Lower the speed limit to 55

[UFO Pilot]

On the interstate highways I drive 60 to 62 MPH. At that speed I am rarely in anybody's way enough to make them mad as some of you have described. If conditions won't allow me to drive at those speeds then I drive at what I deem to be a safe speed. The only place I have ever encountered "road rage" was on the North Coast of Oregon. The logging trucks tried to push me to go faster but I drove at what I considered a safe speed. I also pulled over at every pullout to allow faster traffic to get around me.

I have encountered RV's doing 45 and I have encountered RV's doing 80 on the same road, both are hazards in my opinion.

[chasfm11]

if your so uncomfortable traveling at a slightly higher speed. Its reasonable to assume it may be advantages to acquire a smaller unit, where you feel more comfortable traveling with the flow of traffic.

Ah, yes. I've heard this one before. "driving with the flow of traffic.". In the Chicago area, I-94 is posted at 55mph heading toward Milwaukee. One evening, in a rental car, I decided to try to do just that. After I hit 75pmh and still wasn't staying with a fair portion of the traffic, I gave up. Sorry, but I refuse to drive that fast, especially on that road, just because everyone else is. I will hold 65-70mph - I'm just not going above that. BTW, some of those roads now have speed cameras or at least warnings about them. I personally think it is about time.

Don't get me wrong: Others can drive as fast as they want and I'm not going to try to do anything to slow them down. I want the guys who want to drive that fast in front of me so they can do it. There is no way for me to drive an RV that has 3/4 of the surface area of a semi-trailer and less than a 1/3 of the weight at the speed of a passenger car in a strong cross wind situation. I don't think it is a driving skill problem. As a skier, I've seen lots of people simply put their skis in the fall line and head off down hill. Should I stay off the slopes if I want to traverse, use braking turns and stay under control?

I believe that there is a tyranny in some driver's approach to speed. Go as fast as you want, just don't try to force me into doing the same things.

[porscheracer]

My screen name was not chosen at random. I spent many years racing sports cars. I have experience, and no qualms, driving over 150 MPH - in a properly prepared car . . . on a racing circuit. I also have experience with semi's.

That said, I drive at or below the posted limit in a motorhome or other large vehicle - and rarely over 5 above in a street vehicle.

The vehicle dynamics of some motorhomes, brand new out of the factory, I've driven is downright scary. There are many that I wouldn't drive anywhere near the posted limit. Way too many are short on brakes and suspension capacity - not to mention the ones that are just cheaply engineered. And that doesn't even take into account the ones that are poorly maintained.

I'm also appalled at the lack of training new RV owners get (usually absolutely none, as you know). Putting a senior citizen (and I'm one), who has never driven anything larger than a pickup truck, into a 40', 20 ton vehicle and turning him loose is (IMHO) criminal negligence.

Drive how you wish - just don't hit me or anyone else.

[hamguy]

I have driven my 35' "A" over 50,000 miles in virtually every state (-Hawaii) in the last 5 years. I run 55-65, normally 57-62, and have never gotten a digital salute, to my knowledge.

And you know what. I don't care. I keep a watch of the rear camera and if >3-4 vehicles pile up behind, I seek the safest place to pull over and let them pass.

Why do some want to control others? Is it the nanny state we are racing towards? I fear so!

If you don't like some speed limits, work to change them. If you don't like the limits in Texas, don't go to Texas. I do not willingly go to California because I disagree with about 99.999% of their politics and attitudes.

Works for me!

BTW, I recall the 55MPH limit back in the 70's. Here in Arizona, few paid attention, including the LEOs.

[melvonnar]

When traveling on the interstat highway systems (4 to 6 lane roads) I've had both cars and trucks get close enough to my toad I couldn't see their grill; Why; I have no idea, when the passing lane was wide open. when they would finaly pass (sometimes after many miles) they would give me the salute or in the case of an 18 wheeler a long blast of the air horn.
Question?
why do some drivers think that if your driveing at a safe speed (in my case 55 to 60, that I need to go as fast as they think is a safe speed.
If they want to go faster thats why they made a passing lane; to get around us safe drivers.
On some motorhomes it is not safe to drive the posted speed limit.

[melvonnar]

When driveing out west; and I get a logging truck behind me; I pull of the highway as soon as I can find a spot. Most (not all) of these drivers have a death wish.

[hamguy]

I did some calculations a while back. I figure I have now driven over a million miles since I started in 1957.

Granted, most of the miles have been in the west but I have managed to drive in 49 of the 50 missing only Hawaii. We have driven 50,000 miles in this RV in the last 5 years, again in all but 1 state.

Maybe I am blind but I have rarely seen the problems others seem to find on a regular basis. Oh sure, I have the occasional idiot cut me off, or someone tailgate but these situations are, I think, rare. Ignorance is bliss, I guess.

I will continue on my road to oblivion as I wander the highways and byways at 55-65 MPH and enjoy the beauty of this fabulous country.

[melvonnar]

I will continue on my road to oblivion as I wander the highways and byways at 55-65 MPH and enjoy the beauty of this fabulous country.

agreed me also:
I'm not up to a million but I've got about 500,000 miles in the last 20 years; 49 states also.
It doesn't matter where your at, theres always one nut case.
The one I'm afraid of is the nut that has a gun and decides to blast you for no reason.
Had one in Tampa not to long ago, got cut off on an on ramp, jumped out of his car and killed the driver of the other car.
the worlds full of them. you never know when you will meet one.
One more then I'll stop.
I was camping at a forest campground a few years ago; A camper that was camping in a tent came to my door and asked for a hand out. my wife felt sorry for him and gave him some stuff; the next morning we saw him packing up and walking up the road with a female companion.
The paper said that he killed the companion and buried her in the forest. (they never saw her again or found the body). Later this individual (before they caught him for the murder)he went into a grocery store to return a loaf of stale bread; they refused to give him credit; he went across the street; purchased a can of gasoline; returned to the store, through the gas on the clerks then lite it; I believe three people died.
The moral of this is---if you travel long enough and far enough you will meet all kinds.
I have a lot more stories of my meetings, but I'll stop.
Question?
would this keep me off the road?
Answer---never

[melvonnar]

Question?

Why is everyone in such a hurry?
Most RVers travel someplace to enjoy themselves.
Why not slow down and enjoy the scnery on the way to wherever your going; the journey to your destination can be just as enjoyable as your destination.

[Spikester]

The 55 MPH speed limit and better fuel economy thing is based the technology of the early 70's, which was probably applicable.

My motorhome gets its best mileage at 60MPH, my car gets 28 MPG driving on local roads and city driving. When I take my 2000 model year car on trips where my freeway speeds are 75+ the mileage goes up to 34 MPG. So much for the 55MPH and better fuel economy, I would bet that speed is 65-70 MPH, at a minimum with today's technology.

Spike

[mcgillagorilla]

it didn"t work the last time the federal goverment tried it. it only bred contempt for the law. the state of montana refused to go along with it and for a ticket from 55 to 70 or whatever the posted speed limit was it cost you 5.00.

[jspande]

But it's the Laws of Physics, not technology, that was the basis of my early point, and those laws have not changed at all! Wind resistance increases with speed dramatically (8x for a 2x speed increase), and you just can't escape that fact. There may be minor shifts in optimal speed with changes in aerodynamics, but they have likely been offset by weight reductions (due to use of more plastics, etc.) which would tend to shift the optimal speed downward.

Of course city driving and winding country roads give lower mileage than Interstates, but that was never the question. The question was whether a 55 mph limit on Interstates would be a good idea. That is, does driving 55-60 on the Interstate save fuel over driving 70-80. The answer is, and always will be, a resounding yes. What is debatable is whether we are willing to make that sacrifice for the good of the country, and the good of the planet.

Modern technology would make it practical to monitor how well states were enforcing the speed limit, which would allow the law to have more teeth this time around.

[Spikester]

does driving 55-60 on the Interstate save fuel over driving 70-80. The answer is, and always will be, a resounding yes.

I am by no means advocating higher speed limits! But reality needs to be part of this discussion.

May work in your car, but getting passed all the good theory stuff, does not work in my car. Driven on the a freeway @ 55-60MPH with a fuel mileage of 28.7 MPG. Done the same freeway @ 75MPH 35.9 MPG, relatively the same traffic and weather conditions, that's a little over 23% increase. Given theory and reality, there is a difference in my car. Some cars are engineered to run more efficiently at higher speeds than others. Guess I have one of those theory busters!

Sure driving our motorhomes at the speed that is most economical, what-ever that is, is the best for the environment, planet, pocket book , safety, and etc., unfortunately motorhome traffic is probably 1-2% of the total miles driven yearly in the US on the outside, but every little bit helps. I drive my motorhome @ 60MPH for economy and handling reason, that seems to be the speed that all the factors of effecting this 38,000# GCVWR beast kind of come together.

This debate is kinda like the use of cell phones while driving debate. I live in a state that already bans cell phone use, not enforceable! Neither are the speed limits whether it be 25, 35, 55 or 75, most always want to go at least 5 over, or "move with the traffic flow" forget the law . Given enough tax $$ our laws, that we pass, can be enforced! The question really becomes are we willing to pay?

Spike

[RustyJC]

Originally posted by jspande:
The question was whether a 55 mph limit on Interstates would be a good idea. That is, does driving 55-60 on the Interstate save fuel over driving 70-80.

With all respect, the 2nd sentence is not a simple rephrase of the first. The topic is much more complex than that. There's more to be considered than just fuel consumption. For one example, productivity of our over-the-road transportation system - how many ton-miles can a semi accomplish in a year with current speed limits and with a national 55 MPH speed limit?

Again, if one wants to make a value judgement to sacrifice time to save money on fuel, that's that individual's business. I don't, however, believe that it automatically follows that imposition of that individual's particular value judgement on the balance of society is justifiable.

Rusty