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      09-09-2013, 10:00 PM   #1
g222leav
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Thoughts on 55 mph speed limit?

I was having a discussion with my wife about speed limits and comparing to American driving culture vs. European driving culture (i.e. driving on the autobahn). I was telling her about this video I saw a long time ago about how driving the speed limit would literally cause a traffic jam.

I don't know if this is a repost but this was what I was talking about:

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      09-09-2013, 10:09 PM   #2
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My thoughts on the 55 mph limit is it does cause traffic jams...We have some folks here driving 45 in a 55. lol Anyway..

55 mph was a great speed years ago when we had slower more econobox automobiles. It was 1970's, 1980's, 1990's.

It is almost 2014 now and being a California resident and having some patches of freeway at 80 mph I feel most of us Californians can drive 70-80 mph safely.

Here in Maine the speed limit is 55 mph and in some instances 65 mph. For Maine residents that's fine. I still feel I can safely drive 70-80 mph because that is the speeds I was brought up on and learned in California. Sorry that is just how some of us feel.

Hawaii has the same 55 mph speed limit and I would say 60 mph should be the max as the freeways there are very short and narrow as opposed to the 5 south in Los Angeles.

I think all US states should up their speed limit to 65 mph and get with times, unless it is like H3 or H1 on Oahu.

BTW I didn't watch the video.. Won't open for some reason.

Last edited by Endless619; 09-09-2013 at 10:18 PM..
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      09-09-2013, 10:16 PM   #3
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Speed Limits? What the Hells that?,lol I think my speeds limited to about 191MPH
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      09-09-2013, 10:33 PM   #4
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one slow @$$ will screw up traffic for miles. That is exactly what happens in ATL. 2 or 3 cars will drive at 50 or less and cause a traffic jam. Don't let me start with the @$$es who do 40mph in the acceleration lane and then stop when it is time to merge.
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      09-09-2013, 10:56 PM   #5
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My thought: Replace max speed limit signs with minimum speed limit signs and write citations for those that are going too slow.

Last edited by Eau Rouge; 09-10-2013 at 05:48 AM..
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      09-09-2013, 11:17 PM   #6
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Saves a lot of gas but unrealistic in this day and age when cars are way more capable and drivers are already used to the flow. If anything, they should raise the speed limit in highways in the middle of nowhere.
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      09-09-2013, 11:23 PM   #7
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That's what the Europeans said about American highways versus the Autobahn. They claim people drive safer on the Autobahn.

BTW, 50 mph is the limit in some part of the freeway in Honolulu. The bright part is, 40 is minimum And you can get a "speeding" ticket for driving below 40 mph.
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      09-09-2013, 11:46 PM   #8
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I think 80mph should be the speed limit on ALL interstates, and honestly for rural in the middle of nowhere highways just put it at 100mph, doesn't mean you have to go 100mph but at least it gives you the option, I got arrested for 103 in a 70 in bum fcuk mississippi on a sunday during a saints game. This is how far out I was, after the cop pulled me over and had me in handcuffs, we waited for a tow truck to come.. in-between that point and the tow truck coming, NO cars passed. So the only person I was endangering was my myself. He also charged me with reckless endangerment of others -.- .

This is my thing opinion though think of how far safety has come along in cars compared to 30 years ago with the advancement of airbag and safety systems, yet most cities still have the same "50mph" speed limit as they did in the 1970's. I truly believe something has to change because it is more of a danger when in a 70mph zone someone is driving 50 rather than the posted speed limit.
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      09-10-2013, 12:02 AM   #9
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in my state the limit is 70 on most highways (you can get away with 75-79). i heard they got a 80 in texas!
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      09-10-2013, 12:56 AM   #10
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Some spots, not all. Mostly the toll roads. The majority of hwys are 65-70. This is in Austin at least. Really doesn't matter, traffic is jammed up starting at 3pm
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      09-10-2013, 12:58 AM   #11
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My state is finally getting a 70 mph speed limit. Now that's understandable in the 55mph sections of road near Chicago (everyone does 70-90) but out in the country where I live, it's ridiculously slow.
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      09-10-2013, 01:11 AM   #12
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Yep, speed limits are laughably low but the real problem is bad drivers and our lack of driver education. Anyone can get and keep a drivers license. I wish there were special licenses you could apply for if you have a performance car. Me driving at 100mph in my M3 is MUCH safer than 90% of the dumbshits out on the road at any given time. I want special privileges.
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      09-10-2013, 01:53 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M3ZCP6MT
That's what the Europeans said about American highways versus the Autobahn. They claim people drive safer on the Autobahn.

BTW, 50 mph is the limit in some part of the freeway in Honolulu. The bright part is, 40 is minimum And you can get a "speeding" ticket for driving below 40 mph.
It's actually as slow as 45 on parts of the H3. I know because that was my last speeding ticket
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      09-10-2013, 03:52 AM   #14
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I've had plenty of driving experiences in the US and Germany/Italy. The 55 mph speed limit is rediculous...just too damn slow

Most of the Autobahns actually do have speed limits for 130kph which is slightly above 80mph. The problem with the autobahn is if there is traffic, it is usually catastrophic and causes horrible traffic. But, Germans usually take driving more seriously, and can focus on driving a car at 80+mph. You let 'Merica become like that and you'll have more accidents, guaranteed.....with all the eating, make-up, talking on cell, chilling in left hand lane, ect....going on.
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      09-10-2013, 06:27 AM   #15
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1. Who still has a 55mph speed limit on Interstate highways in the US?

2. It really has little to do with safety and more to do with revenue.

3. The problem is that no one speed limit on a given road is really applicable for all weather and traffic conditions, nor does it take into account the type of vehicle. On a day with traffic and freezing rain, you should be driving 25 mph. On a clear, dry summer day at 6 am with no traffic, maybe you can safely drive 90-100 on the same road. A guy in 20 year-old beater may be more dangerous at 50 than a guy in an M3 at 80, etc, etc.

The posted speed limit reflects an AVERAGE of maximum allowable speeds, but it is a flawed system at best, do to so many variables.
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      09-10-2013, 08:06 AM   #16
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We have 75 not too far from me.

And getting a driver's license in the US is much easier than many other countries, not to mention American's love to do other things while driving - talking on cell, texting, eating, putting on makeup, etc... Scary at 55 and just plain stupid at 70 or 75.
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      09-10-2013, 09:40 AM   #17
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I've been driving the European roads since 2006 and have no desire at all to return to the US to ridiculously low speed limits.

A lot of the autobahn is regulated to 130kmph which is around 80mph, but once we see the "no limit" sign, it perfectly safe to cruise at 160-180kmph. Hell most of us go out Sunday mornings where there is no traffic and hit 320kmph for shits n giggles.
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      09-10-2013, 10:27 AM   #18
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Probably dating myself but a little surprised no one else posted this right away...

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      09-10-2013, 10:35 AM   #19
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Drive the garden state parkway or the nj turnpike some areas say 45mph. No one ever drives that slow.
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      09-10-2013, 10:42 AM   #20
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Almost every major highway in San Antonio has a 65-75 speed limit. The TX-130 Toll has a 85mph limit. You still see a ton of idiots doing 5-10 under the speed limit in the left lane (Mostly trucks and camrys). Then it pisses me off when people get on the passing lane and pass at exactly the speed limit which takes them an hour to move over after passing or they just decide to camp in the left lane since they think they are fine being in that lane since they are doing the speed limit. I took the driving test and not once have i seen a question related to the passing lane. I think if they enforce left lane camping by ticketing people we would see a lot less traffic and road rage. Some days i just want to buy a armoured H1 with a huge grill guard and start ramming people camping in the left lane!
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      09-10-2013, 10:59 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by track_warrior View Post
Some days i just want to buy a armoured H1 with a huge grill guard and start ramming people camping in the left lane!
You buy the armored H1 with the huge grill and I'll spring for the dash cam. Deal?
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      09-10-2013, 11:01 AM   #22
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European highways: 130 km/h = 81 mph limit

Most europeans think american drivers on the road are like young children during recess.
I have no doubts, that about 98% of american drivers with a valid driving license would straight fail a european driving license road test. And even with a 3 weeks preparation 70% will still fail. Nearly a third of europeans (>33%) fail the various european driving license road test on their first attempt. They have to take official driving classes with a certified instructor for 3 month to be allowed to take the test. And if you fail, it is another 3 weeks of driving classes before you are allowed to take the test over again. Although rare there are europeans who despite many attempts never pass the test and end up living without a car.

In the US, most parents take their teenager on a country deserted road two or three times with an automatic transmission car and then it is a 5-10 minutes joke of a road test to get the US driving license. (45 minutes minimum required road test in europe, if the examinator has the slightlest second thoughts he will make it an hour).

But it is not just drivers education, it is also the roads and especially the design that goes behind placing road signs and deciding optimum routes and dimensions for safe, smooth and fast traffic. American road are wide and nice looking but less practically designed for fast driving. Even brand new roads built today suffer from poor road agencing rules (accelerating/decelerating ramps too short, lane merging warning too late, ..) . These roads are not safe enough to drive fast for the average driver the way german/swiss/french highways are.

Finally there is driver attitude. In europe if you need to take an exit and move onto the right lane to do so, any driver will acknowledge your turn signal and let you merge. In US it is the opposite, most drivers will block you until someone more civil will let you pass. With that kind of attitude prevalent, slow speed limits are the norm.

Addendum: One more factor. Most freight in europe is moved efficiently over the railroad network which is modern, reasonnably fast and well spread. In america most freight travels on the road. A lot of american trucks drive fast but with trucks all over the highways it is another factor limiting how fast and safe traffic can move.

Last edited by V8FunNaturally; 09-10-2013 at 11:31 AM..
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