[mvpel]

Your limited observation doesn't qualify as traffic engineering data, though. The freeways in the US typically have a design speed of 75 miles per hour. Going much faster than that in a typical auto yeilds a significantly more precarious driving sensation.

The reason people are going 70-75 on the freeway now that you have a 65mph limit, is that the artificial 55mph limit and its excessive fines exerted downward pressure on the overall speed of traffic that has been somewhat relieved by the 65mph speed limit. People are driving closer to the safe design speed of the roadway because they're no longer threatened with half a dozen points on their license and three years of exhorbitant insurance rates for doing so.

If the speed limit were set to 70-75, or even repealed entirely, a variety of traffic engineering studies indicate that the overall speed of traffic would settle in at the safe speed for the road, rather than increasing in 10mph increments over the posted limit.

[genefromjersey]

I understand there are some unposted roads-I think the Autobahn is one-and I've heard there are still some drivers who can't rest unless they've passed everyone; with others behind them trying to pass them !