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Automotive News & Views Should the US government bring back the 55 mph max speed limit again?
1418 messages, Last post on Dec 16, 2008 at 11:21 AM
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We would all drive the current speed LIMIT or 5mph slower on our freeways, bet that would lower our dependence on foreign oil by 5% or so. I don't think it would drastically alter anyone's lifestyle either. Why not try it for a week yourself? You might find that the daily commute is less stressful and more enjoyable.
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Replying to: keepinon (Dec 05, 2007 12:34 pm) |
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Replying to: keepinon (Dec 05, 2007 12:34 pm) Plus there is nothing more frustrating than getting behind a left lane vigilante doing 55 when the speed limit is posted at 65. With freeway walls twenty feet high designed to keep local neighborhoods free from the sounds of the highway there is nothing to enjoy as you drive down the freeway anyway. |
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Replying to: grbeck (Dec 05, 2007 10:21 am) This works for me! I must be great then. I figure that with the fewer fatalities you have to be looking at better car, better drivers or better roads. I'd place my bet on better cars. I don't really think there's much of an added benefit to slowing it to 55. |
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I feel that with the major changes to modern day vehicles and motorcycles,the need to limit speed would be counter productive. It didn't work then and is far less likely to work today. Most "everyday traffic" cruises along at between 70 and 80 and is pretty drama free. If drivers were to be more respectful of the number 1 and 2 lanes being used for passing and faster traffic, there would be far less congestion and an overall smoother commute for many in urban areas. I live in San Diego and just don't understand why some drivers forget what they were taught in drivers education classes and the drivers handbook. The passing lane is for passing...not having a chat on your cellpone, oblivious to your surroundings!
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Replying to: fast06stang (Dec 05, 2007 3:14 pm) That's for sure!!! I live in Alpine and hate driving into the city anymore. The San Diego freeway system is getting more and more like LA. Not a pleasant place to drive. I try to run all my errands and appointments between 10 & 2 PM, so I can avoid the worst of the traffic. |
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Replying to: waltchan (Dec 04, 2007 3:42 pm) Well depends on what kind of vehicle. Smaller engined vehicle are certainly more FE at this speed, but larger ones may not be. Cars with powerful diesel engines have even higher sweetspots which are close to 75 mph. > 2. We can save more than 30% of the oil supply before it is completly depleted. Mmm, I'm afraid I don't think this way will do much. This won't settle the problems of very high consumption in traffic jams that clog many higways and urban areas. Therefore, it may influence Fuel consumption only in best traffic condition, which , in many areas, are unlikely most of the time. >3. When driving 55 mph, you get to be in your car longer (assuming new) and enjoy the interior comfort around you. Plus, it's more relaxing and fun to drive, and you can multitask more easily at the same time, such as taking cell phone calls, eating snacks, writing notes, or reading papers. This is interesting that you describe this so positively, whereas this is exactly what I think should be avoided as much as possible in a moving car. This may be cultural differences, but I attribute most (yes, I say most) of the non drunk driving accidents to this kind of behaviour. 40% crash because they left the road and 60% crash with another car. In both cases, the crash happened because the driver did not care to pay attention to the rest of the trafic and its surroundings, eventually letting him/herself into a hazardous situation. My view is that drivers should concentrate on driving ONLY, as we don't get a second life. Should one want to do anything else but driving, the train is a healthy alternative. >4. It can increase the engine life of the vehicle. A small anecdote : In the country where I live, I borrowed a car for a few months. a small (1,1l) engined hatchback which had a terrible FE (22 mpg) and could not go above 75 mph. I drove it unsparingly , flooring the pedal on motorway (I was around the legal limit) and letting the engine revving in intermediate speed. Guess what? after a few month, I managed to reach 28 mpg efficiency and eventually, I could go over 90 mph on the highway. Engine was running more smoothly (but it had already 25000 miles on the clock) after that. You don't believe me ? I don't even believe it myself... but this car was runned too slow, which led the engine to get dirty and loose efficiency. I have 2 others examples but not as striking as this one. >5. It may (or may not) reduce the chance of getting into an accident. As mentioned for 3) my view is that the likeliness of an accident will increase noticeably, because a sleeping driver is not one I would bet my safety on. >Everytime I try to drive 55 mph on the highway, freeway, or expressway, people keep on honking, flash headlights I think the US are lacking lane discipline. in Europe, most slow drivers stick to the right and quicker ones pass from the left. I am convinced a lot of fuel could be saved with a more organized traffic, instead of people chasing for the quicker lane (and other blocking others) that i often saw in California. It is unacceptable, if you keep lane discipline, that other motorists behave aggressively towards yourself. Such behaviour should be fined. Otoh, if you don't, this is the result of you impeding the flow of traffic. >or pass me If you are going 55 where the flow is going 75, everyone is going to pass you. Safety distance must be respected by passing vehicules before and after passing, otherwise this is aggressove driving. If passing you safely, what's wrong with that? I want to make sure you have the right to go your pace, but I don't want your pace to be forced upon me. >However, nobody seems to take advantage at this speed. Le the administration put the gallon at 6 USD and people will decide what is best by themselves.
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Replying to: vchiu (Dec 05, 2007 7:45 pm) That is a very astute observation. I found the worst offenders in the HOV lanes. Those have limited entry and exit. The chances are good that you will get stuck behind some JERK that is not going to exceed the speed limit. So the other lanes are going by you at 70-75 MPH and you are stuck behind this imbecile doing 55 MPH. There was a big article in the LA Times about this. I guess it has gotten much worse with the advent of allowing solo drivers in hybrids to clog up the HOV lanes. |
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| The lower you make the speed limit, the more people will want to go over the speed limit. That works for a lot of things - someone tells you not to do something, and it makes you want to do it more. They don't reward you when you drive the speed limit; they only harass and fine you when you break it. And no matter how skilled you are at driving, they can always pull you over for going faster than you're "supposed to". | |
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Replying to: keepinon (Dec 05, 2007 12:34 pm) The problem with slowing down 5 MPH is that a lot of idiotic poor, unskilled, and incompetent CA drivers will decide that they still want to go 5 to 15 MPH slower than everyone else, even if everyone else is suddenly driving 5 MPH slower or 55 MPH all of a sudden. Therefore, you'll have those idiots driving 45 or so and you'll still have stress and conjestion and traffic jams. If everyone drove 55 all the time and never slowed down below that in the San Diego freeway area, then I'd actually be happy during rush hour. The problem is a few idiots can cause traffic jams (and a whole lot of wasted fuel) for thousands of others. |
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