Potential record US speed limit of 85 MPH for a stretch of a Texas state highway.... (driver, average)

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Stefan_from_Germany

Agreed,

Here is a Video of me doing over 90 mph in my Volkswagen Beetle (not New Beetle)

And here is me in my old 1999 BMW 523i cruising comfortably at speeds of up to 140 mph.

Have a look and tell me if you think it looks scary.

Right. Now try that on American interstates with half-ass construction quality and half-ass maintenance plied by American drivers in their half-ass-maintained cars who are given licenses after being administered driving tests that any higher-order primate could pass, monitored by half-ass law enforcement. This ain't Germany, dude.

[Stefan_from_Germany]

There is probably some truth in that. However, our Autobahns aren't always in great condition either. Where they aren't there are speed limits. There are also speed limits to reduce noise close to residential areas etc.

In some places we have variable speed limits that change depending on traffic and weahther conditions. That's a good approach I think.

I do think that most cars nowadays are perfectly capable of cruising safely at 90 mph or so with an average driver. Inclusing in the US. It is true that your driving tests are less difficult than hours but believe me, nobody can really drive with a fresh license anyway. Even here.

What you guys would need in order to drive safely at higher speed on your freeways would be laws that prohibit to overtake on the right and strict enforcement of tailgaiting laws, in my opinion.

I must say that I find a lot of freeways very good in the States. I have mostly driven in Arizona and found them great. Would have no problem doing 150mph on some of them.

Anyway, it would have to be a gradual process and only where conditions are favourable. All this to say that I still think there is nothing wrong with a speed limit of 85mph in a lot of places.

[ram2]

[quote=jambo101;24652681]As speed limits are exceeded by most people by a factor of 10-20mph you'll now be able to blast down the highways at speeds in the neighborhood of 100mph,next step would be ban speed limits all together so you could go even faster..
quote]


When speed limits are based on measured 85th percentile measured vehicle speeds, people do not automatically exceed the speed limit.

When speed limits are underposted for revenue generation reasons, the speed limits are ignored.

[ram2]

Originally Posted by jambo101

Problem is most people have no clue as to handling high speed driving

They had no problem back before the 55mph nonsense started. People used to drive 75-90mph on freeways back in the early 1970s.

[ram2]

Originally Posted by Drover

Because a state court ruled that the erstwhile "reasonable and prudent" standard was too vague.

That's funny. It wasn't vague before the 55mph speed limit took effect. Nevada used to also have "reasonable and prudent" speed limits.

[ram2]

Originally Posted by southernnaturelover

I'll admit I sometimes go 80 on the interstate, but I think 85 is a little much. I could see the speed limit being set at 75, and then we all know people go 5 over.

Another factor here is not everyone's vehicle is mechanically able to do those sustained speeds, so those people will always be going slower creating a risk. I also can't see older drivers ever doing 85mph.

People in metro Detroit already drive 80-90mph on the freeways.

[wawa1992]

85 mph speed limits (heck, why not make it 100) are fine as long as there are other roads with 55+ mph speed limits that can be used to parallel those ultra-high speed interstates.

[ram2]

Originally Posted by wawa1992

85 mph speed limits (heck, why not make it 100) are fine as long as there are other roads with 55+ mph speed limits that can be used to parallel those ultra-high speed interstates.

Why not just use the right lane - remember "Slower Traffic Keep Right"?

[wawa1992]

It would be dangerous to have 60 mph traffic on the right and 100 mph on the left. That's too much of a speed differential.

[ram2]

Originally Posted by wawa1992

It would be dangerous to have 60 mph traffic on the right and 100 mph on the left. That's too much of a speed differential.

Michigan freeways have that now, and the world is not ending.

How is a 40mph speed differential on a freeway dangerous, but a 55mph potential speed differential on a 2-lane road not dangerous?