National Speed Limit

[tcrist]

Is this thread about a national speed limit for fuel economy or drivig etiquiet????
Your right, got off of the subject. Sorry about that. Good morning Jamo

[wtm442]

National Speed Limit, OK

5000 RPM in top gear.

[Jamo]

Originally Posted by tcrist

Is this thread about a national speed limit for fuel economy or drivig etiquiet????
Your right, got off of the subject. Sorry about that. Good morning Jamo

You know, I was just thinking about all the poor basturds in black Vettes driving around the 99/120 area that are gonna be coming up on you now...only to see brake lights.

[tcrist]

Originally Posted by Jamo

You know, I was just thinking about all the poor basturds in black Vettes driving around the 99/120 area that are gonna be coming up on you now...only to see brake lights.

[bran3b]

this bill would cost me money, when will they think about the little people that are driving fast just to make ends meet.

I have tested over the past few years, my BMW gets the best mileage around 75 - 80MPH, my wife's Toyota gets it's best mileage around 65. The Cobra uses gas too fast to tell any difference between 55 and 85. Each car is different and should be driven accordingly.

[Cobrabill]

Originally Posted by bran3b

this bill would cost me money, when will they think about the little people that are driving fast just to make ends meet.

I have tested over the past few years, my BMW gets the best mileage around 75 - 80MPH, my wife's Toyota gets it's best mileage around 65. The Cobra uses gas too fast to tell any difference between 55 and 85. Each car is different and should be driven accordingly.

My Cummins Ram gets it's best MPG in the 85-90 vicinity.THe 55 MPH thing is just another motorist hand-job.

[Jerry Clayton]

The airways around the world have you fly certain speeds to insure separation---our river traffic travels certain speeds--the hiway system controls should be set up around set speeds---and they are way above 55mph!!! separate traffic according to its needs and you will have separate major shipping system between majot distribution centers---Hub and Spoke concept---
In the metro areas we need one way streets/roads where the traffic control timing is set at a speed that keeps you moving a an effient rate(not setting at a light)
If IKE was still around he would fix the system that he built and probably even straighten out a few other things in the world

[dlang14]

I actually find this one interesting. There is some perception that cars get better mileage at 55 (had this argument the other day with someone who swears by it) . I doubt this is true today, it may not have been true in the 70s but lets just assume it was. Todays average car is lighter, more aerodynamic, has at least one more and often two more gears in it (average automatic today is 4 or 5 speed), plus tires are better too.

I do think it would be interesting to know where the peak fuel economy would be (averaged). I'd bet it was around 65, more without the brick SUVs. I know my old Durango (sold it!) with a 5.7 Hemi did its best around 65. On a long trip I could get almost 20. Push the cruise control to 70 and it would drop at least 3 MPG. Push it to 75 and you're around 14/15.

Now in my accord I suspect peak would be 70 or even 75.

Having said all that the problem is even more complicated because you'd have to predict the impact on traffic patterns. If you lower the speed limit and assume cars will all drive 55 when in fact you create parking lots out of freeways our consumption of gas will go up.

I figure they need at least a 10 year study, which will of course be obsolete by the time its completed

[CHANMADD]

Even in South Africa in the late 80's early 90's they started fining selfish drivers that hugged the fast lane. It is selfish and dangerous. If you want to drive slow...drive in the slow lane..as said elsewhere the "fast lane" is supposed to be the overtaking/passing lane. Also even my Cobra gets better gas milage at 70 plus with the gearing that I have.

[Thieleng]

First of all most Californians are so far left they cannot move to the right. On subject we need to remember that the oil trade embargo of the seventies was the reason for the national 55 mph speed limit, we do not have a shortage of oil now, the pricing is caused by mostly speculation, monies move from varoius markets based upon the economy and the ability to place money where the most money can be made. I have switched from using my Chevrolet diesel dually as my commuter and bought a Nissan that gets over 30 mpg, the people that generally drive a Prius tend to be the worst as they think that they should regulate the speeds, especially in the left lane, more than any other driver. If someone thinks that they should have a national speed limit they should drive on highway 50 from Reno to Ely, Nevada or for that matter any other part of the state. Those that can afford the fuel should drive the way they please, nothing is better for me than getting the snob look from a Prius owner when I pull up next to them in the Cobra.

[Traveller]

I lived in California for 5 years and will NEVER live there again.

That's one eff'ed up state full of a lot of eff'ed up people.

Present company excluded of course .

[Jamo]

Of course.

[lineslinger]

I don't try play cop and clog up a lane because the guy behind me wants to run 12 mph faster than I do. Just move over and let them pass. Why is that such a big deal? If I see them coming in my rvm, from as much as a quarter mile away, I get the over and let them by. Hell, they get to pay the ticket not me. The guy that sits in the left lane and won't move the hell over is the one who is going to cause the accident.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by lineslinger

I don't try play cop and clog up a lane because the guy behind me wants to run 12 mph faster than I do. Just move over and let them pass. Why is that such a big deal? If I see them coming in my rvm, from as much as a quarter mile away, I get the over and let them by. Hell, they get to pay the ticket not me. The guy that sits in the left lane and won't move the hell over is the one who is going to cause the accident.

What a great thread.

I actually agree with terry.

Originally Posted by lineslinger

I don't try play cop and clog up a lane because the guy behind me wants to run 12 mph faster than I do. Just move over and let them pass. Why is that such a big deal?

Because it's likely that the AH wants to pull back in front of me and slow down for the upcoming exit, instead of just slowing down behind me, and the other car in the slow lane, and waiting an extra 3-4 seconds to reach his exit. Most drivers are ignorant, especially the fast driving ones driving vettes. That's why I drive my POS SUV in the fast lane at about 5 mph above the limit, and don;t move over. If there is someone infront of me driving 5 mph slower than the limit, I just change lanes to the slow lane and pass them. WHAT A BIG DEAL. And it gets me when they have to pull out from a side street right in front of you, when there are no cars behind you, and then turn off the road after going 0.5 miles. What a bunch of idiots. I like it best when the truckers line up side by side, up a hill, going 40 mph with a speed limit of 65.

Like I said, GREAT THREAD. We need more of them like this.

[Cobrabill]

[quote=Anthony;865503]What a great thread.

I actually agree with terry.

You're wrong too.

[HI Cobra]

Why anyone would want to sit in the left lane stacking up cars behind them is beyond me.
Life is too short to play these games. Just get over and let them
by - it doesn't hurt. I love it when a runner passes me, like I said earlier,
he can run point and flush the radars. If I'm not in a hurry I don't have a
problem driving in the right lane. I don't think you will ever catch me going
below the speed limit either, conditions permitting.

[Cobrabill]

[quote=HI Cobra;865540]Why anyone would want to sit in the left lane stacking up cars behind them is beyond me.
Life is too short to play these games. Just get over and let them
by - it doesn't hurt. QUOTE]

Not to mention it's the law.

If headlights are gaining on me,it's either DPS or a someone who is flyin'.Either way,i get over long before they're near me.It's called courtesy AND common sense.

[Anthony]

This thread died too early.

Originally Posted by HI Cobra

Why anyone would want to sit in the left lane stacking up cars behind them is beyond me.

I'll tell you why. Just 2 days ago, I'm driving along in the middle lane (my mistake already) of a 6 lane hiway, 3 lanes each direction. I'm doing about 70mph with a limit of 65 mph, coming up on a slower medium flatbed, I guess going about 55 mph or so. I see a car approach me from behind in the fast lane, I guess 75 mph plus, and he passes me. What I didn;t realize what that he wanted to get off at the current exit, and obviously pulled right in front of me and slowed down, when there were no other vehicles behind me, and tried to make it in front of the flatbed, but couldn't, so slowed even more 50mph to pull behind the flatbed, and take the off ramp, with the flatbed continuing straight in the slow lane. I had to jam my brakes, knock off my cruise, and swerve in the fast lane to avoid this AH. I then reset my cruise, and this time I stayed in the fast lane. Let other AH's be inconvienced.

It's not the slower moving vehicle in the fast lane causing the accidents, it's all the impatient speeding AH's behind him that cause the accident, of which I'm occasionally guilty of myself.

And, if there is alot of traffic, it really doesn't make a difference. You'll get there maybe a minute later. Give me a break.

US hiways are no autobahn.

I'll continue to drive exclusively in the left lane. Just drive around me.

[lineslinger]

Originally Posted by Anthony

What a great thread.

I actually agree with terry.



Because it's likely that the AH wants to pull back in front of me and slow down for the upcoming exit, instead of just slowing down behind me, and the other car in the slow lane, and waiting an extra 3-4 seconds to reach his exit. Most drivers are ignorant, especially the fast driving ones driving vettes. That's why I drive my POS SUV in the fast lane at about 5 mph above the limit, and don;t move over. If there is someone infront of me driving 5 mph slower than the limit, I just change lanes to the slow lane and pass them. WHAT A BIG DEAL. And it gets me when they have to pull out from a side street right in front of you, when there are no cars behind you, and then turn off the road after going 0.5 miles. What a bunch of idiots. I like it best when the truckers line up side by side, up a hill, going 40 mph with a speed limit of 65.

Like I said, GREAT THREAD. We need more of them like this.

What is so confusing about the highway traffic signs that read "slower traffic keep right".
I usually run the limit and sometimes 5-8mph over depending on traffic conditions and I will sometimes make a right lane pass if it is open and safe to do so.

I try to maintain one car length for every ten miles per hour I am traveling as a buffer between myself and those in front and behind me as conditions permit

What I will do in consideration of those around me, is move over and let the faster traffic pass, especially when it is heavy.

I just don't feel compelled to advocate my own personalized interpretation of traffic law self righteousness upon those I am sharing the highway with.

There will always be those that display a blatant lack of awareness as to the conditions around them, the volume of traffic, and display zero sense of driving etiquette.

Certain ones just don't give a damn.

My way on the highway, right guys?

You can see them plodding along in the left lane with a half mile of cars stacked up behind them.
They are trolling for road rage and many do it intentionally

Those who lay claim to that specific notion that the highway is their own to dictate upon and all others on this road be damned scare me.
I do my best put as much distance as I can between myself and them because it is that self righteous ego that will, sooner or later, get someone else's family member hurt.

[Bobcat]

Lineslinger , you hit the nail on the head with your reply . I used to drive 50,000 to 60,000 miles/yr for business and saw a perfect example of the consequences of "teaching someone a lesson " first hand just outside of Charleston , WV . There was a car running about 50 mph in the left lane on the Interstate ( yes , he shouldn`t have been doing that ) and really had traffic in a knot . Someone finally passed on the right when that lane opened up and cut back in front of the slow car and slammed on their brakes . The pileup sent several people to the hospital when the slower car being " taught a lesson " panicked and locked up their brakes . I can also tell some tales about traveling I 95 .
Like you , I will either get by as soon as I can or sometimes even pull off until things sort out .... I used to run circle track ( dirt ) and didn`t mind being 6 " off the car in front of me at 100 + mph as I knew he knew what he was doing ... but the highways scare the hell out of me because of the stupidity/incompetence of most drivers .