Posted on 09/07/2012 4:30:37 PM PDT by JoeProBono
Hope one in the middle doesn’t have a wheel bearing go out or some such
“I don’t know if it’s true, but I read somewhere that many highways are designed to have traffic drive at speeds higher the the posted 55 or 65.”
True, and the cars are safer than they were in the 50’s and 60’s - but the motorists are definitely worse.
I wonder how many people reading this know the last time the tires were balanced and the PSI and tread condition of their tires. At these speeds, those things really starts to matter.
But, it should cut down on health care costs, because there will be fewer injuries...
>> If it’s posted 85, they’ll be driving 100 mpg
German autobahns have no speed limit and almost everyone simply drives at a speed they are comfortable with, - around 80-90 MPH.
That was also the case in the UK but they did eventually bring in speed limits prompted by AC testing cars at 180 MPH on the M1!
There are still laws against driving without due care and attention, dangerously, improper lane changes (very strict in Germany), etc.
When we go to Aransas Pass out of Houston, we just take 59 South and around Victoria take 87 east to 35 and then south and take the ferry across to the island. Our family loves this area - we’re envious!
Best way to avoid that is not to use wheels. Go Maglev.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maglev
The highest recorded speed of a maglev train is 581 km/h (361 mph), achieved in Japan.
Not in Texas. They will pull you over for breaking the speed limit by just 3 mph. Almost every Californian driving through Texas gets pulled over very fast. Californians view laws as being breakable. In Texas, we respect the law. Texas is the one state where you set the cruise control for 2-3 mph below the speed limit, just to be safe. Been lucky so far. Been driving on I-20 when there are so many police pulling cars over, the flashing lights look like Christmas decorations. Also seen police under cars taking them apart on the stretch of I-10 between San Antonio and Houston. Looking for drugs. And you have to put the car back together, even if they find nothing.
No way to justify the cost other than maybe an amusement park
This is partly in response to the frightful traffic situation on I-35 through Austin, among the worst in the nation.
Texas 130 was built in part to give through traffic, especially truckers travelling to/from south Texas (to whom time is money) a way of avoiding Austin. But the tolls are substantial.
Increasing the speed means decreasing the time, and thus the additional time saved will (in theory) make it a financial win for more truckers to use Tx-130.
Actually, it’s not hill country. It’s to the east of Austin, so it’s the beginning of the “east Texas thicket.”
“Whats the cost per mile?”
Typically 30 cents per mile, or more, for a crony-highway scams like this.
But look at the bright side, traffic on I-35 will drop, BIG TIME, as all those other people shift over there. You know, like cities that build light rails never have traffic problems any more, as all of the “other drivers” now start using the train.
Yep, $12 to go 40 miles - can’t think a bad side to it. LOL.
Try crossing Nevada on I-80 sometime. No matter what the speed limit. It was the most horrible, boring trip I have ever made.
Ah! Nothing like an old Buick. My friend and I used to tool around in his dad’s Wildcat (not sure what year it was - definitely a late ‘60s model, though). Pure cream puff! I’d kill for the leg-room that car had!
My first car was a ‘64 Special. I remember driving it in NJ on Rte. 80 one late night going around 100. Darn car got airborne on me a couple of times! Too light! Same thing with the ‘67 Grand Sport I had (sigh!)— that car was all engine.
We've got ham and we have eggs.....so we're having ham and eggs folks!
Travel along at 85 MPH on I-95 in Florida and you better be in the right hand lane!
Put a bit differently, accidents on freeways are not caused by speed, but difference in speed. If, somehow, you can convince everyone to go the same speed, accidents will be close to zero.
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