85 Mile Per Hour Speed Limit coming to Texas

---

me@rescam.org

Few errors in that report. The autobahns in Germany are unrestricted, except were there are signed limits, like the older pre-WW2 sections. This means over 50% has no speed limit for cars.
And the record on accidents on the autobahns is no worse that any other country, and better in a lot of cases, the death rate is about half the US rate.

That's because we learn to drive at such velocities ;)

Addendum: there is a 130 km/h 'advised speed' for motorways, though I don't thank anybody actually adheres to it.
In the first few rules of the road legislation is that you HAVE to drive 'at a speed matching the circumstances' that means even if there is no speed limit you can still be judged as having been too fast, should you cause an accident.

---

I'm not the Pope. I don't speak Ex Cathedra!

I always drive 200+.
No accident in 30+ years.
Evenso the death rate is much higher in cities.

---

With each crime and every kindness we birth our future.

Few errors in that report. The autobahns in Germany are unrestricted, except were there are signed limits, like the older pre-WW2 sections. This means over 50% has no speed limit for cars.
And the record on accidents on the autobahns is no worse that any other country, and better in a lot of cases, the death rate is about half the US rate.

Also remember that Germans obey the law. Texas consider it then do their own thing. Try getting in the passing lane in Texas. You'll encounter numerous drivers that consider that the cell/text/personal driving lane. Whereas on the autobahn its considered a death sentence for that driver and the one in the Porsche that hits him.

---

In a rich man's house there is no place to spit but his face.
Diogenes Of Sinope

That's because we learn to drive at such velocities ;)

Addendum: there is a 130 km/h 'advised speed' for motorways, though I don't thank anybody actually adheres to it.
In the first few rules of the road legislation is that you HAVE to drive 'at a speed matching the circumstances' that means even if there is no speed limit you can still be judged as having been too fast, should you cause an accident.

California law is similar. No matter what the POSTED speed limit is, you must drive at a speed that is safe for conditions.

On my trip to Utah in April, several sections of I-80 in Nevada were posted 80 or 85 mph. Mostly long desert stretches.

---

Donald
Infernal Optimist / Submariner, retired

do people get out of the passing lane in Cali or Nevada when a car flashes its lights. In Texas, thats an invitation to have someone stomp on theit brakes

---

In a rich man's house there is no place to spit but his face.
Diogenes Of Sinope

do people get out of the passing lane in Cali or Nevada when a car flashes its lights. In Texas, thats an invitation to have someone stomp on theit brakes

Yep, had that happen tu us several times while travelling in convoy...stomped the brakes...I don't think they ever did it again...

..Either an SLR or a 10 ton truck were good "preventers"

---

do people get out of the passing lane in Cali or Nevada when a car flashes its lights. In Texas, thats an invitation to have someone stomp on theit brakes

Typically when they are slow driving in the fast lane they are on their cellphone or texting, so they don't see the flashing lights. So I just leave on the highbeams until they do.

---

me@rescam.org

I always drive 200+.

I woudn't want your fuel consumption or engine wear rate Mike!

Yes, fuel consumption is another story.

---

With each crime and every kindness we birth our future.

do people get out of the passing lane in Cali or Nevada when a car flashes its lights. In Texas, thats an invitation to have someone stomp on theit brakes

Living in Reno Nevada, I can tell you that the people here ignore you. On the outskirts, most people see you coming up and move, don't even have to flash your lights.

---

do people get out of the passing lane in Cali or Nevada when a car flashes its lights. In Texas, thats an invitation to have someone stomp on theit brakes

Typically when they are slow driving in the fast lane they are on their cellphone or texting, so they don't see the flashing lights. So I just leave on the highbeams until they do.

You might be able to do that in San Diego, but in LA, you will be the victim of a car to car.

---

do people get out of the passing lane in Cali or Nevada when a car flashes its lights. In Texas, thats an invitation to have someone stomp on theit brakes

Typically when they are slow driving in the fast lane they are on their cellphone or texting, so they don't see the flashing lights. So I just leave on the highbeams until they do.

And I just flip the rear-view mirror (at night) to the "night" position and ignore them. During the day I just ignore them. If I happen to be in the left lane in order to turn left somewhere up ahead, I'm not about to get out of someone's way unless it's an Emergency vehicle (police/fire/ambulance).

---

As a former peace officer and citizen, I can say no one is doing any favours when they try to warn other drivers of speed traps etc’ by flicking their high beams. The next victim may very well be you.

As a former peace officer and citizen, I can say no one is doing any favours when they try to warn other drivers of speed traps etc’ by flicking their high beams. The next victim may very well be you.

I know what you mean. I always carry a radio scanner to find speed traps. You just can't trust the public.

85 mph is my typical driving speed on German and Austrian autobahns (Austria has a speed limit of 130 kph/81 mph), I consider that speed very safe. The vast majority of fatal autobahn accidents here are due to bad weather/visibility or driving under influence or at motorway junctions. The general speed limit is not a factor in any of those.

I believe the "German system" is perfect for long-distance motorways if they are appropriately built. I personally don't feel very comfortable driving faster than 160 kph/100 mph, but if others do so safely (keeping distance!) I have no problem with it.

In my opinion, the most dangerous situations arise from (relatively) slow drivers who drive in the left/middle lanes all the time, frequently enticing faster drivers to drive "more aggressively". While I condemn any aggresive style of driving, I must say such situations can be very frustrating or even aggravating. Once, while driving an emergency vehicle, it took two minutes for the driver in front of me to notice me, even though I had all lights, sirens and horns on. I guess that without those, he would have probably never noticed me at all.

So it's not just the faster drivers who must drive more responsibly, but everyone else, too. If this does not work well, the lower speed limits might remain necesseary.

---

do people get out of the passing lane in Cali or Nevada when a car flashes its lights. In Texas, thats an invitation to have someone stomp on theit brakes

Typically when they are slow driving in the fast lane they are on their cellphone or texting, so they don't see the flashing lights. So I just leave on the highbeams until they do.

And I just flip the rear-view mirror (at night) to the "night" position and ignore them. During the day I just ignore them. If I happen to be in the left lane in order to turn left somewhere up ahead, I'm not about to get out of someone's way unless it's an Emergency vehicle (police/fire/ambulance).

and you realize you've ignored a basic traffic law you damned scofflaw.

---

In a rich man's house there is no place to spit but his face.
Diogenes Of Sinope

I just drive 55mph on the freeway in the right lane, I only move for other vehicles as needed, if My central mirror is flipped down at night I can still see headlights, their just not glaring into My eyes.

---

The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

do people get out of the passing lane in Cali or Nevada when a car flashes its lights. In Texas, thats an invitation to have someone stomp on theit brakes

Typically when they are slow driving in the fast lane they are on their cellphone or texting, so they don't see the flashing lights. So I just leave on the highbeams until they do.

You might be able to do that in San Diego, but in LA, you will be the victim of a car to car.

When I lived in LA it was a constant traffic jam day or night so there really wasn't a "fast" lane. It was just another lane to sit in.

---

me@rescam.org

do people get out of the passing lane in Cali or Nevada when a car flashes its lights. In Texas, thats an invitation to have someone stomp on theit brakes

Typically when they are slow driving in the fast lane they are on their cellphone or texting, so they don't see the flashing lights. So I just leave on the highbeams until they do.

And I just flip the rear-view mirror (at night) to the "night" position and ignore them. During the day I just ignore them. If I happen to be in the left lane in order to turn left somewhere up ahead, I'm not about to get out of someone's way unless it's an Emergency vehicle (police/fire/ambulance).

and you realize you've ignored a basic traffic law you damned scofflaw.

Sometimes I do it all the way home just because.

---

me@rescam.org