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Grex > Cars > #80: The 70mph Speed Limit Can Save Lives! |  |
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mikep
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The 70mph Speed Limit Can Save Lives!
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Jan 12 15:49 UTC 1996 |
Here's a letter I sent to the Detroit Free Press editorials:
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I really wish people would stop regurgitating this tired old saw about
how people already drive 70 in a 55mph zone so "of course" they'd drive
85 or 90 in a 70mph zone.
The reason we drive 70-75 on I-94 out by the airport is not because we're
speed-crazed nutcases. It's because first of all, the I-roads were designed
to accomodate those speeds safely when clear and dry. Second, and more
importantly, we only ever see a State Trooper on our daily commutes
once in a blue moon, and even when we do, they don't stop anyone
until they register 12-13mph or more over the limit. And when they
do stop, if you're polite and respectful you usually wind up with a
one-point, $60, five-over ticket for "wasting a natural resource."
Anyone who's driven in Ohio, or knows someone who has, can tell you
why people don't speed in Ohio. Troopers are a thick, tangible
presence there, in stark contrast to Michigan.
Now, everyone can agree that there's a categorical difference
between driving 70-75mph on roads designed for 75mph and driving 80-90mph
on roads designed for 75mph. So why not make the fines reflect
that difference? We can do that, you know -- the fine for 80 in a 70
doesn't *have* to be the same as the fine for 35 in a 25.
Suppose we raised the limit to 70 and rigidly enforced it in conjunction
with heavy fines. Since most people aready drive this fast, wouldn't
that mean that the accident rate would stay the same?
Additionally, State Troopers could do more to increase the safety of
our roads by ticketing tailgaters instead of just pointing
them out to TV news cameramen, and enforcing the definition of the
"passing lane," rather than napping until their radar gun alarm goes
off. So theoretically the accident rate could drop
once troopers start focusing on more than just their radar guns, right?
Save lives! Speed limit 70!
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| 196 responses total. |
kaplan
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response 1 of 196:
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Jan 12 18:44 UTC 1996 |
When I'm not in a hurry I like to drive 55 on the freeways. I don't mind
being passed by almost every car on the road. Are the roads going to be
less safe for me when the limits are raised?
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rcurl
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response 2 of 196:
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Jan 12 19:38 UTC 1996 |
Absolutely. It is worse to be rear-ended at 20 mph (relative) than
10 mph. You might also get shot at.
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zook
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response 3 of 196:
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Jan 12 22:21 UTC 1996 |
I've also found that when I drive slowly (ie. the speed limit), people go
out of their way to cut me off, swerve into me, give me the finger, and
otherwise express their displeasure. It's just part of the reason I am so
fond of Michigan drivers.
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rogue
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response 4 of 196:
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Jan 12 22:31 UTC 1996 |
I only cut people off, swerve into them and give them the finger if they're
driving slowly in the left lane.
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bubu
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response 5 of 196:
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Jan 12 23:22 UTC 1996 |
Try driving on the Capital Belt Way around D.C. and tell me if you can get
away without speeding.. I dont think it is possible..I have driven that route
many a time during rush hour and the normal speed for everyone is 80mph
If you dont keep up with it you are dead....
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carson
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response 6 of 196:
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Jan 13 04:14 UTC 1996 |
(ditto for some New York highways I've driven. The drivers are amazingly
polite, though, once you understand what they're doing.)
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gregc
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response 7 of 196:
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Jan 13 05:07 UTC 1996 |
A freind of mine gave me an explanation for why he thought that a higher
speed limit would actually make him drive *slower*. It's an interesting
idea. I don't buy into it entirely, but for your examination:
He has a maximum speed that he feels comfortable driving at. That speed
is around 80 to 85mph. Anything over that, and he just doesn't feel safe.
It's exceeding the point at which the car feels comfortable. So he rarely
drives faster than that except for short bursts under unusual conditions.
I think that's a reasonable assessment. I think everyone, regardless of
how little they care for the speeding laws, has their own personal "top
speed" that they, either consciously or unconsciously, won't exceed.
Experience has taught them that they don't have the skill to go faster
and they get a little fear response if they push past that point.
He also reasons that in most states, the difference between a ticket for
85 and a ticket for 75 is negligible. So if he's going to take the risk of
speeding, he may as well go 85. However, on long trips, the difference
between going the speed limit of 55, and going 85 is significant enough
in savings, to be worth the risk of getting a ticket.
Now, suppose the speed limit is raised to 70? That doesn't change the
fact that his top speed is still 85. However, now the difference between
getting a ticket(85) and not getting a ticket(70 to 75) is insufficient
in savings to take the risk of getting a ticket.
Without the potential for significant gain, there is no longer a reason
to take the risk, so he explains that with a 70mph speed limit he's much
more likely to keep his speed down to 70 to 75.
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arthurp
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response 8 of 196:
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Jan 13 05:39 UTC 1996 |
I can see #7 making some sense. In some cases.
I would like to point out that the speedlimits that we have now
are the same speedlimits that we had in 1930. (I-xx speeds are
extrapolated from the same formulas). This doesn't seem reasonable
since stopping distances are less than half what they were then,
and lateral acceleration limits (cornering ability) have similarly
changed.
$.02.
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kaplan
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response 9 of 196:
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Jan 13 06:24 UTC 1996 |
Re 8: Hu? I-xx speeds? If you mean Interstate highways, something must
be wrong. Interstates were not built in the 30s.
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scg
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response 10 of 196:
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Jan 13 07:20 UTC 1996 |
I actually think the 75 or 80 range would be far more reasonable limits than
65 or 70, but that 70 would be better than 65. I don't think I'd be
comfortable with raising it much above 80. Everybody already drives that
fast, so I don't really see the logic behind the assumption that legalizing
things that people do anyway will kill more people. If anything, it will
reduce the sudden stops when people see police cars, which can be dangerous
if somebody behind is following too closely. It's useful to keep in mind with
this that speed in itself is not dangerous -- what is dangerous is sudden
changes in velocity. As long as drivers stay at speeds where they can control
their cars, and leave enough room between them and other cars, higher speeds
will be reasonably safe.
Of course, if speed limits are raised, it will leave our police departments
without much needed revenue from tickets. I suggest that they then start
going after the driving practices that really are dangerous, such as
tailgating and changeing lanes without signaling. I would think that by going
after that kind of thing they could probably get as much revenue as they did
with speed traps, and save more lives in the process.
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carson
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response 11 of 196:
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Jan 13 10:36 UTC 1996 |
(I don't think that raising speed limits necessarily means lower revenue.
Jack the fine up, enforce it liberally, and the dough will roll in.)
(...that's not to say the traffic cops shouldn't go after other offenses.
heck, I wish they'd ticket those people who can't brush off their
&^*(&^% car. :) )
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aaron
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response 12 of 196:
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Jan 13 16:05 UTC 1996 |
re #4: Having seen you drive, I have to agree. You don't "give the finger"
to people in the right lane. ;)
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zook
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response 13 of 196:
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Jan 14 01:49 UTC 1996 |
re: #4 I have several beefs with Michigan drivers about their lack of
courtesy. For instance, having a truck fail to get over to let you on
(when you are going 65, he's going 75, and the left lane is wide open) -
just as an example. Another pet peeve is someone behind me on the
entrance ramp who pulls over early, then zooms right beside me to cut
off the space I was to merge into. It happens all the time. It is a very
dangerous practice. Drivers should not be penalized for obeying the
traffic laws. And, I always drive in the right lane except to pass.
(flame off)
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cathy
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response 14 of 196:
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Jan 14 02:54 UTC 1996 |
I'm with Greg's friend in #7...I don't feel safe driving faster than 75
or so, no matter what the speed limit. Or 10 mph over the speed limit
(about my ticket money limit in most states). Raising the speed limit to
70 or 75 would, I suppose, get me to go faster in the current 55 zones -
but so many people are already going faster than me in those areas that
I'd just be catching up with the flow of traffic, and eliminating myself
as a mild traffic hazard as people will no longer be changing lanes to
go around me.
On an aside...the last state I obeyed the speed limit religiously in,
even down to dropping to 45 in construction zones like the signs say
they want you to, was Pennsylvania, where, upon entering the state and
every 10 miles or so after, a sign informs you that should a cop feel
the urge to pull you over for going 56 mph you will face a $98 fine, and
that fines are doubled in construction zones. Two thirds of the turnpike
was officially construction zones, it seemed like. There wasn't the
police presence I noticed in Ohio, but every one I passed had someone
pulled over...and the natives seemed to stick to the 60-65 range.
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scg
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response 15 of 196:
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Jan 14 06:49 UTC 1996 |
Pennsylvania had signs for years reminding drivers that "the speed limit in
Pennsylvania is *still* 55 (their emphasis, not mine). Then, last time I was
driving through Pennsylvania, that sign was gone. Just as I was beginning
to wonder what had happened to it, I saw a "speed limit 65" sign.
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dadroc
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response 16 of 196:
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Jan 14 15:40 UTC 1996 |
I remember the bad old days when the speed limit was 70 and speed was cool,
I also remember over and over how they recovered the bodies and perhaps
the car from a tree...When was the last time you heard that one. The bad
old days are returning.
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rogue
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response 17 of 196:
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Jan 14 21:38 UTC 1996 |
#13: I do that on the on-ramp if the car in front of me doesn't accelerate
fast enough. People who think they can merge onto freeways at 35mph
deserve to be cut off.
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n8nxf
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response 18 of 196:
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Jan 15 14:31 UTC 1996 |
I do that every time rogue is behind me on the on-ramp. It's difficult
to keep a straight face while I watch in the rear-view mirror ;)
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mikep
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response 19 of 196:
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Jan 15 15:28 UTC 1996 |
I can see why Penn resisted the 65 urge in some of those twisty,
mountainous stretches of the interstate. I'm a bit surprised that
they've relented on that, I don't think a lot of those areas would
be very safe at much over 55.
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n8nxf
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response 20 of 196:
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Jan 15 16:23 UTC 1996 |
The Penn COPs also had some of th best hiding places in the median.
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beeswing
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response 21 of 196:
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Jan 15 16:51 UTC 1996 |
TN is not willing to raise the speed limit. It is also not illegal to not use
your turn signal here. Is there anyone here from Montana, the land of the
autobahn?
I have heard that places with no speed limits don't have many wrecks, but when
there is a wreck, usually people are killed.
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danr
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response 22 of 196:
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Jan 15 17:03 UTC 1996 |
Places like Montana generally have light traffic, so that's the reason there
are few accidents.
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zook
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response 23 of 196:
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Jan 15 17:44 UTC 1996 |
Re: 17 That's an inexcusable attitude, and just the kind of thing I am
talking about. As it happens, I merge close to highway speed (50-60mph in
a 55 mph zone), adjusted for traffic, weather, etc. I've been cut off for
going anywhere up to 75 mph (in a 55 mph zone) by people with a burr up
their butt trying to set speed records. Safety does not preclude speed,
nor does speed justify unsafe driving habits, even though the idiots around
here seem to think otherwise.
(Boy, I'm really having trouble with this flame thrower...)
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adbarr
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response 24 of 196:
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Jan 15 23:02 UTC 1996 |
What zook said. There are irresponsible "drivers" on the road with excess
testosterone. I wish flamethrowers and Light Anti-tank Weapons were available
at Murrays.
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