[Schurkey]

Everyone ready for another attempt at a National Mandated Speed Limit (NMSL) of 55 mph?

http://www.motorists.org/blog/speed-limits/reinstating-55-are-they-crazy/

Some excerpts:

The only likely beneficiaries are insurance companies (ticket surcharges), local governments that live off speed traps, P.R. firms (the genius creators of public service ads like “Save Gas Save Lives, Drive 55”) and perhaps the radar detector industry. In return, the driving public is treated to aggravation, maddening traffic flow, tickets, bloated insurance premiums, and billions of hours of lost time.

After 22 years of propaganda, millions of tickets, and billions in insurance surcharges, actual motorist compliance on Interstate type highways ranged between five and ten percent. Those in compliance were typically mechanically unable to exceed 55.

Did it save fuel? In 1984, in what started out to be a promotional “study” of the “Benefits of the 55 MPH National Maximum Speed Limit” the Transportation Research Board (Part of the National Academy of Science) determined that keeping the 55 MPH speed limit, versus allowing the states to raise the limit to 65 MPH, would result in a 0.18 percent (less than two tenths of one percent) fuel savings (Source: TRB Report, 55: A Decade of Experience; page 176)

Safety? Today the national and the interstate highway fatality rate is far lower than at any time during the “55 era.” In fact, the last time the fatality rate increased from year to year was in the mid 1970’s when compliance and enforcement were at their highest levels

(my emphasis)

The B-E-S-T time to head this nonsense off is BEFORE the bills get introduced.

Please contact your Congresspeople (Senators and Representatives) and LIGHT A FIRE UNDER THEM so "55" insanity does not get a foothold again.

The organization that did the most to help end the previous 22 years of "55" can be found at www.motorists.org

I've been a member for many, many years.

 

[1badss396]

OH great 55 sucks arse:sad:

 

[Wooderson]

Won't bother me any. I drive 55 even in the 70 zones. My car drops about 5 miles per gallon going 65 vs. 55. The reason there are fewer fatalities now is likely due to much safer cars; airbags, crumple zones.

 

[Jerry70]

Hmmm...... maybe some 4.10's aren't such a bad idea

 

[gwizit]

Average speed around my neck of the woods is 80-90MPH with the UHP (Utah Highway Patrol) speeding right along with them.

Almost feel like I am in there way when trying to do the speed limit of 65 (as stated above - my truck drinks to much any faster)

So bottom line is, people don't know how to read or pay attention to the posted limits anyways

Why bother wasting tax money re-signing all the freeways AGAIN - when nobody cares?

 

[GRN69CHV]

I've been making a serious attempt to drive slower, my daily is a Chevy Avalanche, 4x4 w/4.10 gears. Even with the OD tranny, the fuel mileage drops over 60. Unforetunately, don't do enough highway driving for it to even become an issue around here. Maybe, make that a big maybe, I can hit a 5 mile stretch at 65 without traffic backing up. Most of the time all I do is idle or crawl in traffic.

 

[Mikeys69]

Average speed around my neck of the woods is 80-90MPH with the UHP (Utah Highway Patrol) speeding right along with them.

Almost feel like I am in there way when trying to do the speed limit of 65 (as stated above - my truck drinks to much any faster)

So bottom line is, people don't know how to read or pay attention to the posted limits anyways

Why bother wasting tax money re-signing all the freeways AGAIN - when nobody cares?

I have to agree. No one really drives the speed limit anyways. They all think it's a recommended speed limit. Just this morning a woman beside me was all mad with the guy in front of her. We were doing 50KHM's and passing a sign on the side of the road posted at 50KHM...:clonk:

Leave it the way it is and just keep the cash cow (speeding tickets) flowing. Those that can't afford the high cost of fuel will slow down and or down size.

 

[Jim Mac]

last time I went out of town. it was a saturday morning. posted speed limit is 75 most trucks were doing 70 or less. So was I. jim

 

[Tom's 68]

lowering the speed limit only allows the law enforcement and insurance companies their share of profits.
ever wonder why it is OK to send your children off in a school bus - WITH NO SEATBELTS, but if you aren't wearing them in your car, you get a ticket.
or the fact that motor cyclists can ride witout a seatbelt (not that I am saying that they should wear anything so rediculous) or a helmet, and that is OK?
it is all just a way to generate revenue.

 

[socalGTOpilot]

It takes 1/4 tank in my 'velle to do my daily commute, so I try to leave earlier so I can do 55-60 when I drive it. My gto gets 21mpg at 80mph combine that with a radar detector and I'm never doing the limit (when driving in mexico of course).

 

[oktunes]

I could live with 55mph. It would save lives. It would save gas. It would need to be enforced. People routinely drive 20-30 over the limits most places now a days.

Maybe people would slow down a little and lose some thier aggression behind the wheel!

Just my opinion and what would be OK with me.

 

[1badss396]

This is all I can say about driving 55:

 

[mr 4 speed]

Everything Shurkey said....it didn't save lives and gas then and it won't now...I wouldn't call 2 tenths of one percent worth it in gas..and those are 1984 numbers..when cars where not as fuel efficient as they are now

 

[69-CHVL]

Once again, nothing done to adress the real issue of energy.

 

[SethT]

You gotta be kidding me!!! You need the govt to tell you this???!!! This has been self imposed for the last two months along with veryone else around me. NO ONE goes blasting down the turnpike at 85 anymore. I just leave 10 minutes earlier for work so I can do 50 mph and 1400rpm down the parkway. Two weeks a ago I got 24mpg in my 2005 Duramax ex. cab short bed doing 55mph for 192 miles. I changed my driving habits and saved about $12-$15/week.

 

[prefectca]

Everything Shurkey said....it didn't save lives and gas then and it won't now...I wouldn't call 2 tenths of one percent worth it in gas..and those are 1984 numbers..when cars where not as fuel efficient as they are now

I had a 1990 Jetta for a winter car. It gave me about 28mpg at 60 mph, but just over 35 mpg at 75 mph? I think that many late model cars with overdrive transmissions may also use more fuel at 55. My brother drove back from California and was doing 65 MPH across the desert in Arizona and was pulled over for going to slow. He still has the warning ticket from the highway patrol. The trooper's words were "you better do at least 75 through here or you will be run down by a semi."

Paul