Current state speed limit increase proposals

[corco]

I've often wondered if it might be useful to not only eliminate speed limits but also remove speedometers from cars, so that people would be forced to drive at a comfortable speed to them.

I would keep speedometers.  Some people need them to gauge efficient operation of their cars, and in general they are a useful corrective to speed adaptation.

I would support keeping the tachometer in the car for that purpose.

Speedometers also help if you change cars.  Get used to how much noise = 65 in old jalopy, then switch to a new car that's quiet and have trouble gauging speed.

The idea would be that it doesn't matter what "65" feels like- you'd drive at a speed that feels safe to you in whatever car you are driving.

I'm not actually advocating doing this because there's definitely downsides, but I do think that if I were absolute dictator of a country and could experiment on my people at will, I would try it just to see what happens.

[vdeane]

I've often wondered if it might be useful to not only eliminate speed limits but also remove speedometers from cars, so that people would be forced to drive at a comfortable speed to them.

I would keep speedometers.  Some people need them to gauge efficient operation of their cars, and in general they are a useful corrective to speed adaptation.

I would support keeping the tachometer in the car for that purpose.

Different cars have different gearing ratios.  For example, my civic can sustain a steady 45 in 5th gear.  My accord would have stalled under those conditions.

[corco]

I've often wondered if it might be useful to not only eliminate speed limits but also remove speedometers from cars, so that people would be forced to drive at a comfortable speed to them.

I would keep speedometers.  Some people need them to gauge efficient operation of their cars, and in general they are a useful corrective to speed adaptation.

I would support keeping the tachometer in the car for that purpose.

Different cars have different gearing ratios.  For example, my civic can sustain a steady 45 in 5th gear.  My accord would have stalled under those conditions.

Which is why you would look at your tachometer? Or just listen to your engine.  Whether or not you stall is a function of engine speed, not road speed.

[J N Winkler]

The tachometer doesn't really address speed adaptation, which is largely a perceptual effect.  A typical example of it is exiting a freeway after a sustained 60 MPH drive and unconsciously speeding up to 40 on the surface road because it "feels" like 20.  The tachometer will show RPM but not the gear the car is in (and for newer car models with CVTs it may not even be meaningful to speak of being in a fixed gear).

I think perceptual problems are going to play a more prominent role in setting speed limits since the traditional justifications for low speed limits--to save fuel, to reduce dependence on imported fuel, to mitigate the severity of the crashes that do happen, etc.--are currently in eclipse politically.  The vagaries of driver perception are one reason design consistency is an active area of research.

It is also worth noting that abolition of all speed limits has been tried before.  Britain had complete derestriction (including urban areas) between 1930 (20 MPH national limit abolished) and 1933 (30 MPH urban speed limit introduced, rural derestriction preserved).  I think the urban limit was introduced to address a spike in urban fatalities, but I am having no luck finding quick online confirmation since recent editions of Road Casualties Great Britain quote just aggregate numbers at five-year intervals for the pre-World War II period.

[corco]

The tachometer doesn't really address speed adaptation, which is largely a perceptual effect.  A typical example of it is exiting a freeway after a sustained 60 MPH drive and unconsciously speeding up to 40 on the surface road because it "feels" like 20.  The tachometer will show RPM but not the gear the car is in (and for newer car models with CVTs it may not even be meaningful to speak of being in a fixed gear).

Well sure, but in this hypothetical the idea is to totally divorce your mind from the concept of speed- it wouldn't matter if you were going 40 instead of 20, as long as you felt comfortable doing so. The practical effect of something like this would be that you'd have to reconfigure roads to reflect intended driving speed- either through making roads narrower or implementing things like speed bumps or chicanes to calm traffic, that would help to limit the perception problem. If building a road by a school, one would want to design it so it's uncomfortable to go faster than 20 MPH, as opposed to putting up a "speed limit 20" sign and having folks stare at their speedometers as they drive by, distracting them from the actual driving conditions.

The purpose of the tach would be to ensure that you're maximizing engine efficiency, not to ascertain speed, which is admittedly difficult to do with a CVT.

[Pink Jazz]

Looks like Montana's bill has been signed by Governor Steve Bullock today:
http://www.kbzk.com/story/28985730/bullock-signs-bill-to-increase-some-montana-highway-speed-limits

And it looks like Nevada's bill today has passed the Assembly and will go to Governor Brian Sandoval to be signed:
http://www.mynews4.com/news/story/Bill-allowing-80-mph-speed-limit-passes-Nevada/mt0672jH0U2mOyzwwDavZA.cspx

[MASTERNC]

70 in Maryland is nearly a go.  It is on the list of bills to be signed Wednesday (see page 3).

http://governor.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/PressReleaseS4Signed11amMay122015.pdf

[jakeroot]

70 in Maryland is nearly a go.  It is on the list of bills to be signed Wednesday (see page 3).

http://governor.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/PressReleaseS4Signed11amMay122015.pdf

Do you think Hogan will sign it?

[algorerhythms]

70 in Maryland is nearly a go.  It is on the list of bills to be signed Wednesday (see page 3).

http://governor.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/PressReleaseS4Signed11amMay122015.pdf

Do you think Hogan will sign it?

Yes.

[jakeroot]

70 in Maryland is nearly a go.  It is on the list of bills to be signed Wednesday (see page 3).

http://governor.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/PressReleaseS4Signed11amMay122015.pdf

Do you think Hogan will sign it?

Yes.

Well that's about as conclusive as you can get.

[PHLBOS]

70 in Maryland is nearly a go.  It is on the list of bills to be signed Wednesday (see page 3).

http://governor.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/PressReleaseS4Signed11amMay122015.pdf

Do you think Hogan will sign it?

Yes.

It largely mentions the possibility of I-68 (portion(s) of it) getting the 70 mph limit; I wonder what other stretches of highways in MD will be getting such?

[cl94]

70 in Maryland is nearly a go.  It is on the list of bills to be signed Wednesday (see page 3).

http://governor.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/PressReleaseS4Signed11amMay122015.pdf

Do you think Hogan will sign it?

Yes.

It largely mentions I-68 (portion(s) of it) getting the 70 mph limit; I wonder what other stretches of highways in MD will be getting such?

Is there really much else that could qualify? Most of the state is pretty suburban

[Brandon]

70 in Maryland is nearly a go.  It is on the list of bills to be signed Wednesday (see page 3).

http://governor.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/PressReleaseS4Signed11amMay122015.pdf

Do you think Hogan will sign it?

Yes.

It largely mentions I-68 (portion(s) of it) getting the 70 mph limit; I wonder what other stretches of highways in MD will be getting such?

Is there really much else that could qualify? Most of the state is pretty suburban

A heck of a lot.  70 mph is just fine for suburban areas.  It's even fine for urban areas.  Just ask MDOT how they handle 70 mph around Detroit and Grand Rapids.

[PHLBOS]

Is there really much else that could qualify? Most of the state is pretty suburban.

Opening sentence from the linked-article (Bold emphasis added):

It took three years, but a bill which could allow drivers to cruise a bit faster on the long stretches of Interstate 68 in Western Maryland and other highways in the state has moved into the fast lane.

One needs to keep in mind that once the NSL was completely abolished circa 1995; the states have more leeway to assign higher speed limits to suburban & urban highways as well where appropriate.  Personally, most of I-95 north of MD 43 would be a good candidate for 70 mph.

[TXtoNJ]

70 in Maryland is nearly a go.  It is on the list of bills to be signed Wednesday (see page 3).

http://governor.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/PressReleaseS4Signed11amMay122015.pdf

Do you think Hogan will sign it?

Yes.

It largely mentions I-68 (portion(s) of it) getting the 70 mph limit; I wonder what other stretches of highways in MD will be getting such?

Can't help but think 95 will stay at 65 mph unless DE and NJ decide to raise their limits. Also, I'd be surprised if the limit were raised for 270 and 70 east of Frederick. Of course, with the current governor trying to leave his mark on the state, you never know.

[jeffandnicole]

Yes.

It largely mentions I-68 (portion(s) of it) getting the 70 mph limit...

Actually, no, it doesn't.

...a bill which could allow drivers to cruise a bit faster on the long stretches of Interstate 68 in Western Maryland...

Guess which Interstate goes thru the reporting area of the Cumberland Times-News...

The bill only allows what the current law regarding 65 mph allows: For transportation officials to look to see what highways could be signed at a higher limit.

I think I-95 could easily see the higher limit, especially in Cecil County.  Below the Susquehanna, you can probably get another 10 miles or so of the higher limit, but the closer you get to Bel Air and Aberdeen, the likelihood will diminish. 

Can't help but think 95 will stay at 65 mph unless DE and NJ decide to raise their limits. Also, I'd be surprised if the limit were raised for 270 and 70 east of Frederick. Of course, with the current governor trying to leave his mark on the state, you never know.

DE's portion of I-95 will be raised to 65 in the next month or so.  NJ is 15 miles away at the closest point to MD; it has absolutely no impact on what MD would want to do.

[PHLBOS]

It largely mentions the possibility of I-68 (portion(s) of it) getting the 70 mph limit...

Actually, no, it doesn't.

...a bill which could allow drivers to cruise a bit faster on the long stretches of Interstate 68 in Western Maryland...

Second sentence from the article (Bold emphasis added):

The bill would allow an increase of the speed limit to 70 mph on state highways.

Guess which Interstate goes thru the reporting area of the Cumberland Times-News...

No kidding.  But the speed limit along much of I-68 in neighboring WV has been 70 for about 20 years; so there's certainly a chance for could to become will.  If there ws no chance of I-68 getting a higher speed limit along certain sections; why even have the article?

While I-68 through Cumberland, MD itself will not increase to 70 (the article even states such further down); outside segments of 68 (currently at 65 mph) could be eligible for an increase.

Nonetheless, I will modify my previous post as shown above.

[TXtoNJ]

DE's portion of I-95 will be raised to 65 in the next month or so.  NJ is 15 miles away at the closest point to MD; it has absolutely no impact on what MD would want to do.

It sort of does, though. The I-95 BosWash corridor essentially functions as its own entity, with different norms from other, more rural parts of the states that 95 passes through. Local politicians and administrators are likely looking to their counterparts up and down 95 than they are in say, Hagerstown.

[cl94]

DE's portion of I-95 will be raised to 65 in the next month or so.  NJ is 15 miles away at the closest point to MD; it has absolutely no impact on what MD would want to do.

It sort of does, though. The I-95 BosWash corridor essentially functions as its own entity, with different norms from other, more rural parts of the states that 95 passes through. Local politicians and administrators are likely looking to their counterparts up and down 95 than they are in say, Hagerstown.

Agree. Traffic patterns tend to be corridor-wide instead of regional.

[jeffandnicole]

DE's portion of I-95 will be raised to 65 in the next month or so.  NJ is 15 miles away at the closest point to MD; it has absolutely no impact on what MD would want to do.

It sort of does, though. The I-95 BosWash corridor essentially functions as its own entity, with different norms from other, more rural parts of the states that 95 passes through. Local politicians and administrators are likely looking to their counterparts up and down 95 than they are in say, Hagerstown.

Completely disagree.  Maybe on a national level it looks like there's a regional partnership from Boston to DC, but any agreements are few and far in-between.  If you want to look at speed limits, Jersey could care less what Delaware does.  PA couldn't care what NY does.  CT doesn't care what MD does, and so forth.  Delaware's I-95 has remained 55 mph for 17 years since NJ went to 65 (and even longer since MD went 65).  If there was any sort of regional cohesiveness, NJ's I-95 would've been completed long ago. 

Each state does what they want to do. 

BTW, a good case in point:  The NJ Turnpike widening was to be completed around the same time the PA Turnpike completed their connection of the Turnpike & I-95.  And a parallel bridge was to be built connecting NJ & PA.  The NJ Turnpike's widening project is complete.  PA has barely started their connection project, and are only completing a small portion of it at first.  And the bridge widening is a decade off, at minimum.  PA had no care in the world that their project is years behind at best.

[bzakharin]

DE's portion of I-95 will be raised to 65 in the next month or so.  NJ is 15 miles away at the closest point to MD; it has absolutely no impact on what MD would want to do.

It sort of does, though. The I-95 BosWash corridor essentially functions as its own entity, with different norms from other, more rural parts of the states that 95 passes through. Local politicians and administrators are likely looking to their counterparts up and down 95 than they are in say, Hagerstown.

If we're just talking about I-95, isn't PA much closer to MD than NJ? Isn't I-95 in PA still 55 the entire length? Or are we talking about the NJ Turnpike?

[jeffandnicole]

Generally speaking, the entire NJ Turnpike is included when talking about I-95.  Most of the sub-routes to 95 are included as well (Beltways, the 295s and 495s, etc).

When you look at the I-95 Corridor Coalition's map, it certainly appears that they completely bypass PA, and include the NJ Turnpike as THE I-95 route! http://www.i95coalition.org/the-coalition-2/i-95-facts/

[PHLBOS]

When you look at the I-95 Corridor Coalition's map, it certainly appears that they completely bypass PA, and include the NJ Turnpike as THE I-95 route! http://www.i95coalition.org/the-coalition-2/i-95-facts/

If one looks at the highlighted counties along the map in the link and the listings of states below; PA is certainly included.

PA is also included in the 511 Travel Information Map (scroll down).

[gonealookin]

Governor Sandoval signed Nevada Senate Bill 2 yesterday, authorizing Nevada DOT to increase speed limits to a maximum of 80 mph when the law takes effect on October 1.

I believe the governor personally opposed the bill, as his Director of Transportation had testified against it at an Assembly hearing and the signature came on the last possible day for action.  However, the bill had unanimous support from the legislators in his own (Republican) party, and enough support from Democrats that it passed by veto-proof majorities in both houses, so I suppose he went along grudgingly.

The law does not require Nevada DOT to raise any speed limits.  My guess is that there might be a "demonstration project" along some stretch of I-80 in 2016 with actual speed and accident data collected.  Eventually we may see 80 mph limits across most of I-80 from Fernley to the Utah border (around 350 miles) and on I-15 from northeast of Las Vegas to Arizona, but that might have to wait until Sandoval's term has expired.

Also under this law, if a posted speed limit is 75 or 80 and the driver is pulled over for exceeding it by no more than 5 mph, punishment is limited to a $25 fine and is not counted as a moving violation (this already applies if you're going 10 mph over in a 60 or 65 zone or 5 mph over in a 70 zone).

[roadfro]

Governor Sandoval signed Nevada Senate Bill 2 yesterday, authorizing Nevada DOT to increase speed limits to a maximum of 80 mph when the law takes effect on October 1.

(...)

Also under this law, if a posted speed limit is 75 or 80 and the driver is pulled over for exceeding it by no more than 5 mph, punishment is limited to a $25 fine and is not counted as a moving violation (this already applies if you're going 10 mph over in a 60 or 65 zone or 5 mph over in a 70 zone).

Something interesting about this provision of the bill...

Previous law set the maximum allowable speed at 75mph, and allowed the reduced penalties as follows:
Speed limit = 60, speeding not over 70
Speed limit = 65, speeding not over 75
Speed limit = 70, speeding not over 75

New law sets the maximum allowable speed at 80mph, retains previous reduced penalties and introduced two more:
Speed limit = 60, speeding not over 70
Speed limit = 65, speeding not over 75
Speed limit = 70, speeding not over 75
Speed limit = 75, speeding not over 80
Speed limit = 80, speeding not over 85

With the previous law on the books, there was no reduced penalty for anyone who exceeds the maximum allowable speed limit. The new law does allow a reduced penalty if driving over the maximum speed, which doesn't make sense (even the original bill did this).


I would have done it like this:
Maximum allowable speed is 80, reduced penalties allowed as follows:
Speed limit = 60, speeding not over 70
Speed limit = 65, speeding not over 75
Speed limit = 70, speeding not over 80
Speed limit = 75, speeding not over 80

This would have kept the original pattern and not provided an "award" for breaking the max speed.