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| -Land of the Free | |
| Is the American Autobahn next? How states are pushing highway speeds past the limit | |
| 2019-02-26 | |
| [YAHOO] After years of seeing posted highway speeds creep up around the country, perhaps it's no surprise that a Caliphornia, an impregnable bastion of the Democratic Party, politician would propose the ultimate in motoring freedom: no limits at all. Drive 55 to Stay Alive. State Sen. John Moorlach's vision for a Golden State version of Germany's famed Autobahn ‐ a stretch of pavement where you can drive as fast you want ‐ is just the latest in a series of moves by states to put the pedal to the metal when it comes to speed limits. "It's the law!" It's happening even as safety experts try to throw on the brakes on speeds that have now reached legal levels they view as somewhere between risky and downright dangerous. "We have routinely seen studies that show when states raise speed limits, they can expect higher deaths," said Maureen Vogel, spokeswoman for the National Safety Council. Seven states ‐ Idaho, Montana, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Wyoming ‐ have allowed 80 mph speed limits on select highways. One, Texas, has 85 mph on a section of State Highway 130. Legislatures have upped limits as cars have become safer and more powerful and the price of gas has tumbled, lowering concerns about the poor fuel mileage that high-speed driving can bring. Yet the resulting higher speeds haven't made much of a statistical dent in highway deaths, the Governors Highway Safety Association reports. In 2017, there were 9,717 speed-related deaths from among 37,133 total road fatalities. Those speed-related deaths were down 574 from 2016, were about the same as in 2015 and up 434 from 2014.
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| Posted by:Fred |
| #9 A few years back, a study showed the Autobahn was safer than the US interstates. The Germans have discipline. We do not. |
| Posted by: Bobby down under 2019-02-26 21:12 |
| #8 they go about 85-90 on the 80mph limited areas here in Idaho, but thy seem to do fine...... |
| Posted by: 746 2019-02-26 14:41 |
| #7 I flashed my headlights at em ah, there may be a little German in all of us. LOL |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2019-02-26 14:32 |
| #6 One of the things I love about living here in Atlanta, B! Didn't realize how fast we drive until I drove through NC on a college tour last week, screaming at the top of my lungs at the idiots who *dared* to drive the speed limit in the left lane and wouldn't get over when I flashed my headlights at em. The nerve. |
| Posted by: Jack Bonaparte7513 2019-02-26 12:34 |
| #5 Now just build the damn things as good as the Autobahn. In California? Surely you jest. From what I've heard about German gas stations, maybe someone can confirm this, the cars get much more thorough service than at our self-serve quiki-marts. We have a lot of nice, fast cars out here but we have a lot of clunkers too and if the clunkers get out on the autobahn it's gonna be a problem...not to mention the dumbass drivers. The biggest problem we have is congestion and I don't see how this is gonna help. How can you go 100 mph when the dumbass five cars ahead of you is going 45? If our Highway Patrol was worth a damn they'd be on the lookout for slow pokes so they could pull them over and cite them for obstructing the flow of traffic. That'd help a lot. But the only time you see those guys is when there's an accident. I'd settle for more lanes, NOT HOV lanes, so we could do 65. Most of the time on Interstate 5 it's so congested you're lucky if you can get up to 40. |
| Posted by: Abu Uluque 2019-02-26 10:36 |
| #4 Autobahn (Kraftwerk) |
| Posted by: European Conservative 2019-02-26 07:39 |
| #3 Already in effect in Georgia. The left lanes on I-75 and I-85 apparently have no speed limits. Pack racing rules apply. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2019-02-26 07:32 |
| #2 Now just build the damn things as good as the Autobahn. Not something that needs repair in five years calling for more |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2019-02-26 05:56 |
| #1 I'm having fond memories of my Firebird Formula big block. 160 mph on the northwest prairies. Slowing down to 100 seemed surreal, like you could get out and walk. Shudder to think about the average folks with zero track time. Oh well. |
| Posted by: Woodrow 2019-02-26 04:54 |