55 limit getting traction

[Marv S]

Today, the day before we celebrate Independence Day and Freedom, another person is on Fox News discussing the oil crisis and that mandating a 55 mph limit has to be one of the measures put into effect - now.

Can't imagine living through that again....

[Greg 99ACR Red and Silver]

Hi Marv:

Reflecting over the last thirty years...."The more things change, the more they stay the same."

[Chopper]

Cops will be lickin their chops.

[ViperGTS]

........................................

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Originally Posted by Marv S

Can't imagine living through that again....

So true. 55mph were horrible, horrible times. Those who never experienced it don't know how bad it was and many who have experienced have probably forgotten how bad it was.

[yogibayer]

The funny thing here in Chicago is to drive on 80 West into Illinois. As soon as you get close enough to Chicago for the speed limit to drop to 55; the speed of traffic increases from 70 (in a 65) to about 75 to 80 (in a 55).

[Venomiss]

Make them drive western Kansas at 55 for a week....it''s now 70 but should be 75.
Flat and boring as ever.

That might make them change their tune.

[Kevan]

Originally Posted by Venomiss

Make them drive western Kansas at 55 for a week....it''s now 70 but should be 75.
Flat and boring as ever.

That might make them change their tune.

...or west Texas.

I was trying to think of something dumber than changing the speed limit back to 55 mph.
The only thing I came up with was currency for dogs and cats.

My DAILY DRIVER is an SRT-10. It is most fuel efficient between 68 mph and 73 mph. At 55 mph, my MPG is 40% lower than I am at 65 mph.
So, let me get this right: In order to save gas, you want me to waste more gas and release more nasties into the air?
You must work for Congress.

Today's vehicles are 2-3x more fuel efficient than cars of the 60's and 70's. Yes- even the foreign ones. They are designed and computer-programmed to be most efficient at highway speeds...65 mph.
By dropping the national speed limit, you're now making those millions of vehicles LESS fuel efficient, MORE costly to operate, and MORE HARMFUL to the environment.
Knee-jerk reactions suck.

Someone get Sammy Hagar on the line.....

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Originally Posted by Kevan

...or west Texas.

Or Florida and Georgia. Plenty of highway miles can be safely travelled at 80 - 90 mph.

[2000_Black_RT10]

After spending some time in the UK, I would think round-a-bouts would be great in North America (I know they have a few in Mass), no sense sitting burning gas stopped at a stop light when there is no opposing traffic, they keep the cars moving with less stop and go accelleration.

[VENUM INJECTION]

Although I think reducing the speed limit is a horrible idea, if i am not mistaken the mpg ratings on cars are given from factory at 55 mpg. This has been a complaint for years because ppl expect to get these fuel ratings at 70 mpg but in fact they dont bc they are rated at 55. If someone knows that this has changed please confirm. I think Americans want the choice to drive at higher speeds and waste more gas and not be forced to save gas by driving at 55 mpg. This is not the answer. The answer is not single in nature, it has to be multifocal. Must have alternative fuel choices at same time increasing refinaries at home. Must have balance. We are going to have big prob. if we dont create own refinaries. China will be major consumer of oil in near future, Iran is said that it will exhaust its oil supply in next 30 years or so-which was on news last night. I think this problem is no longer for the next generation, it is getting ready to be here in a big way.

[ViperGTS]

Circles do a lot and that was a big discussion during my recent stay in the US.

Your stop signs (all way) are stupid on the country side roads.
You have to slow down and accelerate again. Most of the time no traffic.

What a waste of fuel !

But, with the "driving style" in the US circles will cause lots of accidents ... ;-(

[2000_Black_RT10]

In Vancouver the side streets have no stop signs, it's considered a yield, right of way, they seem to do ok.

I agree stop signs are wasting alot of money. I've worked in Michigan / Detroit for 7 years in the past, no worry about accidents.. maybe just a little gun fire if you can handle it! Funny, it'd be like grip your 357 entering each round-a-bout if they had them.., then again.. I'd probably get a 44 magnum (just kidding...).

I prefer driving in the US, no messing around, and to be truthful, in Europe there are many horn honking cowards, in Michigan they don't mess around, go on your way or get out of the way or you are asking for serious trouble.

[Viperless]

Originally Posted by 2000_Black_RT10

After spending some time in the UK, I would think round-a-bouts would be great in North America (I know they have a few in Mass), no sense sitting burning gas stopped at a stop light when there is no opposing traffic, they keep the cars moving with less stop and go accelleration.

They could do much here to improve wait times at stop lights. This happens all the time here: You're coming up on a lighted intersection, the light is red. As you approach, you trigger the light to change to green if there's no cross traffic. But, you want to take a left hand turn which is red. You have to stop and wait for a complete cycle before that left hand turn signal goes green even though there's no oncoming traffic. This happens at 2am!! That damn light will turn green for NO traffic.

Another one: I'm travelling down the highway approaching another lighted intersection and the light is green. A car approaces the intersection on the cross street and stops at the red light. The light turns red for me and I have to hit the brakes hard and stop. 5 seconds more and I could have made it through. Now two cars have to accelerate from a complete stop instead of one. This happens a lot but I've gotten wise to it on the road I travel on to and from work. Now I see it coming and I can time it where I rarely, if ever, have to come to a complete stop. But everyone else races to that red light.

Now multiply that by millions.

[Kevan]

Don't get me started on roundabouts.
I will ruin your weekend.

[2000_Black_RT10]

Originally Posted by Kevan

Don't get me started on roundabouts.
I will ruin your weekend.

You won't ruin mine, having too much fun being home.

Here's a pic I snapped riding in Neil's 2000 GTS in England approaching a round-a-bout a couple weeks ago..

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Designing a roundabout is not as simple as sticking a stop sign on a corner. Several things have to be considered. For an example of a complete roundabout abortion drive through Clearwater Beach Florida sometime.

[2000_Black_RT10]

Originally Posted by Chuck 98 RT/10

Designing a roundabout is not as simple as sticking a stop sign on a corner. Several things have to be considered. For an example of a complete roundabout abortion drive through Clearwater Beach Florida sometime.

Chuck... now you surely know you are licking the envelope testing the political boundaries here..

We have been to Clearwater on a vacation, nice place & nice weather, love the beaches, I'll have to dig up a pic of my buddy who has a blown yellow Hemi Duster, we hooked up at a Hooters in Tampa.

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Originally Posted by 2000_Black_RT10

Chuck... now you surely know you are licking the envelope testing the political boundaries here..

We have been to Clearwater on a vacation, nice place & nice weather, love the beaches, I'll have to dig up a pic of my buddy who has a blown yellow Hemi Duster, we hooked up at a Hooters in Tampa.

I almost never go over to Clearwater anymore. It has changed so much from the days I used to stalk the beach...and so have I changed...by about 80lbs.

[Tusc]

I dunno about you guys.... but I recently discovered that my daily gets better mileage at 100mph than it does at 65mph.

Dead serious, I pull another 30 to 50 miles per tank that way.

That's another 17.24% miles per tank.

Put another way, that's almost one day's commute for free.

[slaughterj]

Roundabouts seem good, I even have one in walking distance from my house and am seeing them more in the U.S. Anything that will keep me from having to stop!

[Kevan]

Originally Posted by slaughterj

Roundabouts seem good, I even have one in walking distance from my house and am seeing them more in the U.S. Anything that will keep me from having to stop!

There's a reason the Romans gave up on them 2000 years ago.

The one they "installed" here is on a MAIN artery (E-W) and intersects another MAIN artery (N-S).
Since it's opening in October of 2007, non-fatal accidents at that intersection are up 2200%.

I think the county engineer was trying to fit all of his fail into one project.
According to police reports, it looks like it worked.

[slaughterj]

Originally Posted by Kevan

There's a reason the Romans gave up on them 2000 years ago.

I don't recall the Romans driving particularly fast.

Originally Posted by Kevan

The one they "installed" here is on a MAIN artery (E-W) and intersects another MAIN artery (N-S).
Since it's opening in October of 2007, non-fatal accidents at that intersection are up 2200%.

Most Americans haven't experienced them and are poor drivers as well. They don't seem to be a problem elsewhere.

[ViperGTS]

>>>Most Americans haven't experienced them and are poor drivers as well. They don't seem to be a problem elsewhere<<<

Yes. You have to go to Italy, how they USE the circles-roundabouts...you would think its part of a race track!

[black mamba1]

There is no way this should ever come back into effect. It would hurt the economy by slowing production, deliveries, and keeping working people tied up in traffic longer. This is one law I would simply not obey anyway. I have no problem admitting that.

[ViperTony]

Originally Posted by black mamba1

There is no way this should ever come back into effect. It would hurt the economy by slowing production, deliveries, and keeping working people tied up in traffic longer. This is one law I would simply not obey anyway. I have no problem admitting that.

Yeah...this would put a damper on your 130mph speed limit on your street wouldn't it? Or was it 103mph? Either way, that was a funny story.

[Kevan]

Originally Posted by slaughterj

I don't recall the Romans driving particularly fast.

You never saw "Ben Hur"?

Originally Posted by slaughterj

Most Americans haven't experienced them and are poor drivers as well.

100% correct.

I've done so much research on roundabouts it's not even funny.
(In truth, it's not funny; it's sad...LOL)

I should do a video so you guys and gals can see the $13,000,000. rotating disaster they installed here.
Comical: Watching a 53' truck try to get through the roundabout.

ON TOPIC:
After finishing a 2000 mile (straight through) round trip in the SRT-10 to Orlando and back this week, I must say that a 55 mph national speed limit would be a massive failure for this country and probably grind it to a halt.

[slaughterj]

I'm all for a 55 speed limit...if all police cars are installed with limiters so they can't exceed it