Are there any?
There are certainly roads where achieving the speed limit is difficult. See for example all the windy mountain roads in West Virginia where the speed limit is 55 but realistically you can't get much above 35. This happens because 55 is the default limit and on many roads no one has ever bothered to try to change it from the default.
Although I would argue these are not roads where the speed limit is "too high", since if there isn't some particular safety problem, then why bother lowering it?
Quote from: Duke87 on May 06, 2017, 12:24:56 AM
There are certainly roads where achieving the speed limit is difficult. See for example all the windy mountain roads in West Virginia where the speed limit is 55 but realistically you can't get much above 35. This happens because 55 is the default limit and on many roads no one has ever bothered to try to change it from the default.
Although I would argue these are not roads where the speed limit is "too high", since if there isn't some particular safety problem, then why bother lowering it?
I remember this being the case on MO 85 west of US 65 in the Ozarks. My Mom couldn't believe the speed limit was so high, and I agree that it was a bit much. But I certainly prefer that to Ontario where the 401 is signed 100 km/h (62 mph) :pan:
I'm not sure if there is such a thing. If there are roads where the limit feels difficult to reach, the limit is probably higher than the 85th percentile (and is therefore over-posted). But a limit should be a limit. If that limit truly feels like the fastest you could do in the safest condition (dry, daylight), it really does fit the description of a "limit".
Quote from: Duke87 on May 06, 2017, 12:24:56 AM
There are certainly roads where achieving the speed limit is difficult. See for example all the windy mountain roads in West Virginia where the speed limit is 55 but realistically you can't get much above 35. This happens because 55 is the default limit and on many roads no one has ever bothered to try to change it from the default.
Although I would argue these are not roads where the speed limit is "too high", since if there isn't some particular safety problem, then why bother lowering it?
California is like that also, essentially if you see "end 35 MPH" or haven't seen any speed limit sign then the limit is 55 MPH. That means that roads like CA 4 over Ebbetts Pass or really ANY road with an unposted speed limit has an actual limit of 55 MPH. I wouldn't far as to say that the speed limit is "too high" since in many cases it is essentially impossible to even reach 55 MPH much less exceed it. Now some roads like CA 1 in Big Sur, CA 180 in Kings Canyon, or even a CA 245 can be a absolute blast since you can really test the limits of your driving ability while not having to worry about getting tagged up for speeding. The only drawback is that in a tourist area than most of the other drivers aren't aware that the speed limit is really 55 MPH or think the yellow advisory signs are the actual limit.
In Massachusetts, really none at all. Probably the only road I find myself not hitting the speed limit on is US 1 in Newbury, where it's either 50 or 55 (don't remember off the top of my head).
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on May 06, 2017, 07:59:20 AM
Quote from: Duke87 on May 06, 2017, 12:24:56 AM
There are certainly roads where achieving the speed limit is difficult. See for example all the windy mountain roads in West Virginia where the speed limit is 55 but realistically you can't get much above 35. This happens because 55 is the default limit and on many roads no one has ever bothered to try to change it from the default.
Although I would argue these are not roads where the speed limit is "too high", since if there isn't some particular safety problem, then why bother lowering it?
California is like that also, essentially if you see "end 35 MPH" or haven't seen any speed limit sign then the limit is 55 MPH. That means that roads like CA 4 over Ebbetts Pass or really ANY road with an unposted speed limit has an actual limit of 55 MPH. I wouldn't far as to say that the speed limit is "too high" since in many cases it is essentially impossible to even reach 55 MPH much less exceed it.
I could be wrong, but I believe most states have default legal speed limits. In Washington, unless other posted, speed limits are 60 on state highways, 50 on county roads, and 25 in cities. In particular, I enjoy turning onto a random road out in the country, and immediately flooring it to 50 (most roads are county roads), until I see a speed limit sign (which is often, very few roads without posted limits, even if it matches the default limit).
Quote from: SectorZ on May 06, 2017, 08:48:43 AM
In Massachusetts, really none at all. Probably the only road I find myself not hitting the speed limit on is US 1 in Newbury, where it's either 50 or 55 (don't remember off the top of my head).
It's 55, but it's also one of the few surface roads in the area without any curves.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on May 06, 2017, 07:59:20 AM
Quote from: Duke87 on May 06, 2017, 12:24:56 AM
There are certainly roads where achieving the speed limit is difficult. See for example all the windy mountain roads in West Virginia where the speed limit is 55 but realistically you can't get much above 35. This happens because 55 is the default limit and on many roads no one has ever bothered to try to change it from the default.
California is like that also, essentially if you see "end 35 MPH" or haven't seen any speed limit sign then the limit is 55 MPH. That means that roads like CA 4 over Ebbetts Pass or really ANY road with an unposted speed limit has an actual limit of 55 MPH.
Not quite the same thing. West Virginia
actually posts signs saying "speed limit 55" on the roads I'm describing.
For all Virginia's infamy about enforcing its speed limits, there are lots of narrow, twisty back roads that have speed limits of 55, some posted so, and others by default, with zero police presence. One road in particular is so narrow that my 2001 Prelude, hardly a wide car by US standards, took up well over half of the roadway.
(https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/ra8tjrrdmsq9cm0dkvke.jpg)
Until about a month ago, there was a segment of VA 145 that was posted at 55 that I was surprised wasn't lower, but it's 45 now.
Quote from: Takumi on May 06, 2017, 11:40:02 AM
For all Virginia's infamy about enforcing its speed limits, there are lots of narrow, twisty back roads that have speed limits of 55, some posted so, and others by default, with zero police presence. One road in particular is so narrow that my 2001 Prelude, hardly a wide car by US standards, took up well over half of the roadway.
(https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/ra8tjrrdmsq9cm0dkvke.jpg)
Until about a month ago, there was a segment of VA 145 that was posted at 55 that I was surprised wasn't lower, but it's 45 now.
I would put it lower, maybe at 35.
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on May 06, 2017, 12:02:38 PM
Quote from: Takumi on May 06, 2017, 11:40:02 AM
For all Virginia's infamy about enforcing its speed limits, there are lots of narrow, twisty back roads that have speed limits of 55, some posted so, and others by default, with zero police presence. One road in particular is so narrow that my 2001 Prelude, hardly a wide car by US standards, took up well over half of the roadway.
(https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/ra8tjrrdmsq9cm0dkvke.jpg)
Until about a month ago, there was a segment of VA 145 that was posted at 55 that I was surprised wasn't lower, but it's 45 now.
I would put it lower, maybe at 35.
You really think people are going to try 55 MPH on that road?
I was moving from Huntsville, Alabama to to Albuquerque, New Mexico in March and stopped to pee at FM 3075 off I-40 in Texas. The speed limit was 75 mph and it was a rough two lane road (I know because I couldn't help but drive down it for a couple of miles).
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on May 06, 2017, 03:38:23 PM
Quote from: SP Cook on May 06, 2017, 03:29:28 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on May 05, 2017, 10:20:19 PM
Are there any?
no
No? None? So it is fine that the dirt road above is 55?
I've driven a couple north of Rapid City, SD that had speed limits post in that neighborhood and they were perfectly safe. Really a dirt or gravel road is about as safe as it is engineered, they aren't all crumbling 4WD trails.
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on May 06, 2017, 03:38:23 PM
Quote from: SP Cook on May 06, 2017, 03:29:28 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on May 05, 2017, 10:20:19 PM
Are there any?
no
No? None? So it is fine that the dirt road above is 55?
It all depends on the vehicle driving on it too, so yes, its fine. The speed limit is a speed that shall not be exceeded, not a minimum requirement of a speed to go. It is not a "too high" speed limit if people don't speed on the road. Its only too high if the high limit is leading people to actually drive unsafely, and causing some accidents.
In Puerto Rico, while most of the tolled Autopistas are posted at 65 mph, most drivers except tourists don't drive 65 even though the roadway geometry supports that speed. I think only on PR-53 you can reasonably drive 65 mph due to low traffic count, yet only the southern portion of PR-53 is posted at 65 mph (the northern portion is posted at 60 mph).
Quote from: UCFKnights on May 06, 2017, 04:59:00 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on May 06, 2017, 03:38:23 PM
Quote from: SP Cook on May 06, 2017, 03:29:28 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on May 05, 2017, 10:20:19 PM
Are there any?
no
No? None? So it is fine that the dirt road above is 55?
It all depends on the vehicle driving on it too, so yes, its fine. The speed limit is a speed that shall not be exceeded, not a minimum requirement of a speed to go. It is not a "too high" speed limit if people don't speed on the road. Its only too high if the high limit is leading people to actually drive unsafely, and causing some accidents.
In theory this is the case, but in Massachusetts speed limits are seen as the speed you can drive 10-15 mph over.
I recall a section of US 1 in eastern Maine posted at 50 that felt too curvy for it.
I feel in general a lot of the unpaved roads with posted speed limits end up being too difficult to drive that limit, at least in my part of the country. Some states probably maintain their unpaved roads better than others.
Until 2015, New Mexico did have a default speed limit of 75 mph on county roads if no speed limit was posted, however, this was changed in 2015 to 55 mph. Many county roads in NM are unpaved, so I can see why this change was made.
Quote from: 7/8 on May 06, 2017, 12:34:51 AM
I remember this being the case on MO 85 west of US 65 in the Ozarks. My Mom couldn't believe the speed limit was so high, and I agree that it was a bit much. But I certainly prefer that to Ontario where the 401 is signed 100 km/h (62 mph)
This is true for a lot of the narrow, sinuous roads in the Ozarks. They typically carry the standard 55-mph speed limit, but have advisory speeds for almost every curve. However, one should
not assume it's safe to go 55 around every curve without an advisory tab.
Indiana 17 between Kewanna, Indiana and Indiana 14. Posted at 55 but it's impossible to get above 40 on most of it. Too many sharp curves and blind hills to get up to the speed limit. In town isn't much better. 25 mph speed limit where your lucky to hit 15 with the narrow road and sharp turns.
This was a few years ago. I have no idea what the speed limit is now.
SR-39 east of Huntsville UT is posted at 55 mph. However, it is quite scenic, and there are many tight curves, so most people won't go more than 45 on it.
Call me a weakling Flatlander/Midwesterner, but I-70 near and around the WV/PA State Line. I don't remember what it was signed, but I was doing around 50-55 (and barely thought that was safe) and was getting passed constantly, and I thought I was gonna die... Did that drive for a road trip from Central IL to Pittsburgh a few years back
Considering I was getting buzzed constantly, I guess its not a thing to the Locals and Regulars there
The return route, I went north to the PA/OH Turnpike and then across to I-71 at Akron and back down to I-70 at Columbus to come back to IL. Longer route, but I felt a heck of a lot better and safer driving it...
Some of the 75 MPH zones in rural Texas are excessive simply because they exceed the design of the road. BUT....with that in mind there a lot of them where actually driving that fast is essentially an impossibility unless you are either insane or stupid. Two-lane roads like US 180/62 which are groomed for those high speeds are something that are really unique with huge wide lanes, shoulders, and massive open passing areas.
There's a couple of 75 mph two-lane roads (US 285/385) out near Fort Stockton, Texas in which I didn't feel comfortable going 75, because there was lots of truck traffic and vehicles pulling in/out of the road.
But it wasn't a problem when and where there weren't many vehicles around.
I don't even know what that's like. In Utah, there is a legislated 65 mph max on any road that is not an Interstate.
Quote from: roadguy2 on June 14, 2017, 01:01:10 AM
I don't even know what that's like. In Utah, there is a legislated 65 mph max on any road that is not an Interstate.
Utah tends to keep things under control when the terrain gets a little crazy. Places like UT 12 and even the Dugway have reduced posted speed limits when the road gets curvy. I would even go as far as to say they get the speed TOO low, especially on UT 12.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on June 14, 2017, 07:09:34 AM
Quote from: roadguy2 on June 14, 2017, 01:01:10 AM
I don't even know what that's like. In Utah, there is a legislated 65 mph max on any road that is not an Interstate.
Utah tends to keep things under control when the terrain gets a little crazy. Places like UT 12 and even the Dugway have reduced posted speed limits when the road gets curvy. I would even go as far as to say they get the speed TOO low, especially on UT 12.
Utah really confuses me. On one hand, they were one of the first states to implement an 80 mph speed limit (a relatively liberal decision). But then you got roads like Legacy Parkway, and some of these two lane roads, where they're super conservative. I understand the Legacy Parkway has a 55 limit for "ecology" reasons. But the two lane roads...I'd have thought they'd be less restrictive.
Does Utah subscribe to the "vision zero" concept?
Quote from: jakeroot on June 14, 2017, 12:28:16 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on June 14, 2017, 07:09:34 AM
Quote from: roadguy2 on June 14, 2017, 01:01:10 AM
I don't even know what that's like. In Utah, there is a legislated 65 mph max on any road that is not an Interstate.
Utah tends to keep things under control when the terrain gets a little crazy. Places like UT 12 and even the Dugway have reduced posted speed limits when the road gets curvy. I would even go as far as to say they get the speed TOO low, especially on UT 12.
Utah really confuses me. On one hand, they were one of the first states to implement an 80 mph speed limit (a relatively liberal decision). But then you got roads like Legacy Parkway, and some of these two lane roads, where they're super conservative. I understand the Legacy Parkway has a 55 limit for "ecology" reasons. But the two lane roads...I'd have thought they'd be less restrictive.
Does Utah subscribe to the "vision zero" concept?
They do focus on "zero fatalities". Every Friday the VMS signs will have some statistic on how many have died so far this month, year, etc. or just say "zero fatalities, the only acceptable goal". When they raised the speed limits to 70 on urban interstates, the Highway Patrol didn't like it, but they have no power over speed limits.
The 55 mph limit on Legacy was part of a compromise with the Sierra Club and other environmentalists, which had filed lawsuits against the building of the road. If they hadn't compromised, the road wouldn't have even been built. The compromise also reduced the highway from 6 lanes to 4 and banned trucks unless there is an accident on I-15.
Quote from: roadguy2 on June 14, 2017, 01:01:10 AM
I don't even know what that's like. In Utah, there is a legislated 65 mph max on any road that is not an Interstate.
65 is high for a two lane road.
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on June 14, 2017, 03:06:13 PM
Quote from: roadguy2 on June 14, 2017, 01:01:10 AM
I don't even know what that's like. In Utah, there is a legislated 65 mph max on any road that is not an Interstate.
65 is high for a two lane road.
You're not used to roads where you can see for 20 miles without any cars, curves, or intersections.
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on June 14, 2017, 03:06:13 PM
Quote from: roadguy2 on June 14, 2017, 01:01:10 AM
I don't even know what that's like. In Utah, there is a legislated 65 mph max on any road that is not an Interstate.
65 is high for a two lane road.
I have driven on two-lane roads with 70 mph limits in Montana and have felt perfectly safe.
I remember seeing 55 mph on part of US 60 in WV that was way too winding for it. I could barely do 40 mph as it was a curve every 200 feet. This was several years ago, but hopefully they changed it since then.
Quote from: roadman65 on June 14, 2017, 03:29:10 PM
I remember seeing 55 mph on part of US 60 in WV that was way too winding for it. I could barely do 40 mph as it was a curve every 200 feet. This was several years ago, but hopefully they changed it since then.
A lot like the UK. Outside of towns, roads are generally signed with a black slash instead of limit, meaning "national speed limit". Single carriageway roads are 60 mph under this national limit. 60 seems perfectly fine on most two lane roads, but once you get to places like the Scottish Highlands, where the roads and very windy and narrow, it seems really high. But it's a lot of fun. It's a true 'limit'.
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on June 14, 2017, 03:06:13 PM
Quote from: roadguy2 on June 14, 2017, 01:01:10 AM
I don't even know what that's like. In Utah, there is a legislated 65 mph max on any road that is not an Interstate.
65 is high for a two lane road.
Meh...not out west is often isn't. There are plenty of 70 MPH zones in Montana and 75 MPH in Texas which are completely adequate. Hell I love that California lets you just go nuts with the 55 MPH rural limit on Mountain grades, might as well have some fun if you the only person around.
Heck, I can think of SEVERAL two-lane roads in New York that are comfortable to drive at 65. Even in MA, I think there are some US highways that might feel comfortable at that speed (or at the very least 60). Granted, this probably happens in MA a lot less than in NY. Every time I go there, I'm always amazed with how long it takes to drive down the roads because of geometry differences (thereby remembering why I don't like driving on two lane roads in MA). The fact that the speed limit changes every 200 feet because MA doesn't believe in advisory limits doesn't help.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on June 14, 2017, 06:39:31 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on June 14, 2017, 03:06:13 PM
Quote from: roadguy2 on June 14, 2017, 01:01:10 AM
I don't even know what that's like. In Utah, there is a legislated 65 mph max on any road that is not an Interstate.
65 is high for a two lane road.
Meh...not out west is often isn't. There are plenty of 70 MPH zones in Montana and 75 MPH in Texas which are completely adequate. Hell I love that California lets you just go nuts with the 55 MPH rural limit on Mountain grades, might as well have some fun if you the only person around.
California and Washington now appear to be in last place (out west) in regards to single-carriageway speed limits. Washington doesn't have any above 65 (though there's no legislated limit for single-carriageway roads -- all state highways have a default of 60), and California is still stuck in the dark ages of 55. I believe at least one stretch of highway in SE Oregon is posted at 70, so for once, Oregon is the level-headed one.
Quote from: jakeroot on June 14, 2017, 08:09:10 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on June 14, 2017, 06:39:31 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on June 14, 2017, 03:06:13 PM
Quote from: roadguy2 on June 14, 2017, 01:01:10 AM
I don't even know what that's like. In Utah, there is a legislated 65 mph max on any road that is not an Interstate.
65 is high for a two lane road.
Meh...not out west is often isn't. There are plenty of 70 MPH zones in Montana and 75 MPH in Texas which are completely adequate. Hell I love that California lets you just go nuts with the 55 MPH rural limit on Mountain grades, might as well have some fun if you the only person around.
California and Washington now appear to be in last place (out west) in regards to single-carriageway speed limits. Washington doesn't have any above 65 (though there's no legislated limit for single-carriageway roads -- all state highways have a default of 60), and California is still stuck in the dark ages of 55. I believe at least one stretch of highway in SE Oregon is posted at 70, so for once, Oregon is the level-headed one.
Yeah but with California there is one thing I'll defend; there is no nanny speed limit signs. Once you see "END Insert Speed" it means 55 MPH unless otherwise stated. Even stuff like Ebbetts Pass on CA 4 with 24% grades and all is perfectly legal to go 55 MPH on...at best you might get a yellow advisory speed. For comparisons sake Arizona would have two-lane roads with 65 MPH zones but would post up nanny speed limits which get annoying as all hell with roads like US 60 in Salt River Canyon, AZ 88, AZ 89A, and US 191 on the Coronado Trail.
I know we have had this thread in the past. That being said, the default limit in New York is 55, which is generally the case in rural areas regardless of conditions. Unless a jurisdiction sets a lower default, 55 is a statewide default limit regardless of roadway type or population density. So yes, this includes narrow, winding dirt roads in the mountains and a freeway constructed to the highest possible standards. You'll have a hard time getting anywhere close to 55 on NY 418 except at the western end, but almost all of it is signed at 55.
Yeah, NY has a ton of 55 mph mountain roads as well, including a few mountain passes and the like. Take NY/MA 2 through Petersburgh Pass (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.7310178,-73.2701591,4058m/data=!3m1!1e3). NY side is very windy and 55 with a steep drop off on one side. MA side is pretty gentle with a limit that is typically 35-40. NY 30 in the Catskills is another example (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.1032145,-74.8250938,12.37z). A ton of people in these parts don't know what to do when they see an "End 40 mph limit" sign, though.
Quote from: cl94 on June 17, 2017, 01:53:44 PM
Yeah, NY has a ton of 55 mph mountain roads as well, including a few mountain passes and the like. Take NY/MA 2 through Petersburgh Pass (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.7310178,-73.2701591,4058m/data=!3m1!1e3). NY side is very windy and 55 with a steep drop off on one side. MA side is pretty gentle with a limit that is typically 35-40. NY 30 in the Catskills is another example (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.1032145,-74.8250938,12.37z). A ton of people in these parts don't know what to do when they see an "End 40 mph limit" sign, though.
Someone mentioned elsewhere that at the state line, MA 23 is 30 mph, but NY 23 is 55 mph. Is this correct?
Quote from: cl94 on June 17, 2017, 01:53:44 PM
Yeah, NY has a ton of 55 mph mountain roads as well, including a few mountain passes and the like. Take NY/MA 2 through Petersburgh Pass (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.7310178,-73.2701591,4058m/data=!3m1!1e3). NY side is very windy and 55 with a steep drop off on one side. MA side is pretty gentle with a limit that is typically 35-40. NY 30 in the Catskills is another example (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.1032145,-74.8250938,12.37z). A ton of people in these parts don't know what to do when they see an "End 40 mph limit" sign, though.
The weird thing with California two-lanes is there are some exceptions on roads in the Freeway and Expressway system where the speed limit is higher than 55 MPH. CA 120/49 is 65 MPH near the Priest Grade and all of CA 62 is 60-65 MPH east of 29 Palms.
iPhone
Quote from: 1 on June 17, 2017, 01:55:59 PM
Quote from: cl94 on June 17, 2017, 01:53:44 PM
Yeah, NY has a ton of 55 mph mountain roads as well, including a few mountain passes and the like. Take NY/MA 2 through Petersburgh Pass (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.7310178,-73.2701591,4058m/data=!3m1!1e3). NY side is very windy and 55 with a steep drop off on one side. MA side is pretty gentle with a limit that is typically 35-40. NY 30 in the Catskills is another example (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.1032145,-74.8250938,12.37z). A ton of people in these parts don't know what to do when they see an "End 40 mph limit" sign, though.
Someone mentioned elsewhere that at the state line, MA 23 is 30 mph, but NY 23 is 55 mph. Is this correct?
That is correct. A few other places on NY's borders like that. MA might be the worst state with nanny speed limits because they lower the limit instead of posting advisory speeds.
One of the nanny limits that always irked me (placed because of constant congestion, I think) was crossing into Oregon from Washington on I-5. Speed limit in Washington = 60. Speed Limit in Oregon = 50. It's the same road with exactly the same standards, built at exactly the same time. And Oregon has been posting 60-65 mph speed limits on their freeways for several decades now. Why this stretch is 50, I'll never know.
A combination of:
1) Oregon's default speed limits are set by state statute
2) Engineers/bureaucrats in Salem that have never even been to SE Oregon and have no idea it even exists
3) A long time prevailing culture of speeding in Oregon (everybody goes/went 10-15 over in eastern Oregon because of the comically low limits, and cops refused to enforce 55 zones in eastern Oregon as long as you kept it under 70) and a weird fear that if you raised the speed limits to something reasonable everybody would still go 10-15 over.
Quote from: corco on June 17, 2017, 07:27:14 PM
A combination of:
1) Oregon's default speed limits are set by state statute
2) Engineers/bureaucrats in Salem that have never even been to SE Oregon and have no idea it even exists
3) A long time prevailing culture of speeding in Oregon (everybody goes/went 10-15 over in eastern Oregon because of the comically low limits, and cops refused to enforce 55 zones in eastern Oregon as long as you kept it under 70) and a weird fear that if you raised the speed limits to something reasonable everybody would still go 10-15 over.
Replace "Oregon" with any of the northeastern states here and you have the reason why limits here are still 65, even though everybody goes 80+.
NY is starting to do nanny speed limits on some freeways. I-81 used to be 65 up to exit 50, then 55, 40 over the bridge, then 65 all the way to customs. Now it drops to 40 a whole mile before the bridge and 55 a mile before that, and the 40 mph zone that used to start right in front of customs now starts a mile before exit 52. Similar deal on I-87. I-781 drops to 45 half a mile before each terminus and 55 half a mile before that, even though actually doing the speed limit like that is so slow it's painful.
(personal opinion emphasized)
Quote from: vdeane on June 17, 2017, 09:38:22 PM
NY is starting to do nanny speed limits on some freeways. I-81 used to be 65 up to exit 50, then 55, 40 over the bridge, then 65 all the way to customs. Now it drops to 40 a whole mile before the bridge and 55 a mile before that, and the 40 mph zone that used to start right in front of customs now starts a mile before exit 52. Similar deal on I-87. I-781 drops to 45 half a mile before each terminus and 55 half a mile before that, even though actually doing the speed limit like that is so slow it's painful.
(personal opinion emphasized)
That's Region 7. The only other thing that resembles a nanny speed limit is NY 17 through the Catskills and, honestly, 65 there would probably encourage people unfamiliar with the area to do it and get themselves killed on one of the curves.
Quote from: cl94 on June 17, 2017, 09:50:41 PM
Quote from: vdeane on June 17, 2017, 09:38:22 PM
NY is starting to do nanny speed limits on some freeways. I-81 used to be 65 up to exit 50, then 55, 40 over the bridge, then 65 all the way to customs. Now it drops to 40 a whole mile before the bridge and 55 a mile before that, and the 40 mph zone that used to start right in front of customs now starts a mile before exit 52. Similar deal on I-87. I-781 drops to 45 half a mile before each terminus and 55 half a mile before that, even though actually doing the speed limit like that is so slow it's painful.
(personal opinion emphasized)
That's Region 7. The only other thing that resembles a nanny speed limit is NY 17 through the Catskills and, honestly, 65 there would probably encourage people unfamiliar with the area to do it and get themselves killed on one of the curves.
I can think of a couple around here, but wanted to keep my post out of my region.
Quote from: corco on June 17, 2017, 07:27:14 PM
A weird fear that if you raised the speed limits to something reasonable everybody would still go 10-15 over.
This same idea always comes up in UT every time speed limits are discussed. Here, a few years ago the urban speed limits on interstates were raised from 65 to 70 mph, and most rural interstates are now 80 mph, up from 75. These changes were mostly done because the vast majority of traffic on the road was already going these speeds.
Of course, there is always someone who cries out "But then they'll all go even faster!" usually some old guy in the legislature who hasn't actually driven on the freeway in years. This idea has been proven wrong. The DOT did speed surveys before and after the changes, and average speeds either didn't change at all or didn't go up any more than 2 mph. What the change did do is get the differences in speed to decrease, which makes for safer driving overall.
In general, people don't drive so fast that they feel like they're in danger, because they value their life and their car and don't want to get into a wreck. Natural selection will gradually weed out the drivers who go so fast they put themselves in danger.
Quote from: jakeroot on June 14, 2017, 08:09:10 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on June 14, 2017, 06:39:31 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on June 14, 2017, 03:06:13 PM
Quote from: roadguy2 on June 14, 2017, 01:01:10 AM
I don't even know what that's like. In Utah, there is a legislated 65 mph max on any road that is not an Interstate.
65 is high for a two lane road.
Meh...not out west is often isn't. There are plenty of 70 MPH zones in Montana and 75 MPH in Texas which are completely adequate. Hell I love that California lets you just go nuts with the 55 MPH rural limit on Mountain grades, might as well have some fun if you the only person around.
California and Washington now appear to be in last place (out west) in regards to single-carriageway speed limits. Washington doesn't have any above 65 (though there's no legislated limit for single-carriageway roads -- all state highways have a default of 60), and California is still stuck in the dark ages of 55. I believe at least one stretch of highway in SE Oregon is posted at 70, so for once, Oregon is the level-headed one.
California has a good number of 2 lane highways posted at 65 (unless you're referring to the truck 55 limit, bleh). US-97 and US-395 are the first two that come to mind, and I'm sure there are more.
Quote from: roadman65 on June 14, 2017, 03:29:10 PM
I remember seeing 55 mph on part of US 60 in WV that was way too winding for it. I could barely do 40 mph as it was a curve every 200 feet. This was several years ago, but hopefully they changed it since then.
The same is true on US 52, particularly on the stretch between Williamson and Bluefield. It's all zigzagging through the mountains and nearly impossible to get up to 55 mph unless you're a daring person. It's also not flat, which means going uphill that slamming on the gas may still not get you to 55 or going downhill, which is just plain scary if you're letting the car gain speed.