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I wonder if they will require traffic studies on individual roads to raise the speed limit,
Speed limits are SUPPOSED to be set based on measured 85th percentile vehicle speeds, as measured by traffic engineers (and not set by local politicians/law enforcement for revenue generation).
Speed limits are SUPPOSED to be set based on measured 85th percentile vehicle speeds, as measured by traffic engineers (and not set by local politicians/law enforcement for revenue generation).
Yet some states go for a blanket approach when raising their maximum speed limits, automatically increasing all roads with current maximum speed limit with the new maximum. South Dakota is the most recent example.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ram2
How was it botched? How does 5mph make any difference?
Michigan's 70mph speed limit is botched in the opposite direction - nobody drives slower than 80.
The decision to go for a blanket increase of all 75 mph highways to 80 instead of performing individual traffic studies was botched, since they had to lower I-90 west of Rapid City back to 75 due to safety concerns. Practically every other state that has introduced 80 mph maximum speed limits require individual traffic studies to increase the speed limit on existing highways.
Pedal to the metal: Should Kansas allow 80 mph speed limits?
Travelers could pass through some rural stretches of Kansas a little faster, under legislation being considered in Topeka.
Bills in committee would allow the Kansas Department of Transportation to raise the state’s highest speed limit on separated, multiple-lane highways from 75 to 80 mph.
Lawmakers could decide this week if one of the bills will go to the full Kansas House.
The Transportation Department is opposed to the bill. It’s unclear where the department would raise the speed limit if the law were to change.
“We would look at each highway that qualifies to be sure moving the speed limit up to 80 miles per hour is safe and prudent,” said Steve Swartz, the department’s public affairs chief.
The new limit would bring Kansas in line with several sparsely populated, largely rural Western states.
Six states have a maximum speed limit of 80 mph: Idaho, Montana, Nevada, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Texas allows drivers to go up to 85 mph.
Remember the days of 55 mph speed limit, or more to the point, the REASON for that lowered speed limit?
It was done to improve vehicle mpg, and to reduce severe accidents. And it had those beneficial effects.
The raising of speed limits is probably a disguise for creating more demand for gasoline via worsened mpg, thereby creating a situation where gas prices go back up. Even here in high-gas-price western Washington, a few stations have gotten as low as $1.65 per gallon. I just paid $1.99 at a location which only a short time ago was $2.59 per gallon. It wasn't that long ago when it was between $3 to $4 per gallon, either.
You can't tell me gas prices have nothing to do with this pushing for high speed limits. Nearly every vehicle--maybe all of them--will get lower mpg at 80 mph than at 65 mph. And then there is that little matter of horrible wrecks, when reflexes can't manage well enough at those higher speeds. Now add in the "driver distraction" problem, increasing likelihood of impairment from being under the influence of "legal" pot, and general decline in driving competence, and the move for 80 mph seems like a recipe for trouble. Oh, sure, it's convenient to get somewhere faster, but at what price for that time saving?
Nope, not a different memory. Your Cato Institute article covers only 1995 to 1999, after speed limits were raised from 55 to 65. No mention of how putting in the 55 mph limit reduced accident severity from earlier higher speed limit years, OR of the rise in them after 1999.
Also, 65 mph is not 80 mph.
Read the paragraphs in Number 8 for more recent info.
Nope, not a different memory. Your Cato Institute article covers only 1995 to 1999, after speed limits were raised from 55 to 65. No mention of how putting in the 55 mph limit reduced accident severity from earlier higher speed limit years, OR of the rise in them after 1999.
.
There's an entire section devoted to the impact in 1974 as well. Did you read the whole thing?
Bottom line there was either no or negative impact on safety.
Remember the days of 55 mph speed limit, or more to the point, the REASON for that lowered speed limit?
It was done to improve vehicle mpg, and to reduce severe accidents. And it had those beneficial effects.
The raising of speed limits is probably a disguise for creating more demand for gasoline via worsened mpg, thereby creating a situation where gas prices go back up. Even here in high-gas-price western Washington, a few stations have gotten as low as $1.65 per gallon. I just paid $1.99 at a location which only a short time ago was $2.59 per gallon. It wasn't that long ago when it was between $3 to $4 per gallon, either.
You can't tell me gas prices have nothing to do with this pushing for high speed limits. Nearly every vehicle--maybe all of them--will get lower mpg at 80 mph than at 65 mph. And then there is that little matter of horrible wrecks, when reflexes can't manage well enough at those higher speeds. Now add in the "driver distraction" problem, increasing likelihood of impairment from being under the influence of "legal" pot, and general decline in driving competence, and the move for 80 mph seems like a recipe for trouble. Oh, sure, it's convenient to get somewhere faster, but at what price for that time saving?
Another conspiracy theorist trying to link the increase of speeds in some states so that more fuel is used. I suppose your next theory will be the oil companies are pushing for the increases.
In case you haven't read, or followed the process in other states, UT and ID I know for sure increased their speeds to 80 mph long before the prices for fuel decreased to where they are now.
And in most states it is a from 70 or 75 to 80; not 65. You must live in one of the backward states that are still at 65.
Last year, FL legislature passed a bill giving the FLDOT authority to raise limit from 70 to 75 on selected sections of I-10, I-4, I-95, I-75 and the Turnpike. Governor vetoed the bill.
Doesn't really matter as just about everyone does 75-80 anyway.
It sort of matters because people tend to drive over the speed limit.
You say people go "75-80 anyway", but if the actual speed limit were 80, people would go 85-88 (or higher).
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