Change Speed Limit?

[Clev]

Originally Posted by Funny

I don't want to start an argument here, just a discussion. It's all about numbers, people. Look at it this way: Hi, my name is Bob and I'm a truck driver. I have 500 miles to go until I reach my destination and sack out, because I'm tired. I can drive 55 MPH and get there in 9 hours and 6 minutes, OR I can drive 75 MPH and make it to my destination in 6 hours and 24 minutes. which do you think is going to be safer for the other drivers?

Depends on whether he has a blowout at 55 or 75, or if the vehicle in front of him slams on the brakes when he's going 55 or 75.

The correct statement is, "I have 500 miles to go until I reach my destination and sack out, or 8 hours until I reach my time limit and sack out, because that's the law. In fact, if I'm tired already, I should stop sooner, rather than crank it up to 75 to try to beat falling asleep behind the wheel."

[lamebums]

I don't advocate lowering the speed limit, at least not in the short term. When I cut my car loose in a Fas down the hills around here my terminal speed is easily 70+ and only then do I have a prayer of keeping up with the flow. So lowering it to 55 is a bad idea.

Although admittedly when I say I can't drive 55 it usually otherwise means I don't go that fast.

[diesel_john]

Oh, is the speed limit a max. limit, I thought it was a min. limit the way people drive. Speeders are the best cash cow for state and local goverment since, I don't know when.
The lower the limit, the more cash taken from the rich and the more services provided for the poor. See, speeders are saying, I'm rich and my time is worth more than yours.
As far as truckers, if fuel is truely high, then they can make money by slowing down, pencil it out.
You can speed in Ohio, but your will be paying a heavy tax.
IMHO the polling questions need a little more work.

[cfg83]

Clev -

Originally Posted by Clev

Depends on whether he has a blowout at 55 or 75, or if the vehicle in front of him slams on the brakes when he's going 55 or 75.

The correct statement is, "I have 500 miles to go until I reach my destination and sack out, or 8 hours until I reach my time limit and sack out, because that's the law. In fact, if I'm tired already, I should stop sooner, rather than crank it up to 75 to try to beat falling asleep behind the wheel."

CarloSW2

[Funny]

Originally Posted by Clev

Depends on whether he has a blowout at 55 or 75, or if the vehicle in front of him slams on the brakes when he's going 55 or 75.

The correct statement is, "I have 500 miles to go until I reach my destination and sack out, or 8 hours until I reach my time limit and sack out, because that's the law. In fact, if I'm tired already, I should stop sooner, rather than crank it up to 75 to try to beat falling asleep behind the wheel."

No one should be standing on their brakes on the highway. Period. Deer and moose are the exception.

Usually when a Truck driver has a blowout, he's still got fifteen tires to go on, that's a lot more stability than a passenger car or truck when they lose a quarter of their tires when one blows out, they are designed for that, so that we don't see too to many trucks pulled to the side of the highway, but we sure do see the leftovers of the blowouts. They have enough tires to get to the truck stop and get fitted back up.

Second statement is incorrect if the truck driver is hauling a load of sea scallops that have a timed delivery. They go bad if he doesn't get to the destination in 10 hours, and his company is stuck with the tab. I have trucker friends that will disagree up and down if the speed limit changes. I AM NOT SAYING IT IS SAFER, I am saying it is the way it will be until the attitude of MOST drivers changes.

The other note here is if I get paid by the mile, the more miles I can go, the more I get paid. Most truck drivers get about 15-25 cents an hour. Let's say the truck driver drives ten hours a day, five days a week, fifty weeks a year. That's being conservative, they often drive much more. If the speed traveled is 55 MPH , they will drive 137500 miles in a year (that's about $20625-$34375). If the speed traveled is 75 MPH, they will drive 187500 miles in a year ($28125-$46875,) a $7500-$12500 difference. Which way are do you think they are going to drive? I know that if I was being paid by the mile, I would want to log as many miles in a day as possible. There are only two ways to do that, increase you rate of travel, or increase you time traveled, rate is the easier. *rant over*

[dcb]

Originally Posted by diesel_john

IMHO the polling questions need a little more work.

Seconded.

[Funny]

I too seem to have gotten off topic with this particular subject. We were talking about speed limits.

If we all understand that life is faster paced than 30 years ago, then it is safe to assume that there should be a higher speed limit. We have safer cars than 30 years ago, we have more (arguably) fuel efficient cars than 30 years ago, we should be able to go faster than 30 years ago.

If people want to have speed limits in the 75 MPH range, I have no problem with it. The only stipulation I would make if we increase the speed limits, we require the auto makers to make taller final gears and have a maximum aerodynamic drag they have to meet, so it optimizes fuel economy at 75 MPH. That would solve the MPG problem, and we would satisfy the lead feet out there. Sorry Auto manufacturers, you are S.O.L. again.

[whitevette]

Originally Posted by RH77

Well, I'd better comment since I brought-up the whole 55-deal...


I just drove 500 miles in an '09 Chevy Malibu 4-banger, 4-speed. With a constant tailwind of about 10-15 MPH, I got about 31 MPG at 70 MPH (speed limit). I sped up to 75 to outrun a thunderstorm, and the mileage average during that segment was ~28 MPG.

But the "fell asleep because it was too slow" argument doesn't sit right. Driving at 80 mph sleepy, seems to be the same as 55 to me. What about railroad engineers? They don't even have a steering wheel and tend to stay awake at speeds of 45 mph all day and night.



RH77

Hi, RH-
Let me make a quick observation here : You were running 70 MPH with a 15 MPH tailwind? Hmmm.... Does this not sound like 55 MPH in zero wind ? Einstein said
" Everything is relative." LOL

I agree with your RR engineer comparison. a tired trucker is a HEAVY menace to the rest of the driving world...even if he's going 30 MPH... in his 60,000 pound mass. He's any less of a danger at 80? Gimme a break.... Mass times velocity = momentum. Stop 60,00 pounds at 80 MPH?

[jamesqf]

I have to wonder about the safety argument. Now say that 55 is safer than 65, then by the same logic isn't 45 safer still? And 35 safer yet, and so with 25, 15, and 5? (And then we add a guy walking in front with a red flag :-)) So how can anyone reasonably draw some line between 55 and 65, and say one's safe, and the other not?

Then there's the whole question of why safety should be the absolute & only criterion. When I go hiking in the mountains, I could fall off a cliff or get eaten by a bear. When I ski, I could break a leg, or get caught in an avalanche. Go to the beach? Why, there're sharks in that water, and big waves, rip currents, poisonous jellyfish... Walk around the neighborhood, and the neighbors' Rottweiler might run out and attack me (though I know he just wants a tummy rub :-)), and on and on. Seems like everything is too dangerous to do, so why don't we all stay home and play video games?

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by Supa

For my business ethics class I'm writing a persuasive essay, the topic:
"Should the speed limit on highways and interstates be reduced to save fuel? If so, to what speed?"

Right now I'm researching articles on the topic, but haven't had too much luck finding detailed magazine, newspaper or scholarly articles.

Do any of you have favorite articles or know where I could find some? Any help and or links are appreicated and I'll be sure to post the paper up when it is completed! TIA

Below are two that I've found so far:

http://proxy.mul.missouri.edu:2595/c...=hitlist&num=3

http://proxy.mul.missouri.edu:2228/u...=11063&docNo=1

Supa,I've located the articles I was thinking about and will post them for you tomorrow.They are dated,however address the 55-MPH National Speed Limit,the only one I have any relation to.During WW-II,the govt,instituted a 35-MPH National Speed Limit and gasoline rationing for the war effort.I have no data for that.