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One of the highpoints of my life was approaching the Montana state line in a restored Nova SS and seeing a big sign that said “Speed Limit: Resonable and Prudent”.
Yeah, Mr. Neese, that’s good. Instead of taking the 70 mph Interstate that’s just as safe as when the speed limit was 65 mph, take the two-lane US 11 for 50 miles, get hung up in all the little one-stoplight towns along the way, take more time getting there, burn more gas, and have a higher chance of getting caught in an accident. Idiot.
I know those stretches of road. I-81 could stand to be widened to six lanes; speed isn’t so much the issue, as is a high amount of traffic, large trucks in particular.
}:-)4
Statistical noise and personal anecdotes.
Eisenhower wanted the Autobahn, and we got interstate bumper cars.
Shenandoah County Fire Chief Gary Yew said he has always thought the increase was a mistake. He is concerned about public safety, particularly in peak travel times, such as the current summer vacation period.
A$$hole.
80 mph would be better
incresing the speed is rarely the problem. most freeways were designed for 50’s era cars to be able to travel that fast.
the problem is people travelling at different speeds. those stupid greenie hybrids are my biggest fear on the highway- they tend to drive well below the speed limit and cause rapid lane changes, other vehicle to slam on their brakes and general traffic backups.
I love the headline = “Was 70 mph a Bad Idea?” The drift of the article seems to be that they don’t know, they don’t have any hard facts, and other factors weigh into serious accidents as much or more than speed. Just another attempt to lower the speed limit, make us put on a sweater, tear the bandage off, and eat our peas.
Widen the damn road and ticket people driving to damn slow, if you want to drive slow, get off the damn interstate.
Really surprised me that VA went to 70 mph considering they are one of the most anti-car states with the detector ban, strict inspections and reckless driving tickets for minor violations.
Kind of interesting that Maine is going to 75 mph and a stretch of I-49 in LA is 75 as well. I wonder when the 85 mph signs will show in TX.
Concerning these accidents, these nanny statist will push for bringing back the much hated 55 mph speed limit.
Here in Wisconsin the interstate speed limit is 65 mph. When I drive on it, I usually drive around 70 mph. (Yes, that makes me a speeder.) I am constantly passed giving me the feeling that I’m driving about 50 mph. The I-90-94 corridor is packed with cars during the warm months many of them driving five to fifteen mph over the speed limit. If there had been an unusual increase in accidents on it from the speeding cars, we’d have heard about it.
1) Make sure your reaction times are at LEAST as fast as those of a three-toed sloth after a month-long Seconal binge. If they are not, then please do not operate any motor vehicle of any kind on any public roads.
2) Make sure your attention span is at LEAST as long as that of a schizophrenic spider monkey with ADHD. If it is not, then please do not operate any motor vehicle of any kind on any public roads.
3) Make sure your car control abilities are at LEAST on par with those of a one-armed, blind paraplegic who is high on mescaline as he pilots a 1962 Pontiac Catalina with bald tires, worn brakes, a blown power steering pump and only one (misaligned) headlight through a down-hill, off-camber, declining radius curve at midnight during a snow storm, on black ice. If they are not, then please do not operate any motor vehicle of any kind on any public roads.
It is my opinion that if people followed these three simple suggestions, we would see major reductions in both the number and severity of automobile accidents on nation's highways.
;-)
Lower the speed limit to 5mph. Think of all the lives that would save, Fire Chief.
70 MPH isn’t a bad idea; texting/sexting/playing with iPod/looking at porn flicks on a portable DVD player while driving at 70 MPH ARE bad ideas and it seems to be what is causing accidents nowadays.
Pretty good posts on this thread so far! Usually we get a few self-appointed speed limit monitors to chime in. Guess they are all too busy planting themselves in the left lane at a clean 65 to post today.
Traffic generally travels at 70+ on interstates. Just because it is officially mandated means nothing. Most state police, especially in PA will tell you they won’t waste time with a ticket until you are over 73.
I am usually a 75-80 MPH guy on highways but was forced to drive 60-65 last week because I was towing a 3000lb pop up with a 35 year old station wagon in 90 degree heat. Even the rusted out Sanford & Sons looking trucks were blowing by me. When we got home my wife finally asked why I had bothered to use the Radar Detector. I said it was just habit.
An increase of 5 mph in the official limit is hardly going to make the difference imagined by the hand-wringers despite the saturation enforcement by various police agencies.
The more relevant question rarely asked in this type of article is: with our roads in a constant state of disrepair despite exorbitant fuel taxes pi**ed up the wall by spendthrift vote buyers and union contracts, why are we obsessed with some artifice posted on a sign?
The problem is seldom the speed limit. The problem is people following too closely. Oh, and if you’re going to drive slow, keep to the right.