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Texas may raise its speed limit

Discussion in 'News & Current Events' started by Salty, Apr 12, 2011.

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  1. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    Texas may up the speed limit to 85 mph = 136 Klicks

    I think it is fine,

    thoughts?
     
  2. Arbo

    Arbo Active Member
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    Anybody know where I can rent an M3?:thumbs:
     
  3. StefanM

    StefanM Well-Known Member
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    I think it is dangerous. With an 85 limit, people will regularly exceed 90 mph on the highways. This will make sudden stops extremely difficult to make safely.

    I think a more reasonable speed would be 75 mph.
     
  4. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    Not necessarily - drivers tend to know the safe speed to travel - found this on a website -: In other words, regardless of whether the speed limit was set at 65 mph or 75 mph, motorists drove between 73.2 and 74.8 mph. Click her for full link

    Speeding in itself is not the big problem - Excessive speed -for the conditions are along with other variable.

    Keep in mind that 85 MPH will only be for long stretches in the middle of nowhere.

    Salty
    Certified driving instructor
     
  5. revmwc

    revmwc Well-Known Member

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  6. Robert Snow

    Robert Snow New Member

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    What does it matter. On my morning commute to work I regularly see people drive between 80 and 90 mph. Many times we just creep past a cop until he is a little behind and then it's bon voyage. Sure is fun on my Kawasaki Ninja 650! And this is on the freeways in Houston, Texas.
     
  7. Arbo

    Arbo Active Member
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    ...and Chicago.
     
  8. StefanM

    StefanM Well-Known Member
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    Your link refers to a study of speed limit differentials; it doesn't really address the issue of a higher speed limit. The study did indicate that compliance with speed limits is greater with higher limits, so fewer people will likely speed with a higher limit. I acknowledge this. However, you have not substantiated that there would not be significant speeding with an 85 mph limit. Most people would likely stay below an 85 mph limit. However, a significant minority would likely exceed 85 mph, and this could be dangerous for the highway.
     
  9. just-want-peace

    just-want-peace Well-Known Member
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    I would think that the biggest problem - excluding the idiot who ALWAYS has to go 20 MPH over everybody else - would be the speed differential rather than the posted speed. Equally dangerous are those who just love to chat with friends as they drive in the left lane at 5-10 MPH BELOW the limit; totally oblivious to ANY traffic in their vicinity.
     
  10. Crabtownboy

    Crabtownboy Well-Known Member
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    Don't complain about the price of the extra gas you will use. :laugh:

    It will make little difference in many urban areas during rush hour. Traffic will still move at between 5 and 15 mph.
     
  11. sag38

    sag38 Active Member

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    One will have to make sure the tires are in good shape. 85mph is pushing it. With cheaper tires your risk of a blow out is increased. A front blow out at 85 with two finger on the steering wheel and the other hand on the cell phone and you may end up dead not to mention that you may take a few others to face judgment with you.
     
  12. billwald

    billwald New Member

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    On a freeway the speed of vehicles is self limiting because highway capacity increases as the speed of traffic drops. Maximum capacity is around 35 MPH.

    Most drivers regulate their speed limits according to conditions. When there was no speed limit in Montana most cars moved around 70-75 MPH.

    The reason for speed limits is that it is easier to write speeding tickets than for following to close and unsafe lane change. The judge is more likely to believe a radar machine than an officer's judgement and so would most drivers. Speeding tickets generate fewer arguments because most drivers know they are intentionally speeding.
     
  13. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    Two things -
    1) This thread is not about the price of gas
    2) This thread is not about speed limits in uburan areas.

    So Crab, would you like to comment on the OP?
     
  14. Magnetic Poles

    Magnetic Poles New Member

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    Wow...funny to see how the so-called "smaller government" folks are all for the government taking away your freedom to drive faster? Where are the Tea Partiers protesting speed limits? :laugh:
     
  15. Bro. Curtis

    Bro. Curtis <img src =/curtis.gif>
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    This is a state issue. I have no iron in that fire. Texans can drive as fast as they want to.
     
  16. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    Interesting point, but where do you stand?

    I fully agree its a state issue, but (for you sake) what would be your opinion if Montana was to raise the speed limit to 80 or 90 mph?
     
  17. Magnetic Poles

    Magnetic Poles New Member

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    I think it's a great idea. Anyone who's ever driven in the barren expanses of west Texas would probably agree. Woe be though to any road runner who can't keep up!
     
  18. sag38

    sag38 Active Member

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    I'm certainly for it too. Out on long stretches of straight flat road there should be no law against letting the hammer down.
     
  19. carpro

    carpro Well-Known Member
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    That's on superhighways that aren't even built yet.

    What they're most likely to do is raise the speed limit in certain locations to 75 and do away with the 5 MPH night time diffferential statewide.
     
  20. Bro. Curtis

    Bro. Curtis <img src =/curtis.gif>
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    I was angry when Montana caved in to national pressure from D.C., and reduced it's speed limit to 75 MPH. There used to be no speed limit out here. I have had my Jaguar up to over 140 MPH, on Rte 200. It was cool.
     
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