've heard me relating this before).

Ok, I was on my way from Dalton GA north to Cleveland TN to pick up our grand kids for the weekend. A nice drive of approx 30 miles, long straight road for most of it through some nice farming countryside. I know for a fact that the limit is 55 but because I was a little late, I found myself cruising along at 70.

Problem was, hid in a bunch of cars coming the opposite direction was a police officer who also found me cruising along at 70. Yes, in the rear view mirror I saw him do the dreaded U turn and 30 seconds later he was flashing me to pull in.

This is where I was sneaky and decided to use my foreign British accent and kind of act a little dumb. He asked me if I knew the speed limit on this particular stretch of highway to which I answered, "Yes. I believe it's 60, I just saw a big sign just back there".

At this point he just burst out laughing and let me know that 60 in this case was the highway number. Highway 60, Dalton Pike. He then told me it was a good job I was not driving on Hwy 90 ! I of course let him have a good laugh at me because I knew he was going to let me off, which he did I'm glad to say.

Of course I knew it was Hwy 60 all along so on that occasion it was well worth acting dumb and letting him have a good laugh, probably went back to the station and told all his mates about it. This is when another two of them looked up and said, " So he told you that as well..."

True story.... Gordon.

[Peterfurlan]

Re: Who can drive 55

If you could only teach the idiot drivers in this country to keep right except to pass how
wonderful it would be.

[saj]

Re: Who can drive 55

80 mph is legal on some interstates in TX.

There are a lot of long straight roads in this state with scenery that doesn't change quickly so any speed to get across the state faster is welcome - as long as the road is decent.

Having come from Oregon to Texas, that 80 mph in the wide open spaces of West Texas was most welcome. Oregon doesn't trust you over 55 except on the Interstates where you can do 65 (never elect a doctor as governor!) while here in Texas I can legally go 70 in many places. And it feels safer here because you don't have people trying to stick to 55 while others are doing 70.

[JAB02LHS]

Re: Who can drive 55

I Can't Drive 55


Raising speed limits rankle safety-advocate types, but I find their "more-speed-is-more-danger" reactions simplistic and, frankly, condescending. Modern cars are designed to travel safely and comfortably at 70 miles per hour (and some at much higher speeds), and while higher speeds to increase the repercussions of an accident, I don't find that enough of an argument to tell everyone they have to travel at a snail's pace -- really, have you seen how slow 55 is? -- when there's a safe, open stretch of road..

My wife always got on me
if we were on the Bike and
I would be doing 85/95.

My Response
"IF I LOSE IT AT 90 OR 60 THE NET RESULTS WILL BE THE SAME!"

[billm]

Re: Who can drive 55

High speed limits for the Interstates one thing, but many old or two lane highways are not well kept, are crooked, hilly, and have side road intersecting with them at unexpected places, as just over a hill, etc.
Many people drive 80+ on Interstate highways with 70 MPH posted limit, and if the limit were increased to 75 or 80, people would drive 90+ on interstates, and as fast as possible even on the secondary highways.
A big problem today is lack of patrolling and enforcement in many places, and most states do not have an effective auto safety inspection, and if they have one at all, it if often for "Emissions only"! Go figure.....what is important!

[tbird6t4]

Re: Who can drive 55

If you could only teach the idiot drivers in this country to keep right except to pass how
wonderful it would be.

You've got that right. You guys sure do love the left lane no matter how slow you are going or what the speed limit is. It should be for passing only. We have some up here too that love to hold up traffic and if you don't like it pass me on the right.

I have always felt that there should be 2 or 3 speed limits depending on the Interstate one for each lane. 55 mph minimum slow lane, 65 mph for the centre lane, 75 mph for the outside lane. On 2 lanes Interstates 65 & 75.

Anyone caught doing less than the minimum 55 mph on an Interstate should be ticketed just as if they were exceeding the speed. We all have seen the little old couple in their late 70's and 80's driving their 10 year old Buick doing 40 mph on the Interstate heading to Florida on I-75.

I had a very close call last year in Ohio as I merged onto I-75 at a major junction then moving from the slow lane to the centre lane on a 3 lane stretch of highway as the lane was clear, but there were tons of cars in the outside lane. Speed limit was 65 mph just south of Toledo.

There was a "very senior" citizen in the outside lane holding up traffic doing probably 55 mph with cars right up his behind and he came into my lane as I was immediately beside him. I thought his wife was going to have a cardiac when she turned to look up and see the side of my SUV right there. I moved back into the slow lane and fortunately an accident was avoided, but it could have been one hell of a crash with everyone tail gateing the old man in his old Chrysler Intrepid.

So higher speed limits are fine, but driver testing for anyone over 75 years of age should be a national requirement every year as it is in much of Europe. This old guy was probably 85 years old and should not have been on the Interstate since he was obviously overwhelmed by the traffic. Driver competence should restrict them to drive only the highways they are fit to handle. Cars could have bumper codes that denoted the level of highway a driver could safely negotiate.

I know age isn't always a factor, but sooner or later it does become an issue. Besides, I want to go out like my 90 year old grandfather; he died peacefully at the wheel as he drove his car over the cliff doing 55 mph. The other 3 people in the car were very up set at his untimely passing. (Just an old joke)

Gord

[steelblue5505]

Re: Who can drive 55

I don't want to get into knit-picking but Your poll is too broad when using the term highways. Many many roads are signed to be official state highways and are often shown on maps as such with either black or red lines. Some are divided with wide medians but they are not built to handle speeds greater than 55.

I myself prefer the higher speeds of 65-75 than traveling at 55. Common sense often says that this speed is best just as common sense should also determine that 55-60 would be best for the road conditions, traffic and weather.

[bwlewis]

Re: Who can drive 55

Mike, I think you said it all when you mentioned "common sense" something that can't be taught and unfortunately is not being learned very well anymore.

[DavidA]

Re: Who can drive 55

The roads would be safer if they would enforce no passing on right side and stay right except to pass. This is done in Europe and it works. Huge fines if caught.

As was stated earlier, it is the idiot left lane hogs that are the danger, not the fast drivers.

[LuvOurBird]

Re: Who can drive 55

I believe in getting from Point A to Point B as quickly as possible. I find it very hard to drive 55 on the interstate. I do however try to keep it close to the posted speed limit on the streets.