There's a problem with that. On a two-lane freeway (such as the infamous I-94 Michigan/Chicago route), semis are limited to 55mph in a 70mph passenger car zone. These trucks come up on a vehicle doing 55 or less (think old woman in huge car or environmentalist wacko in tiny Honda), then pass using the speed lane. Drivers in the passing lane have to slam on their brakes, slowing traffic at best or having an accident at the worst. They then must wait for the semi to pass the slow-moving vehicle, then swing back into the slow lane. This is not only very irritating, it's downright dangerous. I-94 is heavily watched by the state police. Semis have been snagged avoiding the weigh station by driving (illegally) through the streets of my small town. While I've got sympathy for truckers, especially through construction zones, they are a hazard just as much as the speeding idiot in the Jaguar. There's talk of raising the speed limit for semis to 60mph. While it makes me cringe, it could allow for smoother traffic flow, not to mention ease in merging with traffic when entering the freeway. 9 times out of ten when I try to get on I-94 there will be a semi in the slow lane, getting ready to exit into the rest area. I'm getting very good at taking back roads.
totally agree about the dangers of our wonderful multispeed highways. the majority problems i have encountered on highways comes from the fact that trucks need to go 55. makes merging from the cloverleafs in lansing a real pain.
On the I494/694 beltway around Mineapolis/St. Paul, trucks are required to use the right lane only in areas where there are only two lanes moving in one direction. I don't think their speed is limited, though, and I don't think it should be. If they're moving to fast or too slow compared to other traffic, they're a hazard just the same.
I agree with you on the back roads. I avoid busy highways whenever possible. It may take five minutes longer to get where you're going, but it's much easier on the blood pressure. Until you get caught behind some farmer moving 15mph on his tractor and thinking he owns the whole road, that is. :-)