States Should Consider Modest Increases in Speed Limits

[cpzilliacus]

From Reason Foundation's Out of Control Policy blog: States Should Consider Modest Increases in Speed Limits

While drivers in Europe and Asia can travel 87 miles per hour or more, drivers in most U.S. states cannot travel faster than 75 miles per hour. With safer cars and improved technology U.S. states should consider raising the speed limit on rural multi-lane divided expressways.

What are the speed limits in other parts of the world? Parts of the Autobahn in Germany have no speed limits and rural speed limits in Poland and the United Arab Emirates are 87 miles per hour. In many European countries the rural speed limit is 81 miles per hour. These European and Asian countries are more densely populated than most U.S. states.

[vdeane]

A few of the speed limits on their charts are misleading.  For example, NY's speed limit isn't actually 65; 65 is only for rural interstates (and some other freeways), and everything else if 55 no matter what.  Maine is only 75 on a part of I-95.  Ohio is only 70 on the turnpike.

[Truvelo]

And the European limits can be misleading too. Our highest is only 70, I think only some Scandinavian countries are lower.

[agentsteel53]

And the European limits can be misleading too. Our highest is only 70, I think only some Scandinavian countries are lower.

you're right; I am pretty sure Norway only goes up to 110km/h (66mph), as I drove some of their highest-quality toll roads in the Oslo area, and that was the highest I saw.

[kphoger]

European motorways are built to higher standards than ours, am I right?  The roadbeds are thicker, which makes for a smoother ride; three lanes per roadway is more the norm than the exception; exits are more widely spaced; etc., etc.  I don't think a straight comparison to European highways is a fair comparison.  I do agree that safe travel is possible at above the speed limit on most our highway system, but I think a lot more needs to be done than simply raising the maximum allowable speed limit.

I believe that, if speed limits were set by design studies rather than politics, people would respect them more.  Even in Texas, where speed limits of 75 & 80 are allowed on certain portions of interstates, the limits change at the county line.  I would push for a wider range of speed limits (some lower than today, some higher), accompanied by publicity to show that they are not just arbitrary numbers.  A road with hard shoulders and grade-separated junctions should have a higher limit than a road with no shoulders and stop signed intersections.  Common sense.  A road in the middle of nowhere should have a higher limit than a road with more industry.  Common sense.

[US71]

Arkansas drivers take Speed Limits as "suggestions". Interstates are 70, Expressways are 60-65. Yet I often feel like I'm the only one who obeys these speed limits.

[hbelkins]

Arkansas drivers take Speed Limits as "suggestions". Interstates are 70, Expressways are 60-65. Yet I often feel like I'm the only one who obeys these speed limits.

What's the verbiage on the signs in Arkansas? "No Tolerance?" I don't think it's merely "Strictly Enforced." That's what you find in Summersvlle, WV. 

[agentsteel53]

European motorways are built to higher standards than ours, am I right?  The roadbeds are thicker, which makes for a smoother ride; three lanes per roadway is more the norm than the exception; exits are more widely spaced; etc., etc.  I don't think a straight comparison to European highways is a fair comparison.  I do agree that safe travel is possible at above the speed limit on most our highway system, but I think a lot more needs to be done than simply raising the maximum allowable speed limit.

not generally true.  there are lots of two-lanes-per-carriageway routes in Europe, and the lanes tend to be narrower by about 6 inches.  as for exits, there are plenty of places out here in the US with very infrequent exits, like west Texas for example.

[Quillz]

I do think most interstate-standard freeways could stand for anywhere from 65-75 mph limits. More often than not, the flow of traffic is regularly doing at least 5-10 mph higher than whatever the posted limit is.

I remember driving back from Oregon on both I-5 and CA-99 during the summer, and I was averaging around 80 mph most of the way, and I was still being passed.

[kphoger]

Are these the same highways that carry a 140 km/h limit?

European motorways are built to higher standards than ours, am I right?  The roadbeds are thicker, which makes for a smoother ride; three lanes per roadway is more the norm than the exception; exits are more widely spaced; etc., etc.  I don't think a straight comparison to European highways is a fair comparison.  I do agree that safe travel is possible at above the speed limit on most our highway system, but I think a lot more needs to be done than simply raising the maximum allowable speed limit.

not generally true.  there are lots of two-lanes-per-carriageway routes in Europe, and the lanes tend to be narrower by about 6 inches.  as for exits, there are plenty of places out here in the US with very infrequent exits, like west Texas for example.

[US71]

Arkansas drivers take Speed Limits as "suggestions". Interstates are 70, Expressways are 60-65. Yet I often feel like I'm the only one who obeys these speed limits.

What's the verbiage on the signs in Arkansas? "No Tolerance?" I don't think it's merely "Strictly Enforced." That's what you find in Summersvlle, WV. 

No such signage.

[agentsteel53]

Are these the same highways that carry a 140 km/h limit?

I refer to various no-speed-limit sections of the German autobahns.

[hobsini2]

Actually I like what i saw on I-80 in Wyoming. I wish more states would do it this way.
Posted 75 unless road conditions warrant a slower speed.  Even in the stretch between Rawlins and Laramie were there was blowing snow, the speed limit only dropped to 55. I will see if i can find a sign pic.

[hobsini2]

Here is the pic. http://www.pinedaleonline.com/news/2011/01/scr-variablespeedwydotsign.jpg

[agentsteel53]

what is the slot above the words "SPEED LIMIT"?  what is optionally displayed there?

[kphoger]

Speed advisories on the German Autobahn do not exceed 130 km/h (a speed limit already in place in two U.S. states); speed limits are in place near junctions, narrow stretches, etc, as well as all sections during inclement weather.  I still maintain that the roadbeds are better constructed and maintained than ours, and that exits are more widely spaced in general, not to mention an ingrained culture of lane discipline and defensive driving that is lacking in the States.

I do agree that some segments of our highway system could stand higher speed limits.  I would love to see 80 mph in much of the Midwest and West.

Are these the same highways that carry a 140 km/h limit?

I refer to various no-speed-limit sections of the German autobahns.

[hobsini2]

what is the slot above the words "SPEED LIMIT"?  what is optionally displayed there?

That slot says "REDUCED".  And the yellow light blinks when it is a lower speed limit.
The ones on the western part of 80 out by Evanston are more like "scoreboard" numbers than the slots.

[agentsteel53]

not to mention an ingrained culture of lane discipline and defensive driving that is lacking in the States.

absolutely.

the other day I was in Phoenix, struggling to keep 60mph in moderate traffic... I was thinking to myself that, on a similar level of service in Munich, I was easily and safely doing 115.  why?  people got the fuck out of the way.

[hbelkins]

Arkansas drivers take Speed Limits as "suggestions". Interstates are 70, Expressways are 60-65. Yet I often feel like I'm the only one who obeys these speed limits.

What's the verbiage on the signs in Arkansas? "No Tolerance?" I don't think it's merely "Strictly Enforced." That's what you find in Summersvlle, WV.  

No such signage.

Actually, there is. I specifically remember seeing it, on I-55 shortly after crossing into the state from Missouri, and on I-40 somewhere west of West Memphis. I may have an example in my photos but I don't remember offhand.

EDIT: A-ha! I found one! This is on I-55 southbound.

[codyg1985]

I don't see why states don't just use the 85th percentile speed of that road for speed limits. Of course, a design study would work better, but an 85th percentile speed limit wouldn't be too hard to develop.

[agentsteel53]

I don't see why states don't just use the 85th percentile speed of that road for speed limits. Of course, a design study would work better, but an 85th percentile speed limit wouldn't be too hard to develop.

why was 85% established as a magic number?  it seems to me to be limiting in the case of areas where culturally, people seem to enjoy driving slowly. (see: Oregon, for instance)

just because everyone seems to like going 55mph on US-395 out in the sticks doesn't mean I couldn't safely handle about 80-120, given the fact that there's hardly anyone on that road.

I think that there are lots of roads in the US which should not have any speed limit at all - enforcement should change from an observance of rigid numerical limits to pulling over those who are driving unsafely and giving them "reckless driving" citations.  110mph with 5 miles visibility, dead straight and level road, broad daylight is a hell of a lot safer than bombing 65mph down the Grapevine in heavy rain or snow, and ridiculous amounts of truck traffic ...

yet I've never, not once, seen someone get pulled over for a situation where the speed limit is nominally 65, as per the signs, but most everyone has the good sense to be going 20-30 because of monstrous precipitation - except for the occasional moron, whose only interaction with highway patrol seems to involve the officer peering over the broken guardrail down into the ravine.

[codyg1985]

I don't see why states don't just use the 85th percentile speed of that road for speed limits. Of course, a design study would work better, but an 85th percentile speed limit wouldn't be too hard to develop.

why was 85% established as a magic number?  it seems to me to be limiting in the case of areas where culturally, people seem to enjoy driving slowly. (see: Oregon, for instance)

The 85th percentile speed is what is often used in LOS calculations. It isn't used everywhere, but I know it is used in calculating the capacity of a freeway.

[agentsteel53]

The 85th percentile speed is what is often used in LOS calculations. It isn't used everywhere, but I know it is used in calculating the capacity of a freeway.

wouldn't this break down for very-low-occupancy roads?  

if I don't see another car for 20 minutes, I think I should be allowed to set my speed based on what I feel is safe given conditions. 

[Tarkus]

it seems to me to be limiting in the case of areas where culturally, people seem to enjoy driving slowly. (see: Oregon, for instance)

I wouldn't say that's a cultural norm here.  It's more a product of our a**hole safety-Nazi governor (about whom people are starting to whisper the word "recall") and the speed differentials and lack of lane courtesy that results from his refusal to even consider raising the limits to something reasonable.

[agentsteel53]

I wouldn't say that's a cultural norm here.  It's more a product of our a**hole safety-Nazi governor (about whom people are starting to whisper the word "recall") and the speed differentials and lack of lane courtesy that results from his refusal to even consider raising the limits to something reasonable.

nowhere in the US do I know of consistent lane courtesy. not even the 75mph states.  Arizona comes to mind for having terrible lane courtesy, as does Florida (okay that's a 70mph state, but still).  just what kind of idiot-ball has someone swallowed to decide that doing 58 in the left lane is a reasonable way to go through life?