I see our governor wants to lower the speed limit and double the fines for speeding while also making the margin narrower for going over the speed limit.

Why?

Global warming and CO2 emissions.

My phone is about to get some heavy use if this makes any progress.

 

Ok, I will probly get slammed for this but I kinda agree with it. My fuel miliage at 75 is about 15, at 65 I get about 18, and I have seen 21 at 55. I usually try and drive 60 on the way home but a guy can get hurt trying that on 235 at 5pm!! I know it won't happen but I would like to see the gravy lane speed limit at 55 and 65 out in the hammer lane (65 and 75 on the big roads).

 

Most of the time I can drive the speed limit or a bit under. And Green sure gets a lot better MPG at the lower speed. But there are times that I need to get somewhere and push the limit a bit. We have the choice now. There is nothing stopping folks from driving 55 or 60. I don't see a need to change anything.

 

I don't really agree with lowering the legal speed limits, but at the same time, as long as some people (especially 18-wheelers) run the limit or faster, it's not safe to drive much slower.

I've got some serious sore spots with big trucks--let's just say I've lost a lot of respect for most truck drivers--but they and big SUVs pretty much set the speed. If you drive anything smaller, you either keep up with traffic or stick to the streets and back roads. As far as gas/diesel/whatever mileage goes, my thoughts are drive whatever you want to pay for. I can see some benefits to lowering the speed limits as far as safety goes, although I doubt having a semi come through your back window at 55 will make you any less dead than it would at 80.

 

And that is your choice. You are not forced to do it by the state. When I travel, it usually means hours and hours of driving. Making me drive slower because of a theory that has not been proven rubs me the wrong way.

I am a firm believer in the fewer hours I am on the road the better. Sitting there watching the grass grow makes for more accidents over the open spaces.

 

I used to drive about 5 mph over the speed limit on either interstate or two lane hiways. Over the last few months I've tended to set the cruise on the speed limit and stay there to try to pick up a few mpg. I've also notice on 70 in our area that more people are staying closer to the speed limit. I don't see a need to change the speed limit at this point.

If the general traffic flow is faster, I usually keep pace to avoid getting run over.

 

I run an average of 9.9995mph over the speed limit, and have to set the cruz.. Cuz I have been proven doing 18, 21, and 22 mph over the limit (and had a nice chat with people with read and blue lights) I don't belive the government has any right to tell me I have to wear a seat belt, but how fast I drive is one of those "can hurt somoeone else" kinda things... so I don't like it but It is their right I guess... but not to save gas, or to lower C02 emissions... that's nutz. I drove in Europe for a long time... no speed limits, fewer accidents - but when they did have an accident it was often fatal.

They tried the 55mph speed limits in the 80's it sucked. And everyone was so happy when it was repealed. Now tree huggers are getting thier chance to clamp down again....

 

SO now the speed limit is 75 and I drive exactly the speed limit because I have 2 pages of violations (tee hee). Its been awhile since this post was made- People now drive 85-100 all the time- I get passed so hard my truck rocks. Anybody see any decrease in accidents or traffic? My opinion is no.

 

I feel like traffic has picked up, but I don't see a huge number of accidents.

 

I noticed yesterday that if I drive the speed limit people rocket past me at 15-20-or more mph then I am going-- it makes me sad-- Then I get passed by a Prius and I have to pull over and cry for awhile.

 

I drive interstate at 4 MPH over the speed limit. If I am driving my own vehicle, I don't even mind setting the cruise at the speed limit, especially if I am not in a hurry.

I'm probably going to be one of those old guys driving slow that tick everyone off.

Don't get me wrong, I like going fast, (a lot) but I also don't like paying high insurance premiums and tickets.

 

like I have to do :-)

 

(Knock on wood) I haven't had a speeding ticket for several years. I bearly remember my last speeding ticket, but I do remember that it cost me a small fortune, because it was a speed trap in what I believe was an unmarked school zone.. At least I never saw the sign. That was nearly 6 years ago. I got pulled over in Abilene after leaving Justin's house, in another school zone?, but they just let me off with a warning.

 

With an unknown gear ratio and tire sizing that may not be stock I'd check the speedo reading against a GPS speedo reading to get a baseline. My last three trucks all had oversize tires and ran faster than the speedo reported.

 

If / When I do change tire size, I do what it takes to get the speedometer to match the speed. Most of the time with a newer vehicle, you can buy a programmer, or take it to a stealership and have them program the difference. My Jeep is spot on. I have a programmer that I have modified the program on to make it read correctly. My last Jeep had a box that modified the speed ratio of the square wave that went to the computer. Then I had to have a tiny screw driver to adjust it. My truck has stock sized tires on it, and it's still spot on at this time.