There is already talk about Congress restoring the double nickle. What are your thoughts?

Back in the '70s it seemed like this came down to a East vs West battle. Easterners were Ok with it, Westerners truly HATED it. Still, it took the Easterners in control years to relinquish.

western Kelly

is that a nickel with jefferson on both sides? if it's the speed limit you're talking about, the max has been 55 here since i started driving almost 30 years ago. i'm still amazed when i go out of state (or up state) and see anything higher.

I could possibly see a split speed limit. SUVs and trucks get the 55 and everyone else gets whatever is currently the standard. There are obviously problems with that as well, but with the big push of SUV=BAD, I could see support.

Please, please, please give the states SOME say!!! Cook up some penalty for the states that don't play along if necessary. But driving out west is very different from New York.

Kelly

Alright, Kelly. You guys can drive 65, but with no A/C. If you use your A/C, you have to drop to 55.

This is a problem with the Fedgov making onesizefitsall rules. They fit everyone, but are tailored for no one.

Anyone who would be an advocate of a return to the double nickel can not possibly have any experience driving in the rural midwest.

No freaking kidding. There is no way in hell 55mph speedlimit will come back. Anyone who supports it obviously has NOT driven across Kansas any of the plains or western states.

And to the three who voted for Obama! No No NO! It's not happening. Period.

I'd be more infavor of a zero tolerance policy. Anything over 75mph is an automatic ticket, even on 70/75mph interstates.

55mph is excessive. Any faster than 75mph isn't necessary. So, I say go zero tolerance. If folks push the envelope (I would) and get caught (hope I wouldnt), it's time to financially help support the state...

Why is the west and midwest different than everywhere else?

Not going to Happen? No way in hell?

Er.... pssssst.

It already happened once before. What makes you think for an instant that it could never happen again?

You can maintain that it defies logic in many area of the country all you want.

I challenge your logic for thinking that logic has much to do with anything when it comes to a Politician's proclivity to knee-jerk lame brained acts.

Way back before the first time the Fed laid down this foolishness, the Governor of MD made his state the laughing stock of... er... make that the first State in the nation to impose a statewide 55 mph speed limit. The MD side of the Beltway around DC was 70 mph at the time.

Do you think anyone paid the new limit any mind? So the infinitely brilliant Governor ordered the State Troopers to line up 3 abreast (was only three lanes back then) on the beltway and enforce the speed limit by creating a kind of a rolling roadblock.

The speed limit has remained 55 on the beltway ever since. If anyone can show me a recent speeding ticket from the MD 495 Beltway around Wash. DC for a speed above 55, but below 75, I'll buy you dinner.

WM...Wide open places and everyone there just deserves special attention j/k folks.

I think we've hashed through this before and problem is, IIRC, some cars are built/geared to get better mileage at higher speeds. I think even my truck does better around 60 or 65mph than 55mph. 70/75mph and up kills fuel mileage though.

have you ever driven in rural areas?
It's different out here, people who drive drunk and drown women go to jail, in Mass you guys reelect them to the senate.
Not being mean, just sayin'

[/quote]have you ever driven in rural areas?
It's different out here, people who drive drunk and drown women go to jail, in Mass you guys reelect them to the senate.
Not being mean, just sayin' [/quote]

Ouch

Speed limits have little effect on urban traffic flow patterns.

Speed limits DOMINATE rural flow patterns. Speeding tickets make up a large portion of rural state highway safety budgets. There are PLENTY of officers around to hand out PLENTY of tickets. Hell, if you drive 78mph on an interstate here (70mph speedlimit) you're in grave danger of getting tickets. We see speed traps on a daily bases. Again, it's all about revenue. Fuel prices hurting the budget? no problem. Just pull more people over.

Here in the middle of nowhere, you drive hundreds of miles before you ever reach a urbanized area. Kansas has like the 4th most miles of highway roads in the NATION. Texas is the largest.

Slowing the speed limit down 10-15mph will slow everything down. Your package delivery (USPS, UPS, Fedex) will take longer, it will take longer for farmers to get their harvest to the elevators, etc.

It's not funny talking business around here.

It's 140 miles from here to Independence, my home town. 2 hour and 10 minutes of travel time, all of which is 2 lane undivided highway. Before the speed limits were boosted, it used to take almost 3 hours. 140 miles in this part is considered a SHORT drive. Typical would be in the 200-300 mile range. It quickly impacts travel time. And the efficiency gains are NOT there.

As mentioned, a better option is to be more aggressive on limiting those who drive too fast.

PH is about to make a trip to Colorado. Last time I was there was Spring 2007. Driving across Western Kansas, eastern Colorado, we had the cruise set on 85mph. Often times, we would speed up to 90mph for a little while if a couple of cars passed us. Why not keep up with them right? Over 170 miles between a couple of areas, I calculated we averaged 86mph. Yea! It didn't take 2 hours to go 170 miles. We had 3 vehicles in our convoy. That's excessive. We should have stayed down closer to 75/80mph. However, I can't imagine driving through there at 65 or 70mph (pushing the 55 limit). I know most trucks cannot exceed 65mph, maybe 70mph now thanks to governors. However, what if these trucks slowed to 60mph? Ouch!!

I still place bets on the speed limits not dropping to 55. Worse case scenario is I can see a 65mph speed limit imposed, meaning states with 70 or 75mph speed limits would have to reduce them. Just cannot see making everything 55 again.