Ready for NMSL v2?

[english si]

The rack, draw and quarter them

Hanging, rather than racking - the rack's for before the trial, to get information of fellow conspirators.

And obviously the hurdle drag through town to the execution site, and the emasculation before the disembowelment, are clearly givens here.

[GaryV]

That's true.

Light rain or light snow, however, might mean a lower speed limit but still-safe driving conditions.

It depends.  Light snow in Georgia might cause everyone to freak out and stay home.  Light snow in Michigan's UP is a daily occurrence and is anything less than an inch or two, and no one slows for that.

If the UP gets only 2 inches of snow, it's cleared from the roads before you finish breakfast.

[epzik8]

I honestly do about 80 whenever I'm able to, even on the crowded portions of I-95 around Baltimore, DC and Northern Virginia and the Baltimore Beltway, obviously when they're not crowded. I'm not a libertarian, but I sure drive like one sometimes.

[jbnv]

I wouldn't mind seeing a national* speed limit on trucks and better enforcement of lane-usage restrictions. At least if we can keep the trucks in the right lane, cars will flow more easily in the left lane, reducing some of the distraction.

* Not that I'm for national laws of this sort in general. But it would be more convenient to impose this limit nationally versus waiting for all 50 states to adopt lower limits for trucks. A nationwide law gives the trucking companies more incentive to police their drivers.

Besides, aren't self-driving cars going to take care of all of this for us?

[TXtoNJ]

With GPS improvements, I think we could get to the point that most internet and SMS functions are automatically disabled on Interstates, and at any point a driver is traveling at more than 30 mph. Map and voice functions would still be available.

It wouldn't be popular, but it might be a reasonable compromise.

[jeffandnicole]

* Not that I'm for national laws of this sort in general. But it would be more convenient to impose this limit nationally versus waiting for all 50 states to adopt lower limits for trucks. A nationwide law gives the trucking companies more incentive to police their drivers.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Many drivers are independent contractors, not working for any specific company.  They are simply waiting for the next call to do some hauling.

Also, it's virtually impossible to restrict trucks to a single lane, except in certain, limited circumstances.  If a trucker is doing 50 mph, do you prohibit all truckers from going faster than that for hundreds of miles until that truck exits the highway? 

With GPS improvements, I think we could get to the point that most internet and SMS functions are automatically disabled on Interstates, and at any point a driver is traveling at more than 30 mph. Map and voice functions would still be available.

It wouldn't be popular, but it might be a reasonable compromise.

As mentioned in a previous thread, this would also prohibit passengers, those in buses and trains, and others from using their phones as well, making it a non-starter of an idea.

Also, why should it be ok to use phones while driving in residential neighborhoods? If this idea had any sort of merit, make it 10 or 15 mph, not 30 mph.

[hbelkins]

[cl94]

I know where he got the ticket that inspired that song. I-87 near the Twin Bridges.

[jbnv]

Also, it's virtually impossible to restrict trucks to a single lane, except in certain, limited circumstances.  If a trucker is doing 50 mph, do you prohibit all truckers from going faster than that for hundreds of miles until that truck exits the highway? 

Let's use some common sense. On two-lane highways, the general requirement is that people stay in the right lane except to pass. Many highways with three or more lanes already restrict trucks to the two rightmost lanes or ban them from the left-most lanes. Add a speed limit to trucks and enforce these laws.

[jeffandnicole]

Also, it's virtually impossible to restrict trucks to a single lane, except in certain, limited circumstances.  If a trucker is doing 50 mph, do you prohibit all truckers from going faster than that for hundreds of miles until that truck exits the highway? 

Let's use some common sense. On two-lane highways, the general requirement is that people stay in the right lane except to pass. Many highways with three or more lanes already restrict trucks to the two rightmost lanes or ban them from the left-most lanes. Add a speed limit to trucks and enforce these laws.

There's already a speed limit. And many times, trucks are governed to a limit lower than that.

[jbnv]

There's already a speed limit. And many times, trucks are governed to a limit lower than that.

I wasn't aware there is already a national speed limit for trucks. So we are good.

[cl94]

There's already a speed limit. And many times, trucks are governed to a limit lower than that.

I wasn't aware there is already a national speed limit for trucks. So we are good.

There isn't, but most large companies govern their trucks to 60-70.

[jeffandnicole]

And in terms of a speed limit, I mean there's already a set speed limit, which is the large black and white sign on the side of the road for all vehicles (unless otherwise specified).  There isn't much info out there stating that the current speed limit is a problem for truckers, so to institute a special speed limit for truckers is nothing more than a feel-good piece of legislation.

See also: NMSL (v1).

[kalvado]

If you want to stop distracted driving, IMO it would be better to jack speed limits way up and ban anything other than a stick shift

Probably irrelevant - you don't really shift while cruising on a highway, but makes life difficult in stop-and-go, where it makes no difference.

[cl94]

If you want to stop distracted driving, IMO it would be better to jack speed limits way up and ban anything other than a stick shift

Probably irrelevant - you don't really shift while cruising on a highway, but makes life difficult in stop-and-go, where it makes no difference.

That is part of why I caved in and made the switch to a CVT from a manual. Clutches don't last forever and I'm sure my dad and I killed a couple in NYC-area traffic. That and the hills in Troy are an absolute PITA with a stick (and my current car has auto-braking on hills to prevent rolling back when starting).

[jbnv]

If you want to stop distracted driving, IMO it would be better to jack speed limits way up and ban anything other than a stick shift

Probably irrelevant - you don't really shift while cruising on a highway, but makes life difficult in stop-and-go, where it makes no difference.

I'd be highly surprised if the people with their cruise controls set, at whatever speed, are more of a danger than the speed demons driving their sticks.

[vdeane]

If you want to stop distracted driving, IMO it would be better to jack speed limits way up and ban anything other than a stick shift

Probably irrelevant - you don't really shift while cruising on a highway, but makes life difficult in stop-and-go, where it makes no difference.

I'd be highly surprised if the people with their cruise controls set, at whatever speed, are more of a danger than the speed demons driving their sticks.

I drive a stick and set my cruise control at 72 in 65 mph zones.  So it looks like, not only do you believe in the "speed kills" narrative, but you feel superior because you drive an automatic.

If you want to stop distracted driving, IMO it would be better to jack speed limits way up and ban anything other than a stick shift

Probably irrelevant - you don't really shift while cruising on a highway, but makes life difficult in stop-and-go, where it makes no difference.

Depending on traffic, I often shift even on the highway.  In any case, people that are distracted usually don't reserve their behaviors for the highway, and if they get accustomed to actually driving when they're in the car (instead of eating, using their phone, etc.), it might translate over by association.  At the very least, it makes driving less boring, and boredom is the reason people drive distracted in the first place.

[cpzilliacus]

I honestly do about 80 whenever I'm able to, even on the crowded portions of I-95 around Baltimore, DC and Northern Virginia and the Baltimore Beltway, obviously when they're not crowded. I'm not a libertarian, but I sure drive like one sometimes.

You are aware of the reckless driving provisions in Virginia law, right?

[cl94]

It was quite funny watching everyone go 79 and no faster along I-81 and I-66 a couple weekends ago

[jeffandnicole]

I honestly do about 80 whenever I'm able to, even on the crowded portions of I-95 around Baltimore, DC and Northern Virginia and the Baltimore Beltway, obviously when they're not crowded. I'm not a libertarian, but I sure drive like one sometimes.

You are aware of the reckless driving provisions in Virginia law, right?

That only applies in VA, right?

And based on what I've seen, many people in the NoVA area don't seem too concerned about it especially when traffic is heavy.

[cl94]

I honestly do about 80 whenever I'm able to, even on the crowded portions of I-95 around Baltimore, DC and Northern Virginia and the Baltimore Beltway, obviously when they're not crowded. I'm not a libertarian, but I sure drive like one sometimes.

You are aware of the reckless driving provisions in Virginia law, right?

That only applies in VA, right?

And based on what I've seen, many people in the NoVA area don't seem too concerned about it especially when traffic is heavy.

It does only apply in Virginia. Thankfully.

[jbnv]

I drive a stick and set my cruise control at 72 in 65 mph zones.  So it looks like, not only do you believe in the "speed kills" narrative, but you feel superior because you drive an automatic.

Wow. Wrong and even more wrong. Speed doesn't kill. What kills is what happens when something at great speed makes contact with something at a much lower speed.

[hbelkins]

It was quite funny watching everyone go 79 and no faster along I-81 and I-66 a couple weekends ago

I'm still amazed that this has never been my experience driving on a Virginia interstate. Vehicles routinely speed by me doing in excess of 80 mph. Maybe they're running radar detectors despite the ban.

[Duke87]

It is worth noting that the original NMSL was motivated not by safety but by fuel economy.

The point at which a vehicle hits its optimum speed varies depending on driving conditions and the design of the vehicle itself, and the proliferation of overdrive gears has helped make cars more efficient at higher speeds... but it remains true that a car traveling at 80 MPH is pretty much guaranteed to be getting fewer MPG than one traveling at 65 MPH. There is, therefore, often an environmental motive behind lobbying to suppress interstate speed limits.

The problem, of course, is that the physical design of the road influences drivers' speed more than the posted limit does. So if you want to make everyone slow down for the sake of conserving fuel, changing the speed limit isn't really going to achieve that. You would need to mandate speed governors in passenger vehicles. Indeed, using WaPo's own arguments, large numbers of people don't obey speed limits. So, you think they're going to start obeying them if you lower them?

[compdude787]

Can't stand the whole "speed kills" claims that people make. There should NEVER, ever, EVER be another NMSL. I was born the year that the NMSL was repealed, and I couldn't imagine having to go 55 on a freeway out in the middle of nowhere. Boring!