Speed Limits That Are Too High

[sprjus4]

I love how the whole lower speed limits appeals to the progressive base apparently, but it makes me curious - how many of said advocates for low speed limits actually strictly follow them when they drive?

[Roadgeekteen]

I love how the whole lower speed limits appeals to the progressive base apparently, but it makes me curious - how many of said advocates for low speed limits actually strictly follow them when they drive?

Not many I'm guessing.

[kphoger]

If guardrails were to be installed, then what need was there for a lower speed limit?

[sprjus4]

If guardrails were to be installed, then what need was there for a lower speed limit?

They were installed. And there's no real engineering basis behind it - it's all to make people feel better or whatever.

[Big John]

If the governor calls it guard rail, then it is not guide rail.

[kphoger]

If the governor calls it guard rail, then it is not guide rail.

Good call!

[Rothman]

Humph.  Guiderail.

[michravera]

I love how the whole lower speed limits appeals to the progressive base apparently, but it makes me curious - how many of said advocates for low speed limits actually strictly follow them when they drive?

The question that Progressives need to be prepared to answer is whether making something illegal makes it stop. Pointing out their hypocrisy doesn't work. The main Progressive idea is that certain people (pick a group) can't handle certain freedoms, so we must limit that freedom for them (and, by law, for everyone), but they don't expect to be hindered by the law.

The basic historical answer is "No" or at best "not really" or "probably not as much as we'd like to think".

Can you take away freedoms and not enforce those restrictions without force of arms? No
Can you take away property through confiscatory taxation? No those with sufficient means will run to somewhere less confiscatory or find a way not to declare the property as subject to taxation.

Reasonable people will follow reasonable laws that others also follow. Take away any part of that statement and it falls to pieces. Unreasonable people might not follow ANY laws. Reasonable people won't follow unreasonable laws. Reasonable people won't follow laws, no matter how reasonable, that they see everyone else violating without consequences.  ... and so it goes ...

[MattHanson939]

New Mexico

The speed limit on most of US 550 between Aztec and Bernalillo is posted at 70 mph.  It's too high as the highway's design speed is 65 mph (perhaps lower it to 60 mph or 65 mph), and especially if you take into consideration that accidents are still quite common on the highway. 

FYI that highway used to be NM 44, and most of it was just a two lane road; head-on collisions were really common during those days.  But when NMDOT widened the highway from two to four lanes, it only included a 6-foot median with no barrier whatsoever.

[sprjus4]

New Mexico

The speed limit on most of US 550 between Aztec and Bernalillo is posted at 70 mph.  It's too high as the highway's design speed is 65 mph (perhaps lower it to 60 mph or 65 mph), and especially if you take into consideration that accidents are still quite common on the highway.

Not sure of the specific highway in question, but I'd rather have a speed limit (70 mph) that the vast majority of drivers are comfortable driving at or under with little non-compliance.

If you set the limit down to 65 mph or even 60 mph, how many drivers are now going to go 5-10 or more over? Now you're setting an artificial limit that will have less compliance and more of a variance in speed.

[webny99]

I can see how some people might think US 15 north of Williamsport is too high at 70 mph. I think it's reasonable, but I didn't think 65 mph was too low given the terrain and curves.

[Ketchup99]

I can see how some people might think US 15 north of Williamsport is too high at 70 mph. I think it's reasonable, but I didn't think 65 mph was too low given the terrain and curves.

By Pennsylvania standards, I'd probably expect it to be posted at 65 like I-81 or I-84. But this is a rare instance of Pennsylvania posting an almost-reasonable speed limit. Personally, I have no issue going 77-78 and staying off police radar, but I can only really do that because of the 70 limit.

[Roadgeekteen]

I can see how some people might think US 15 north of Williamsport is too high at 70 mph. I think it's reasonable, but I didn't think 65 mph was too low given the terrain and curves.

By Pennsylvania standards, I'd probably expect it to be posted at 65 like I-81 or I-84. But this is a rare instance of Pennsylvania posting an almost-reasonable speed limit. Personally, I have no issue going 77-78 and staying off police radar, but I can only really do that because of the 70 limit.

PA should really sign 70 on I-81 and I-84. Maybe not I-78.

[sprjus4]

I can see how some people might think US 15 north of Williamsport is too high at 70 mph. I think it's reasonable, but I didn't think 65 mph was too low given the terrain and curves.

By Pennsylvania standards, I'd probably expect it to be posted at 65 like I-81 or I-84. But this is a rare instance of Pennsylvania posting an almost-reasonable speed limit. Personally, I have no issue going 77-78 and staying off police radar, but I can only really do that because of the 70 limit.

PA should really sign 70 on I-81 and I-84. Maybe not I-78.

If the narrow Pennsylvania Turnpike segments can be 70 mph, I-78 can also be 70 mph. It doesn't seem that unreasonable.

[gr8daynegb]

The mall parking lot one for 5 mph   

[Roadgeekteen]

The mall parking lot one for 5 mph   

I could probably run at 5mph.

[Ketchup99]

I can see how some people might think US 15 north of Williamsport is too high at 70 mph. I think it's reasonable, but I didn't think 65 mph was too low given the terrain and curves.

By Pennsylvania standards, I'd probably expect it to be posted at 65 like I-81 or I-84. But this is a rare instance of Pennsylvania posting an almost-reasonable speed limit. Personally, I have no issue going 77-78 and staying off police radar, but I can only really do that because of the 70 limit.

PA should really sign 70 on I-81 and I-84. Maybe not I-78.

78 is probably fine at 70. I'll be honest: I can't think of a single rural freeway in Pennsylvania that shouldn't be posted at 70 or more, aside from the some of substandard part of I-70.

[Roadgeekteen]

I can see how some people might think US 15 north of Williamsport is too high at 70 mph. I think it's reasonable, but I didn't think 65 mph was too low given the terrain and curves.

By Pennsylvania standards, I'd probably expect it to be posted at 65 like I-81 or I-84. But this is a rare instance of Pennsylvania posting an almost-reasonable speed limit. Personally, I have no issue going 77-78 and staying off police radar, but I can only really do that because of the 70 limit.

PA should really sign 70 on I-81 and I-84. Maybe not I-78.

78 is probably fine at 70. I'll be honest: I can't think of a single rural freeway in Pennsylvania that shouldn't be posted at 70 or more, aside from the some of substandard part of I-70.

Even I-95 near Philly could be 70. (except through downtown)

[kphoger]

The mall parking lot one for 5 mph   

My guess is that it's not a legal limit.

[jeffandnicole]

I can see how some people might think US 15 north of Williamsport is too high at 70 mph. I think it's reasonable, but I didn't think 65 mph was too low given the terrain and curves.

By Pennsylvania standards, I'd probably expect it to be posted at 65 like I-81 or I-84. But this is a rare instance of Pennsylvania posting an almost-reasonable speed limit. Personally, I have no issue going 77-78 and staying off police radar, but I can only really do that because of the 70 limit.

PA should really sign 70 on I-81 and I-84. Maybe not I-78.

78 is probably fine at 70. I'll be honest: I can't think of a single rural freeway in Pennsylvania that shouldn't be posted at 70 or more, aside from the some of substandard part of I-70.

Even I-95 near Philly could be 70. (except through downtown)

Technically 95 doesn't run thru downtown, but rather on the outskirts of downtown. Because of that, the section of 95 closest to downtown Philly is actually the nicest stretch of roadway in the area that could be 70! It's north of 676, and south of PHL airport, that would be an issue.  A sharp curve just south of the Walt Whitman Bridge has taken out quite a number of vehicles also...

[jakeroot]

I love how the whole lower speed limits appeals to the progressive base apparently, but it makes me curious - how many of said advocates for low speed limits actually strictly follow them when they drive?

But most "progressives" are advocating for lower default speed limits in urban areas. The kind based on road classification, not engineering judgement. There isn't enough staffing to "85th-percentile" every stretch of road, so you're left to set limits based on classification instead. In that case, are we really going to set a default limit of 35 or something? I wouldn't personally recommend a default limit of more than 25, and 20 is more than reasonable for neighborhood streets.

Because most speed limits are not engineering-judgement based, yes, you're going to have lower levels of adherence along roads where the classification is perhaps incorrect, or where an engineering assessment should be performed. But this ignorance of the limit is not a left/right problem; I don't think conservative-majority city councils are setting default limits of 35 or 40.

[Roadgeekteen]

I love how the whole lower speed limits appeals to the progressive base apparently, but it makes me curious - how many of said advocates for low speed limits actually strictly follow them when they drive?

But most "progressives" are advocating for lower default speed limits in urban areas. The kind based on road classification, not engineering judgement. There isn't enough staffing to "85th-percentile" every stretch of road, so you're left to set limits based on classification instead. In that case, are we really going to set a default limit of 35 or something? I wouldn't personally recommend a default limit of more than 25, and 20 is more than reasonable for neighborhood streets.

Because most speed limits are not engineering-judgement based, yes, you're going to have lower levels of adherence along roads where the classification is perhaps incorrect, or where an engineering assessment should be performed. But this ignorance of the limit is not a left/right problem.

I would do 25 for small roads without a double yellow line and 30 for roads with a double yellow line.

[hotdogPi]

I have no problem with people treating residential roads as minor collector roads and driving 35-40 MPH through them as shortcuts, as long as visibility is good. One 40-MPH car per 20 seconds or so is not enough to block access to and from driveways, and using alternate routes reduces congestion on the main roads.

[Roadgeekteen]

I have no problem with people treating residential roads as minor collector roads and driving 35-40 MPH through them as shortcuts, as long as visibility is good. One 40-MPH car per 20 seconds or so is not enough to block access to and from driveways, and using alternate routes reduces congestion on the main roads.

It could be an issue if there are people out, especially children who can just run into the road.

[jakeroot]

I would do 25 for small roads without a double yellow line and 30 for roads with a double yellow line.

I'd probably opt for 20 and 30 if I had my way, but then I'd rather all roads were 20 default, and those roads specifically designed 25, 30, 35, etc be posted as such.

I have no problem with people treating residential roads as minor collector roads and driving 35-40 MPH through them as shortcuts, as long as visibility is good. One 40-MPH car per 20 seconds or so is not enough to block access to and from driveways, and using alternate routes reduces congestion on the main roads.

35 to 40 is highly inappropriate for residential or neighborhood streets. Too many variables to go such a speed.

Roads where such speeds could be considered appropriate should be posted as such.