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From: smh@mhuxl.UUCP (henning)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: 65 MPH?
Message-ID: <567@mhuxl.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 13-Feb-86 22:47:50 EST
Article-I.D.: mhuxl.567
Posted: Thu Feb 13 22:47:50 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 15-Feb-86 02:28:40 EST
References: <152@ttidcc.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
Lines: 19

> The California Highway Patrol and Caltrans (California Department of
> Transportation) recommended ... that the speed limit be boosted to 65
> mph on the state freeway system outside metropolitan areas.
> ...the average speed along rural stretches of I5 ... is 63 to 65 mph.
> ...only 47% of the drivers like the speed limit as it stands...

Thus only 53% want it lower or higher.

Also if you want people to drive 65 you make the limit 56 not 65.  I am
old enought to have driven when speed limits were up to 70 in places and
people drove 75 to 80 with great frequency, but there were still people
who drove 50 like some people do today.  Therein is the problem.  A 30
mph spread in speed is frequently fatal.  It is not the 160 mph closing
speed that starts the accident, it just finishes off the survivors.
With 65 mph limits many people will drive 73 to 75 mph.  Is that what you
really want?  Perhaps we need a system of toll roads with minimum speeds
and maximum speed 10 mph apart.  Personally, my wife and I drive 30,000
miles a year and have little trouble with the 55 mph limit and the pad
the police allow.