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From: piety@hplabsb.UUCP (Bob Piety)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: 65 MPH?
Message-ID: <3288@hplabsb.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 19-Feb-86 11:21:05 EST
Article-I.D.: hplabsb.3288
Posted: Wed Feb 19 11:21:05 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 21-Feb-86 04:28:44 EST
References: <152@ttidcc.UUCP> <567@mhuxl.UUCP>
Organization: Hewlett Packard Labs, Palo Alto CA
Lines: 24

> > 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.


It is better so set a speed limit of 65 MPH and ENFORCE IT, instead of a
55 MPH limit that is not enforced!  People lose respect for unfair laws and
laws that are not enforced.  That is detremental to all of society.