spiveyrat
05-23-2006, 12:27 PM
Is anyone aware as to whether this is really being considered?
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Opinion
Texas on right road with 80 mph Tue May 23, 6:53 AM ET
I applaud Texas for considering raising the speed limit to 80 mph on certain stretches of highway ("Texas could accelerate to 80 mph," News, Wednesday).
Apparently its transportation department officials did research and determined that 80 mph is appropriate for those sections of highway and, in fact, that 85% of drivers on those roads drive as if the speed limit were already 80 mph.
A criticism by some is that posting an 80 mph speed limit would result in most drivers going above 80 mph. While it may be true in the short term, the logic behind that prediction is flawed.
For many years, speed limits have been set artificially low. The majority of drivers clearly recognize this fact and drive at more appropriate, higher speeds. They take their chances and some are penalized by law enforcement. Other states would be well advised to take notice of what Texas is considering and set realistic speed limits, too.
Posting artificially low speed limits and then randomly enforcing them causes serious problems, including:
• Hindering the efficient flow of traffic.
• Increasing, not decreasing, the likelihood of accidents as a result of the speed differential between people driving realistic speeds vs. those who drive at the artificially low speed limits because they fear getting tickets.
• Making many otherwise law-abiding citizens criminals because they're compelled to break the law by speeding.
I encourage vigorous enforcement of these more realistic speed limits so drivers would be discouraged from driving an extra 5 mph or more over the new limit, as many do now.
As for the fuel economy argument, the last I heard, we still have some freedoms here. We are still allowed to waste fuel if we want to - or need to - because we have to get somewhere as quickly as the law and common sense will permit.
If big SUVs or high-powered sports cars use too much gas, their drivers already pay a big penalty at the pumps.
Yes, driving more quickly will use more gas, but that should be our decision, and if we want to save fuel there are other options. For example, I drive a hybrid Toyota Prius most of the time.
Speed limits are finally starting to inch their way back to reality. We should think long and hard before we sit back and watch while certain of our well-meaning but misguided government officials try to legislate that freedom away.
Jan Wagner, San Diego
=============================================
Opinion
Texas on right road with 80 mph Tue May 23, 6:53 AM ET
I applaud Texas for considering raising the speed limit to 80 mph on certain stretches of highway ("Texas could accelerate to 80 mph," News, Wednesday).
Apparently its transportation department officials did research and determined that 80 mph is appropriate for those sections of highway and, in fact, that 85% of drivers on those roads drive as if the speed limit were already 80 mph.
A criticism by some is that posting an 80 mph speed limit would result in most drivers going above 80 mph. While it may be true in the short term, the logic behind that prediction is flawed.
For many years, speed limits have been set artificially low. The majority of drivers clearly recognize this fact and drive at more appropriate, higher speeds. They take their chances and some are penalized by law enforcement. Other states would be well advised to take notice of what Texas is considering and set realistic speed limits, too.
Posting artificially low speed limits and then randomly enforcing them causes serious problems, including:
• Hindering the efficient flow of traffic.
• Increasing, not decreasing, the likelihood of accidents as a result of the speed differential between people driving realistic speeds vs. those who drive at the artificially low speed limits because they fear getting tickets.
• Making many otherwise law-abiding citizens criminals because they're compelled to break the law by speeding.
I encourage vigorous enforcement of these more realistic speed limits so drivers would be discouraged from driving an extra 5 mph or more over the new limit, as many do now.
As for the fuel economy argument, the last I heard, we still have some freedoms here. We are still allowed to waste fuel if we want to - or need to - because we have to get somewhere as quickly as the law and common sense will permit.
If big SUVs or high-powered sports cars use too much gas, their drivers already pay a big penalty at the pumps.
Yes, driving more quickly will use more gas, but that should be our decision, and if we want to save fuel there are other options. For example, I drive a hybrid Toyota Prius most of the time.
Speed limits are finally starting to inch their way back to reality. We should think long and hard before we sit back and watch while certain of our well-meaning but misguided government officials try to legislate that freedom away.
Jan Wagner, San Diego