General Discussion

Tony_FLADEM

(3,023 posts) Thu Jun 7, 2012, 12:17 PM Jun 2012

Texas highway would be the first to allow 85 mph speed limit [View all]

Can't drive 55? … 65? … 75? How about 85?

A stretch of Texas highway may soon be the first road in the country to have a posted 85 mph speed limit.

The Texas Department of Transportation said this week that part of a toll road being built between Austin and San Antonio will be tested to see if motorists could safely push it to 85.

"It was designed under extremely high design parameters," Darren McDaniel, the state's Speed Management Director told WOAI radio.

Texas and Utah are the only states with 80 mph limits on some roadways. But Texas turned heads when lawmakers gave the green light to go to 85 if needed.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/texas-highway-first-allow-85-mph-speed-limit-154924311.html;_ylt=AjWi0O9aQC_zPNcl97hGlsIb2bZ_;_ylu=X3oDMTFlaTZtbmVsBG1pdANCbG9nIEluZGV4IEJ5IEFsbARwb3MDMQRzZWMDTWVkaWFCbG9nSW5kZXg-;_ylg=X3oDMTFlamZvM2ZlBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdAMEcHQDc2VjdGlvbnM-;_ylv=3

82 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Texas highway would be the first to allow 85 mph speed limit [View all] Tony_FLADEM Jun 2012 OP

"if needed"??? unblock Jun 2012 #1

Have you ever driven across West Texas? hobbit709 Jun 2012 #4

as a matter of fact, i have. i've also done the austin - san antonio route many times. unblock Jun 2012 #30

Kindly stay the hell out of the left lane A HERETIC I AM Jun 2012 #33

yeah, i stick to the middle lane if there's a line of people like me, or the right lane if need be. unblock Jun 2012 #45

I see. You're part of the problem, then. A HERETIC I AM Jun 2012 #48

Agreed. Left lane bandits hifiguy Jun 2012 #49

you haven't looked at the statistics. disparity in speed SEEMS scary but in practice isn't a problem unblock Jun 2012 #51

There is a huge difference between a bicycle and an automobile, A HERETIC I AM Jun 2012 #52

Your 'basic safety rule' doesn't make much sense muriel_volestrangler Jun 2012 #57

Then let me put it this way; A HERETIC I AM Jun 2012 #60

"driving at the average (and then perhaps 75% will be at a similar speed)" does make more sense muriel_volestrangler Jun 2012 #63

Then I have misused the word "percentile" and for that I apologize. A HERETIC I AM Jun 2012 #67

+1 - and truth be told many folks drive that fast now TBF Jun 2012 #56

You drove 55 mph between San Antonio and Austin? 4th law of robotics Jun 2012 #34

it's not illegal, lol! but no, i actually drive the speed limit (basically). unblock Jun 2012 #40

I would think from a safety standpoint having one person radically out of sync with everyone else 4th law of robotics Jun 2012 #44

driving extremely slowly without hazards is ticketable, yes, but 55 is never extremely slow. unblock Jun 2012 #46

55 mph in West Texas?! Ron Obvious Jun 2012 #38

when i was young and stupid, sure, i drove fast. at some point i realized it wasn't worth it. unblock Jun 2012 #43

85 is nothing. guardian Jun 2012 #69

Dear me. Texans already drive 90. w8liftinglady Jun 2012 #2

My thoughts exactly hamsterjill Jun 2012 #12

This means you can now go 95 before being stopped by a cop. yellowcanine Jun 2012 #16

And not very well either Major Nikon Jun 2012 #24

I have went across Montana at 120+ a few times with no problems Go Vols Jun 2012 #3

Montana was forced to start write tickets for speeding by the USDOT. Ikonoklast Jun 2012 #7

I have a friend in Utah who regularly exercises his Ferraris hifiguy Jun 2012 #50

The people who were "exercising" these Ferraris Art_from_Ark Jun 2012 #72

There's not much traffic in the areas hifiguy Jun 2012 #76

Ever drive on the DC or Boston beltways? Eighty-five is pretty normal in the hammer lane. HopeHoops Jun 2012 #5

Illinoisans think that I-90 is the speed limit, and a blizzard is no reason to slow down at all. Egalitarian Thug Jun 2012 #9

Been there. I've also been on empty 4-lane highways in Texas - wide open at any speed. HopeHoops Jun 2012 #10

Try driving in the Atlanta area on I-75 or 285. RebelOne Jun 2012 #19

I-85 and I-20, too... Blue_Tires Jun 2012 #22

Yeah, forgot to mention those. n/t RebelOne Jun 2012 #58

Same on California's I-5 Auggie Jun 2012 #41

75 should probably be the limit. Turbineguy Jun 2012 #6

It isn't the safety parameters of the vehicles that is the real issue. Ikonoklast Jun 2012 #11

I think safety parameters definitely come in to play in, say, SUVs. Hassin Bin Sober Jun 2012 #17

Straight line performance, no appreciable crosswinds, no road surface issues, minimal cross traffic Ikonoklast Jun 2012 #26

That's the problem, isn't it? Hassin Bin Sober Jun 2012 #36

very true Blue_Tires Jun 2012 #23

They really need to make texting while driving part of the license test. GoneOffShore Jun 2012 #27

Funny, entertaining and VERY effective! JNelson6563 Jun 2012 #29

The old guy wasn't wearing his belt! progressoid Jun 2012 #47

I think that was part of the point. GoneOffShore Jun 2012 #53

And those who really do have skills loyalsister Jun 2012 #65

Yep. Agreed. I drive an Expedition for my business. 70 is about tops for safety in that thing. Hassin Bin Sober Jun 2012 #14

Not the first. Before the so-called oil crisis Montana had a very high speed limit, Egalitarian Thug Jun 2012 #8

We aren't supposed to remember those things KurtNYC Jun 2012 #15

You're right. Nothing existed before the internet or reagan, we were just props added Egalitarian Thug Jun 2012 #70

Montana did not have a daytime speed limit. If you could control your car at 100+ go at it. rustydog Jun 2012 #20

Montana had a "Reasonable and Prudent" statute A HERETIC I AM Jun 2012 #31

Montana's "reasonable and prudent" statute left it up to the officer ibegurpard Jun 2012 #68

Driven through Texas Xyzse Jun 2012 #13

LOL snooper2 Jun 2012 #25

Gee, increased deaths, and more pollution, what's not to love? MadHound Jun 2012 #18

Think of it as evolution in action. GoneOffShore Jun 2012 #28

It works for Germany 4th law of robotics Jun 2012 #35

Better roads and cars help. Hassin Bin Sober Jun 2012 #37

And they take driving a LOT more seriously. alarimer Jun 2012 #62

Roads in Texas are just fine to handle traffic at 85 mph 4th law of robotics Jun 2012 #66

Germany has real vehicle inspections, not the "almost anything gets a pass" system here in the US. mikeytherat Jun 2012 #81

Oh, the irony. AverageJoe90 Jun 2012 #21

And the best part is that modern vehicles are designed nadinbrzezinski Jun 2012 #32

First sane thing I've ever seen Texas do Taverner Jun 2012 #39

That's great news for Texas Catherina Jun 2012 #42

Snap - But we're addicted to huge cars that handle like boats. GoneOffShore Jun 2012 #54

bring it on... yeehaw. that means 92, right? oh yea, oh yea. nt seabeyond Jun 2012 #55

One thing though dsc Jun 2012 #59

You will never be able to go that fast between San Antonio and Austin. alarimer Jun 2012 #61

Amen! Thank You. Right on nilegirl Jun 2012 #79

The time I spent in San Antonio over the last couple of years, I thought the limit was 85! madinmaryland Jun 2012 #64

Back when parts of Big Sky did away with the speed limit, wasn't it 85 at night? RZM Jun 2012 #71

Link; A HERETIC I AM Jun 2012 #74

So they're "allowing" the status quo. krispos42 Jun 2012 #73

When will other states catch up? high density Jun 2012 #75

Live in Texas, but not a PROUD TEXAN! HATE IT HERE 85mph...in Texas??!! nilegirl Jun 2012 #77

Welcome to DU, nilegirl. Skinner Jun 2012 #78

Welcome to DU!!! CJCRANE Jun 2012 #80

Insurance companies' nightmare. Ambulance companies dream. Tierra_y_Libertad Jun 2012 #82