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From: prins@cornell.UUCP (Jan Prins)
Newsgroups: net.auto.tech
Subject: Re: Speedometer limits
Message-ID: <1850@cornell.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 20-Dec-85 19:41:06 EST
Article-I.D.: cornell.1850
Posted: Fri Dec 20 19:41:06 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 21-Dec-85 06:39:08 EST
References: <1400@cornell.UUCP> <272@bunny.UUCP> <250@unirot.UUCP>
Reply-To: prins@cornell.UUCP (Jan Prins)
Organization: Cornell Univ. CS Dept.
Lines: 12

I think part of the reasoning in the 85 mph legislation was that a smaller
scale would encourage higher resolution in the speedometers.  Most pre-55
speedometers read in increments of 10 mph (one famous speedometer only 
shows multiples of 30 mph), which makes "55" a matter of estimation.
Perhaps the improved accuracy was actually required by the legislation?

"Pegging" a speedometer shouldn't bother it very much, the indicator is solid
enough not to bend or break, and the coupling to the cable is electromagnetic.
It probably happens quite often with those 85 mph speedometers.

jan  {vax135, decvax, ihnp4, uw-beaver}!cornell!prins
     prins@gvax.cs.cornell.edu