wookie (11/19/82)
If you would like to see the 55MPH speed limit lifted then there is a lobby group you can support. Membership of $15.00 includes a quarterly newsletter, bumper stickers,deacls and special alerts. Contact: Citizens Coalition for Rational Traffic Laws, Inc. 6678 Pertzborn Rd. Dane, Wisconsin 53529 Now for the 55 Mph speed limit..... I hope that some way somehow we can get this thing repealed since 55 on highways designed for twice that speed is just plain ridiculous. I know there are many people out there who feel 55 is the greatest thing since sliced bread and I have found that most of those people are the ones who are very poor drivers and can't handle a car at any higher speed. For those I say fine.... stay off the interstates and stick to the local roads. I also would like to point out that I do NOT advocate high speeds on local roads as this is far too dangerous a practice because of driveways, and intersections etc.(This is the case here in New Jersey.... I am sure some higher speeds might not hurt in the midwest where it is far less congested). If you wish to push a car to the limit then it is best to go do it on the race track where it may be done legally and safely. Local speed limits should be set according to road conditions in each area. The old fashioned way was to monitor traffic for a period of time and then set the limit by what 85% of the people go. The idea is to try to keep traffic flowing at a reasonable consistant speed. The 55 limit does not do this as some people are willing to submit and others go a bit faster because the road merits it and others figure to hell with 55 and are going 70 to 75. I don't know what its like in the midwest but I can imagine that on long straight sections 55 is just plain absurd and I'll bet 85% of the traffic is going at least 65. I drive from New Jersey to Maine several times a year and I must say the average speed this past year on the interstates had to be around 65 to 70 which is a bit more realistic for these roads. Well anyway I'm going long on this thing but I just wanted to point out to those who feel that we who want 55 repealed want to go 90 on the street where you live is a ridiculous attitude. Most people who want 55 repealed are the better drivers who realize what speeds are prudent for local areas as well. Also the fact that I race cars and sign off with White Tiger Racing should not also imply that I am a raving maniac on the highway. I find locally that it's not worth going over the speed limit to get to work since it saves me only at best 3 minutes and the safety factors just aren't there. Out on the open road where things are a bit more predictable I do exceed 55 mainly to keep myself alert. Also when you drive 525 miles to Maine it makes a big difference to chop of an hour of driving. Again I say to those of you who can't handle highway driving... either stay off the highway where you are endangering others or go to a professional (preferably racing) drivers school where you can learn how to handle a car at reasonable speeds while paying COMPLETE attention to what is going on around you (I just hate those people who have no idea where you came from and get all bent out of shape when you pass them just because they were day dreaming. If you wnat to daydream don't drive!!) Enough. Keith Bauer Bell Labs Murray Hill White Tiger Racing
bwt (11/19/82)
I personally resent the implication that most of the people who like the 55 mph speed limit are poor drivers who can't drive at higher speeds. Also if you look at the statistics, the number of fatal automobile accidents has dramatically decreased since the 55 mph speed limit was put in place. Sure, a lot of people now are driving at around 65 mph but when the speed limit on the open highway was 65 to 70 mph there were a lot of people who were traveling at anywhere from 80 to 90. I dare say that you would have a better (however slim at that) chance of survival if you ran into something at 65 than you would at 80.(No flames, please!! I know that in either case it would be a very poor chance of survival but I was just using that as an example.) I'm sorry if this sounds like a flame but I resent being put into a general class such as this.
burris (11/20/82)
#R:alice:-115400:ihlpb:4100003: 0:1787
ihlpb!burris Nov 19 15:36:00 1982
Does anyone have statistics as to what percentage of accidents
actually happen on interstate highways?
Everyone who is in favor of the 55 mile-per-hour limit state that
the fatality rate has decreased. One thing they seem to neglect is
that at the time the limits were lowered, the limit on most of the
state and county highways was 65 mph. For many of these roads this
is too fast. The interstate highways were designed for higher
speeds. Seldom is it necessary to reduce your speed below 70 mph.
due to road conditions. There are no dangerous intersections, etc.
The limits were originally lowered under the pretense of fuel
economy. However, the last four vehicles I have owned achieved
optimum milage at around 68-72 mph. In talking with other people I
find that this is consistent with many other vehicles as well. The
saving of lives was an afterthough.
I am in favor of maintaining lower speeds on the local roads and
many state highways, but the 55 limit is ridiculous on interstate
highways and many divided highways with limited access.
A proposal:
Type of road Maximum speed Minimum speed
============ ============= =============
Interstate 80 70 fast lane 55 slow lane
Divided limited access 70 45
Divided 65 45
Non-divided 4 lane 60 40
2 lane 55 None
Non-posted(rural) 50 None
Non-posted(municipal) 35 None
School, playgrounds, 20 None
etc.
With these limits I would be willing to support strict enforcement
and heavy fines in addition to a point system which revokes
liscenses of repeated offenders.
Dave Burris
ihlpb!burris
BTL - Naperville