What's your opinion on current speed limits?

[fleabag]

We've already had this discussion, remember? You were wrong.

If you still think you're right, drive 1400 miles at 55mph and then at 65mph and tell me which is faster.

If you're just driving to the gym and back, it might not be a big deal. If you drive a lot, it is.

What? I don't think we had this discussion... If you're driving from the Bay Area to LA, according to the chart, you'd only save 80 minutes going from 55 to 65mph, even less than that if there is traffic. I encountered a shit ton of traffic so driving 70mph wasn't even possible a lot of the time which made driving 55mph not such a big deal. Oh and the second part is the big part of what I'm talking about.. Most people don't drive far enough in their daily commute for it to matter which is why 55mph or less makes sense. There is a reason why it's 70mph on highway 101 or highway 5 in California but 65mph everywhere else..

No, if you're going to the comic book store and back, you probably won't save that much time. But if you go a bit further then yes you will. It's simple math.

If you have to travel 5 miles, at 60 mph it'll take you 5 minutes; at 100 mph it'll take you 3 minutes. So that's a saving of 2 minutes, if you think 2 minutes is not long, hold your breath and time it. Now, if you have to travel 50 miles, that's 20 minutes you're gonna save.

Edit: the guy that put up that website is an idiot, it is linear.

You're the idiot and the reason for that is because of things like stop lights and traffic. You're not going to be going 100mph all the time until you reach your destination, you're going to encounter things like stop lights and other such crap.
From the site:

But I still want to go a 100mph!​

I'm not here to stop you. I may even encourage it ​

The trouble with achieving such high speed is traffic lights. If you spend anytime going 60mph, you're probably averaging 30mph because of the time spent standing still at red lights. And everyone accepts traffic lights because it makes them feel safer. Notice I said "feel safer." With everyone driving around feeling safe, they're more likely to become complacant and unaware of their surroundings. Risky driving feels less risky when all drivers behave in a predictable manner.​

What if we removed all traffic lights? Drivers wouldn't feel safe. They would be very alert and afraid of the unkown. Traffic would slow down. Drivers would negotiate with other drivers for their turn. Risky driving behavior would plummet. And the roads would be statistically safer and travel time would be reduced.​

How do we know this? The experiment has already been done. Read the articles below to find out more about what the world would be like without traffic lights or traffic signs.​

 

[SunSamurai]

The way he is doing it isn't linear because he is not starting from zero. He is doing 10mph increments starting from the last increment.

Its saying going from 1% to 2% is effectively as much as going from 10% to 20%, because both are twice as much.


Going from 10MPH to 20MPH is a 100% increase in speed. Going from 20MPH to 30MPH is a 50% increase in speed .... 55MPH to 65MPH is a 18.2% increase in speed is a even though both are 10MPH faster. Basic relativity.

 

[Born2bwire]

What? I don't think we had this discussion... If you're driving from the Bay Area to LA, according to the chart, you'd only save 80 minutes going from 55 to 65mph, even less than that if there is traffic. I encountered a shit ton of traffic so driving 70mph wasn't even possible a lot of the time which made driving 55mph not such a big deal. Oh and the second part is the big part of what I'm talking about.. Most people don't drive far enough in their daily commute for it to matter which is why 55mph or less makes sense. There is a reason why it's 70mph on highway 101 or highway 5 in California but 65mph everywhere else..


You're the idiot and the reason for that is because of things like stop lights and traffic. You're not going to be going 100mph all the time until you reach your destination, you're going to encounter things like stop lights and other such crap.
From the site:

One day, when you get to drive on the interstate for distances greater than 5 miles, you too will understand how math works.

 

[fleabag]

One day, when you get to drive on the interstate for distances greater than 5 miles, you too will understand how math works.

Driving from the SF bay area to San Diego and back is good enough for me to know what I'm talking about when it comes to "driving fast" and "driving slow" and how much time is saved doing either way.

 

[jlee]

Driving from the SF bay area to San Diego and back is good enough for me to know what I'm talking about when it comes to "driving fast" and "driving slow" and how much time is saved doing either way.

It's also good enough for us to know that you're wrong.

I have yet to encounter a stop light on Interstate 95 anywhere on the East coast of the US (which I have driven up and down more than once).

What? I don't think we had this discussion...

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2036732

 

[fleabag]

It's also good enough for us to know that you're wrong.

I have yet to encounter a stop light on Interstate 95 anywhere on the East coast of the US (which I have driven up and down more than once).



http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2036732

Oh, well I didn't post a link to that site in that thread which is what I was thinking you said I did.. Also I bet you've encountered traffic on Interstate 95... Also people use the logic of driving fast for a long trip and apply it to their daily trip which makes absolutely no sense especially when the trips aren't all that long in the first place.

 

[Meghan54]

It's also good enough for us to know that you're wrong.

I have yet to encounter a stop light on Interstate 95 anywhere on the East coast of the US (which I have driven up and down more than once).



http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2036732

Don't you already know that fleabag is the expert in everything, esp. anything vehicle related? This despite the fact that fleabag is in the teenager "I-know-it-all" phase of life, has had a driver's license for about a year, and that fleabag completely dismisses life and life's experiences and totally believes any and all random web sites with crap for information.

 

[LTC8K6]

500/55=9.09 hours
500/70=7.14 hours

2 hours quicker - pretty simple math.

 

[SamurAchzar]

There's a real problem of drivers concentration going out of their comfort zone. A reasonably adept driver, driving a modern car - let alone something like a 5 series - will simply be bored to death going 60mph. That directly translates to lack of concentration and focus.
Lets say 5% of the drivers will speed just for the heck of it, 5% will go very slowly because they are afraid of driving, still the rest of the population will find a natural speed that will keep them somewhat focused on their driving. People, in general, aren't suicidal, they will find a safe speed.

Unfortunately those at the extremities (5% going slow and 5% going very fast) will spoil for the rest of us.

 

[LTC8K6]

In my new Jeep GC, 100mph feels like nothing, and it arrives in no time.

In my 1995 Taurus, 100mph feels like grim death is right around the next corner...and it's quite an adventure getting there...

 

[Bignate603]

500/55=9.09 hours
500/70=7.14 hours

2 hours quicker - pretty simple math.

Exactly. On most of the rural highways in AZ you can cruise at 75 mph without any problem. When you're driving across the state it can make a big difference. Traffic isn't usually terrible so you can set your cruise control and chew through the miles.

That being said, trying to speed in Phoenix during busy times of day is absolutely ridiculous. You can try all you want but you'll never get going that much faster. If you can't even get up to the speed limit because of traffic you can't really discuss how driving faster is going to affect the time driving.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

speed limits were ill-conceived at the time and should be abolished.

any time you have a LAW willfully and regularly disregarded and is enforced .000000001% of the time it is broken, thats a pretty good indication it should not be a law.

i dont advocate dangerous driving, but speed limits are not the solution

 

[shortylickens]

I dont give a fuck what the speed limit is just so long as its enforced.
The is only one reason people actually speed. They can get away with it.
There might be dozens of reasons why people want to speed, but the only reason they commit the act is because they arent afraid of being punished for it.

And a ticket is not punishment. Its just a one-time speed pass. And very expensive. But its not punishment.

Of course, most laws in this country arent properly enforced. So I should probably just stop stewing over it.

 

[bignateyk]

[olly] TOO SLOW [/olly]



caps

 

[FoBoT]

safety first, they are just right

 

[bignateyk]

I dont give a fuck what the speed limit is just so long as its enforced.
The is only one reason people actually speed. They can get away with it.
There might be dozens of reasons why people want to speed, but the only reason they commit the act is because they arent afraid of being punished for it.

And a ticket is not punishment. Its just a one-time speed pass. And very expensive. But its not punishment.

Of course, most laws in this country arent properly enforced. So I should probably just stop stewing over it.

Yeah, lets toss people in prison for driving 10mph over the limit. I'm sure the tax payers would love that one.

 

[dmw16]

With modern technology and saftey features i think 80-90 would be reasonable. IMO they should build an american Autobahn.

I'd love to see that but I think there are a few flaws with the idea of such a high limit:

1. The standard of automobile varies to a huge degree in the US. I have seen some serious POS cars running around and they really should not be going that fast. I don't know if this is different in Germany/Europe or not.

2. The rules of the road that very directly impact safe driving at those speeds are not enforced in the US. The ones that I think are most critical are 1) maintain proper following distances, 2) only pass on the left, 3) do not impede a pass (sort of related to #2) and 4) no cell phone use when driving.

3. I drive a lot of miles each week (~700) and my observation is that most people are obtuse drivers. Not to say they are not functional behind the wheel, but they don't take steps to ensure the safety of other drivers. Little things like slowing or speeding up slightly to allow a gap for merging traffic, using their brakes instead of just lifting off the gas (causes a lot of traffic backup/jams), and just generally not being mindful of other drivers and doing everything in their power to keep themselves and others safe.

I'd love to see higher speed highways (assuming they were properly maintained), but I think we need tighter requirements on cars and drivers (make getting and keeping a license harder).

 

[JDub02]

speed limits are nothing but an extra tax. no one can convince me that 65 mph is the maximum safe speed on I-95. with modern tires, brakes, and safety features, the speed limit on I-95 should be 85 mph. in fact, i can't think of anywhere where the maximum safe speed is the posted speed limit.

 

[bignateyk]

I'd love to see that but I think there are a few flaws with the idea of such a high limit:

1. The standard of automobile varies to a huge degree in the US. I have seen some serious POS cars running around and they really should not be going that fast. I don't know if this is different in Germany/Europe or not.

2. The rules of the road that very directly impact safe driving at those speeds are not enforced in the US. The ones that I think are most critical are 1) maintain proper following distances, 2) only pass on the left, 3) do not impede a pass (sort of related to #2) and 4) no cell phone use when driving.

3. I drive a lot of miles each week (~700) and my observation is that most people are obtuse drivers. Not to say they are not functional behind the wheel, but they don't take steps to ensure the safety of other drivers. Little things like slowing or speeding up slightly to allow a gap for merging traffic, using their brakes instead of just lifting off the gas (causes a lot of traffic backup/jams), and just generally not being mindful of other drivers and doing everything in their power to keep themselves and others safe.

I'd love to see higher speed highways (assuming they were properly maintained), but I think we need tighter requirements on cars and drivers (make getting and keeping a license harder).

It's mostly women who do that one. My wife has to either be braking or accelerating. It drives me crazy. I've noticed my mom and sister tend to be like this as well.

 

[edro]

Highways should be uncapped.
Residential streets should stay the same.

 

[yinan]

Highways should be uncapped.
Residential streets should stay the same.

Agree 100%

And residential does not mean 1 house every mile...

 

[Linflas]

Only place I have ever lived that had what I consider reasonable speed limits set on most roads was Florida. Here in Northern Virginia they love nothing more than to build a 4 lane road with a wide median and set the speed limit at 25MPH.

 

[Regs]

We hate control but we rationalize limits for the better good.

 

[shortylickens]

Yeah, lets toss people in prison for driving 10mph over the limit. I'm sure the tax payers would love that one.

Thanks for proving my point. Nobody takes it seriously, which is why more people die by car than guns or drugs or..... well, almost anything.
And law enforcement is never profitable. Thats why no one considers traffic violations a crime, cuz its for the profit of the city, not its safety.

Until someone dies, then people are concerned.

 

[jlee]

Thanks for proving my point. Nobody takes it seriously, which is why more people die by car than guns or drugs or..... well, almost anything.
And law enforcement is never profitable. Thats why no one considers traffic violations a crime, cuz its for the profit of the city, not its safety.

Until someone dies, then people are concerned.

IIRC most accidents are caused by driver inattention, not speed specifically. Haven't looked at stats in a while, though.