Texas raised the speed limit to 85

[Jstas]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/7511083.html


AUSTIN, Texas ? The Texas House approved a bill that would allow the speed limit on some highways to be raised to 85 mph, which would be the highest in the nation.

The measure passed Wednesday on a voice vote was part of a larger transportation bill. It would authorize the Texas Department of Transportation to raise the speed limit on designated lanes or entire stretches of roadway after doing engineering and traffic studies, the Dallas Morning News reported Thursday.

The Senate is considering a similar bill.

"They have high-speed roadways in Europe, and there could be some merit in having some of those highways in Texas," said Rep. Lois Kolkhorst of Brenham, who introduced the bill. "Given the right engineering, we should consider it."

Texas currently has more than 520 miles of interstate highways where the speed limit is 80 mph.

One such stretch of Interstate 10 "is as nice a road as you can build; it's flat with a long line of sight, wide lanes and good shoulders," said Rep. Joe Pickett of El Paso. "For people like us who travel that long distance, it could be good" to raise the limit to 85 mph, he said.

Some auto insurers oppose the measure, citing safety concerns.

"Obviously, the two things that kill most people on our highways are speed and alcohol. Increasing it to 85, or even 75, will have a dramatic impact on the death and injury rate on those highways where it's implemented," said Jerry Johns, a spokesman for the Southwestern Insurance Information Service.

He said drivers already exceed 70 mph highway speed limits.

"But 85 mph is simply too fast to drive even on a flat road. Any little hitch can cause an accident at that speed. There is still traffic on those roads, and to drive 85 mph is simply ludicrous," he said.

The Transportation Department hasn't done the speed and safety analyses of roadways the legislation would require, said department spokeswoman Kelli Petras.

"It would be awesome to travel it, but you'd have to look at the safety and other factors," she said.

Could you imagine that happening in Jersey? Speed limits are more of a suggestion here. You can pass at sign that say 55 MPH on the highway while traveling at 70 MPH and still get passed like you are standing still. If they are already doing 85 on the highway, raising the limit would be like a green light for 120 MPH.

Imagine the Parkway at 120 MPH.

[cnh]

Yeh, not happening in Jersey!

But on another note, a lot of the vehicles in my state would be 'unsafe' flying around at 85 mph? People up here have to pay a HEAVY excise tax on their vehicles unlike the standard fee most of you pay, the registration is a graduated decrease from the 'original' price of the vehicle up to five years from the original price. Then it remains fixed. Nutty, I know? I've never seen anything like this in all the states I've previously lived in: Pa., N.J. and N.Y.?

But because of the fees people are driving their vehicles to the end of their lifespan and it also does NOT encourage new purchases much. I remember paying close to 400 dollars in registration fees when my wife bought her Prius. And now it's only down to 300 a year?

Drive safe. Unless you have a 'super' vehicle.

cnh

[AsSiMiLaTeD]

Awesome, was hoping they'd pass that.

Even at those speeds, it'll still take 4 light years to travel from one side of the state to the other...

[nooshinjohn]

Don't mess with Texas.

[bobman1235]

Awesome, was hoping they'd pass that.

Even at those speeds, it'll still take 4 light years to travel from one side of the state to the other...

A light year is a distance, not a time. :)

[Jstas]

A light year is a distance, not a time. :)

Stop nitpicking. Just because YOUR hooptie can't make the Kessel run in less than 7 parsecs doesn't mean no one elses' can!

[exalted512]

Sweet. We need an autobahn here too.

All the roads around here are still 70 though :(
-Cody

[cokewithvanilla]

Finally, a speed limit that is more realistic

[TNRabbit]

When I was stationed in Turkey back in the late 90s, I hit 148 mph on the autobahn one time in a Volkswagen Jetta....

[devani]

wish they had more strict law for left lane hoggers in NJ....it's the worst

[slk55amg]

When I picked up my SLK55 at the factory in 2006, after breakin I was driving at 160mph on the Autobahn, I had to stay in the right lane to allow others to pass me because I was going to slow...........

[audiobliss]

Wow, I would love to see that happen in so many other areas.

[codyc1ark]

Seems pretty fast to me, I understand Texas is a very large state, but have you ever seen what happens to a vehicle when wrecked at 70mph plus? Or for that matter, the occupants. I urge everyone next time they are in a full parking lot and walking into a store, look at the tires on most vehicles, do you want someone with bald tires, cords showing, hurling at you (and perhaps your kids) doing 85+?? Scary... Don't send a wrecker, send a spatula.

[ViperZ]

There is nothing wrong with a higher speed limit. What needs to be improved is drivers' education. You can't just get a license and jump on the highway doing 85+.
German authobahns have no speed limit, and these autobahns are one of the safest roads on Earth. Why? Because people there are properly educated on how to drive, and they obey the rest of the rules on the autobahn (i.e. they do not hog the left lane where cars go close or over 300 km/h). It's a blast driving on the autobahn!

[TNRabbit]

There is nothing wrong with a higher speed limit. What needs to be improved is drivers' education. You can't just get a license and jump on the highway doing 85+.
German authobahns have no speed limit, and these autobahns are one of the safest roads on Earth. Why? Because people there are properly educated on how to drive, and they obey the rest of the rules on the autobahn (i.e. they do not hog the left lane where cars go close or over 300 km/h). It's a blast driving on the autobahn!

^^^^^^^what he said!^^^^^^^^^^

[DMara]

German authobahns have no speed limit, and these autobahns are one of the safest roads on Earth. Why? Because people there are properly educated on how to drive, and they obey the rest of the rules on the autobahn (i.e. they do not hog the left lane where cars go close or over 300 km/h). It's a blast driving on the autobahn!

You need to get your fact straight. It's not because they're properly educated on how to drive; it's because they drink and drive :biggrin: Drink Deuscht beer + drive extremely fast, got to satisfy both conditions to have a blast while being safe :biggrin:

[slk55amg]

I asked someone at the Mercedes factory, about accidents." We don,t have accidents only casulties"

[cstmar01]

wooohoo! Now if only slow butt WI could do it that way I can get my cheese faster!

NJ wouldn't be the only one traveling at the speed of light, please include IL drivers. FIBS I tell ya.

[maximillian]

Why? Because people there are properly educated on how to drive, and they obey the rest of the rules on the autobahn (i.e. they do not hog the left lane where cars go close or over 300 km/h). It's a blast driving on the autobahn!

Yup. The exam required to get a license there is really long. It requires people to understand the mechanical portions of the car. As the following link points out, 30% of the people who take the test fail the first time. If you stay there for longer than 6 months you are required to take it.

http://www.howtogermany.com/pages/driving.html

You are right about the left lane... stay out of it unless you intend to go fast and get out as quickly as possible or you may be a hazard to someone else wanting to go 120+mph. Oh, and people are WAY more courteous about the left lane. They pass and they get out of the way, even if you are only going slightly faster than they are. Truly enjoyable driving there.

I rented a car there a while back and traveled with a German colleague. I was doing 75-80 mph initially when he commented that I was going slow. He said normal people go about 90-100 mph, although there were plenty of other cars going slower.

Finally, the cars there can easily go this fast and you can't tell. They hardly vibrate the way many cars here do after you go 70 mph. I had a basic model Mercedes (it was a common man's version) and the engine topped out around 115mph. NO vibrations in the steering wheel. Truly nice.

[thuffman03]

There is nothing wrong with a higher speed limit. What needs to be improved is drivers' education. You can't just get a license and jump on the highway doing 85+.
German authobahns have no speed limit, and these autobahns are one of the safest roads on Earth. Why? Because people there are properly educated on how to drive, and they obey the rest of the rules on the autobahn (i.e. they do not hog the left lane where cars go close or over 300 km/h). It's a blast driving on the autobahn!


Also drivers are not talking on the cell phone, texting, eating, drinking and singing along with the radio. They have complete undivided attention to doing one thing. That is driving the car.

We in the US ignore rules of the road. Heck, today on my way to work I approached an intersection, I had the right of way and she was at a stop sign, and as I approached she pulled out. I had to come to a complete stop or I would have hit her. And she looked at me as if I was in the wrong.

[Slinger182]

wooohoo! Now if only slow butt WI could do it that way I can get my cheese faster!

NJ wouldn't be the only one traveling at the speed of light, please include IL drivers. FIBS I tell ya.

Damn cheddar headers always just cruisin in the left lane doin 2 miles over the limit. :wink:

[Joe08867]

Yeh, not happening in Jersey!

But on another note, a lot of the vehicles in my state would be 'unsafe' flying around at 85 mph? People up here have to pay a HEAVY excise tax on their vehicles unlike the standard fee most of you pay, the registration is a graduated decrease from the 'original' price of the vehicle up to five years from the original price. Then it remains fixed. Nutty, I know? I've never seen anything like this in all the states I've previously lived in: Pa., N.J. and N.Y.?

But because of the fees people are driving their vehicles to the end of their lifespan and it also does NOT encourage new purchases much. I remember paying close to 400 dollars in registration fees when my wife bought her Prius. And now it's only down to 300 a year?

Drive safe. Unless you have a 'super' vehicle.

cnh

It might not be legal but have you driven on Route 78 or 287 lately. 85mph is child's play. I agree though, some of the cars I see are in pretty bad shape and I would hate to see them go any faster than they do now.

[jbooker82]

The problem they will have is 3 old geezers trying to pass each other with all them doing 50-55 mph. Then throw in som semi's passing each other at .25mph faster than the other one.


The larger the difference between the posted speed limit and the actual speed your driving creats more road rage.

[leroyjr1]

wooohoo! Now if only slow butt WI could do it that way I can get my cheese faster!

NJ wouldn't be the only one traveling at the speed of light, please include IL drivers. FIBS I tell ya.

We drive 85-90 mph anyways. Don't need no stinking sign to tell me that.:smile:

[txcoastal1]

I drive 40K-50K a year on these TX Freeways and would not mind this at all, we already maintain these speeds ...at least we now won't have slow downs when DPS is around

[Jetmaker737]

Higher speed limit makes massive sense. Yeah people including me already go way over the limit. The problem is the left lane campers who feel justified going 60. You can flash 'em, honk, whatever, they won't budge. *******s. With a higher limit maybe they lose their self righteousness. And if they don't have the balls to drive fast then they can just move to the right.

[ViperZ]

It might not be legal but have you driven on Route 78 or 287 lately. 85mph is child's play. I agree though, some of the cars I see are in pretty bad shape and I would hate to see them go any faster than they do now.

Again, as in Europe. Right lane = trucks and slow cars. Middle lane = "average driving", your 85 mph. Left lane = PASSING LANE and really fast cars.

Also, make it a law, like in many many countries, that left lane is the PASSING LANE. Get the eff out of that lane if you're not passing.

But of course, I'm dreaming... We will never get great traffic laws for many reasons... cops feed on speeders, not on left lane hoggers... traffic jams become worse and worse every day, so it doesn't matter what time of day it is, you'll be just standing on some of those highways anyway :( In Ontario, they made this new law about a year ago. You go 50 km/h over the limit (of 100 km/h), and they take away your car and your license, the fine is up to $10K and up to 6 months in jail...

[bobman1235]

If you drive through Connecticut (I think) they have signs saying "stay right except to pass." I'm not sure if it's "law" or just a public service sign.

[obieone]

I wish they'd secede already, the suspense is killing me!

[fatchowmein]

One of the local radio AM stations mentioned that the 85 mph was meant for west Texas where there's already an 80 mph speed limit. This does open the door for other roads but a careful study is required to make certain cars can travel safely at that speed on the specified route. I'm not expecting the 35 corridor from San Antonio to Dallas to increase from 75 to 85 due to congestion.

[RuSsMaN]

Sweet, I wonder if the cruise control works at 105 in the Suburban? Scratch that, I wonder if my tires can handle it?

[HTguru1982]

I can't believe so many of you agree with this. I've lost two brothers in automobile accidents related to speeding. Increasing an already high speed limit is just asking for trouble. I pray that those driving at these speeds stay safe.

[bobman1235]

Sweet, I wonder if the cruise control works at 105 in the Suburban? Scratch that, I wonder if my tires can handle it?

Most cruise controls I've seen are capped around 85. Pussy automakers.

[exalted512]

Sweet, I wonder if the cruise control works at 105 in the Suburban? Scratch that, I wonder if my tires can handle it?

Your suburban should be governed at 99mph.
-Cody

[codyc1ark]

I can't believe so many of you agree with this. I've lost two brothers in automobile accidents related to speeding. Increasing an already high speed limit is just asking for trouble. I pray that those driving at these speeds stay safe.

I agree. 100%

[ViperZ]

I can't believe so many of you agree with this. I've lost two brothers in automobile accidents related to speeding. Increasing an already high speed limit is just asking for trouble. I pray that those driving at these speeds stay safe.

I'm sorry about you losing your brothers, but yet again, it's the drivers' education that needs to be improved, not speed limits lowered. If we will continue to have some people on the highways flying 100+ and others trying literally to stop them by doing 50 in the left lane, making unsafe lane changes (how many times have you seen people changing lanes without checking their blind spot and turning on their turn signals?), then deadly accidents will continue to happen.
In Ontario, we have a 3-level drivers licensing system. I think, the proper multi-level drivers license system will help reduce accidents and educate the new drivers. Our 3-level system is currently poorly managed (moved from government to private ownership, tons of crooks, etc.) but it is still better than what you have in the States.

I was scared when a bunch of us (students) moved to California several years ago for work. Some of us had a G1 level license (i.e. they passed their written test, but never drove a car, or at most drove with adult supervision on the streets, not highways). ALL OF US went to the MTO and got our FULL LICENSES THAT DAY. That driving test was A JOKE - drive around the block with 25/30/35 mph speed limits on the streets, park on the side and go back. You were allowed FOURTEEN mistakes. If that's what it takes to get a license and go drive on the highway in the States, then no wonder people HAVE NO CLUE how to properly behave themselves on the road, where to drive properly, how to deal with emergencies, etc. etc.

I haven't taken a driving safety course for 10 years until the last year, when I had to take the motorcycle safety / driving course (to move me from level 1 to level 2 for that license). It was an eye opener, and helped me being more aware of what's happening on the road. Again, proper EDUCATION.

[Jstas]

Sweet, I wonder if the cruise control works at 105 in the Suburban? Scratch that, I wonder if my tires can handle it?

My truck can have the cruise set at 149 MPH. Tires are good to 155+ MPH.

I could probably set the cruise control higher but the truck has a limiter. I guess Ford thought it was prudent that pickup trucks shouldn't be doing 165 MPH on streets.

[Airplay355]

I'm jealous, highways here have a speed limit of 65 and some parts it's 55 still. There's a highway going through the city (Portland Maine) that is 50. Causes tons of traffic during rush hour.

Just one more reason why I hate Maine. It's vacation land for a reason, no one in their right mind would like staying here.

[audiobliss]

Have set the cruise in our '01 Suburban at 99 before. Works fine.

[AsSiMiLaTeD]

My truck can have the cruise set at 149 MPH. Tires are good to 155+ MPH.

I could probably set the cruise control higher but the truck has a limiter. I guess Ford thought it was prudent that pickup trucks shouldn't be doing 165 MPH on streets.But apparently its ok for them to be doing 149 :-)

I never understood setting a limiter at something like 150 MPH, like 150 is really that much worse than 130. There comes a point at which the difference between speeds doesn't really matter anymore.

I say either set the limiter at a reasonable level that makes sense (100 mph?) or just don't set a limiter at all (my personal preference).

[exalted512]

Agreed. I find it comical that some of the liter bikes are governed at 175+. Because wrecking at 175 is some how less deadly than 200...
-Cody

[Jstas]

But apparently its ok for them to be doing 149 :-)

I never understood setting a limiter at something like 150 MPH, like 150 is really that much worse than 130. There comes a point at which the difference between speeds doesn't really matter anymore.

I say either set the limiter at a reasonable level that makes sense (100 mph?) or just don't set a limiter at all (my personal preference).

Two reasons. One, insurance rates. Two, tire cost.

A tire that can support the weight a 2.24 ton truck and run at 140+ MPH is going to cost about $300 each for the cheapest ones. If they want to be able to sell a truck to someone who would buy a truck, they can't price the truck out of the price range that the guy who would buy a truck can afford.

So, put 149 MPH rubber on there and set the limiter to 149. Granted, limiters go by engine RPM, not vehicle speed so it ends up getting set where ever, say, 4,000 RPM in the top gear lands you. Depending on conditions, the rev limiter in my truck will stop me anywhere between 140 and 150 MPH.

Now, if I take out the rev limiter an tell my insurance company, they will jack up my rates 300% or just drop coverage altogether. If I take out the rev limiter, don't tell them and get in to a wreck, not only will they not cover my claim or the other involved party's claim but they will drop coverage and in NJ, they can bring suit against me for fraud.

Now, in NJ, I have no place wide open enough to get a 2.25 ton hunk of metal up to 149 MPH anyway so no sense in removing it. I could go racing but with a truck, there is no sanctioning body that has a class that I can race it in other than amateur or exhibition classes. So about the only racing I can do with it is SCCA Solo2 or Autocross or brackets at the drag strip. If teh drag strip is running an index class that I can run in, I can race in that too as long as I have the safety equipment. But that's it unless some small event has a specific class for trucks like an NMRA event or a Fun Ford Weekend. If I did remove the rev limiter for racing though, to be able to run in a class that I could reach those speeds of 149+ MPH, it wouldn't matter about insurance anyway because the truck would be so far from stock that it wouldn't be street legal anyway.

Now I know a guy in Germany with a Lightning who had his truck shipped over here to have Jim D'Amore at JDM Engineering in Freehold remove the rev limiter and do a dyno tune on his truck. Added an exhaust system and a new pulley. He was putting down over 470 horsepower to the wheels. He used to have a friend ride with him and film top speed blasts in the middle of the night on the Autobahn. His truck was knocking on the 180 MPH mark with his mods and no rev limiter. He said when he was stock, he had a hand programmer that would let him remove his rev limiter and he was clocked at 162 MPH with nothing left in it.

[Gadabout]

The roads in West Texas, on I-10 will be the ones going to 85. However, with this new bill I'm hoping we can get rid of the almost universal 70 Mph. Lots of open highways around Texas, no just on the way too or from El Paso. it would be nice to have some of these posted at 75 or 80 too.

There are some pretty progressive driving laws out west that a lot of the US could use.
- Left Lane is Passing Only.
-- Once your done passing you move to the right.

- You get 5 or more cars behind you don't pull to the right lane when it's available or onto a turnout on a 2 lane road - ticket.

- Merging onto the freeway. (there are no yield signs at on ramps)
-- The person on the merge lane is to quickly get to freeway speed and it is the responsibility of the person in the right hand lane to slow or speed up to let you in.

- No trucks (meaning 3 axles and includes you towing your trailer) in the left lane, if there is 3 lanes of traffic in your direction.
-- No trucks in the right hand or left hand lane if there are 4 or more lanes of traffic in your direction. The exception for the right lane is if you are within 2 miles of your exit.

All it takes is a bit of enforcement and folks get used to these laws pretty quick. That and a few stories on the nightly news is usually enough to wake most people up to the laws or at least start someone nagging in the car about it.

The majority of Americans aren't ready for Autobahn driving. They are too distracted. Passing on the Autobahn is an adventure. Once in the left lane you need to keep an eye behind you for at least a mile. Even if your driving at 155 Kph (96 mph) you will get your doors blown off by someone. The trucks that pass, immediately move to the right as soon as the passed vehicle lights flash to let them know they have cleared them. This is usually at about 3 - 6 ft of clearance.

There are no billboards on the Autobahn. The roads are scrupulously maintained. No pot holes, holes and bad spots are repaired immediately. They have a vehicle out there that washes all the road side reflectors to make it safer for night high speed driving. The Germans don't understand the why we have cup holders in a car. Americans get into fender benders. As someone mentioned above, Germans in wrecks are casualties. Perhaps that is part of the reason they drive with more seriousness. All that being said, if you get a chance to drive on the autobahn, it's a great experience.

Just don't do what I did. Got back to the US from a 3 weeks stay in Germany very late. Plane landed at about 1am due to delays. I hit the road about 2a and started heading home. No one on the road and then I see rollers in the rear view and I glance down and I'm going 105. I slow down and as expected get pulled over. The cop asks the usual question about "Do I know how fast I was going?" I responded that I didn't realize how fast I was going till I saw his lights and then I slowed down. He asked how could I not realize that I was going that fast. I explained my story and showed him my passport with the recent stamp for returning to the US. I didn't get out of the ticket, but he took pity on me and only wrote me up for going 80 in a 65.

Scott

[HTguru1982]

I'm sorry about you losing your brothers, but yet again, it's the drivers' education that needs to be improved, not speed limits lowered. If we will continue to have some people on the highways flying 100+ and others trying literally to stop them by doing 50 in the left lane, making unsafe lane changes (how many times have you seen people changing lanes without checking their blind spot and turning on their turn signals?), then deadly accidents will continue to happen.
In Ontario, we have a 3-level drivers licensing system. I think, the proper multi-level drivers license system will help reduce accidents and educate the new drivers. Our 3-level system is currently poorly managed (moved from government to private ownership, tons of crooks, etc.) but it is still better than what you have in the States.

I was scared when a bunch of us (students) moved to California several years ago for work. Some of us had a G1 level license (i.e. they passed their written test, but never drove a car, or at most drove with adult supervision on the streets, not highways). ALL OF US went to the MTO and got our FULL LICENSES THAT DAY. That driving test was A JOKE - drive around the block with 25/30/35 mph speed limits on the streets, park on the side and go back. You were allowed FOURTEEN mistakes. If that's what it takes to get a license and go drive on the highway in the States, then no wonder people HAVE NO CLUE how to properly behave themselves on the road, where to drive properly, how to deal with emergencies, etc. etc.

I haven't taken a driving safety course for 10 years until the last year, when I had to take the motorcycle safety / driving course (to move me from level 1 to level 2 for that license). It was an eye opener, and helped me being more aware of what's happening on the road. Again, proper EDUCATION.

Thanks.

This is the population we're talking about. Most of us are too stupid that we shouldn't even be allowed to leave our homes. I believe our government should be able to step in and say, "Hey tards, here are some rules to keep you idiots safer". Why they would INCREASE the speed limit is beyond me. And not that this matters to me personally but I find it hilarious that so many people complain about rising fuel prices but they still want to drive 70, 75, 80 miles per hour everywhere they go. Oh, the irony...

[exalted512]

I get better mileage in my truck at 80 than I do at 70.
-Cody