Governor Inslee partially vetoes increasing speed limits (taxes, rain)

[AK76]

Originally Posted by 98346

I currently live in Michigan where the speed limit is 70. Realistically, traffic rarely moves below 80, even during higher volume traffic times. It can be downright scary, and I'm not a timid driver. About a year ago, I sold my motorcycle because I wasn't comfortable mixing it up with inattentive drivers, minimally-regulated commercial trucks, and less than ideally maintained cars. Before moving here, I commuted by motorcycle daily in Los Angeles - El Segundo (LAX area) to near Pomona (inland). That felt safer to me than it did here. When we visit Washington, especially Seattle, I love the 60 MPH speed limit, especially on a bike.

Just take a look at the number of traffic related deaths between Michigan and Washington - I wonder if the difference is speed related?

Note the highlighted portion of your comment. You have no clue, I challenge you to name a more highly regulated transportation sector... you cannot do it, because there is none, not one, anywhere.

[Chris Meyers]

Who folllows the speed limits in this state anyway? I never have and they are too low everywhere. Invest in a good radar detector.

[texasdiver]

There's always Texas where it's 85 on the toll roads between Austin and San Antonio

[pnwguy2]

75 is completely acceptable, IMO, from George, WA to outside of Spokane on I-90. Maybe a slowdown near Moses Lake, but other than that mini-metro, it is basically a straight highway.

W. Washington may be a different animal. Putting 75 in place south of Olympia to outside of Vancouver would be questionable in my mind, mainly due to 65 out of Oregon (actually 55 out of Portland, then an increase to 70 outside of Vancouver that exists now) Could create some pent up speeding by Oregonians, and many W. Washingtonians who simply won't drive at the limit, both above and below. I would start with I-90, then look at I-82 from Ellensburg to outside of Umatilla, OR.

[PS90]

Originally Posted by pnwguy2

75 is completely acceptable, IMO, from George, WA to outside of Spokane on I-90. Maybe a slowdown near Moses Lake, but other than that mini-metro, it is basically a straight highway.

W. Washington may be a different animal. Putting 75 in place south of Olympia to outside of Vancouver would be questionable in my mind, mainly due to 65 out of Oregon (actually 55 out of Portland, then an increase to 70 outside of Vancouver that exists now) Could create some pent up speeding by Oregonians, and many W. Washingtonians who simply won't drive at the limit, both above and below. I would start with I-90, then look at I-82 from Ellensburg to outside of Umatilla, OR.

I agree with you. Western WA's traffic would likely be scary if the limits were much higher. But I-90 in Eastern WA is nearly identical to the rural freeways in other western states that already have much higher speed limits.

Is Inslee taking this into account, or is he doing the typical Washington politician thing - only caring about the constituents that he can see from the Space Needle?

[thatguy950]

Originally Posted by Chris Meyers

Who folllows the speed limits in this state anyway? I never have and they are too low everywhere. Invest in a good radar detector.

You can always spot the native Seattleites, they do not follow the speed limit, but rather treat it as an unreachable speed which they seem to never arrive within even 5mph of...in the left lane.

[pnwguy2]

Yeah, this has been a problem for decades. However, I see some progress in the last few years. State police actually ticketing drivers for upholding traffic, and many who simply drive around the slow-pokes, not exactly the safest plan, but it does make a point. And if you signal, you actually are doing it legally as long as you are not at an aggressive speed.

[Haakon]

Originally Posted by PS90

Or does he think that Washingtonians need to be baby-sat more than citizens of other states?

Do you know of any big government democrat that doesn't think the citizens need government babysitters?

[backdrifter]

Originally Posted by NoNansea

angelinogirl~ You know the most nanny/police state is California. For the 2014 year, California passed over 800 new laws. Washington enacted 11, I believe.

It's difficult going 60 mph on the freeways here in Washington, at least it is if you're used to driving in so California.

If you go over 65, you stand out because everyone is doing 60. Easy for the State Troopers to pick you off.

Where the speed limit in so cal is 65, most people drive at 75. Some faster.

Everyone is doing 60? Seriously? Between Olympia and Everett 10 over is normal when traffic is moving freely, as it is here in the Portland/Vancouver area. I remember getting tailgated all the time when doing 70 in a 60 zone on I-5 through South Seattle when I lived up there. And as soon as they could they'd pass me at 75-80. It seems like traffic slows near the I-5 exits/on-ramps to some of the small towns south of Olympia like Centralia and Kalama, but most I-5 drivers seem to keep their speed up pretty well.

[Pretzelogik]

Originally Posted by PS90

Gov. Inslee puts brakes on 75 mph speed limit

I can see the prudence in wanting more studies done to prove the safety of increasing speed, but it's not as if this is a first-in-the-nation kind of law. There are plenty of other states that have much higher speed limits than WA:

Speed limit laws

It would seem like many of those states with higher speed limit laws have already done some kind of safety studies (I will have to search for them when I have time) - can't Inslee just look those up?

Or does he think that Washingtonians need to be baby-sat more than citizens of other states?


P.S. Interestingly, Oregon has the second-slowest speed limits in the country. Maybe that's part of Inslee's motivation - since WA and OR have recently been as monkey-see-monkey-do as any two states can be?

Maybe you can be next...no pumping your own gasoline.