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For those of you with a lead foot
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 3:23 pm
by JJVP
Re: For those of you with a lead foot
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 3:29 pm
by Beiruty
Cool, I like it. however, I just want to know if I will ever be able to hit those 85Mph roads. Anything for Dallas to Houston?
Re: For those of you with a lead foot
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 4:19 pm
by Hoi Polloi
"Obviously, the two things that kill most people on our highways are speed and alcohol."
I could be mistaken, but I thought the greatest speed-related source of accidents and/or fatalities was people driving too slow.
Re: For those of you with a lead foot
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 4:27 pm
by TDDude
Of course the insurance dude says raising the limit would have a dramatic impact on the death and injury rate.... (I'm trying not to directly quote here).
If memory serves, those yahoos said the same thing when the limit was raised back up to 70 from 55.
I don't buy that argument for one second. Insurance companies have a direct financial stake in keeping the rates low. When good drivers get speeding tickets, the insurance companies get to raise the rates. No speeding tickets, no increase in premiums.
Will an accident be more deadly at the higher speeds? Of course. Will the higher speed CAUSE the accident? Probably not. Accidents are usually cause by a momentary lapse in judgement whether it's 20 mph or 90 mph. A properly maintained vehicle, an alert driver, NO alcohol, and a 10 mile horizon is perfect for 85-95 mph speeds.
Sounds an awful lot like the "blood in the streets" argument against concealed carry.
Personally, my budget can't take the 50% reduction in fuel economy when driving those speeds so I'll pass. Just point out the slow lane and that's where you'll find me boppin along at my normal 65.

Re: For those of you with a lead foot
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 4:34 pm
by Oldgringo
TDDude wrote:Of course the insurance dude says raising the limit would have a dramatic impact on the death and injury rate.... (I'm trying not to directly quote here).
If memory serves, those yahoos said the same thing when the limit was raised back up to 70 from 55.
I don't buy that argument for one second. Insurance companies have a direct financial stake in keeping the rates low. When good drivers get speeding tickets, the insurance companies get to raise the rates. No speeding tickets, no increase in premiums.
Will an accident be more deadly at the higher speeds? Of course. Will the higher speed CAUSE the accident? Probably not. Accidents are usually cause by a momentary lapse in judgement whether it's 20 mph or 90 mph. A properly maintained vehicle, an alert driver, NO alcohol, and a 10 mile horizon is perfect for 85-95 mph speeds.
Sounds an awful lot like the "blood in the streets" argument against concealed carry.
Personally, my budget can't take the 50% reduction in fuel economy when driving those speeds so I'll pass. Just point out the slow lane and that's where you'll find me boppin along at my normal 65. Please try not to wreck in your race to beat us to the next traffic light.


We'll be in the candy apple red Dodge Ram behind you doing 60 mph. We will be the older couple who are not texting while driving. Please try not to wreck in your haste to beat us to the next traffic light.
Re: For those of you with a lead foot
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 4:42 pm
by ¿Qué?
Oldgringo wrote:Please try not to wreck in your haste to beat us to the next traffic light.
Please don't stop in the middle of a freeway for no reason.
Re: For those of you with a lead foot
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 5:41 pm
by Oldgringo
¿Qué? wrote:Oldgringo wrote:Please try not to wreck in your haste to beat us to the next traffic light.
Please don't stop in the middle of a freeway for no reason.
Okay.
Re: For those of you with a lead foot
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 6:47 pm
by bnc
I'm all for it and hope, like Beiruty, we can go faster from Dallas to Houston.
If I could drive that fast on a regular basis I would consider getting a smaller car that handles it better, both in terms of handling and gas mileage.
Re: For those of you with a lead foot
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 7:13 pm
by jacobsd8195
Interesting side note on this topic... I recently read an article in the paper that 2010 had the fewest highway deaths (32,788) in 60 years.
http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB1 ... DcyWj.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: For those of you with a lead foot
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 7:18 pm
by PappaGun
Beiruty wrote:Cool, I like it. however, I just want to know if I will ever be able to hit those 85Mph roads. Anything for Dallas to Houston?
Or Dallas to Plano, Irving, Ft. Worth

Re: For those of you with a lead foot
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 7:21 pm
by Beiruty
Back in the early 2000s, I knew of someone who used to drive in tripple speed in 65 zone on his 20 Miles part of his morning commute, that was somewhere on I-495 in no other than Boston, MA. He lived to tell about it
Now from 85 MHP to tripple speed is just light feather squeze. The problem it would cost you at least $180 each time you do it
Re: For those of you with a lead foot
Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 7:22 am
by Keith B
I doubt this speed would be anywhere except on open roads in West Texas and such. I will be there is no way they would rate the freeways around a metro area at 85. However, with the raised top limit they might up a few to 75 from 70.
Re: For those of you with a lead foot
Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 10:32 am
by Kirk
With $3.98/gal to +$4.00gal coming up quickly

Re: For those of you with a lead foot
Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2011 4:17 am
by Fangs
This is what motorcycles are for... great on gas, excellent handling.

Re: For those of you with a lead foot
Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2011 6:41 am
by Oldgringo
Fangs wrote:This is what motorcycles are for... great on gas, excellent handling.

...and ordinarily don't leave a really big mess to clean up.
