Lower the speed limit to 55

[isa]

I have read all of the previous posts and I have found that not one of them has mentioned that the state of California imposes a 55 mph speed limit for every vehicle that is towing.

I have a 1999 Ford V-10 chassis and have found that the best mpg is at 2450 rpm which is about 58-59 mph on my 2000 Commander. The CHP will usually ignore you if your speed is under 60 mph when towing.

Driving at 60 mph or under is much safer for everyone on the highway and I for one welcome the state of California's initiative to have people drive at a reasonable and prudent speed.

Interstate 5 is about 800 miles from the Mexican to the state of Oregon and is a very very busy highway. I travel it every year from British Columbia on the way to Arizona. Just follow the large trucks and watch there speeds and you will find that they mainly cruise at 60 mph. which believe is the law in Oregon and Washington and is usually allowed as I mentioned previously in California.

[melvonnar]

I am so glade the California has a 55 Mph speed limit ) maybe the post I"ve started isn"t so far out.
I"ve followed things that get started in California A lot of those thing get copied by the rest of the nation.

[RedneckExpress]

Originally posted by isa:
I have read all of the previous posts and I have found that not one of them has mentioned that the state of California imposes a 55 mph speed limit for every vehicle that is towing.

I have a 1999 Ford V-10 chassis and have found that the best mpg is at 2450 rpm which is about 58-59 mph on my 2000 Commander. The CHP will usually ignore you if your speed is under 60 mph when towing.

Driving at 60 mph or under is much safer for everyone on the highway and I for one welcome the state of California's initiative to have people drive at a reasonable and prudent speed.

Interstate 5 is about 800 miles from the Mexican to the state of Oregon and is a very very busy highway. I travel it every year from British Columbia on the way to Arizona. Just follow the large trucks and watch there speeds and you will find that they mainly cruise at 60 mph. which believe is the law in Oregon and Washington and is usually allowed as I mentioned previously in California.

Been there, also drove the I-80/US 50 route out of San Francisco to Sacramento at that speed and then the I-5 from Sacramento all the way back north at 50-55mph.

[Rick & Hope]

Federal and state studies have consistently shown that the drivers most likely to get into accidents in traffic are those traveling significantly below the average speed. According to an Institute of Transportation Engineers Study, those driving 10 mph slower than the prevailing speed are six times as likely to be involved in an accident. That means that if the average speed on an interstate is 70 mph, the person traveling at 60 mph is far more likely to be involved in an accident than someone going 70 or even 80 mph.

[RedneckExpress]

Originally posted by Rick & Hope:
Federal and state studies have consistently shown that the drivers most likely to get into accidents in traffic are those traveling significantly below the average speed. According to an Institute of Transportation Engineers Study, those driving 10 mph slower than the prevailing speed are six times as likely to be involved in an accident. That means that if the average speed on an interstate is 70 mph, the person traveling at 60 mph is far more likely to be involved in an accident than someone going 70 or even 80 mph.

I always love these studies, but I always keep running into the question of "Why is it when I'm not trying to keep up with the rat race that I have 6x less close calls when I'm expected to have a 6x greater chance at being in an accident?"

Actually, taking the math they used in the above, since I travel at an average of 55 mph, and the prevailing speed is 85 in a 55/65 zone, Its "Why is it when I'm not trying to keep up with the rat race, that I have 18x less close calls when I'm expected to have a 18x greater chance at being in an accident?"

[randco]

Originally posted by Rick & Hope:
Federal and state studies have consistently shown that the drivers most likely to get into accidents in traffic are those traveling significantly below the average speed. According to an Institute of Transportation Engineers Study, those driving 10 mph slower than the prevailing speed are six times as likely to be involved in an accident. That means that if the average speed on an interstate is 70 mph, the person traveling at 60 mph is far more likely to be involved in an accident than someone going 70 or even 80 mph.

I think what they forgot to say was that a person traveling 55 mph on a highway with a speed limit of 70 mph is more likely to cause and accident than someone going 70 or even 80 mph.

[Johnny]

I run 63-65 in the bus...lower means I have to downshift for every hill.

I drove a highway coach (1995 VanHool, M11 Cummins/B600 Allison) that used the EXACT same amount of fuel (MPG identical to the tenth) at 55 and 70. WHy? Simple: it wasn't in high gear until about 60. The sweet spot for that bus seemed to be about 62.

[Rick & Hope]

Ohio is a good example, the Ohio toll road equalized the speed limit for all vehicles at 65 MPH The non toll interstates are still split speed limit. 65 for cars and 55 for trucks. The accident rate has stayed the same on the non toll interstates but has dropped 25% on the toll road.Less interaction between vehicles traveling at different speeds means less accidents. It's not rocket science just common sense. The less you pass or are passed the less chance of accidents.

[Tom N]

Originally posted by Rick & Hope:
Ohio is a good example, the Ohio toll road equalized the speed limit for all vehicles at 65 MPH The non toll interstates are still split speed limit. 65 for cars and 55 for trucks. The accident rate has stayed the same on the non toll interstates but has dropped 25% on the toll road.Less interaction between vehicles traveling at different speeds means less accidents. It's not rocket science just common sense. The less you pass or are passed the less chance of accidents.

In your opinion, do you think the fact that the Ohio turnpike is now almost all 6 lanes contribute to the 25% less accident rate???

-Tom

[Tom N]

Originally posted by Rick & Hope:
Federal and state studies have consistently shown that the drivers most likely to get into accidents in traffic are those traveling significantly below the average speed. According to an Institute of Transportation Engineers Study, those driving 10 mph slower than the prevailing speed are six times as likely to be involved in an accident. That means that if the average speed on an interstate is 70 mph, the person traveling at 60 mph is far more likely to be involved in an accident than someone going 70 or even 80 mph.

For some strange reason I would much prefer to be involved in a 60 mph accident than a 70-80 mph accident.

-Tom

[Rick & Hope]

The Ohio turnpike had the same accident rate as the none toll interstates before they equalized the speed limit. Also most of the turnpike is 4 lanes only 6 lanes in metro areas same as interstates which in some places have 8 and 10 lanes.

[Rick & Hope]

What is trying to be said is that if all traffic is moving at the same speed you will have less interaction between vehicles. With less interaction comes less accidents.

[melvonnar]

For some strange reason I would much prefer to be involved in a 60 mph accident than a 70-80 mph accident

Agreed:
I travel at 50 to 55 MPH; its odd that in the nearly 500,000 miles of travel in motorhomes, I"ve never had or been in an accident or seen an accident that I"ve caused. with a 18% or better odds for an accident,, you would have thought the law of averages would have caught up to me. Then again maybe it"s at the lower speed I have more time to avoid accidents.
maybe someone can explain this.

[Rick & Hope]

As an professional driver I have over 3 million miles without an accident,wife has over 2 million. The most dangerous mile you will drive is going to be the next one. Keep your eyes open and moving be aware of what is going on around you. Drivers that cause congestion are not always involved in the accidents that they cause by forcing someone who is not paying attention to change lanes in a unsafe manner, rather than rear end them. Is it their fault? Driver that is going faster should have been aware of the situation before it got to an emergency situation. If everyone is going approximately the same speed you don't have the situation arise.