I don't like them one bit.
I drive roads at a speed that's comfortable for me and my vehicle - usually MUCH, MUCH higher than the limit. I'm well within the handling envelope of the car, and well within my ability to adjust to obstacles ahead of me.
Country back roads - around here, these are 35 and 40mph. I usually do somewhere between 45 and 55, depending on the road.
City main thoroughfares - These, for whatever reason, are 40mph. They're good for 60-90 at night, when there's no traffic (braking early for the "trap-lights" that have the yellows timed too fast for 40)
City streets - They're set at 25. WHY!??!? Good for 40, and only because you have to stop for stop signs.
Freeway - Around here, your freeway speed limits are... Get this. 40, 55, or 65. FORTY!!!! Those stretches are good for 70. The 55 and 65 stretches are unlimited (but over 100, you feel like you're in a rally because of the poor condition of the surface).
Naturally, I adjust speed depending on what other traffic is doing and brake for speed traps (they go out of their way to make themselves obvious around here)
Why do I feel these are safe speeds? Because the limits were set in the era of bias ply tires, long braking distances, and generally poor handling.
This thread isn't about how fast I drive in relation to the speed limit. It's really about whether or not you think the limits are where they should be for safety (leave economy out of this, it's been proven time and time again that 60mph is not the ideal cruising speed for fuel economy). But you guys are going to flame me anyway, so whatever floats the collective boat, really.
I drive roads at a speed that's comfortable for me and my vehicle - usually MUCH, MUCH higher than the limit. I'm well within the handling envelope of the car, and well within my ability to adjust to obstacles ahead of me.
Country back roads - around here, these are 35 and 40mph. I usually do somewhere between 45 and 55, depending on the road.
City main thoroughfares - These, for whatever reason, are 40mph. They're good for 60-90 at night, when there's no traffic (braking early for the "trap-lights" that have the yellows timed too fast for 40)
City streets - They're set at 25. WHY!??!? Good for 40, and only because you have to stop for stop signs.
Freeway - Around here, your freeway speed limits are... Get this. 40, 55, or 65. FORTY!!!! Those stretches are good for 70. The 55 and 65 stretches are unlimited (but over 100, you feel like you're in a rally because of the poor condition of the surface).
Naturally, I adjust speed depending on what other traffic is doing and brake for speed traps (they go out of their way to make themselves obvious around here)
Why do I feel these are safe speeds? Because the limits were set in the era of bias ply tires, long braking distances, and generally poor handling.
This thread isn't about how fast I drive in relation to the speed limit. It's really about whether or not you think the limits are where they should be for safety (leave economy out of this, it's been proven time and time again that 60mph is not the ideal cruising speed for fuel economy). But you guys are going to flame me anyway, so whatever floats the collective boat, really.
