Posted on 03/05/2010 7:10:49 AM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
>>A 5 mph increase in a vehicle’s speed in a collision results in an exponential increase in the kinetic energy released, warned Chris LaGow, an insurance lobbyist. <<
Gosh, I’m sure glad I didn’t release any kinetic energy when I was doing 140 in eastern Montana on I-94 in my Chrysler 300m.
This article is written for Jr. High kids.
“65 is plenty fast,, it should be 55”
When geezers attack,,,
LOL
>>Geller also said she could not discuss how higher speed limits might affect an existing Virginia law that deems going 80 mph to be reckless driving, a misdemeanor. <<
When I move to the east coast I will be driving in Virginia. The information above is a good thing to know.
"It's too darn fast," he said.
Charles Miller, 66, of New Castle agreed.
"Sixty-five is plenty fast," he said. "It should be 55."
These dadblasted kids today with their newfangled whatchamacall auto-mo-biles!
Stick to your golf cart. :)
what, no global warming
>>”You can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.24 per gallon for gas.”<<
In my scion xB brick with low gearing it’s more like $1. In an aerodynamic sports car with a nice high gear, I suspect it is much less.
I have checked my own car, the difference between 65 and 80 (steady speed) is two mile per gallon decrease in efficiency. My time is worth more than that.
Vans often have their own limits
Damn right. If you can’t keep up with traffic stay off the road.
Over 55 increases the risk of the wooden spokes coming off the wheels on your model T.
I have a question for the “Freeper Libertarian Drivers” who think traffic violations should not be enforced....
If Virginia raises the limit from 65 to 70, it will change how many people drive. Let me explain -
A general unofficial “rule” for law enforcement, except under certain conditions - is that there is a window of “grace” with speed limits, particularly on highways. Officers rarely (at least in my experience) will pull someone over simply because they are 1-3 or even 5 mph over the posted speed (depends sometimes on that posted speed).
Here in Arkansas, where we already have 70mph limits - drivers almost without exception - drive at least 5mph OVER the posted speed. ON smaller rural highways, where the limit is 55, the “average” drivers go 60 and rarely get bothered by LEOs. On the 70mph interstates - 75mph is on the lower end of average.
So - if Virginia were to raise the limit to 70, but then begin writing tickets for small margins over that - would they suddenly be in the “wrong”?
And this isn’t about what is a “fair” speed limit. The law is the law. So many of us call ourselves “moral” or even claim the name of “Christian”, yet we blatantly and regularly violate regular laws just cause we don’t agree... Nothing moral, ethical, or Christian about that.
>>I have checked my own car, the difference between 65 and 80 (steady speed) is two mile per gallon decrease in efficiency. My time is worth more than that.<<
Especially when you are going long distances, like, say, hundreds of miles. And the less time you spend on the road, the less time you will be at risk of being in an accident caused by driver fatigue.
What's the moral or ethical underpinning to arbitrary speed limits on freeways?
I got pulled over in a 60 doing 86 in my Scion and I said to the cop, “What?! My mileage goes out the window once I hit 75!”
He came back with a ticket for doing 75. :)
Exponential, are you kidding me. Learn to use math. The kinetic energy goes up as the square of the speed (at least at speeds not close to the speed of light), and not exponential. Science and math should never be trusted by those who avoided it in high school and college.
When I moved back to Virginia from South Carolina a few years ago, it took me a while (and a couple of near-misses with the law) to remember that at least around Richmond, folks in Virginia actually sort of pay attention to the speed limit and tend to stay within about 5 mph of it, as the article states. This was in contrast to SC, where SCDOT could save a lot of money just taking down the speed limit signs because nobody obeys them anyhow! :)
}:-)4
They didn’t have cars in biblical times, you can’t trick me.
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