Speed Limit 85 (Houston, San Antonio, Austin: vs, safe, move)

[Oildog]

Texas highway would be the first to allow 85 mph speed limit | The Lookout - Yahoo! News

I figured this would be near Fort Stockton rather than Austin.

[Willsson]

Texas considers 85 mph speed limit on toll road

HOUSTON — Transportation officials in Texas are testing a new 41-mile segment of highway to see whether it would be safe to post the state's first 85 mph speed limit, setting it on a path to have the highest posted speed limit in the U.S.


The Texas Department of Transportation is considering the move on a portion of state Highway 130 that would run north-south between Austin and Seguin, a town just east of San Antonio, spokesman Mark Cross said Thursday.

[Poltracker]

It's already 75 at some locations and I found it a bit frightening to go that fast. 70 was ok but 75 was pushing it....85? eeek!!!!

[Philip T]

Dumbest. Idea. Ever.

[Canine*Castle]

I so agree with Philip T. Idiotic!! 60 mph is fast enough for me.

[spursfan]

80 is great on I-10, I think the toll road can handle 85. It's really just to get more people to take the road, it's been deserted the few times I've taken it.

[hamjeepr]

80 on the straight away is actually very stable and clean. When turns are sweeping and tuned for the speed they are as well. I-10 in West Texas was a joy to drive. I think this is a great answer instead of high speed rail! I wish they would create tollways across the nation like this.

[dba07]

Then don't go 85 if you're scared. Stay out of our way and keep to the right.

[love roses]

It's already 80 and people blow past me, and I'm going 80. I think 85 is TOO fast, especially with the flyovers. It's surprising how many people already don't slow down to cross them.

[hsw]

Great stuff; TX leading the way vs CA (let alone rest of primitive US) with a private tollway w/presumably smooth fwys

Would be far safer driving in any major urban region if fwys were smoothly paved and left lane was strictly enforced as passing-only, w/no cruising (and w/unlim speeds in left lane and 85MPH lim in rt lanes)

And at high speeds in left lane don't want clowns drinking/eating/talking on cell/tailgating (think German AB driving safety)

Any new Merc is rather safe at Germanic speeds on smooth roads (ala Germany) w/a focused, competent driver

Ironically, arguably fastest urban fwy in world today is 280 btwn SF and SJ....sometimes jammed in left lane by clowns in some 20yo Toyota driving cluelessly...but otherwise incredibly safe despite high speeds even in rush hr (always funny how crowd at <7AM tends to be workaholics commuting fast but safe in some >$100K Merc and crowd at 8AM is driving some dumpy car to a job they are in no rush to reach, all while jamming left lane for others...they don't hand out those crappy cars or jobs to just anyone)

US deaths via car are at historically low levels, proving safety of modern cars at today's silly low speed lims despite many idiot drivers distracted by cell/texting/DUI/whatever and pothole-ridden fwys throughout relevant commute corridors in major US urban regions....