RE: US raises speed limits
Tuesday 12th July 2005
TexasSpeed limits have been raised in three US states.
US raises speed limits
Three of them do anyway, up to 80mph
Texas
In Texas, the limit went up to 80mph on rural interstates, in Iowa it rises to 70mph, again on rural roads, while in May, the limit in Indiana went from 65mph to 70mph in areas with less than 50,000 population -- one supposes you aren't supposed to count them first. Lorries go faster too -- their limit went up to 65mph.
Recent responses on one US forum included a clipping from a Montana state press release, as follows: "In 1999, after 4 years of no numerical or posted daytime speed limit on these classifications of highways, outside of urban areas, Montana recorded its lowest fatality rate. For the last 5 months of no daytime limits in Montana, the period after its Supreme Court had ruled that the Reasonable and Prudent law was unconstitutional, reported fatal accident rate declined to a record low. Fixed speed limits were reinstated on Memorial Day weekend 1999. Since then, fatal accidents have begun to rise again."
Discussion
"...Recent responses on one US forum included a clipping from a Montana state press release, as follows:
"In 1999, after 4 years of no numerical or posted daytime speed limit on these classifications of highways, outside of urban areas, Montana recorded its lowest fatality rate. For the last 5 months of no daytime limits in Montana, the period after its Supreme Court had ruled that the Reasonable and Prudent law was unconstitutional, reported fatal accident rate declined to a record low. Fixed speed limits were reinstated on Memorial Day weekend 1999. Since then, fatal accidents have begun to rise again..."
Any comments from the frequent "new" (and often "gone tomorrow"
speed-lowering and camera-loving zealots? 
"In 1999, after 4 years of no numerical or posted daytime speed limit on these classifications of highways, outside of urban areas, Montana recorded its lowest fatality rate. For the last 5 months of no daytime limits in Montana, the period after its Supreme Court had ruled that the Reasonable and Prudent law was unconstitutional, reported fatal accident rate declined to a record low. Fixed speed limits were reinstated on Memorial Day weekend 1999. Since then, fatal accidents have begun to rise again..."
Any comments from the frequent "new" (and often "gone tomorrow"
speed-lowering and camera-loving zealots? "Fixed speed limits were reinstated on Memorial Day weekend 1999. Since then, fatal accidents have begun to rise again."
Its the similar sort of argument that is waged against scameras (and rightly so) that drivers, instead of concentrating on the road ahead and its conditions, whilst using basic self-preservation of "I better not crash or I could die", instead concentrate on what the speedo is doing and not what the conditions and other road users are up to, not the safest form of multitasking imho........
Its the similar sort of argument that is waged against scameras (and rightly so) that drivers, instead of concentrating on the road ahead and its conditions, whilst using basic self-preservation of "I better not crash or I could die", instead concentrate on what the speedo is doing and not what the conditions and other road users are up to, not the safest form of multitasking imho........
Our problem is not the posted speed limits it is the CHANGE in the ENFORCEMENT policy by government and Brunstrom's evil influence. There is NO ONE safe max speed for any combination of road section + conditions.
We have bends on Mways that have adivisory maxs of 50 etc. If we only prosecuted 'dangerous' driving incl. too fast for the section/bend/conditions incl. congestion we would save lives and most of the time we could get on with our driving in peace!
We have bends on Mways that have adivisory maxs of 50 etc. If we only prosecuted 'dangerous' driving incl. too fast for the section/bend/conditions incl. congestion we would save lives and most of the time we could get on with our driving in peace!
JagLover said:
At last in the more sensible parts of the country a move in the right direction.
Being from the US I take offense to Texas being refered to as a more sensible part of this country
I have driven all the way through Texas though and you can fall asleep at 100MPH the roads are so straight and long. I was in a convoy of 4 strangers going 120MPH for almost an hour at one point! The same holds true for Vermont(not the straight road part, the boring part) I looked down once to realise I was going 162MPH by accident! Speed isn't dangerous cogestion is dangerous! If self preservation was the goal and your options were "No speed limits/No cell phones" or "speed limits and use of cell phones" where would more deaths happen?
Going on many road trips from Canada to the US with my family when I was younger (and later sharing much of the driving) I never quite understood why we had to travel at a max of 60mph on a four-lane dual carriageway that went straight for hours at a time, with the most beautiful clear blue sky above and very few cars sharing the road space.
If you broke the limit (sometimes by 5mph), a police car would pop out of it's hiding place in the bushes or from behind a bridge post and give you a juicy fine and lots of attitude.
I find it very interesting when, whether driving there or here, EVERYONE ends up slowing down to the exact same speed at a camera or presence of a police cruiser, then promptly increases speed to whatever they were doing before; no faster, no slower.
Forgive me for bringing that obvious observation up again, but it just boggles the mind why more police forces don't get that, by and large, drivers will automatically find a comfortable speed to suit conditions, and that the real causers of accidents won't actually be caught by a camera (yes I know of the money-making aspect, I just would have thought they might actually care more about preventing injury and death)?
In any case, UK drivers should at least take some comfort in the fact that drivers - sorry, offenders - who travel in excess of the posted limit (that being nearly all drivers) are given a fighting chance, what with warning signs for scameras/bright orange boxes.
It's just a pity that half our concentration ends up going to looking out for the things, and then dropping the anchors when one approaches, only to wonder if the tailgater behind actually knows he's about to be on camera, before giving me an enema?
>> Edited by ubergreg on Tuesday 12th July 13:38
If you broke the limit (sometimes by 5mph), a police car would pop out of it's hiding place in the bushes or from behind a bridge post and give you a juicy fine and lots of attitude.
I find it very interesting when, whether driving there or here, EVERYONE ends up slowing down to the exact same speed at a camera or presence of a police cruiser, then promptly increases speed to whatever they were doing before; no faster, no slower.
Forgive me for bringing that obvious observation up again, but it just boggles the mind why more police forces don't get that, by and large, drivers will automatically find a comfortable speed to suit conditions, and that the real causers of accidents won't actually be caught by a camera (yes I know of the money-making aspect, I just would have thought they might actually care more about preventing injury and death)?
In any case, UK drivers should at least take some comfort in the fact that drivers - sorry, offenders - who travel in excess of the posted limit (that being nearly all drivers) are given a fighting chance, what with warning signs for scameras/bright orange boxes.
It's just a pity that half our concentration ends up going to looking out for the things, and then dropping the anchors when one approaches, only to wonder if the tailgater behind actually knows he's about to be on camera, before giving me an enema?
>> Edited by ubergreg on Tuesday 12th July 13:38
Speed enforcement (in most States) is a little more restrained as well. I know in Florida, for example, posted limits on the Interstate of 70mph actually give you a 10-15mph latitude (unless you are in a construction zone). I've actually been clocked at 80 in a 70 by a State Trooper and they just let me pass. They usually only go after you if you are passing everything and changing lanes erratically. For the most part, staying with the flow of traffic, regardless of the speed limit, results in no citations.
That being said, construction zones are a different story. If you exceed speed there, they will nail you.
ErnestM
That being said, construction zones are a different story. If you exceed speed there, they will nail you.
ErnestM
[quote]I've actually been clocked at 80 in a 70 by a State Trooper and they just let me pass. They usually only go after you if you are passing everything and changing lanes erratically.[/quote]
Blimey, a police force that can differenciate between dangerous driving and speeding.. I'll go eat my hat!
Blimey, a police force that can differenciate between dangerous driving and speeding.. I'll go eat my hat!
jmg944t said:
Being from the US I take offense to Texas being refered to as a more sensible part of this country
And then their off-ramps are maybe 50 feet long! Better have good brakes to drive through Texas.
I, for one, am glad Iowa finally raised its limit (by a whole 5mph!) A lot of these Great Plains and western states have stretches of interstate that you literally will not make a turn for three hours! (Next sign, 50 miles). Nebraska, where I live, has been 75 ever since the national 55 limit was abolished. That doesn't help keep you alert for those three hours, however.
I hate speed limits mainly because, being a young driver Im almost paranoid about having anything bad impact my lisence. It sooo distracting because I have to watch my speed just as much as the road ahead, and then scout possible places in the oncoming roads where a squad car might silently lurk, ready to pounce
But it makes it that much harder becuase, like everyone said... the roads in the US (and not just in a particular part, but everywhere) are nice, big, and straight...
The 50/60 mph on such roads around my place are frustrating enough, its the 35mph limits on certain 4-lane areas that drive me nuts...
But it makes it that much harder becuase, like everyone said... the roads in the US (and not just in a particular part, but everywhere) are nice, big, and straight...
The 50/60 mph on such roads around my place are frustrating enough, its the 35mph limits on certain 4-lane areas that drive me nuts...
Having driven in Texas several times and the UK, give me the UK every time. I have rarely felt scared on the British Roads, in Houston and Dallas it was a daily experience. Perhaps things are better out of town in Tx ?
The death rates UK v USA are massively different, and in some respects the statistics back the UK government policy rather than those of individual states in the USA. You may be surprised to know that the UK is treated as an exemplar of how things should be done by the USA transportation authority and is slowly bringing in Uk ideas such as (shock horror)new fangled things like roundabouts which are massively safer than crossroads. The debate is not as simple as some would have you believe.
The death rates UK v USA are massively different, and in some respects the statistics back the UK government policy rather than those of individual states in the USA. You may be surprised to know that the UK is treated as an exemplar of how things should be done by the USA transportation authority and is slowly bringing in Uk ideas such as (shock horror)new fangled things like roundabouts which are massively safer than crossroads. The debate is not as simple as some would have you believe.
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