Utah to increase urban speed limits to 70 - could Arizona be next?

[grmi66]

Originally Posted by Zippyman

Sorry, "urban" & "Utah" don't really go in the same sentence, do they?

You ever try to drive through SLC in rush hour? Makes me glad to live in Phoenix.

[jamies]

Originally Posted by Packard fan

IMHO Hwy 95 from Walmart to the Laughlin Bridge should be 35 MPH. 45's just too fast with the zillions of driveways and stoplights. OTOH: Hwy 93 above the 68 to Hoover Dam should be 75 MPH.

LOL Packard, I was actually thinking about Boundry Cone Rd. Everytime I look at my speedometer I'm like "oh crap" then guilty quick look in the mirror for flashing lights.

[jamies]

Originally Posted by grmi66

You ever try to drive through SLC in rush hour? Makes me glad to live in Phoenix.

LOL - I have to go there for training every two years. Such a pretty area, way too many people and not enough freeway. Makes me glad I live in a smaller town.

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by Pink Jazz

It looks like Utah will be raising its urban speed limits to 70 mph. The national average speed limit for urban highways is 55-65 mph, with Arizona being 65 mph for most urban highways.

I was wondering, does anyone think Arizona could be next to raise urban highway speed limits to 70? In the Phoenix area, I could think of several highway stretches that can safely be raised to 70 mph. Such those include the Loop 202 SanTan Freeway, most of Loop 101 (except on part of the Pima Freeway in Scottsdale), the US 60 Superstition Freeway east of the Loop 101 interchange, I-10 about west of 43rd Avenue and east of the US 60 Superstition Freeway, and I-17 north of Loop 101.

What does anyone here think?

IMO, in addition, Arizona should also increase its rural speed limit on non-Interstate highways to at least 70 mph as well.

I'm all for it. There's no reason why there should be lower speed limits in a state like AZ where the weather is clear much of the time, and the roads are generally in good condition. In fact, on the rural highways, I wouldn't have any problem with eliminating speed limits completely, and adopting a "reasonable & prudent" speed law. Of course, this would never get past the Feds ... so in that case, I think 80 MPH would be reasonable. On the non interstates, the current limit is still 65, and that is way too low. I would even say 80 MPH would be ideal on any rural divided highway.

The urban areas are a different story. Most of the freeways are so congested in the Phoenix area during rush hour times that even driving 40 is a stretch sometimes. Some of the urban freeways are still set at 55 MPH, and during non rush hour times, that seems too slow. I wouldn't have any problem raising the limits on all sections of I17 & 51 from 55 MPH to at least 65 MPH. I've driven on the 51 many times when it wasn't too busy, and a person can easily do 70 or more and still be safe when conditions are right.

Originally Posted by Bondurant

I am curious as to how many people actually drive the speed limit. In most cases, I drive well above it. Quite honestly, I think speed limits are set to generate revenue via traffic tickets as opposed to keeping people safe.

I agree completely. It's actually safer to drive fast when the traffic, road, and weather conditions are favorable, regardless what the speed limit says. The slow drivers are the menaces, especially the ones who purposely camp out in the left lane and hold up the traffic flow. If there needs to be any kind of increase in traffic law enforcement, it should be pulling over the left lane slowpokes & citing them!

Originally Posted by corydon

If you are in a hurry, you left to late.....

What happened? Why did you move to AZ?, for the views right?

Not everybody lives in AZ for the "views". Some of us live here for much more important reasons, like jobs, family, etc. Somebody might very well be in a hurry for legitimate reasons, such as a family emergency. I have been in that situation before. In any case, it's none of your business why somebody is in a hurry.

[Packard fan]

Originally Posted by jamies

LOL Packard, I was actually thinking about Boundry Cone Rd. Everytime I look at my speedometer I'm like "oh crap" then guilty quick look in the mirror for flashing lights.

Agreed. Why the limit drops above King St is just weird. I can see it dropping by Willow tho because of the casino.

[Champ le monstre du lac]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

The urban areas are a different story. Most of the freeways are so congested in the Phoenix area during rush hour times that even driving 40 is a stretch sometimes. Some of the urban freeways are still set at 55 MPH, and during non rush hour times, that seems too slow. I wouldn't have any problem raising the limits on all sections of I17 & 51 from 55 MPH to at least 65 MPH. I've driven on the 51 many times when it wasn't too busy, and a person can easily do 70 or more and still be safe when conditions are right.

Seattle has electronic signs that regulate speed limits on I-5 during rush hours and times of congestion and even sets a higher speed limit for the carpool lane so that it can move faster than other lanes. This might work well for the most congested stretches of 51 and I-17 and just have it set at 70 at all other times of the day.

https://www.google.com/maps/@47.5413...wBLkbSp3Mw!2e0

[Pretzelogik]

Hee Hee that would make it legal in addition to de facto.

[corydon]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

Not everybody lives in AZ for the "views". Some of us live here for much more important reasons, like jobs, family, etc. Somebody might very well be in a hurry for legitimate reasons, such as a family emergency. I have been in that situation before. In any case, it's none of your business why somebody is in a hurry.

I have a job and famly to...
But speeding for an emergency is still speeding..... and a ticket could be the result, but hey.... that ain't my business either......