AARoads Forum

Regional Boards => Mid-South => Topic started by: ethanman62187 on August 24, 2011, 04:30:33 PM

Title: Why 85
Post by: ethanman62187 on August 24, 2011, 04:30:33 PM
Why is the speed limit there 85 mph?
Title: Re: Why 85
Post by: agentsteel53 on August 24, 2011, 04:32:34 PM
Quote from: ethanman62187 on August 24, 2011, 04:30:33 PM
Why is the speed limit there 85 mph?

because that is what the laws there say it is to be.
Title: Re: Why 85
Post by: Quillz on August 25, 2011, 01:29:55 AM
Texas has 85 mph speed limits? I thought the highest anywhere in the nation was 80 mph.
Title: Re: Why 85
Post by: Brandon on August 25, 2011, 07:08:13 AM
Quote from: ethanman62187 on August 24, 2011, 04:30:33 PM
Why is the speed limit there 85 mph?

Why not?  Speed by itself is not unsafe (note Indy or NASCAR, or even the German Autobahn).
Title: Re: Why 85
Post by: roadfro on August 25, 2011, 09:48:12 AM
Quote from: ethanman62187 on August 24, 2011, 04:30:33 PM
Why is the speed limit there 85 mph?

Where is "there"?

I was under the impression, like Quillz, that the highest speed limits in the U.S. were the recent changes to 80mph in west Texas.
Title: Re: Why 85
Post by: vdeane on August 25, 2011, 11:12:48 AM
I remember there being talk of raising the speed limit to 85 in west Texas but I don't remember them actually raising it.

PS: It helps to not require looking at the post icon to understand the post and title.
Title: Re: Why 85
Post by: InterstateNG on August 26, 2011, 10:01:27 PM
There's a bill working it's way through the Texas Legislature for 85 mph limits.

Lots of incoherent newbies lately.
Title: Re: Why 85
Post by: texaskdog on August 26, 2011, 11:30:12 PM
I was very surprised last week to be in Parowan, Utah, and the speed limit is now 80 on I-15.  Only got to drive on it a few miles, though.
Title: Re: Why 85
Post by: Brandon on August 26, 2011, 11:46:45 PM
Quote from: texaskdog on August 26, 2011, 11:30:12 PM
I was very surprised last week to be in Parowan, Utah, and the speed limit is now 80 on I-15.  Only got to drive on it a few miles, though.

And why not?  It's perfectly safe and is a better limit than an artificial 55 mph which everyone blows past at 20 over.
Speed doesn't kill, bad timing kills.
Title: Re: Why 85
Post by: texaskdog on August 28, 2011, 10:20:25 PM
Quote from: Brandon on August 26, 2011, 11:46:45 PM
Quote from: texaskdog on August 26, 2011, 11:30:12 PM
I was very surprised last week to be in Parowan, Utah, and the speed limit is now 80 on I-15.  Only got to drive on it a few miles, though.

And why not?  It's perfectly safe and is a better limit than an artificial 55 mph which everyone blows past at 20 over.
Speed doesn't kill, bad timing kills.

Surprised that Utah, where nothing is allowed, raised it.  Just drove on I-27 last night which is only 70 MPH.  Why build an interstate and keep the speed the same?
Title: Re: Why 85
Post by: CL on August 29, 2011, 12:45:50 AM
Quote from: texaskdog on August 28, 2011, 10:20:25 PM
Surprised that Utah, where nothing is allowed, raised it.

Utah's unique. It's a hybrid of die-hard conservatism and religious values from the LDS Church. Basically, it's a "don't-tread-on-me" mentality with everything but alcohol. Whether that's bad or good depends on who you're talking to.

You know, if we're pushing 85 mph we might as well do as the Germans do and do away with limits in these desolate rural areas. One caveat though: limitless zones should only be on three-lane stretches of Interstate, with strict enforcement on keeping that far left lane a passing lane only. Two lanes in one direction would seem a tad unsafe, at least to drivers unaccustomed to using the left lane only for passing.
Title: Re: Why 85
Post by: texaskdog on August 29, 2011, 01:12:00 PM
Quote from: CL on August 29, 2011, 12:45:50 AM
Quote from: texaskdog on August 28, 2011, 10:20:25 PM
Surprised that Utah, where nothing is allowed, raised it.

Utah's unique. It's a hybrid of die-hard conservatism and religious values from the LDS Church. Basically, it's a "don't-tread-on-me" mentality with everything but alcohol. Whether that's bad or good depends on who you're talking to.

You know, if we're pushing 85 mph we might as well do as the Germans do and do away with limits in these desolate rural areas. One caveat though: limitless zones should only be on three-lane stretches of Interstate, with strict enforcement on keeping that far left lane a passing lane only. Two lanes in one direction would seem a tad unsafe, at least to drivers unaccustomed to using the left lane only for passing.

Reasonable & prudent?
Title: Re: Why 85
Post by: Scott5114 on August 31, 2011, 03:30:04 AM
Obligatory reference to how that played out in Montana...