Is 85MPH The Safest Speed Limit?

[Homeslice]

Originally Posted by OneSickPsycho

I buy it, but saying that a higher speed limit is somehow safer is ridiculous... maybe it's not proportionately less safe, but going faster can never possibly be more safe.

The higher speed itself isn't more safe..........It's the belief that it would reduce the differential of speed between the slowest & fastest drivers.

[OneSickPsycho]

Originally Posted by Homeslice

The higher speed itself isn't more safe..........It's the belief that it would reduce the differential of speed between the slowest & fastest drivers.

Maybe by and large in volume, but incidental situations are going to be progressively worse... the little old lady who's driving at 45mph on the highway, is probably not going to increase her speed proportionately, therefore more people are going to encounter her at higher rates of speed.

Don't get me wrong, I am all for increased speed limits, but to somehow justify it as a safety measure is bad logic.

[smileyman]

Lets take a recent I 540 example...PU headed Northbound at 65 changes lanes and clips a vehicle, sending the P.U across the median and head on into a Hyundai traveling South at 65.

Both people in V1 and V2 dead on impact, probably a 100-115 mph head on.

If they were meeting at 170 would it make a diff? Maybe in how many other cars would be involved?

Or Last week, older Ford PU leaves the road and strikes a tree 45 mph impact. Driver ejected and killed. So he hits it at 80...All that changes is the length of the debris field?

[anthonyk]

Originally Posted by smileyman

Lets take a recent I 540 example...PU headed Northbound at 65 changes lanes and clips a vehicle, sending the P.U across the median and head on into a Hyundai traveling South at 65.

Both people in V1 and V2 dead on impact, probably a 100-115 mph head on.

If they were meeting at 170 would it make a diff? Maybe in how many other cars would be involved?

Or Last week, older Ford PU leaves the road and strikes a tree 45 mph impact. Driver ejected and killed. So he hits it at 80...All that changes is the length of the debris field?

Bad examples. How about some examples where everyone survived 100-115 closing speed head-on collision. Would they have survived meeting at 170? Much different question (and a lot harder to answer).

I've got no doubt that the posted speed limit has little bearing on the "safest" speed for a particular stretch of road. Yeah Avatard, you've thoroughly argued that your small part of the motoring world would be better off with a higher speed limit. Fine, but I haven't been on too many stretches of Texas roads that I think would actually be SAFER with a higher speed limit. And wasn't this about roads in this part of the country in the first place?

[Homeslice]

Originally Posted by anthonyk

Bad examples. How about some examples where everyone survived 100-115 closing speed head-on collision. Would they have survived meeting at 170? Much different question (and a lot harder to answer).

I've got no doubt that the posted speed limit has little bearing on the "safest" speed for a particular stretch of road. Yeah Avatard, you've thoroughly argued that your small part of the motoring world would be better off with a higher speed limit. Fine, but I haven't been on too many stretches of Texas roads that I think would actually be SAFER with a higher speed limit. And wasn't this about roads in this part of the country in the first place?

Big difference between Austin and the rest of Texas, as you know.......especially West Texas, or up near the panhandle. Besides it isn't like they would make it 85 everywhere.

[smileyman]

Originally Posted by anthonyk

Bad examples. How about some examples where everyone survived 100-115 closing speed head-on collision. Would they have survived meeting at 170? Much different question (and a lot harder to answer).

I've got no doubt that the posted speed limit has little bearing on the "safest" speed for a particular stretch of road. Yeah Avatard, you've thoroughly argued that your small part of the motoring world would be better off with a higher speed limit. Fine, but I haven't been on too many stretches of Texas roads that I think would actually be SAFER with a higher speed limit. And wasn't this about roads in this part of the country in the first place?

Those were just two recent crashes here regionally. I betcha I could research all day and not find actual survivors of a 100+ combined speed head on...

Anyways, I think the biggest impact people will notice from the new speed limit is how bad their mileage sucks at 85 compared to 55...

[OneSickPsycho]

Originally Posted by Homeslice

The higher speed itself isn't more safe..........It's the belief that it would reduce the differential of speed between the slowest & fastest drivers.

Originally Posted by Avatard

OMG, somebody fucking gets it!

You win a prize; whip or a doll, anything from the top shelf.

No more calls, please, we have a winner.

Maybe you should read my statement below instead of just focusing on what's convenient for your line of thought.

Originally Posted by OneSickPsycho

Maybe by and large in volume, but incidental situations are going to be progressively worse... the little old lady who's driving at 45mph on the highway, is probably not going to increase her speed proportionately, therefore more people are going to encounter her at higher rates of speed.

Don't get me wrong, I am all for increased speed limits, but to somehow justify it as a safety measure is bad logic.

Again... increasing the speed limit is not going to make things safer, however I am all for it.

[Particle Man]

Originally Posted by OneSickPsycho

Meet me in the parking lot after school!

Fixed

[anthonyk]

Originally Posted by smileyman

Those were just two recent crashes here regionally. I betcha I could research all day and not find actual survivors of a 100+ combined speed head on...

Anyways, I think the biggest impact people will notice from the new speed limit is how bad their mileage sucks at 85 compared to 55...

Yep, I bet you're right about the mileage (unless you're in a drafting convoy like azoomm).

And I'm just saying that if they're dead at 100mph closing speed, then of course they'll be dead at 170mph closing speed. The thing I'd be interested in is how many people who are surviving crashes today would be dead if everyone was going faster.

[Avatard]

Originally Posted by Homeslice

The higher speed itself isn't more safe..........It's the belief that it would reduce the differential of speed between the slowest & fastest drivers.

OMG, somebody fucking gets it!

You win a prize; whip or a doll, anything from the top shelf.

No more calls, please, we have a winner.