55/65 MPH Speed Limit
I remember during the oil crisis of the 70s when the national speed limit was set to 55 MPH to conserve fuel consumption by motor vehicles. I also remember when we could only get so many gallons of gas when we pulled up to the fuel pumps.
Oil became more abundant and the national speed limit of 55 MPH was lifted. States were allowed to set their own speed limits once again. I remember before the oil crisis that some states had speed limits set to 80 or 85 MPH in rural areas on the interstate. Now you don’t see any speed limit above 80 MPH in any state.
Some states have determined that 65 MPH is the maximum speed limit for most motor vehicles while limiting trucks and vehicles pulling trailers and recreational vehicles to 55 MPH.
Talk about messing up Eisenhower’s national interstate system. The whole idea was to allow freedom to travel without having to stop at stop signs and red lights in order to get from point A to point B in the least amount of time.
What do you think we have now? We may not have to stop for stop signs and red lights or slow down for speed limits through town, but we do have to slow down and even some times stop on the interstate for construction and/or heavy commercial trucks, trailers, etc.
The left lane was intended for passing only. So what do you think happens when the majority of the traffic is limited to 55 MPH while the rest of the traffic can move along at 65 or 75 MPH? Is that person traveling at the higher rate of speed going to keep weaving in and out of traffic in order to keep moving along at the higher speed? That is what would happen if the person moving at the higher speed comes upon a vehicle forced to drive at 55 MPH.
This raises the issue of the recent attention given to vehicles riding in the left lane. You know, the signs that have been posted within the last year or so that you are only to use the left lane to pass. This means that you could get a ticket if you are caught staying in the left lane. Some states are actually issuing tickets to those left lane travelers.
My question is, will they get a ticket for weaving in and out of traffic if they only use the left lane to pass? Logically this is what would happen in some states due to the differences in the speed limit for different types of motor vehicles. Why make it difficult? Why not just post the same speed limit for all motor vehicles? Why make it different? Then we would have less traffic problems on the interstate, less congestion, and more freedom of movement. I think we would have less crashes as well.
I cannot stop typing this until I bring up another issue that torques my jaw. Ohio allows for the same 65 MPH speed limit on the Ohio Turnpike for trucks, trailers, and all motor vehicles. If they can allow this on the Ohio Turnpike, then why can they now allow it on the rest of their interstate system?
Oil became more abundant and the national speed limit of 55 MPH was lifted. States were allowed to set their own speed limits once again. I remember before the oil crisis that some states had speed limits set to 80 or 85 MPH in rural areas on the interstate. Now you don’t see any speed limit above 80 MPH in any state.
Some states have determined that 65 MPH is the maximum speed limit for most motor vehicles while limiting trucks and vehicles pulling trailers and recreational vehicles to 55 MPH.
Talk about messing up Eisenhower’s national interstate system. The whole idea was to allow freedom to travel without having to stop at stop signs and red lights in order to get from point A to point B in the least amount of time.
What do you think we have now? We may not have to stop for stop signs and red lights or slow down for speed limits through town, but we do have to slow down and even some times stop on the interstate for construction and/or heavy commercial trucks, trailers, etc.
The left lane was intended for passing only. So what do you think happens when the majority of the traffic is limited to 55 MPH while the rest of the traffic can move along at 65 or 75 MPH? Is that person traveling at the higher rate of speed going to keep weaving in and out of traffic in order to keep moving along at the higher speed? That is what would happen if the person moving at the higher speed comes upon a vehicle forced to drive at 55 MPH.
This raises the issue of the recent attention given to vehicles riding in the left lane. You know, the signs that have been posted within the last year or so that you are only to use the left lane to pass. This means that you could get a ticket if you are caught staying in the left lane. Some states are actually issuing tickets to those left lane travelers.
My question is, will they get a ticket for weaving in and out of traffic if they only use the left lane to pass? Logically this is what would happen in some states due to the differences in the speed limit for different types of motor vehicles. Why make it difficult? Why not just post the same speed limit for all motor vehicles? Why make it different? Then we would have less traffic problems on the interstate, less congestion, and more freedom of movement. I think we would have less crashes as well.
I cannot stop typing this until I bring up another issue that torques my jaw. Ohio allows for the same 65 MPH speed limit on the Ohio Turnpike for trucks, trailers, and all motor vehicles. If they can allow this on the Ohio Turnpike, then why can they now allow it on the rest of their interstate system?
posted by RickSmith | 1:04 PM
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