Texas Increases Speed Limit on 1500 Miles of Interstates

[Ken-55]

Originally Posted by Ramblin

The SAFEST speed to drive, from a PHYSICAL threat perspective, is the speed that everyone else around you is driving, regardless of posted limits. It's a numbers game; the fewer encounters you have (being passed, or passing) the fewer opportunities you have to be involved in a crash. NASCAR proves every week, you can go 200mph, door handle to door handle, inches apart, and have no problems. Its only when someone goes faster or slower than everyone else that the problems occur.

Speaking of NASCAR, I wonder how much effect it has on our driving habits??

In my younger, wilder days I would drive to visit relatives 2-3 hours away and literally NO ONE would pass me (not to say that some didn't try). I've matured and mellowed . . . content to mosey along on cruise control at about 60 -62 mph in the RV or 68 -73 mph in the car on most highways, traffic and weather permitting.

What always amazes me is the number of times someone passes me while I'm using cruise control, pulls in front of me and slows down . . . my speed is constant . . . eventually I'll end up on their tail . . . sometimes I'll even be able to pass them without touching the gas and pull back in. A while later, they pass me again only to repeat the same process???

Human nature, I guess??

[PyrateSilly]

Ken-55 not to say it's right but some people will play "leap frog" down the highway to keep themselves awake and entertained. Do we do that? Nope but when I was younger and we would take trips from Florida up to NY and back again my Mom and her husband at the time would play this with semi's. Not the smartest move but thats what they did.

[Dr4Film]

Texas has increased the speed limits from 70 MPH to 75 MPH on almost 1500 additional miles of Interstate highways. More information HERE.

Every state in the union can post 100 mph for all I care. I will still only drive my combined rig, which is a 40 foot coach and 30 foot trailer, a maximum of 62-65 on four lane freeways and 55 on two lane highways.

Those are my safe traveling speeds and there ain't nobody gonna make me drive any faster.

Only my opinion.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

[BpK9Miami]

God bless Texas...but I'll still drive at whatever feels safe.

[Ken-55]

Originally Posted by bucks2

I spent 2 months in Texas this winter and the areas where the speed limit is higher appear to be good roads, in areas without much along the roadside to cause problems. And, the roads with the higher speeds all had multiple lanes in each direction to allow us slower folks, 63ish for my MH, to putt along in the slow lane.

I think this has a lot to do with it. We have relatives in easty Texas, used to visit quite regularly for Thanksgiving. About 15 years ago (pre-airbags) we were traveling westbound on I-20 east of Longview, a car ahead of us left the road to the right a little before an entrance ramp, became airborne as it crossed the entrance ramp and ended up on it's roof . . . we stopped quickly and ran up to the car. It was smoking to where we thought it might catch fire. The driver (a 50 - 60 y.o woman) was hanging from her seat belt. There were no passengers. I had spent some time years before around NASCAR modified drivers and had heard several complain about getting hurt when their restraints were released and they crashed to the roof AFTER the accident so I leaned in and supported her as the belt was released. We eased her away from the car and waited for help. Many others had stopped and told us that help was on the way. Turns out, she was "OK", dazed, not really sure how or why she lost control . . . once she realized her car was out of commission her only interest was in continuing on her way to Dallas . . . my point, I live in the northeast . . . I can't think of anywhere within hundreds of miles of home where you could run off the highway and get off that easy.

[RustyJC]

Originally Posted by Dr4Film

Every state in the union can post 100 mph for all I care. I will still only drive my combined rig, which is a 40 foot coach and 30 foot trailer, a maximum of 62-65 on four lane freeways and 55 on two lane highways.

Those are my safe traveling speeds and there ain't nobody gonna make me drive any faster.

I don't believe that anyone suggested that you MUST drive 75 MPH. Rather, I posted the original post to make us RVers aware that the closing rates and passing velocities of traffic around us are going to be higher than before. Please refer to post #3 on page 1 of this thread.

Rusty

[Chuck 1935]

Originally Posted by RustyJC

Yep, that's the reason that I posted this. I wouldn't suggest that ANY RVers try to take advantage of the higher speed limits, but we need to be aware that those coming up behind us and coming around us in the left lane will be closing at a higher rate of speed than before, be that 75, 85 or the speed limit +9 MPH. I wouldn't suggest dawdling around in the left lane, either.

Rusty

It's funny that so many have suggested that Texas' 75 might be a bit high. I-10 across Arizona has been 75 mph for awhile and there doesn't seem to be any undo carnage. Many Trucks and autos are running at 75mph. Most Motorhomes that I have seen are also doing around 70mph without any loss of life.
Of course 55mph is safer than 75mph but using the same logic, 35mph is also much safer than 55mph.
As Rusty has pointed out, an 18 Wheel supository could ruin your day.

[Dunner]

I drive I-8 from Gila Bend to Yuma and it is also 75. I've been doing is since `95, and can only remember two accidents, and they were SUVs. Never have seen a wrecked or incapacitated MH.

[gfs1943]

Originally Posted by RVNeophytes2

It's not news to anyone owning a TV for the last dozen years that us Texans lack in intelligence what we possess in bravado.

While air ambulance companies and morticians are doing cartwheels at this grim news, I'm worried: DW traverses an incredibly dangerous stretch of state highway enroute to work each day. Anywhere else, these two lanes would have a 50 mph limit; but, here in the Dim Star State, we jacked the limit up to 70 mph. Even at that speed, a line of battered machines will quickly pile up on your bumper. The resulting carnage is breathtaking. The moment it spits rain, I can walk out the door and stand by the helipad: within 20 minutes, the chopper is inbound to meet an arriving ambulance, every time. Someone's child, or husband, or mother, or wife is rushed to the waiting Medevac helo, clinging to life. It never fails to happen, ever.

Now, Austin -- is it something in the water? -- has declared that stretch of road can be speeded up to 75.

At the root of this, something you've already mentioned: the same folks who insisted on waiving the open container law for pickup drivers feel that their liberty is threatened if anyone tries to set limits to what they do behind the wheel. Imagine what commercial aviation would be like, if us airline pilots thought that way. You'd be clawing through your armrest while your captain buzzed his homestead, or treated you to moments of weightlessness 'cause he enjoyed the sensation. My own favorite would be having the copilot turn on the landing lights just a second or two prior to touchdown, doing a carrier landing and then max braking to make the first available turnoff.

But, we have a duty to you our customers, and use of the public infrastructure is a privilege not an entitlement. Thanks to the thrill of flying jets at close to the speed of sound, our manhood is not threatened by that huge stack of regs governing everything we do. And, when you drop the grandkids off at the airport, you have a reasonable expectation that they will travel in safety and comfort.

Eventually, we in Texas will achieve that level of emotional security and civility towards others.

But, until then, watch out: our highways will continue to be war zones with speed limits like you might see in Germany or Italy, used by drivers like you'd see in the Philippines.

One great thing about Texas: we have a lot of highways, and many of them will take you out of the state. If you don't like the Dim Star State, hike your #** onto I-35 north and mash your gas!

[BpK9Miami]

Originally Posted by gfs1943

One great thing about Texas: we have a lot of highways, and many of them will take you out of the state. If you don't like the Dim Star State, hike your #** onto I-35 north and mash your gas!

Or I-10 (West bound of course) Try it in LA and see if you really want to complain. As for me (and I lived in the Austin area for some time), I find the Texas drivers - especially on two lane blacktops, are more than willing to slide over to the shoulder to allow others to pass. It's a courtesy you find in very few other places. IMHO Texas, like the USA in general, is still a better place to live than anywhere else in the world.

No offense meant.

[DHart]

We saw a lot of these signs while traveling in west Texas this week...

No matter to us, though, as we prefer 60-ish so we can relax a bit more at the wheel, enjoy the scenery a little more, and keep our mileage up.

[Dunner]

I drove my 5er at 72, because that's when the motor 'got happy'. At 65, it felt like something was 'rough'. Not sure yet on the MH.

[howdja]

Regardless of the speed limit, and the highway you are traveling, Defensive Driving on your part is the major safety factor.

I have had many more close calls in metro areas with traffic congestion and bored, stupid drivers than I have ever had on the open road. Speed limits being increased are not necessarily dangerous. The same bored and stupid drivers remain dangerous no matter what the speed limit is. I travel the Interstates at around 60 mph, and have had no problems doing so. But having said that, I do drive very Defensively. When I feel myself getting lackadasical about defensive driving, I find a safe place to exit and walk around some, or even take a short siesta.

The increased speed limits do not bother me. The areas approved for the higher speed limits are wide open and heavily researched. Regardless of how you may feel, it is a fact that the speed limits will increase on some roads in Texas and just have to be dealt with.

Motor safe in your travels.

[twoinabox]

I wasn't born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could.

A Winter Texan