Speed Limit

Quote :

Idaho, Wyoming poised to get 80 mph speed limits



You should be able to drive across the Northwestern part of the United States a little more quickly in the coming months. Idaho and Wyoming have just passed laws to raise some interstate speed limits to 80 miles per hour.

The Idaho law goes into effect on July 1, but there could be a delay because the Idaho Transportation Department is still conducting safety surveys to decide where to raise limits. It might be late summer before drivers actually see a change. According to a report from local television news station KMVT, the department actually opposed the bill, but it was pushed through by the state's legislature. Now, the agency has to find a way to implement the change. (Scroll down to watch a video of a KMVT news broadcast explaining the development).

The Wyoming law also begins on July 1, and according to the Casper Star-Tribune, the state's department of transportation is conducting studies to decide where to increase speeds. It hasn't said when changes start. However, the department strongly believes the increase won't cause more accidents, but if it does, then the limits could be lowered.

Currently, Texas has the highest posted speed limit in the country at 85 mph along a 41-mile stretch of toll road between San Antonio and Austin. Texas and Utah have posted 80 mph on some other interstates as well.

AutoBlog

Current Speed Limits In The United States



Wikipedia


Maximum speed limit in Canada is 62 or 68 mph (100 or 110 km/h), depending on the province.

Been on the 85 mph stretch from SA to Austin. Yes It's a toll road going around Austin. I did 75 mph on it. I was already driving into a 20 to 30 mph head wind. People doing 90, 95 easily passing me. Probably up against the PCM fuel cutoff.

So much for fuel economy concern or safety. Add to that our road infrastructure and condition its currently in, simply wasn't engineered for those speeds. Drivers have no idea how vehicles react at those speeds either to certain situations. The increased speed doesn't increase safety.

joemac wrote:

Add to that our road infrastructure and condition its currently in, simply wasn't engineered for those speeds.  Drivers have no idea how vehicles react at those speeds either to certain situations.  The increased speed doesn't increase safety.

Yup, you said it there in a nutshelll. North American roads are not disigned to maintain those higher speeds. On top of the infrastructure  you need proper driver education and enforced regulations. Those speeds work in Europe, Germany in particular, because it was designed that way from the get-go.

Most of the high traveled AZ freeways are wide open with 75mph limits. Of course that means average speeds are over 80mph. Police seem to ticket at 11mph over.

ggbaird wrote:

 you need proper driver education and enforced regulations.

Oh, now you're gonna say that a lifted Jeep Wrangler shouldn't be carving corners at speed either.  

Diesel Dan wrote:

ggbaird wrote:

 you need proper driver education and enforced regulations.

Oh, now you're gonna say that a lifted Jeep Wrangler shouldn't be carving corners at speed either.  

Uhmmmmm, yup!   

At one time, sections of the highway near me were 70 mph. They lowered them to 65, I don't remember if it was because of accidents or to save gas.

ggbaird wrote:

On top of the infrastructure  you need proper driver education and enforced regulations. Those speeds work in Europe, Germany in particular, because it was designed that way from the get-go.

Great point. Education here is a farce. The standard is way too low. We unfortunately think of it has a right, more so than the privilege it is.

In Europe there's a much greater requirement and cost associated with obtaining and keeping a drivers license. Not everyone has them there either.

Here in the US once you obtain your license I don't believe there is any requirement to re-certify or to take additional training. My last official training and certification occurred when I originally got my license nearly 30 years ago.

People are really missing out by not understanding how to truly drive and learn the dynamics of a vehicle. I've greatly enjoyed the many events I've been too over the years at road courses in Indy, Memphis, Cresson, Hallet. The instructors I've had were great, getting to know and understand how and where to brake a car, proper line and turn in to the apex, acceleration coming off the apex, and simply learning what the vehicle can and can't do. Learning what it feels like when the car starts to get out of shape and make positive corrections, not instinctive over and often wrong corrections.

My daughters are approaching driving age and I have plans to get them involved. Have a long time friend that drives competitively and I'll make certain they get an opportunity to spend time with him.

Annually in the US there are 30,000 driving related deaths. That's ten times the number killed on 911, but yet this number occurs ever year. Yet we spend trillions a year one war and security, with a dribble spent on requiring another vehicle safety item. We don't need more vehicle safety features, we need safer better educated along with better enforcement of the drivers. Society needs to demand this of ourselves. It's much better when we do it, than to be mandated from some government police state bureaucracy.

On top of that, every vehicle on the road there is inpected annually for mechanical, emmissions and safety. The German TUV is pretty strict by our standards.

Any Toll Roads have higher limits?

I thought when I was in CA a few years back, a road alongside the highway on the way from San Diego to L.A. was a toll road and the speed was higher. There were no barriers between the 2 roads but my MIL said you don't want to get caught driving if you didn't have the pass as the fine was so high.

There are several stretches of freeway across the US that could easily handle speeds over 100 MPH when conditions are good. The problem that you guys have already hit on is that there aren't drivers that are component enough to handle those speeds. Also many cars, trucks, and parts on them aren't able to handle those speeds. For example, my car is limited to 130 because that's what the tires are rated to handle. I also have to wonder what some people are thinking doing 80+ while towing loads their trucks were never meant to handle. I've even seen big rig drivers going over 80 with the trailer swaying behind them. If not for the people behind the wheel driving beyond their limits and road conditions I'd say the average speed limit could be raised. But because of all the crazy's out there I'm kinda glad the limits are what they are.

Scout wrote:

There are several stretches of freeway across the US that could easily handle speeds over 100 MPH when conditions are good.  The problem that you guys have already hit on is that there aren't drivers that are component enough to handle those speeds.  Also many cars, trucks, and parts on them aren't able to handle those speeds. 

Try telling that to all the mini-van, SUV and pickup owners doing 80+ because it rides so smooth and quiet.
It is nothing to see snowmobile owners towing their small tired trailers at speeds over 80mph heading north through Michigan on a Friday night or sunday evening heading home.

Every once in a while when I need a break from behind the wheel while towing on a long trip, I'll let my wife drive. I warn her 60 is fine 65 is a little fast with the trailer. She almost lost it in CT going down a hill over 70 mph and started to panic and hit the brakes making it worse. In that instance I would have taken my foot off the gas a hit the electric on the trailer to get the speed down. I'm good weight wise, but a 31' trailer is the edge of the limit for my size truck. A good sway system doesn't hurt either.