Speed limits

Message boards : Cafe SETI : Speed limits
Message board moderation

To post messages, you must log in.

1 · 2 · 3 · 4 . . . 5 · Next

AuthorMessage
Profile Sarge
Volunteer tester

Send message
Joined: 25 Aug 99
Posts: 12273
Credit: 8,569,109
RAC: 79
United States
Message 587375 - Posted: 15 Jun 2007, 20:05:50 UTC
Last modified: 15 Jun 2007, 20:08:20 UTC

Well?
Capitalize on this good fortune, one word can bring you round ... changes.
ID: 587375 · Report as offensive
Profile Mike Special Project $75 donor
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 17 Feb 01
Posts: 34253
Credit: 79,922,639
RAC: 80
Germany
Message 587415 - Posted: 15 Jun 2007, 21:45:07 UTC


Cool we in germany are driving as fast as we can.
My car around 250 KPH.



With each crime and every kindness we birth our future.
ID: 587415 · Report as offensive
Profile Sarge
Volunteer tester

Send message
Joined: 25 Aug 99
Posts: 12273
Credit: 8,569,109
RAC: 79
United States
Message 587420 - Posted: 15 Jun 2007, 21:53:50 UTC - in response to Message 587415.  


Cool we in germany are driving as fast as we can.
My car around 250 KPH.

That's just WRONG! You should go to JAIL! With Paris Hilton!!!
(Just kidding.)
Capitalize on this good fortune, one word can bring you round ... changes.
ID: 587420 · Report as offensive
Profile Crunch3r
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 15 Apr 99
Posts: 1546
Credit: 3,438,823
RAC: 0
Germany
Message 587424 - Posted: 15 Jun 2007, 22:01:56 UTC - in response to Message 587420.  


Cool we in germany are driving as fast as we can.
My car around 250 KPH.

That's just WRONG! You should go to JAIL! With Paris Hilton!!!
(Just kidding.)


No way ;) the fastest car i ever drove on german "autobahn" was a BMW M5. Early in the morning i was "only" able to get 285 km/h out of it... some stupid guy tough driving his crap car on the left side of the autobahn was the right thing to do ...

well i had to step hard into breaks and quickly moved from right to left and passed him short befor impact ...



Join BOINC United now!
ID: 587424 · Report as offensive
kittyman Crowdfunding Project Donor*Special Project $75 donorSpecial Project $250 donor
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 9 Jul 00
Posts: 51468
Credit: 1,018,363,574
RAC: 1,004
United States
Message 587425 - Posted: 15 Jun 2007, 22:02:30 UTC

I know where you're going with this...............
"Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster

ID: 587425 · Report as offensive
Profile John Clark
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 29 Sep 99
Posts: 16515
Credit: 4,418,829
RAC: 0
United Kingdom
Message 587429 - Posted: 15 Jun 2007, 22:12:00 UTC

The national speed limit is actually 70 mph (112 kph), but most cruise at 85 mph (136 kph) without the Fuzz pulling them.

They will at 160 kph, and it's likely your license will go!
It's good to be back amongst friends and colleagues



ID: 587429 · Report as offensive
Profile Beethoven
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 19 Jun 06
Posts: 15274
Credit: 8,546
RAC: 0
Message 587431 - Posted: 15 Jun 2007, 22:19:30 UTC

I do like the idea of an unlimited speed "Fast Lane" like they have on the Autobahn in Germany.

I think that driving has become overregulated. I approve of the "General Rules of the Road" and Right of Ways. I approve of traffic lights and special "Slow" zones, like near schools or road construction sites.

But the rest of it is pretty much unneccessary.

I've been in this situation a few times: the traffic lights have gone out and there's still no police on the scene to direct traffic. Have I ever seen an accident in these situations? No. People just take turns, without any problems.
ID: 587431 · Report as offensive
Profile Sarge
Volunteer tester

Send message
Joined: 25 Aug 99
Posts: 12273
Credit: 8,569,109
RAC: 79
United States
Message 587437 - Posted: 15 Jun 2007, 22:39:43 UTC - in response to Message 587425.  

I know where you're going with this...............


Don't take offense, msattler. I created this thread because others were not seeing my point about the differences between

    Good and bad ideas
    Legal and illegal
    Right and wrong
    (and, for the religious/spiritual-minded) Good and evil/sin.


Capitalize on this good fortune, one word can bring you round ... changes.
ID: 587437 · Report as offensive
kittyman Crowdfunding Project Donor*Special Project $75 donorSpecial Project $250 donor
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 9 Jul 00
Posts: 51468
Credit: 1,018,363,574
RAC: 1,004
United States
Message 587463 - Posted: 15 Jun 2007, 23:37:38 UTC - in response to Message 587437.  

I know where you're going with this...............


Don't take offense, msattler. I created this thread because others were not seeing my point about the differences between

    Good and bad ideas
    Legal and illegal
    Right and wrong
    (and, for the religious/spiritual-minded) Good and evil/sin.



No offense taken at all, I just figured I knew what you were after. If someone is 'OK' with breaking the law by speeding, why do they take such offense at breaking other laws.
Guess it's all a case of who's ox you gore.

"Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster

ID: 587463 · Report as offensive
Lester

Send message
Joined: 6 Jun 07
Posts: 414
Credit: 38,111
RAC: 0
Message 587563 - Posted: 16 Jun 2007, 9:30:33 UTC

So, I was averaging about 125 mph coming back from Las Vagas. A Viper convention. I am sorry for my sin !......
ID: 587563 · Report as offensive
Lester

Send message
Joined: 6 Jun 07
Posts: 414
Credit: 38,111
RAC: 0
Message 587564 - Posted: 16 Jun 2007, 9:32:19 UTC - in response to Message 587563.  

So, I was averaging about 125 mph coming back from Las Vagas. A Viper convention. I am sorry for my sin !......

And I got 17 mpg. Better than 6.5 mpg around town. Yeah, I know ! But I PAID the $3,000 gas guzzler tax. So, WAHOO !
ID: 587564 · Report as offensive
kittyman Crowdfunding Project Donor*Special Project $75 donorSpecial Project $250 donor
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 9 Jul 00
Posts: 51468
Credit: 1,018,363,574
RAC: 1,004
United States
Message 587566 - Posted: 16 Jun 2007, 9:37:12 UTC - in response to Message 587564.  

So, I was averaging about 125 mph coming back from Las Vagas. A Viper convention. I am sorry for my sin !......

And I got 17 mpg. Better than 6.5 mpg around town. Yeah, I know ! But I PAID the $3,000 gas guzzler tax. So, WAHOO !


If the lobbyists from Detroit hadn't been so successful in the 90's, you wouldn't be driving thet humpin' Hummer.

"Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster

ID: 587566 · Report as offensive
Lester

Send message
Joined: 6 Jun 07
Posts: 414
Credit: 38,111
RAC: 0
Message 587568 - Posted: 16 Jun 2007, 9:39:31 UTC - in response to Message 587566.  

So, I was averaging about 125 mph coming back from Las Vagas. A Viper convention. I am sorry for my sin !......

And I got 17 mpg. Better than 6.5 mpg around town. Yeah, I know ! But I PAID the $3,000 gas guzzler tax. So, WAHOO !


If the lobbyists from Detroit hadn't been so successful in the 90's, you wouldn't be driving thet humpin' Hummer.

Hummer ? HUMMER !!! A Viper is the same as a Hummer ? Oh my child
ID: 587568 · Report as offensive
Profile ML1
Volunteer moderator
Volunteer tester

Send message
Joined: 25 Nov 01
Posts: 20140
Credit: 7,508,002
RAC: 20
United Kingdom
Message 587603 - Posted: 16 Jun 2007, 11:27:58 UTC - in response to Message 587429.  
Last modified: 16 Jun 2007, 11:31:41 UTC

The national speed limit is actually 70 mph (112 kph), but most cruise at 85 mph (136 kph) without the Fuzz pulling them.

They will at 160 kph, and it's likely your license will go!

Not quite...

The "National Speed Limit" is 60 mph, as shown by the circular signs with a black diagonal line on a white background.

The speed limit on UK motorways for cars and vans is currently 70 mph. Wagons are limited to 60 mph.


What is a real bugger are the continental wagons speed-limiter limited to 100 kph creeping past a UK wagon doing 60 mph... You do the maths for how many miles/minutes are required at that speed difference for two long vehicles to clear each other!

(Lack off) courteous lane discipline is another bugbear. Then again, a LOT of drivers suffer severe "tunnel vision" and a complete lack of situational awareness. Ofcourse, their radio/mp3/moby are all far more "important"...

It's amazing we don't have more crashes!

Then again on my motorway driving, I usually see at least one and often as many as 4 or more crashes or recent remains of crashes during the day...

Insist on a retest and "attitude test" every 5 years?


And motorbike racing screwballs should be instantly shot on sight. I don't care if they kill themselves but unfortunately they very often kill and cost others very dear.


All good fun...

Cheers,
Martin

See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)
ID: 587603 · Report as offensive
Profile mikey
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 17 Dec 99
Posts: 4215
Credit: 3,474,603
RAC: 0
United States
Message 587773 - Posted: 16 Jun 2007, 18:55:08 UTC
Last modified: 16 Jun 2007, 18:55:45 UTC

The 55mph speed limit in the US was because of all the deaths that occured, statistly speaking, at higher speeds. Was it MADD, it was some lobby group, that convinced Congress to make the Federal Hiway Admin people make States lower it to 55mph, hiway monies are MILLLIONS of dollars each year. Prior to that it was a State by State thing. Now the States have lobbied on their own behalf and it is higher in alot of places. BUT within a 50 mile radius of a Major City, I think population of 1 million, the speed limit still drops back to 55mph!

To answer the next question...Why is the US drinking age 21? Same reason lobbists convinved Congress to withold hiway monies for States that did not raise it 21!
ID: 587773 · Report as offensive
Profile The Simonator
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 18 Nov 04
Posts: 5700
Credit: 3,855,702
RAC: 50
United Kingdom
Message 587777 - Posted: 16 Jun 2007, 19:05:17 UTC
Last modified: 16 Jun 2007, 19:05:41 UTC

So, taking the USA as a whole, is the highest speed limit anywhere 55mph?
I think i would actually die of boredom at that speed on the motorway.
Life on earth is the global equivalent of not storing things in the fridge.
ID: 587777 · Report as offensive
Profile Labbie
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 19 Jun 06
Posts: 4083
Credit: 5,930,102
RAC: 0
United States
Message 587782 - Posted: 16 Jun 2007, 19:24:14 UTC - in response to Message 587773.  
Last modified: 16 Jun 2007, 19:24:57 UTC

The 55mph speed limit in the US was because of all the deaths that occured, statistly speaking, at higher speeds.


The National Maximum Speed Law (in the United States) is a provision of the 1974 Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act that capped all speed limits at 55 mph (90 km/h). This cap was intended to conserve gasoline in response to the 1973 oil crisis. The law was modified in the late 1980s to allow 65 mph (100 km/h) limits. In 1995 it was repealed, returning the power of setting speed limits to the states.
{complete article)


Calm Chaos Forum...Join Calm Chaos Now
ID: 587782 · Report as offensive
Profile Sarge
Volunteer tester

Send message
Joined: 25 Aug 99
Posts: 12273
Credit: 8,569,109
RAC: 79
United States
Message 587787 - Posted: 16 Jun 2007, 19:32:00 UTC - in response to Message 587782.  

In 1995 it was repealed, returning the power of setting speed limits to the states.
Labbie is correct. The point of the thread was to compare to other threads, where laws are being equated with "right and wrong."
Capitalize on this good fortune, one word can bring you round ... changes.
ID: 587787 · Report as offensive
Profile The Simonator
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 18 Nov 04
Posts: 5700
Credit: 3,855,702
RAC: 50
United Kingdom
Message 587789 - Posted: 16 Jun 2007, 19:37:04 UTC

Thanks labbie.

Surely a better idea to conserve fuel would be to ban cars with huge inefficient engines, and instead sell cars with smaller, far more efficient engines.
I've always been surprised how American engines manage to get such a small amount of horsepower out of huge engines. Take, for instance, the HEMI V8, if you gave 5.7 litres to a European engineer theyd get far more out of it than 330 bhp.

Also, on a side note, my car has a 1.1 litre engine, would this sell at all in the US?
Life on earth is the global equivalent of not storing things in the fridge.
ID: 587789 · Report as offensive
Profile KWSN - MajorKong
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 5 Jan 00
Posts: 2892
Credit: 1,499,890
RAC: 0
United States
Message 587800 - Posted: 16 Jun 2007, 19:54:57 UTC - in response to Message 587773.  

The 55mph speed limit in the US was because of all the deaths that occured, statistly speaking, at higher speeds. Was it MADD, it was some lobby group, that convinced Congress to make the Federal Hiway Admin people make States lower it to 55mph, hiway monies are MILLLIONS of dollars each year. Prior to that it was a State by State thing. Now the States have lobbied on their own behalf and it is higher in alot of places. BUT within a 50 mile radius of a Major City, I think population of 1 million, the speed limit still drops back to 55mph!

To answer the next question...Why is the US drinking age 21? Same reason lobbists convinved Congress to withold hiway monies for States that did not raise it 21!


Uhh... Mikey, I do believe you are mistaken on a few things.

The 55 mph 'national' speed limit was put into place in 1974 for purposes of fuel economy. Vehicles are usually more fuel efficient at 55mph than at 70mph or more. This was in response to the 1973 oil crisis.

While the 55pmh likely improved highway safety at first, by 1978, the death rate had climbed to the point that all the gains in safety due to the 55mph limit had been erased. However, for the time being, the 55mph limit continued because of the misplaced perceptions of improvement in safety. However, all of that aside, the safety considerations were not mentioned until after the first year of the 55mph limit. The 55mph limit had its genesis as purely a fuel saving measure.

Federal funds for highways are in the Billions, not the Millions.

In 1987, the federal speed limits were relaxed for rural Interstate highways, with relaxation on non-Interstate rural highways built to Interstate standards following in 1988.

In 1995, all federal restrictions on speed limits were repealed with total control of speed limits reverting to the states.

If the limit near major cities is 55 in your area, that is because of your state and/or locality. Here in the D/FW area of Texas, the limit is 60mph to 65mph on many interstates. There are NO federal restrictions anymore.

However, I will give you credit on identifying the weapon the federal government used to force the states to adopt 55mph back in 1974, and have used several times since then (as you mentioned, the age 21 drinking age, and more recently the 0.08 BAC standard for DUI). The states collect taxes on fuel sold inside their borders, part of which belongs to the states from state-levied taxes, and part of which is Federal tax which is then sent on to Washington. Washington then sends this money back to the states in roughly the same proportion as federal highway funds to defray the costs of construction and maintenance of federal highways in that state. States that refused to 'play ball' and adopt the federally mandated laws risked that the federal government would withhold part or even all of these funds. In addition to the 55mph limit's initial imposition, the Federal Govt. also used highway funds to blackmail the states into enforcement of that limit as well. In addition to withholding all the funds if the state did not enact the 55mph limit, the feds also decided that they would withhold a portion of those funds matching the portion of that states drivers that disregarded that limit. That is, if 10% of the drivers in, say, Texas didn't obey the 55mph limit, then Texas would not recieve 10% of their federal highway funds due.


ID: 587800 · Report as offensive
1 · 2 · 3 · 4 . . . 5 · Next

Message boards : Cafe SETI : Speed limits


 
©2024 University of California
 
SETI@home and Astropulse are funded by grants from the National Science Foundation, NASA, and donations from SETI@home volunteers. AstroPulse is funded in part by the NSF through grant AST-0307956.