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It's sad that interstate speeds were actually higher 60 years ago than they are now. Maybe the difference then was that the local governments didn't realize how much money they could raise by artificially lowering the speed limits, then upping enforcement to ensure tickets were a major source of revenue....maybe if governments could live within their means, this wouldn't be a problem.
I think your reason is the correct one, but the excuse often given is that far more cars are on the road now than in the 1950s.
It's sad that interstate speeds were actually higher 60 years ago than they are now.
There weren't any interstates 60 years ago. There were a few four-lane undivided highways near big cities, but otherwise, nearly all driving was on two lane roads. Most states had 60 for a speed limit, a few 65, but there were some as low as 50.
By the way, 60 years ago, few people had liability insurance,either, and I don't think it was mandatory anywhere. If you had a decent car, or if it was financed, you had collision insurance on it, otherwise everyone just went bare until well into the 70s.
I've driven to well over 150MPH many times on Autobahn and it was not a Lamborghini (VW or BMW rental cars).
No vibration, car feels no different than 80 MPH, just the adrenaline rush.
Pretty sure the regular crapy US rental cars would've been a suicidal mission...
I've driven to well over 150MPH many times on Autobahn and it was not a Lamborghini (VW or BMW rental cars).
No vibration, car feels no different than 80 MPH, just the adrenaline rush.
Pretty sure the regular crapy US rental cars would've been a suicidal mission...
Eh, most of the US rental car fleet would have never gotten that fast in the first place. My 130 mph jaunts were in a Volkswagen Golf TDI...good little car, but it's not an M3, S4, or AMG Merc.
Never saw a Lamborghini while in Germany, but I did see a couple rental Ferrari's at the Nurburgring. One guy was getting SCREAMED at after a lap, for not keeping to his line and allowing faster drivers (in slower cars) to get by. LoL. Exactly why I didn't drive the ring, and instead hitched a ride in a guys C63 AMG... Now that was fun
There weren't any interstates 60 years ago. There were a few four-lane undivided highways near big cities, but otherwise, nearly all driving was on two lane roads. Most states had 60 for a speed limit, a few 65, but there were some as low as 50.
Yes there were. The Pennsylvania Turnpike opened in 1940. The Ohio Turnpike and New York State Thruway opened in the 1950s, among others. Michigan implemented a 70mph freeway speed limit in 1956.
I find on 4 lane interstate, I'll often travel in the far right lane when exceeding the speed limit, mostly because there is almost no traffic in the 'slow' lane.
Also massive respect for the voice on the video. That's one smart dude.
This guy, Chris Thompson, is very smart indeed. He is a law student at UBC (University of British Columbia), who got his claim to fame two years ago when we have a campaign get rid of our HST/VAT tax (a campaign spearheaded by a former Premier who had to resign is disgrace after being caught red handed with his hand in cookie jar). Getting rid of the tax meant going back to the old less efficient tax. Chris shot so many holes in the anti HST arguments that it would almost be embarrassing to watch if I weren't laughing so hard. See video here.
Yes there were. The Pennsylvania Turnpike opened in 1940. The Ohio Turnpike and New York State Thruway opened in the 1950s, among others. Michigan implemented a 70mph freeway speed limit in 1956.
There were a few limited access roads, most of them toll (as distinct from "freeway"). Sixty years ago was 1953, the year Eisenhower was inaugurated, and obviously had no chance yet to have his interstate highway system any more than a dream.
Michigan was practically the only state that had any more than token freeway mileage in 1953, with four lanes (not limited access) extending way past Saginaw, but otherwise, barely out of Wayne County. How things have changed. Michigan now has 6 of the ten most populous counties with no four-lane access to the Interstate grid. (I've seen the list, but can't find it right now. I think, Lenawee, Marquette and Grand Traverse were the top three, followed by one of two in Maine and then some more in Michigan.)
Last edited by jtur88; 09-13-2013 at 11:54 AM..
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