Support for Car Talk is provided by:	Become a Car Talk Sponsor

Dealer vs. garage: what's the dealio?

Is it time for an FAQ page ?

Hydrogen brown gas generator

2000 dollars for Seat Repair

Submit a Car Question

Topic Index > Car Questions > 55 mph...it's time has come.

55 mph...it's time has come.

55 mph national speed limit.....it’s time has come.

There are many arguments against, among which is that people won’t slow down.
Many were raised in the age of the 70 mph speed limit with bigger turnpike cruisers and cheaper gas the norm and we adjusted.
I would argue that today's cars are better prepared for lower speed limits. A 4 cyl Camry gets 10 mpg better at 55 than at 75. That would imply a significant improvement in the 55 to 65 mph comparison.

-There would be less need for the 70 mph cruiser, further encouraging the use of smaller engine cars.
-Fewer traffic fatalities were consistently reported in the 70’s.
-Commuting times in congested areas would be marginally affected and.in many cases, a positive way.
-The cost of conversion, signs etc. is dumped back into the economy with domestic labor.
-Results are instantly achieved, no wait.
-Cars last longer
-Fewer repairs...
-Less road damage
-Eventually, more commuter lanes with higher speeds could encourage mass transit by bus and alternate travel.
-The Yaris, Focus and Fit are right at home.

Would compliance be 100% ? Absolutely not..but neither is it now. Speed limits of 80 mph find people traveling 90 mph. The average speed would be reduced significantly, enough to have a big effect on oil prices..... eventually, I believe, stabilizing the dollar.
Everyone touts the autobahn. The truth is, there MAY be fewer accidents per mile, but they are hugely more spectacular with greater chance of death and serious injury. Plus, the autobahn is a specialized highway with greater thought given to speed and more limited access.

Let’s make an impact NOW. It’s a struggle to come up with many down sides that don’t include the investments many of us have made in our egos.

Posted by: mconn

Well, it sounds good in theory. But, as others have said before, you can put the speed limit at 40mph and people will still be driving at least 70mph. People will drive whatever speed they feel like because most people don't get caught.

If a shrill minority of sanctimonious do-gooders manage to bring back the widely loathed 55 mph speed limit, I predict it will result in the most widespread preponderance of civil disobedience since the Prohibition era. Just like the last time we tried it.

"Socialist drivel , how fast you drive should be a personal choice (within reason of course, Most everyone would agree that barreling down the road at 115 MPH in a blizzard is unsafe)."

One of the funniest comments I've heard in the whole discussion. It begs the reply; Who's reason ? The college kid that thinks it's safe to drive a Prism 100 mph while using pot analogy to make a point.

How about barrelling down the road at 115 mph on a clear day. Reason is something that is short supply on the public highway during rush hour.

Do you think it's reasonable to tailgate or cut you off at an exit ? Gee, we ve just given that same guy his own reason to choose his speed instead law enforcement.

One other point about "socialist drivel" The Interstae high way was co designed by govt. to save lives and not provide a drag race between two points.....

From DOD

"During World War II, Gen. Eisenhower saw the advantages Germany enjoyed because of the autobahn network. He also noted the enhanced mobility of the Allies when they fought their way into Germany. President Eisenhower established the Highway Trust Fund to create a funding mechanism that enabled the United States to build a national road network similar to the German Autobahn.

From the outset of construction of the Interstate System, the DOD has monitored its progress closely, ensuring direct military input to all phases of construction. The National Defense Highway System was responsible for building many of the first freeways. Its purpose was supposedly to allow for mass evacuation of cities in the event of a nuclear attack. The Interstate system was designed so that one mile in every five must be straight, usable as airstrips in times of war or other emergencies. "

Just like "the internet" it's big bros. idea and thank God we give some social "dogooder" an equal say in it's use.

I was proposing making the interstate system more efficient. It's far cheaper to simply raise speed limits, thereby making more use of what we already have, than it is adding more lanes and more roads at a much greater expense to the taxpayer. And while the interstate was initially a national defense idea (the one in every five miles is an airstrip thing is an urban myth BTW), in real world use it's used roughly 99.9999% for civilian/commercial purposes.

I guess wwe are talking apples and oranges......the input of the military was during the initial contruction of the early interstate systems....airstip not an "urban myth" then, but not a consideration now.

Hell lets make it infinitely efficient and let what was suggested earlier, everyone deside for themselves their own reasonable speed...cell phone addicts, drinkers, pot heads, and the worst, road rage maniacs. Wouldn't it be fun dodging them just for the fun of it...maybe we could force a few of those do-gooders off the highways and into backroads.

Of course there would be a minimum speed that everyone would have to obey, just like there is now. Americans just need to learn proper lane discipline that works quite well in other countries. If the folks that wished to travel at a lower speed would do the decent thing and stay in the right lane, instead of slothing along three abreast across the highway, it would help everyone. It works in Germany, and it could work here. Alot of the roads here would need some work done to support high speed driving, but the money for that could come from the proceeds made from people shelling out money for the endorsements.

double post, sorry

Updated: 04/10/2008 12:39:12 PM

"Depends on the definition of 'is'". In this case "Who's reason" is defined as prudent speeds for the conditions and/or/around the 85th percentile and not doing anything deemed illegal while behind the wheel. I would like to see a graduated licensing system, if you show competence behind the wheel you are permitted to drive faster, if you lack the ability to drive safely/competently then you would be more limited in how fast you are permitted to drive. I realize that this may sound somewhat contradictory to what I posted earlier, but it's really not, since nobody is keeping anyone from improving their driving and getting the higher endorsements. A licensing program like the above would probably help the overall driving population's skill behind the wheel because everyone would want the top tier endorsement. As for how such a thing would be enforced, I'm not sure.

Maybe like a concealed weapons premit.....wait till the accident occurs, then check to see who had the right to drive too fast.

Or stickers you could place on your bumper titled "85 mph and over legal, don't even bother to try and pass".

Like I said, enforcing such a law would be very difficult. A good start would be making the drivers license testing a good bit more demanding that it is now.

I wonder who has driven on I-10 in West Texas outside of El Paso. The Speed limit is 80mph. Really it's 80mph. When I had my little Hyundi Accent, I did 80mph between the cities and wasn't all that concern with 65 or 55, I did slow down, but i did about 5 mph greater. In 70 mph zones on I-35 between Dallas and austin, I did 80 all the way.
if the Standard Speeds here in the West are 75 and 80 even in CA, then when you reduce that standard speed, you should also reduce the speed are cars can go.
Also Texas is a big State. At 55 mph, it takes two days to cross the state from LA to NM or vice Versa. Its your Choice to spend time in the state that so far as produce 3 Crazy Presidents.

We need saner rules for the road and the environment--55mph will help both.

Now thats what I call a real non sequitor ! - Saner rules = 55 limit !

In TX (and in other areas i'm sure), there are parts of I10 that have an 80mph speed zone. None of these speed limits require you to move that fast (though most DO require a 40 min; and i think THAT is a hazard). My wife is very safety and efficiency-consience; she refuses to go over 65, and sometimes drives slower than that. The best part about this country is that we have freedoms. If you want to conserve on gas, by all means, drive at the speed that fits you, but that doesn't mean a legislation should be passed to REQUIRE a slower speed limit. There comes a point where speed limits are "necessary" for "public safety" (but why do German autobahns have less accidents/fatalities?). But ultimately, this is a personal freedom and responsibility issue.

Showing comments 221 - 235 of 235

First Previous

Last

RSS

CAR TALK, DEWEY, CHEETHAM & HOWE, SHAMELESS COMMERCE, and WARPED DISCS are registered trademarks of Tom and Ray Magliozzi and/or Tappet Brothers Associates d/b/a Dewey, Cheetham & Howe.