General Discussion

SheilaT

(23,156 posts)

22. If a higher speed limit really does result in more accidents, injuries, and fatalities,

Tue Mar 17, 2015, 06:46 PM

Mar 2015

then I'm surprised I haven't read a lot of the statistics on this. And I'll right away ask forgiveness for my obvious ignorance if that information has been out there all along and I've managed to miss it.

As someone who has driven in quite a few different states, I sometimes am quite puzzled by a sudden change in speed limit when crossing a state border. I've also noticed local inclinations about just how fast to drive, which others have already noted.

And I wonder if in modern cars, say ones made after 2000, maybe even after 1990, the increase in mileage at 55 as compared to 70 or 85, is actual accurate. I am always astonished at what excellent mileage I get when on a long trip and travelling at highway speeds, meaning at least 70mph. I suppose I need to do the experiment and drive at a steady 55 until I use up a tank of gas and see what mileage I get, but if I went that slowly on the interstates in this part of the country (I'm in NM) I'd be a genuine hazard on the road.

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Still pissed about 55 mph limits during oil embargo?? WI-teahad goes for 70mph [View all] HereSince1628 Mar 2015 OP

There should only be speed limits for cars with internal combustible engines... Cooley Hurd Mar 2015 #1

I think there are also safety issues...but yes, combustion engines shouldn't HereSince1628 Mar 2015 #7

I don't think any engine can run at 40k rpm. Travis_0004 Mar 2015 #10

Yes...that would be well beyond redline! HereSince1628 Mar 2015 #12

But it goes up to 11 Glassunion Mar 2015 #15

If you want to do this for emissions / gas mpg purposes this depends heavily on the MillennialDem Mar 2015 #83

Cons hate any law that is good for the environment the way a 9 year old hates to be NoJusticeNoPeace Mar 2015 #2

This sort of has Koch Canadian tar-sands written all over it. HereSince1628 Mar 2015 #4

Actually I think 55 mph is a good idea in theory. NaturalHigh Mar 2015 #3

Safety and energy considered...yes HereSince1628 Mar 2015 #8

Not really. I do worse mpg at 55 mph (I drive a sports car) :( MillennialDem Mar 2015 #84

I'm going to go 70 anyway. Travis_0004 Mar 2015 #14

Do you consider that a personal entitlement/personal exceptionalism HereSince1628 Mar 2015 #17

I'm just going with the flow of traffic Travis_0004 Mar 2015 #29

I understand. Speed difference is a source of traffic problems. HereSince1628 Mar 2015 #30

LOL, good for you. You showed them. nt Logical Mar 2015 #55

Actually some of today's cars are fine running at the higher speeds Glassunion Mar 2015 #26

Yes, some. So do you set speed limits for the most efficient cars? HereSince1628 Mar 2015 #32

I haven't done the homework on all cars... Glassunion Mar 2015 #39

Why not just set speed limits based on the design of the roadway? NutmegYankee Mar 2015 #96

Because it's not a safety issue. HereSince1628 Mar 2015 #99

You have already been told that cars are more efficient at 70 now than at 55. NutmegYankee Mar 2015 #100

A step in the right direction... Oktober Mar 2015 #5

Which just goes to show how far yeoman rejection of social concerns HereSince1628 Mar 2015 #9

Here in Florida ours is 70 which equates to 80-95 (not kidding) BlueJazz Mar 2015 #6

I know. If they raise the speed to 80, people will drive at 100. n/t pnwmom Mar 2015 #74

A few years back I owned an Olds Aurora hifiguy Mar 2015 #11

So do you set speed limits for the most efficient cars? HereSince1628 Mar 2015 #18

Given how efficient modern engines are hifiguy Mar 2015 #20

I would sort of expect exceptionalists and centrists to support this. HereSince1628 Mar 2015 #23

The odd thing is that some of the highest-performance cars on the planet hifiguy Mar 2015 #25

Exotic by definition isn't a common production car HereSince1628 Mar 2015 #37

You're not playing the "who's lefter" game right. Desert805 Mar 2015 #41

What's your beef with centrists? AverageJoe90 Mar 2015 #59

I agree. Keep the speeds lower in populated areas.. but the USA is a big freakin place SomethingFishy Mar 2015 #60

It's 80 now on some interstates in Utah and Wyoming. Comrade Grumpy Mar 2015 #13

And in Idaho, on rural freeways (which is most of the state) n/t IDemo Mar 2015 #54

In Texas, from the 480 or so to the 70 MM on I-10 it is 80 A HERETIC I AM Mar 2015 #71

One section of toll road between San Antonio and Austin is 85mph Major Nikon Mar 2015 #95

That's fine for big empty freeways -- not for the crowded highways on the coasts. n/t pnwmom Mar 2015 #73

Of course. Although I've been in traffic jams on I-95 at 75 mph. Comrade Grumpy Mar 2015 #94

And they're not all crowded in the coastal states customerserviceguy Mar 2015 #108

Anything less than 75 is too slow Gman Mar 2015 #16

I hope Galveston and Corpus Christi enjoy being underwater HereSince1628 Mar 2015 #19

not based in fact, but it is quality scolding "from the left." Desert805 Mar 2015 #42

I'm actually tired of waiting for the 80 mph stretch of I-10 Gman Mar 2015 #47

LOL, TEXAS YEA!!!! nt Logical Mar 2015 #56

OK in the Daytime Jim Beard Mar 2015 #68

all the way to 70....wow. ileus Mar 2015 #21

If a higher speed limit really does result in more accidents, injuries, and fatalities, SheilaT Mar 2015 #22

Depends on several factors on mpg MillennialDem Mar 2015 #86

Actually the majority of accidents occur in city and suburb yeoman6987 Mar 2015 #103

Yes, that makes sense. SheilaT Mar 2015 #110

I just drove in North Dakota and thought the 75 mph speed limit reasonable hack89 Mar 2015 #24

Were you thinking about the fossil fuel you were burning or just the time HereSince1628 Mar 2015 #28

I was getting 37 mpg hack89 Mar 2015 #34

is this your favorite thread of the day? snooper2 Mar 2015 #82

This deserves a second post: SheilaT Mar 2015 #27

You do no worse at 75 than you do at 60. Gman Mar 2015 #50

Bingo. And if I go 80 mph instead of 55, SheilaT Mar 2015 #63

Be glad I'm not emperor of this earth... hunter Mar 2015 #31

You should be glad as well because I guarantee you would be overthrown. alphafemale Mar 2015 #45

Would you trade your car for a thirty hour work week, two months of vacation every year... hunter Mar 2015 #51

"Life is short, enjoy the ride. Look out the window. Open it up, and smell the fresh air. " Throd Mar 2015 #52

The utopia tyrants promise and then enforce never happens. alphafemale Mar 2015 #53

I'm not a tyrant, you do as you please. hunter Mar 2015 #58

Emperor-shemperor...then? alphafemale Mar 2015 #67

You've gotten to the heart of the matter. hunter Mar 2015 #76

That's why The2ndWheel Mar 2015 #77

So I get a 30 hour work week but have to walk to work? Travis_0004 Mar 2015 #57

Your tar-paper shack will be near work. alphafemale Mar 2015 #66

I'm also glad you are not in charge. Travis_0004 Mar 2015 #48

So a disabled guy like me should need three days each way to visit relatives in AZ? whatthehey Mar 2015 #79

It would take just as long for everyone else. hunter Mar 2015 #80

Oh my God what an ignorant post Telcontar Mar 2015 #97

Do you know how offensive the automobile culture is? hunter Mar 2015 #107

Wow Telcontar Mar 2015 #111

You are not arguing with me, you are arguing with my vision of Utopia. hunter Mar 2015 #113

Virginia has 70 on Rt. 95 Historic NY Mar 2015 #33

Good. There are only around a dozen states still below 70 mph. DesMoinesDem Mar 2015 #35

I'm not so sure how this is a RW thing myself. AverageJoe90 Mar 2015 #36

I think it's a combination of personal exceptionalism, libertarianism/Koch friendly, HereSince1628 Mar 2015 #38

Ridiculous. Desert805 Mar 2015 #46

Have you ever driven across Nebraska? Comrade Grumpy Mar 2015 #61

+1.. Or Montana, or Kansas or Wyoming... BORING!!! SomethingFishy Mar 2015 #62

Great Falls to Boise in a rental car, years ago IDemo Mar 2015 #65

Yes. I have, even recently, and what I saw would not be encouraging HereSince1628 Mar 2015 #93

Yup. Major Hogwash Mar 2015 #64

Its not RW. former9thward Mar 2015 #43

I remember driving from Sacramento to Los Angeles when it was 55 mph. Boy did that ever suck. Throd Mar 2015 #40

Nevada is considering raising speed limit to 80 rollin74 Mar 2015 #44

This is an east/west issue not one of political parties. kiva Mar 2015 #49

I really don't think that's as true as you might suspect HereSince1628 Mar 2015 #98

Nobody's posted it yet, so I will... Rochester Mar 2015 #69

The freeways in Wisconsin are no different Jenoch Mar 2015 #70

the interstate in wisconsin is in pretty rough shape dembotoz Mar 2015 #89

I was referring to freeway design, Jenoch Mar 2015 #92

Jay Leno was on "Reeal Time" a few weeks ago and made an interesting and accurate point; A HERETIC I AM Mar 2015 #72

Yay for traffic fatalities!!! YAAAY! bobclark86 Mar 2015 #75

Increased speed limits have coincided with increased safety of vehicles. alarimer Mar 2015 #78

They Already Did That In IL ProfessorGAC Mar 2015 #81

It's been 75 across the Nebraska freeways since 55 was repealed. LiberalAndProud Mar 2015 #85

I don't see how keeping it at 55 is a progressive position. NCTraveler Mar 2015 #87

You should move to Oregon. 55 mph max on all roads... cherokeeprogressive Mar 2015 #88

Interstates in Minnesota, except in major cities, are 70 MPH. MineralMan Mar 2015 #90

70 mph is about right for most vehicles these days Aerows Mar 2015 #91

After speed limits were raised, fatalities were reduced. lumberjack_jeff Mar 2015 #101

You're not going to find a complaint out of me about this. Ed Suspicious Mar 2015 #102

I'm a motor head with a few years left olddots Mar 2015 #104

Ohio is pushing for 75 ON freeways liberal N proud Mar 2015 #105

I've never understood why Americans are so skittish about speed SpartanDem Mar 2015 #106

My 06 Volvo shows MPG averages on my dash. My daughter's 2000 VW does the same riderinthestorm Mar 2015 #109

no. i'm not. ND-Dem Mar 2015 #112