Florida

[roadman65]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/80-mph-speed-limits-could-162121274.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmluZy5jb20v&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAAF8HoYehEP7m3vSf4FzQ0KlE-W5ttx2YGz-8pida5xINLuGe2O38nwrsiV_4nyK5aDUyUVRpoDYIN5m7rXvUZxQx6D2t4TcWc1vYUS_UzckaCCfwfHiw8icHMrGSw6dTSkvki21XTs3kIxehD6J38eVWeVMIN6H9u2wqUWUjZiF


Florida House passes bill to raise the state maximum speed from 70 to 80 mph.

[ElishaGOtis]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/80-mph-speed-limits-could-162121274.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmluZy5jb20v&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAAF8HoYehEP7m3vSf4FzQ0KlE-W5ttx2YGz-8pida5xINLuGe2O38nwrsiV_4nyK5aDUyUVRpoDYIN5m7rXvUZxQx6D2t4TcWc1vYUS_UzckaCCfwfHiw8icHMrGSw6dTSkvki21XTs3kIxehD6J38eVWeVMIN6H9u2wqUWUjZiF


Florida House passes bill to raise the state maximum speed from 70 to 80 mph.

Ahem...

SOMEHOW, it ended up back in the senate bill in Florida!!

SB 1220 AUTHORIZES FDOT to post speed limits no higher than 80mph on limited access highways, and up to 70mph elsewhere. It's a brand-new last-minute amendment, so who knows if it'll actually go through or not, but regardless here it is:

https://flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1220

Where would 75-80 be put? Probably nowhere if I had to guess (as FL doesn't define design speeds above 70), but hey, at least they could if they wanted to...

THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT.

Senate refused to adopt House amendment, session ended before the house could respond. It could come back in the budget special session, but I'm not confident...

Don't worry you're not the only one bamboozled by this lol 

Technically speaking, Turnpike could post 80 regardless of any speed limit increase bill but I highly doubt they'd do so (FSS 338.239).

[Max Rockatansky]

Normally I'd be all in favor of 75-80 MPH, especially if it was out west.  Problem is that the general driving skill set in Florida that I saw in all the years living there is so low that it probably isn't a good idea.  Younger folks never obtain driving skills for hazardous conditions much less high speed.  The retiree demographic only becomes more hazardous with age as their skills erode. 

[roadman65]

Normally I'd be all in favor of 75-80 MPH, especially if it was out west.  Problem is that the general driving skill set in Florida that I saw in all the years living there is so low that it probably isn't a good idea.  Younger folks never obtain driving skills for hazardous conditions much less high speed.  The retiree demographic only becomes more hazardous with age as their skills erode. 

I would say only Alligator Alley and the Turnpike from Fort Pierce to St Cloud where the exits are spaced out.

[skatcher]

Personally, I would be comfortable with speed limits increasing to 75MPH on Alligator Alley, Turnpike from Jupiter to St. Cloud, Suncoast Parkway north of FL-54, and I-10 west of Baldwin (excluding Tallahassee and Pensacola suburban areas). Most of these highways are relatively level grade with lower AADT counts and larger average distances between exits. These highways are also only 4 lanes in most sections.

I've noticed other posters mention safety in regards to increasing the speed on Florida's freeways. I commute 50 miles each way along I-75 every day between Hillsborough and Sarasota counties, and I see all sorts of atrocious driving: left and center lane campers driving under the speed limit, people speeding in the shoulder to pass vehicles, left lane drivers divebombing across all lanes of traffic at the last second to take an exit,  people forcing their way in front of semis that barely have a car length between them and the car in front of them, and the list goes on and on. Unfortunately, people don't either realize or care that higher actual (not posted) speeds do lead to less safe highways. I'm not going to get into the effects various highway and weather conditions contribute to the safety, or lack thereof, of this state's highways.

My biggest issue with increasing speed limits to 80MPH is more of an economic issue. Obviously, an increase in the actual speed a vehicle travels is going to decrease the vehicle's fuel economy. For instance, my vehicle has a 12 gallon tank and I can get approximately 35 MPG in average highway driving conditions, so I can realistically go 420 miles until I run out of fuel. I had driven once from New Braunfels, TX to Ft. Stockton, TX via downtown San Antonio, a 350 mile drive. I topped off the gas tank as I left New Braunfels. All of I-10 west of Bexar County is either 75 or 80MPH, and I had to pull off the road 35 miles before Ft. Stockton because my fuel economy tanked after I started going 80 MPH and ended up not having enough fuel to make it. Additionally, faster speeds contribute to reduced tire and brake life. I'm fortunate my car is paid off, but if I can reduce the cost of vehicle maintenance, I'm all for it.

So, to make a long story short, 75MPH would be good on certain sections of road, but I think 80MPH is ridiculous, not just in Florida, but in general.

[ElishaGOtis]

Normally I'd be all in favor of 75-80 MPH, especially if it was out west.  Problem is that the general driving skill set in Florida that I saw in all the years living there is so low that it probably isn't a good idea.  Younger folks never obtain driving skills for hazardous conditions much less high speed.  The retiree demographic only becomes more hazardous with age as their skills erode. 

IMHO much of the bad driving has to do with overtly stringent laws in some cases. Texas probably has the best example of this to explain. In the areas around Houston and El Paso, the speed limits are generally lower, yet I usually see far more excessive speeding than in the other areas of the state with higher limits, even in other major cities. That's not to say that excessive speeding doesn't happen with higher limits, but often times having disrespectful laws only makes many people actually disrespect laws more. ALL THAT SAID, Texas and Florida both have a serious issue with "I turn now, good luck everybody else!" (Specifically in Jacksonville, Orlando, Miami, Dallas, and Houston). The biggest thing that Texas struggles with imho is left lane camping... I had some bozo in front of me on SH-130 who had the absolute audacity to enter the highway and subsequently go 55mph in the left lane on the 85mph section...

In Florida, I've done speed studies across much of the northeast part of the state. I've seen 85th percentile speeds range from 10 under the speed limit (20 in a 30) to 24 over the speed limit (44 in a 20, 79 in a 55, etc). I'll have to double-check these values again but that's generally what I've come across.

Probably the best highlight of this is in Minnesota, where in some cases the 85th percentile speed went UP after a 5-10mph speed limit drop.

While I do understand your concern, in the grand scheme of things people will only drive at speeds at which they feel comfortable at, since enforcement can't be everywhere at once (even if they try). If they're already going 85 now, they'll continue to go 85 if the limit is 80, except that more people will be legally allowed to keep up with them better.

Regarding younger folks, I went to college about 300 miles away from my hometown. Given I'm a stickler for both the speed limit and the left lane, it ended up taking about 4.5-5hrs for me to get home due to all the speed limited trucks (that I need to strategically time passing lest I risk them accelerating and trapping me in the left lane), stopped vehicles requiring me to slow down to 50, and vehicles going at least 85-90 in the left lane which prevented me from passing most slower vehicles in the first place. Meanwhile, ask anyone who also made that same journey who were also my age, and they'll tell you it takes 3-4 hours (usually 3.5-4 is what most map apps say off peak). Yes, you read that right... 3 hours for 300 miles! Younger drivers are already going that speed, and older drivers are already going slow in conjunction with the younger drivers. Meanwhile, I'm stuck in the middle... (oh the joys of legitimately having OCD...  )

That's not to say they don't enforce the laws in Florida. It's far more stringently enforced than the average speeds may signal. I knew a few folks who were legitimately ticketed for 76-80 in a 70 under ideal conditions (not reduced). To make matters even sillier, I actually know someone who was ticketed for BOTH speeding (83 in a 70) and impeding the left lane somewhere on I-95...

End ramble

(this is not an official agency statement nor am I speaking on behalf of any agency)

(also seeing some comments imma make some changes my fictional ideal speed limit map linked below and in the fictional board. Thx!!)

[Max Rockatansky]

Regarding speed enforcement Florida is by far the most strict out of all the states I've resided in during my adult life.  Florida had (still has?) a lot of really infamous sudden drops in limits that were super obvious speed traps.  A lot of US 301 and the tiny incorporated cities along it come to mind as being particularly vicious for setting trap limits.

In general speed enforcement I've found is much more an east coast priority for law enforcement.  Going 7-15 MPH over the limit here (California) is pretty much the expected etiquette on anything expressway or freeway.  I think Oregon is probably the closest west coast analog to the eastern states regarding limits and enforcement. 

I suppose when I think about it makes sense why speeding is such a low priority for agencies like CHP.  They tend to focus more on reckless driving infractions or keeping people who can't drive away from chain control zones.

FWIW the only state I've ever been pulled over for speeding was in Florida.   I was certainly deserving of a ticket but I got a warning. 

[ElishaGOtis]

Personally, I would be comfortable with speed limits increasing to 75MPH on Alligator Alley, Turnpike from Jupiter to St. Cloud, Suncoast Parkway north of FL-54, and I-10 west of Baldwin (excluding Tallahassee and Pensacola suburban areas). Most of these highways are relatively level grade with lower AADT counts and larger average distances between exits. These highways are also only 4 lanes in most sections.

I've noticed other posters mention safety in regards to increasing the speed on Florida's freeways. I commute 50 miles each way along I-75 every day between Hillsborough and Sarasota counties, and I see all sorts of atrocious driving: left and center lane campers driving under the speed limit, people speeding in the shoulder to pass vehicles, left lane drivers divebombing across all lanes of traffic at the last second to take an exit,  people forcing their way in front of semis that barely have a car length between them and the car in front of them, and the list goes on and on. Unfortunately, people don't either realize or care that higher actual (not posted) speeds do lead to less safe highways. I'm not going to get into the effects various highway and weather conditions contribute to the safety, or lack thereof, of this state's highways.

My biggest issue with increasing speed limits to 80MPH is more of an economic issue. Obviously, an increase in the actual speed a vehicle travels is going to decrease the vehicle's fuel economy. For instance, my vehicle has a 12 gallon tank and I can get approximately 35 MPG in average highway driving conditions, so I can realistically go 420 miles until I run out of fuel. I had driven once from New Braunfels, TX to Ft. Stockton, TX via downtown San Antonio, a 350 mile drive. I topped off the gas tank as I left New Braunfels. All of I-10 west of Bexar County is either 75 or 80MPH, and I had to pull off the road 35 miles before Ft. Stockton because my fuel economy tanked after I started going 80 MPH and ended up not having enough fuel to make it. Additionally, faster speeds contribute to reduced tire and brake life. I'm fortunate my car is paid off, but if I can reduce the cost of vehicle maintenance, I'm all for it.

So, to make a long story short, 75MPH would be good on certain sections of road, but I think 80MPH is ridiculous, not just in Florida, but in general.

You make some valid points, but even then it all boils down to people only driving at speeds at which they feel comfortable at. One item I forgot to mention in my last post was a comparison on average speeds. On both I-10 in west Texas and I-75 in Alligator Alley, average speeds tend to be around the same despite similar levels of enforcement and a 10mph difference in speed limits. One of the factors of note in west Texas follows another point you mentioned—if people don't want to use as much gas, they won't go as fast even with a higher speed limit. Drag is directly proportional to velocity squared (like kinetic energy). Funny enough, that's why many trucks are speed limited in the first place despite far higher speed limits.

[ElishaGOtis]

Regarding speed enforcement Florida is by far the most strict out of all the states I've resided in during my adult life.  Florida had (still has?) a lot of really infamous sudden drops in limits that were super obvious speed traps.  A lot of US 301 and the tiny incorporated cities along it come to mind as being particularly vicious for setting trap limits.

In general speed enforcement I've found is much more an east coast priority for law enforcement.  Going 7-15 MPH over the limit here (California) is pretty much the expected etiquette on anything expressway or freeway.  I think Oregon is probably the closest west coast analog to the eastern states regarding limits and enforcement. 

I suppose when I think about it makes sense why speeding is such a low priority for agencies like CHP.  They tend to focus more on reckless driving infractions or keeping people who can't drive away from chain control zones.

Washington state also generally uses a 6mph tolerance for speed cameras now instead of 10, in addition to CA, OR, and WA deploying tons more speed cameras with varying tolerance.

[Max Rockatansky]

Regarding speed enforcement Florida is by far the most strict out of all the states I've resided in during my adult life.  Florida had (still has?) a lot of really infamous sudden drops in limits that were super obvious speed traps.  A lot of US 301 and the tiny incorporated cities along it come to mind as being particularly vicious for setting trap limits.

In general speed enforcement I've found is much more an east coast priority for law enforcement.  Going 7-15 MPH over the limit here (California) is pretty much the expected etiquette on anything expressway or freeway.  I think Oregon is probably the closest west coast analog to the eastern states regarding limits and enforcement. 

I suppose when I think about it makes sense why speeding is such a low priority for agencies like CHP.  They tend to focus more on reckless driving infractions or keeping people who can't drive away from chain control zones.

Washington state also generally uses a 6mph tolerance for speed cameras now instead of 10, in addition to CA, OR, and WA deploying tons more speed cameras with varying tolerance.

Fortunately I'm in an area that is unlikely to have photo enforcement any time soon.  Living in Scottsdale, Arizona when they were doing their photo radar camera trials was enough for me. 

[formulanone]

Florida had this issue with mile marker 420 on I-75, so per the legend, it was actually replaced with a 419.9 sign

Can confirm, spotted this on our trip home last week; this and the opposite side of I-75 must have the only decimalized mile markers in the state.

Surprised they they didn't go with 419.99 a la Colorado.

Turnpike also uses decimal mile markers.

Oh, that's right. They have the half-mile intervals.

[Plutonic Panda]

Normally I'd be all in favor of 75-80 MPH, especially if it was out west.  Problem is that the general driving skill set in Florida that I saw in all the years living there is so low that it probably isn't a good idea.  Younger folks never obtain driving skills for hazardous conditions much less high speed.  The retiree demographic only becomes more hazardous with age as their skills erode. 

IMHO much of the bad driving has to do with overtly stringent laws in some cases. Texas probably has the best example of this to explain. In the areas around Houston and El Paso, the speed limits are generally lower, yet I usually see far more excessive speeding than in the other areas of the state with higher limits, even in other major cities. That's not to say that excessive speeding doesn't happen with higher limits, but often times having disrespectful laws only makes many people actually disrespect laws more. ALL THAT SAID, Texas and Florida both have a serious issue with "I turn now, good luck everybody else!" (Specifically in Jacksonville, Orlando, Miami, Dallas, and Houston). The biggest thing that Texas struggles with imho is left lane camping... I had some bozo in front of me on SH-130 who had the absolute audacity to enter the highway and subsequently go 55mph in the left lane on the 85mph section...

In Florida, I've done speed studies across much of the northeast part of the state. I've seen 85th percentile speeds range from 10 under the speed limit (20 in a 30) to 24 over the speed limit (44 in a 20, 79 in a 55, etc). I'll have to double-check these values again but that's generally what I've come across.

Probably the best highlight of this is in Minnesota, where in some cases the 85th percentile speed went UP after a 5-10mph speed limit drop.

While I do understand your concern, in the grand scheme of things people will only drive at speeds at which they feel comfortable at, since enforcement can't be everywhere at once (even if they try). If they're already going 85 now, they'll continue to go 85 if the limit is 80, except that more people will be legally allowed to keep up with them better.

Regarding younger folks, I went to college about 300 miles away from my hometown. Given I'm a stickler for both the speed limit and the left lane, it ended up taking about 4.5-5hrs for me to get home due to all the speed limited trucks (that I need to strategically time passing lest I risk them accelerating and trapping me in the left lane), stopped vehicles requiring me to slow down to 50, and vehicles going at least 85-90 in the left lane which prevented me from passing most slower vehicles in the first place. Meanwhile, ask anyone who also made that same journey who were also my age, and they'll tell you it takes 3-4 hours (usually 3.5-4 is what most map apps say off peak). Yes, you read that right... 3 hours for 300 miles! Younger drivers are already going that speed, and older drivers are already going slow in conjunction with the younger drivers. Meanwhile, I'm stuck in the middle... (oh the joys of legitimately having OCD...  )

That's not to say they don't enforce the laws in Florida. It's far more stringently enforced than the average speeds may signal. I knew a few folks who were legitimately ticketed for 76-80 in a 70 under ideal conditions (not reduced). To make matters even sillier, I actually know someone who was ticketed for BOTH speeding (83 in a 70) and impeding the left lane somewhere on I-95...

End ramble

(this is not an official agency statement nor am I speaking on behalf of any agency)

(also seeing some comments imma make some changes my fictional ideal speed limit map linked below and in the fictional board. Thx!!)

I've heard of people being ticketed for speeding and impeding the left lane, but I never knew what the outcome was. What happened with your friend? It's hard for me to believe that a judge wouldn't dismiss at least one of those tickets.

[ElishaGOtis]

Normally I'd be all in favor of 75-80 MPH, especially if it was out west.  Problem is that the general driving skill set in Florida that I saw in all the years living there is so low that it probably isn't a good idea.  Younger folks never obtain driving skills for hazardous conditions much less high speed.  The retiree demographic only becomes more hazardous with age as their skills erode. 

IMHO much of the bad driving has to do with overtly stringent laws in some cases. Texas probably has the best example of this to explain. In the areas around Houston and El Paso, the speed limits are generally lower, yet I usually see far more excessive speeding than in the other areas of the state with higher limits, even in other major cities. That's not to say that excessive speeding doesn't happen with higher limits, but often times having disrespectful laws only makes many people actually disrespect laws more. ALL THAT SAID, Texas and Florida both have a serious issue with "I turn now, good luck everybody else!" (Specifically in Jacksonville, Orlando, Miami, Dallas, and Houston). The biggest thing that Texas struggles with imho is left lane camping... I had some bozo in front of me on SH-130 who had the absolute audacity to enter the highway and subsequently go 55mph in the left lane on the 85mph section...

In Florida, I've done speed studies across much of the northeast part of the state. I've seen 85th percentile speeds range from 10 under the speed limit (20 in a 30) to 24 over the speed limit (44 in a 20, 79 in a 55, etc). I'll have to double-check these values again but that's generally what I've come across.

Probably the best highlight of this is in Minnesota, where in some cases the 85th percentile speed went UP after a 5-10mph speed limit drop.

While I do understand your concern, in the grand scheme of things people will only drive at speeds at which they feel comfortable at, since enforcement can't be everywhere at once (even if they try). If they're already going 85 now, they'll continue to go 85 if the limit is 80, except that more people will be legally allowed to keep up with them better.

Regarding younger folks, I went to college about 300 miles away from my hometown. Given I'm a stickler for both the speed limit and the left lane, it ended up taking about 4.5-5hrs for me to get home due to all the speed limited trucks (that I need to strategically time passing lest I risk them accelerating and trapping me in the left lane), stopped vehicles requiring me to slow down to 50, and vehicles going at least 85-90 in the left lane which prevented me from passing most slower vehicles in the first place. Meanwhile, ask anyone who also made that same journey who were also my age, and they'll tell you it takes 3-4 hours (usually 3.5-4 is what most map apps say off peak). Yes, you read that right... 3 hours for 300 miles! Younger drivers are already going that speed, and older drivers are already going slow in conjunction with the younger drivers. Meanwhile, I'm stuck in the middle... (oh the joys of legitimately having OCD...  )

That's not to say they don't enforce the laws in Florida. It's far more stringently enforced than the average speeds may signal. I knew a few folks who were legitimately ticketed for 76-80 in a 70 under ideal conditions (not reduced). To make matters even sillier, I actually know someone who was ticketed for BOTH speeding (83 in a 70) and impeding the left lane somewhere on I-95...

End ramble

(this is not an official agency statement nor am I speaking on behalf of any agency)

(also seeing some comments imma make some changes my fictional ideal speed limit map linked below and in the fictional board. Thx!!)

I've heard of people being ticketed for speeding and impeding the left lane, but I never knew what the outcome was. What happened with your friend? It's hard for me to believe that a judge wouldn't dismiss at least one of those tickets.

I think he just paid it? Not 100% sure... Even still, 6 points is nothing to sneeze at... All that being said, explicitly speaking in Florida I think such concurrent charge would be 100% valid, as a) there is no excuse to exceed the speed limit and b) the left lane law only specifies that your speed must be under the normal flow of traffic regardless of the speed. In other states, such as those with either a restriction on the application of that law or prima facie speed limits, I would see a far higher chance of one of those being thrown out.
NAL

[skatcher]

Personally, I would be comfortable with speed limits increasing to 75MPH on Alligator Alley, Turnpike from Jupiter to St. Cloud, Suncoast Parkway north of FL-54, and I-10 west of Baldwin (excluding Tallahassee and Pensacola suburban areas). Most of these highways are relatively level grade with lower AADT counts and larger average distances between exits. These highways are also only 4 lanes in most sections.

I've noticed other posters mention safety in regards to increasing the speed on Florida's freeways. I commute 50 miles each way along I-75 every day between Hillsborough and Sarasota counties, and I see all sorts of atrocious driving: left and center lane campers driving under the speed limit, people speeding in the shoulder to pass vehicles, left lane drivers divebombing across all lanes of traffic at the last second to take an exit,  people forcing their way in front of semis that barely have a car length between them and the car in front of them, and the list goes on and on. Unfortunately, people don't either realize or care that higher actual (not posted) speeds do lead to less safe highways. I'm not going to get into the effects various highway and weather conditions contribute to the safety, or lack thereof, of this state's highways.

My biggest issue with increasing speed limits to 80MPH is more of an economic issue. Obviously, an increase in the actual speed a vehicle travels is going to decrease the vehicle's fuel economy. For instance, my vehicle has a 12 gallon tank and I can get approximately 35 MPG in average highway driving conditions, so I can realistically go 420 miles until I run out of fuel. I had driven once from New Braunfels, TX to Ft. Stockton, TX via downtown San Antonio, a 350 mile drive. I topped off the gas tank as I left New Braunfels. All of I-10 west of Bexar County is either 75 or 80MPH, and I had to pull off the road 35 miles before Ft. Stockton because my fuel economy tanked after I started going 80 MPH and ended up not having enough fuel to make it. Additionally, faster speeds contribute to reduced tire and brake life. I'm fortunate my car is paid off, but if I can reduce the cost of vehicle maintenance, I'm all for it.

So, to make a long story short, 75MPH would be good on certain sections of road, but I think 80MPH is ridiculous, not just in Florida, but in general.

You make some valid points, but even then it all boils down to people only driving at speeds at which they feel comfortable at. One item I forgot to mention in my last post was a comparison on average speeds. On both I-10 in west Texas and I-75 in Alligator Alley, average speeds tend to be around the same despite similar levels of enforcement and a 10mph difference in speed limits. One of the factors of note in west Texas follows another point you mentioned—if people don't want to use as much gas, they won't go as fast even with a higher speed limit. Drag is directly proportional to velocity squared (like kinetic energy). Funny enough, that's why many trucks are speed limited in the first place despite far higher speed limits.

Out of curiosity, how does the AADT compare between I-10 in west TX and Alligator Alley? I've been on plenty of stretches of I-10 out there where I'm the only vehicle for miles, and most of the time on the Alley I'm getting my doors blown off every other minute, unless the semis are micropassing. (side-rant: I'm pro-trucker; a quarter of my family has a trucker background, and I have friends that currently work OTR. I'm just trying to understand why the semi being overtaken can't drop their speed slightly just so the other semi can pass. (side-side-rant: I notice passenger vehicles acting similarly; I'll come up on a car in the right lane on the way to work going below the speed limit, and when I go to pass, they all of a sudden speed up to pace me and prevent me from overtaking unless I speed up, which most of the time I don't want to drive faster than I already am. I guess I'm frustrated dealing with people lacking courtesy on the roads.))

Your mention of speed limited trucks reminds me of one time when I drove a moving truck from AZ to FL, and it was governed at 74MPH, which was fine, even in rural west TX, but any time the cruise control was set and the vehicle exceeded 71MPH (usually on a downhill grade) the cruise control would turn off, which made driving oh so much fun through the hilly areas. I had no problem camping in the right lane all the way across the country because I couldn't keep up with the traffic. In case anybody is wondering, I branched off from I-10 to I-20 and back to I-10 from I-49 in Lafayette, LA to avoid Houston traffic and the I-10 bridge over Lake Charles in LA.

[skatcher]

Regarding speed enforcement Florida is by far the most strict out of all the states I've resided in during my adult life.  Florida had (still has?) a lot of really infamous sudden drops in limits that were super obvious speed traps.  A lot of US 301 and the tiny incorporated cities along it come to mind as being particularly vicious for setting trap limits.

In general speed enforcement I've found is much more an east coast priority for law enforcement.  Going 7-15 MPH over the limit here (California) is pretty much the expected etiquette on anything expressway or freeway.  I think Oregon is probably the closest west coast analog to the eastern states regarding limits and enforcement. 

I suppose when I think about it makes sense why speeding is such a low priority for agencies like CHP.  They tend to focus more on reckless driving infractions or keeping people who can't drive away from chain control zones.

Washington state also generally uses a 6mph tolerance for speed cameras now instead of 10, in addition to CA, OR, and WA deploying tons more speed cameras with varying tolerance.

Fortunately I'm in an area that is unlikely to have photo enforcement any time soon.  Living in Scottsdale, Arizona when they were doing their photo radar camera trials was enough for me. 

I was living in Tempe in 2010 when they were running speed cameras on some of the freeways. The Loop 202 between the Loop 101 in Tempe and the I-10/AZ 51 interchange was always the worst stretch of freeway because everybody would hit the brakes and reduce speed by 10MPH causing traffic to build up right by the cameras. Once past the cameras, everybody would speed up again. I also think part of that stretch was 55MPH, but I do not remember. Either way, that stretch of freeway flowed a lot better after the cameras were removed midway through 2010 I believe.

[Max Rockatansky]

Regarding speed enforcement Florida is by far the most strict out of all the states I've resided in during my adult life.  Florida had (still has?) a lot of really infamous sudden drops in limits that were super obvious speed traps.  A lot of US 301 and the tiny incorporated cities along it come to mind as being particularly vicious for setting trap limits.

In general speed enforcement I've found is much more an east coast priority for law enforcement.  Going 7-15 MPH over the limit here (California) is pretty much the expected etiquette on anything expressway or freeway.  I think Oregon is probably the closest west coast analog to the eastern states regarding limits and enforcement. 

I suppose when I think about it makes sense why speeding is such a low priority for agencies like CHP.  They tend to focus more on reckless driving infractions or keeping people who can't drive away from chain control zones.

Washington state also generally uses a 6mph tolerance for speed cameras now instead of 10, in addition to CA, OR, and WA deploying tons more speed cameras with varying tolerance.

Fortunately I'm in an area that is unlikely to have photo enforcement any time soon.  Living in Scottsdale, Arizona when they were doing their photo radar camera trials was enough for me. 

I was living in Tempe in 2010 when they were running speed cameras on some of the freeways. The Loop 202 between the Loop 101 in Tempe and the I-10/AZ 51 interchange was always the worst stretch of freeway because everybody would hit the brakes and reduce speed by 10MPH causing traffic to build up right by the cameras. Once past the cameras, everybody would speed up again. I also think part of that stretch was 55MPH, but I do not remember. Either way, that stretch of freeway flowed a lot better after the cameras were removed midway through 2010 I believe.

The limit was posted at 65 MPH.  The cameras were set to activate at 11 MPH over. 

[ElishaGOtis]

Personally, I would be comfortable with speed limits increasing to 75MPH on Alligator Alley, Turnpike from Jupiter to St. Cloud, Suncoast Parkway north of FL-54, and I-10 west of Baldwin (excluding Tallahassee and Pensacola suburban areas). Most of these highways are relatively level grade with lower AADT counts and larger average distances between exits. These highways are also only 4 lanes in most sections.

I've noticed other posters mention safety in regards to increasing the speed on Florida's freeways. I commute 50 miles each way along I-75 every day between Hillsborough and Sarasota counties, and I see all sorts of atrocious driving: left and center lane campers driving under the speed limit, people speeding in the shoulder to pass vehicles, left lane drivers divebombing across all lanes of traffic at the last second to take an exit,  people forcing their way in front of semis that barely have a car length between them and the car in front of them, and the list goes on and on. Unfortunately, people don't either realize or care that higher actual (not posted) speeds do lead to less safe highways. I'm not going to get into the effects various highway and weather conditions contribute to the safety, or lack thereof, of this state's highways.

My biggest issue with increasing speed limits to 80MPH is more of an economic issue. Obviously, an increase in the actual speed a vehicle travels is going to decrease the vehicle's fuel economy. For instance, my vehicle has a 12 gallon tank and I can get approximately 35 MPG in average highway driving conditions, so I can realistically go 420 miles until I run out of fuel. I had driven once from New Braunfels, TX to Ft. Stockton, TX via downtown San Antonio, a 350 mile drive. I topped off the gas tank as I left New Braunfels. All of I-10 west of Bexar County is either 75 or 80MPH, and I had to pull off the road 35 miles before Ft. Stockton because my fuel economy tanked after I started going 80 MPH and ended up not having enough fuel to make it. Additionally, faster speeds contribute to reduced tire and brake life. I'm fortunate my car is paid off, but if I can reduce the cost of vehicle maintenance, I'm all for it.

So, to make a long story short, 75MPH would be good on certain sections of road, but I think 80MPH is ridiculous, not just in Florida, but in general.

You make some valid points, but even then it all boils down to people only driving at speeds at which they feel comfortable at. One item I forgot to mention in my last post was a comparison on average speeds. On both I-10 in west Texas and I-75 in Alligator Alley, average speeds tend to be around the same despite similar levels of enforcement and a 10mph difference in speed limits. One of the factors of note in west Texas follows another point you mentioned—if people don't want to use as much gas, they won't go as fast even with a higher speed limit. Drag is directly proportional to velocity squared (like kinetic energy). Funny enough, that's why many trucks are speed limited in the first place despite far higher speed limits.

Out of curiosity, how does the AADT compare between I-10 in west TX and Alligator Alley? I've been on plenty of stretches of I-10 out there where I'm the only vehicle for miles, and most of the time on the Alley I'm getting my doors blown off every other minute, unless the semis are micropassing. (side-rant: I'm pro-trucker; a quarter of my family has a trucker background, and I have friends that currently work OTR. I'm just trying to understand why the semi being overtaken can't drop their speed slightly just so the other semi can pass. (side-side-rant: I notice passenger vehicles acting similarly; I'll come up on a car in the right lane on the way to work going below the speed limit, and when I go to pass, they all of a sudden speed up to pace me and prevent me from overtaking unless I speed up, which most of the time I don't want to drive faster than I already am. I guess I'm frustrated dealing with people lacking courtesy on the roads.))

Your mention of speed limited trucks reminds me of one time when I drove a moving truck from AZ to FL, and it was governed at 74MPH, which was fine, even in rural west TX, but any time the cruise control was set and the vehicle exceeded 71MPH (usually on a downhill grade) the cruise control would turn off, which made driving oh so much fun through the hilly areas. I had no problem camping in the right lane all the way across the country because I couldn't keep up with the traffic. In case anybody is wondering, I branched off from I-10 to I-20 and back to I-10 from I-49 in Lafayette, LA to avoid Houston traffic and the I-10 bridge over Lake Charles in LA.

Good thing to mention AADT. I-10 in west Texas seems to vary from 5k to 17k VPD, while I-75 Alligator Alley seems to vary from 25k to 35k VPD. All that being said, I-20 in its 80 zone seems to vary from 7k to 30k VPD.

[Beltway]

Normally I'd be all in favor of 75-80 MPH, especially if it was out west.  Problem is that the general driving skill set in Florida that I saw in all the years living there is so low that it probably isn't a good idea.  Younger folks never obtain driving skills for hazardous conditions much less high speed.  The retiree demographic only becomes more hazardous with age as their skills erode. 

Certain highways could. I-95 between Daytona and I-295 is one of the fastest highways I have even been on. Like average of 82 to 84 in the middle and left lane. I once set the cruise control at 90 and went that for about 5 miles.

I-95 is generally straight and level and 80 mph would probably work on that section and down to Fort Pierce.

[ElishaGOtis]

Normally I'd be all in favor of 75-80 MPH, especially if it was out west.  Problem is that the general driving skill set in Florida that I saw in all the years living there is so low that it probably isn't a good idea.  Younger folks never obtain driving skills for hazardous conditions much less high speed.  The retiree demographic only becomes more hazardous with age as their skills erode. 

Certain highways could. I-95 between Daytona and I-295 is one of the fastest highways I have even been on. Like average of 82 to 84 in the middle and left lane. I once set the cruise control at 90 and want that for about 5 miles.

Bruh that's impeding traffic!! Everyone knows you're supposed to go 95 on 95 that's the minimum speed!

  

/s

[Max Rockatansky]

Normally I'd be all in favor of 75-80 MPH, especially if it was out west.  Problem is that the general driving skill set in Florida that I saw in all the years living there is so low that it probably isn't a good idea.  Younger folks never obtain driving skills for hazardous conditions much less high speed.  The retiree demographic only becomes more hazardous with age as their skills erode. 

Certain highways could. I-95 between Daytona and I-295 is one of the fastest highways I have even been on. Like average of 82 to 84 in the middle and left lane. I once set the cruise control at 90 and went that for about 5 miles.

I-95 is generally straight and level and 80 mph would probably work on that section and down to Fort Pierce.

Equip those flatlanders with 80 MPH speed limits and they'll be trying to go 95 MPH in rain showers.

[ElishaGOtis]

Normally I'd be all in favor of 75-80 MPH, especially if it was out west.  Problem is that the general driving skill set in Florida that I saw in all the years living there is so low that it probably isn't a good idea.  Younger folks never obtain driving skills for hazardous conditions much less high speed.  The retiree demographic only becomes more hazardous with age as their skills erode. 

Certain highways could. I-95 between Daytona and I-295 is one of the fastest highways I have even been on. Like average of 82 to 84 in the middle and left lane. I once set the cruise control at 90 and went that for about 5 miles.

I-95 is generally straight and level and 80 mph would probably work on that section and down to Fort Pierce.

Equip those flatlanders with 80 MPH speed limits and they'll be trying to go 95 MPH in rain showers.

Bold of you to assume that doesn't already happen already with 55-70mph speed limits lol

[Max Rockatansky]

Normally I'd be all in favor of 75-80 MPH, especially if it was out west.  Problem is that the general driving skill set in Florida that I saw in all the years living there is so low that it probably isn't a good idea.  Younger folks never obtain driving skills for hazardous conditions much less high speed.  The retiree demographic only becomes more hazardous with age as their skills erode. 

Certain highways could. I-95 between Daytona and I-295 is one of the fastest highways I have even been on. Like average of 82 to 84 in the middle and left lane. I once set the cruise control at 90 and went that for about 5 miles.

I-95 is generally straight and level and 80 mph would probably work on that section and down to Fort Pierce.

Equip those flatlanders with 80 MPH speed limits and they'll be trying to go 95 MPH in rain showers.

Bold of you to assume that doesn't already happen already with 55-70mph speed limits lol

Well hey, this thread does exist:

https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=37011.0

[ElishaGOtis]

Normally I'd be all in favor of 75-80 MPH, especially if it was out west.  Problem is that the general driving skill set in Florida that I saw in all the years living there is so low that it probably isn't a good idea.  Younger folks never obtain driving skills for hazardous conditions much less high speed.  The retiree demographic only becomes more hazardous with age as their skills erode. 

Certain highways could. I-95 between Daytona and I-295 is one of the fastest highways I have even been on. Like average of 82 to 84 in the middle and left lane. I once set the cruise control at 90 and went that for about 5 miles.

I-95 is generally straight and level and 80 mph would probably work on that section and down to Fort Pierce.

Equip those flatlanders with 80 MPH speed limits and they'll be trying to go 95 MPH in rain showers.

Bold of you to assume that doesn't already happen already with 55-70mph speed limits lol

Well hey, this thread does exist:

https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=37011.0

Oh boy... can't wait to read the crash report from this  not

[NJRoadfan]

Certain highways could. I-95 between Daytona and I-295 is one of the fastest highways I have even been on. Like average of 82 to 84 in the middle and left lane. I once set the cruise control at 90 and went that for about 5 miles.

I-95 is generally straight and level and 80 mph would probably work on that section and down to Fort Pierce.

It drives similar to the southern section of the Garden State Parkway. I'm surprised to hear Florida being "strict" about enforcement, because they seem quite laid back (at least on Interstates) compared to VA, GA, and the Carolinas. I never see any patrols enforcing the left lane truck restrictions in I-4, or just about anything else given how busy that road is.

[ElishaGOtis]

Certain highways could. I-95 between Daytona and I-295 is one of the fastest highways I have even been on. Like average of 82 to 84 in the middle and left lane. I once set the cruise control at 90 and went that for about 5 miles.

I-95 is generally straight and level and 80 mph would probably work on that section and down to Fort Pierce.

It drives similar to the southern section of the Garden State Parkway. I'm surprised to hear Florida being "strict" about enforcement, because they seem quite laid back (at least on Interstates) compared to VA, GA, and the Carolinas. I never see any patrols enforcing the left lane truck restrictions in I-4, or just about anything else given how busy that road is.

It's been on and off for the past few years. Recently with Operation Southern Slowdown and multiple targeted enforcement efforts by local communities, they've been really cracking down on the speed. Speed cameras are now a thing in Florida school zones, and they can be active through the whole school day (but not after). There was also the new law that made it two separate offenses to go 50mph over the speed limit (or over 100mph regardless of limit if dangerous). In Orange County, the sheriff has made it very clear that if you commit the double offense, you WILL go to jail.

What's funnier is that these measures don't seem to be working all that well, but at least they have led to a reduction in extreme speeds on northern I-75 from my experience (not much anywhere else lol).

Will also mention that many law enforcement personnel in Florida were originally from other states, including Virginia and the Carolinas, as a result of the sign-on bonus period.

I was also told by an FHP official that they unofficially prefer to enforce the speed limit on the I-4 express lanes rather than the GP lanes due to the fact there are fewer lanes and that there are barriers on both sides.