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Why Speed Limits Are Irrelevant
The world is getting smaller and tasks that used to take hours or days can now be completed in seconds thanks to the Internet. But it still takes what feels like forever and a day to cross Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and other annoyingly large U.S. states with mind-numbingly dull interstates.The good news is that speed limits have gone up over the years to the point where highway 55-mph zones are becoming more and more rare. The bad news is that there are still plenty of distracted slowpokes clogging up the left lanes, even in high speed limit zones, making interstate travel needlessly stressful and arduous.
Yes, I know that higher speed limits translate into more frequent and severe traffic accidents, but I feel like I'm capable of determining what a safe speed is based upon traffic, weather conditions and the like. The U.S. incarcerates more people than any other country in the world, and I'm quite sure we hand out the most speeding tickets too. But I'm not sure all the Big Brother tactics make us any safer.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), 14 states have a maximum speed limit of 75, 19 are at 70, and 14 are at 65. Here's a look at how it breaks down.
Pedal-to-the-Metal Paradise- 80/85 mph
If you find yourself on I-15 in Utah, or on sections of I-10 and I-20 in West Texas, feel free to go 80 mph. According to IIHS and Reuters, Highway 130, which runs between San Antonio and Austin in Texas, parts of which are still under construction, might have a speed limit of 85 in the newly constructed section. If that happens, it'll become the fastest posted limit in the Western Hemisphere.
Lands of Enlightenment- 75-mph states
Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming.
Fast, But Could be Faster States- 70 mph
Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia.
Stuck in the Dark Ages States- 65 mph
Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin.
According to Allstate's America's Best Drivers Report, the best drivers aren't in states with low speed limits. Of the top ten cities with the safest drivers, five are in states with maximum limits of 75, four are in 70-mph states, and just one city, Eugene, Oregon, is in a 65-mph state. Furthermore, at the bottom of the barrel, all of the cities with the worst drivers – Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Baltimore, Hartford, Newark and Jersey City – are in low speed limit states.
Based on my experience, high speed limits also don't always translate into faster driving. Take a spin on the BQE in New York or Rt. 128 in Boston when there's light traffic and then compare the speed people are going versus what you find in places like Montana or rural Maine and you'll see what I'm talking about.
Last summer I spent countless hours driving around Montana and, despite the very high speed limits, could hardly believe how slow many people were driving. And I had the same experience this weekend, in Missouri, where the limit is 70 mph, but many motorists in the left lane were traveling well below the speed limit.
Everyone obviously has a right to travel at the speed they want, within reason. Those who are in no hurry, are trying to obtain better fuel economy, or just feel safer going slow should enjoy their crawl. But I learned in driver's ed, many moons ago, that the left lane is for passing. So why are there so many oblivious people coasting along, below the limit, in the far left lane?
Some people just aren't in a rush, but these days, when I pass someone going very slow in the left lane, very often they'll be on the phone, texting or sending or receiving an email. The first thing you do when you're distracted is slow down. Just as many states have increased their speed limits over the years, plenty are also trying to legislate against distracted driving.
State legislatures could do away with speed limits all together and impose the death penalty for texting and driving and some would still putter along in the far left lane, impeding traffic and texting away to their hearts' content. Even though I doubt there'd be much of an impact, I'd like to see a national highway speed limit of 75 mph outside cities and a minimum of 55. And anyone who is caught needlessly impeding the flow of traffic in the far left lane should be forced to strap weights onto the bottom of their shoes.
(Photo via Abbynormy on Flickr)
Pedal-to-the-Metal Paradise- 80/85 mph
If you find yourself on I-15 in Utah, or on sections of I-10 and I-20 in West Texas, feel free to go 80 mph. According to IIHS and Reuters, Highway 130, which runs between San Antonio and Austin in Texas, parts of which are still under construction, might have a speed limit of 85 in the newly constructed section. If that happens, it'll become the fastest posted limit in the Western Hemisphere.
Lands of Enlightenment- 75-mph states
Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming.
Fast, But Could be Faster States- 70 mph
Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia.
Stuck in the Dark Ages States- 65 mph
Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin.
According to Allstate's America's Best Drivers Report, the best drivers aren't in states with low speed limits. Of the top ten cities with the safest drivers, five are in states with maximum limits of 75, four are in 70-mph states, and just one city, Eugene, Oregon, is in a 65-mph state. Furthermore, at the bottom of the barrel, all of the cities with the worst drivers – Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Baltimore, Hartford, Newark and Jersey City – are in low speed limit states.
Based on my experience, high speed limits also don't always translate into faster driving. Take a spin on the BQE in New York or Rt. 128 in Boston when there's light traffic and then compare the speed people are going versus what you find in places like Montana or rural Maine and you'll see what I'm talking about.
Last summer I spent countless hours driving around Montana and, despite the very high speed limits, could hardly believe how slow many people were driving. And I had the same experience this weekend, in Missouri, where the limit is 70 mph, but many motorists in the left lane were traveling well below the speed limit.
Everyone obviously has a right to travel at the speed they want, within reason. Those who are in no hurry, are trying to obtain better fuel economy, or just feel safer going slow should enjoy their crawl. But I learned in driver's ed, many moons ago, that the left lane is for passing. So why are there so many oblivious people coasting along, below the limit, in the far left lane?
Some people just aren't in a rush, but these days, when I pass someone going very slow in the left lane, very often they'll be on the phone, texting or sending or receiving an email. The first thing you do when you're distracted is slow down. Just as many states have increased their speed limits over the years, plenty are also trying to legislate against distracted driving.
State legislatures could do away with speed limits all together and impose the death penalty for texting and driving and some would still putter along in the far left lane, impeding traffic and texting away to their hearts' content. Even though I doubt there'd be much of an impact, I'd like to see a national highway speed limit of 75 mph outside cities and a minimum of 55. And anyone who is caught needlessly impeding the flow of traffic in the far left lane should be forced to strap weights onto the bottom of their shoes.
(Photo via Abbynormy on Flickr)
Filed under: North America, United States, Transportation
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 3)
Barry Jul 19th 2012 4:29PM
Whenever I drive I am accutely aware of the drivers around be and I can't stand holding someone up so I really try to get over into the right lane as soon as possible.
BUT-----.
When you rant about the law breakers not moving over and don't say anything about the law breakers SPEEDING it rubs me wrong.
There is no reason for going ten or more miles over the speed limit and zipping in and out of traffic because YOU think the laws weren't meant for you.
When I am driving long distance I NEED the cruise on because of a bad back and if you force me to jump over into the slow lane and kick off my cruise just so you can ignore the speed limit it is more than just an inconvenience for me, it causes me pain.
As for the retired cop who seemed like he backed the speeders over the people not getting over fast enough to suit him, I would hope the courts would see him for the ass he is. I can just see him going into court and lying about how long it took them to pull into the right lane to justify the ticket because there was no other law they were breaking.Meanwhile he was letting the speeders go. What an attitude.
If you were doing your job correctly you would be ticketing these speeders and restoring the roads to the people who were observing the law. If everyone followed closer to the posted speed limits there would be a lot less problems. If the speed limits are too slow that isn't your decision to make. You're thinking is flawed.
Ishmael the former schoolteacher Jul 20th 2012 2:33PM
Gregory: That is a State by State juristiction. You repeat the same misinformatiuon as the creator of the article: not every State has a "slower traffic must move right" Law. It is the sign of truly moronic, arrogant tyrants who try to impose THEIR Laws onto everyone else in the Republic!
No Two States have the same Homocide, Assault or Driving Laws. Only despots and Socialists (National Socialist = full name of abrieviation for NAZI Party, my friend) believe in a state where all individuals sovereignties are given to a Federal Regime.
Think of, as Prince so wonderfully instructed, the 'Sign of the Times' and then reassess your claims of how "slower traffic must keep to the right, it's the law." That is not so in every State in the state of the USA, and thus is moronic in stating such... Learn before you post, please.
Gregory Jul 20th 2012 3:19PM
Ishmael: Were you even born in this country? Try jurisdiction and not juristiction, (learn before you post as you stated). Try misinformation and not misinformatiuon, (learn before you post as you stated). Try homicide and not homocide, (learn before you post as you stated). Try abbreviation and not abrieviation, (learn before you post as you stated). Lastly Ishmael, slower traffic keeps right in all states, (learn before you post as you stated). You are moronic and have the inability to spell and structure derivative sentences, (learn before you post as you stated).
James Stark Jul 19th 2012 9:12AM
Slower traffic keep right! Except in muliple lane high entrance/exit ramp zones; Only use high quality bluetooth handsfree headsets , briefly and/or in rural light traffic areas only; If all you see is a big trucks grill behind you, then you are probably in the wrong place and should move over asap; Most company fleet trucks are speed limited between 60 to 66 MPH; The big truck seemingly holding you up on the left of another big truck is not trying to block you or impede traffic flow- the inconsiderate jerk holding the steering wheel of the vehicle on the right is probably a jerk, half asleep, playing with a communication device (cell) or all three; Lead, follow flow of traffic consistently while observing everything that could effect your control of your vehicle and all others- but by all means, please do not be in the way; Adjust your merging speed when ramping on a highway- big trucks do not really want to scare or intimidate you, but sometimes that can be the end result when you do something stupid or careless in front or beside them; We all own these roads equally, so go with the flow (split speed limits are not smart thinking, when two objects are moving at different speeds they can contact one another while those traveling the same speed cannot); Big trucks know that they need more space to stop and will follow accordingly; Note that ABS braking will slow you down in a straight line (usually), but it will not bring you to a COMPLETE stop as soon as you think- go somewhere safe at highway speeds, slam on the brakes hard to the floor and hold them there, and you probably will learn a life saving lesson; I hope my almost two million miles of 48 state cross country long haul observations are of good use to you- Happy Trails/Motoring to You- from the "Stunt Driver"
Doug Jul 19th 2012 9:17AM
I drove a truck in NY for over 20 yrs and if you ask me it's not the speed limit it's the people driving that's the problem. In NY or I believe most states in USA all it takes to get a license is 6 hr course and to have a permit for a short time then take a 5 min. "drivers test" and you can have a license without ever driving on a freeway. I think we need to invest more time in training our new drivers like what some european countries do example: 20 hours class time 20 hours drive time with an instructor. Then we'll have more skilled drivers and speed limits might go up and because of the amount of time and effort spent to get a license you might find people less likely to drive recklessly and speed excessively.
Charley G Jul 19th 2012 9:24AM
I think its traffic engineers who made a study and found that 85% of drivers will travel at a safe speed depending on traffic conditions. I believe that principal should be applied, and yes, heavy traffic areas should have lower limits.
And let's keep the left lane(s) for passing and trucks to the right except for passing as is the law in Indiana.
ajschrod Jul 19th 2012 10:17AM
I see no mention in here about the almost universal kiting of speed limits--either 5 or 10 miles over depending on area. You certainly can't be expected to move over when passing traffic at a speed already over the limit, can you? Those that demand the "right" to exceed the limit by 10 or more miles an hour are just as much a safety hazard as those loafing along in the left or center lanes. In Germany, common sense prevails: when a car approaches behind you in the left lane, you WILL move over, because there is no set speed limit in that left lane, and trucks are forbidden in all but the extreme right lane. Using that philosophy, speed limits of 80 or more are fine, but there ought to be a high MINIMUM limit for ALL traffic on those particular stretches as well. Locals or ANYONE that don't feel comfortable competing with those high speeds with should be advised to take other routes.
Opus Jul 19th 2012 10:17AM
As long as we are addressing the "road idiots" who are doing less then the limit in the passing lane, how about a few more. That little triangular sign on the on ramps to the freeways says YIELD. If you are unsure of the definition, look it up. That little lever sticking out of the left side of the steering column is for indicating a turn or lane change. They can also be activated sooner than six feet before making a turn. If you are unsure of the use of this item, please consult the owner's manual of the car you drive. Amazing as it may seem, the switch that turns on your high beams can also dim them for oncoming traffic. I have no problem with those who are able to talk or text while driving, however they seem to be few and far between. If you are getting dirty looks or hearing horns blow when you are doing either of these, chances are that you are weaving or sitting at a green light impeding traffic and you don't have the mental capacity to drive and use your phone at the same time.
cat69 Jul 19th 2012 10:41AM
I don't know where you got your information, but there is no highway I know of in Ohio, where I live, that has a 70 MPH speed limit. The state mandated speed limit on limited access and interstate highways is 65 MPH. There is a move afoot to raise the limit to 70, which hopefully will be approved soon, and that may already be the posted speed limit on the Ohio Turnpike, but that would be the exception. Of course the fact is, most people already drive at 70 or higher when they can, especially the morons from Michigan who think 80-85 is ok for them.
John Munger Jul 19th 2012 12:00PM
It sounds like the writer of the original post is not pissed off at speed limits. He's pissed off, instead, at slower people in the left lane.
Hunnie Jul 19th 2012 12:00PM
life without RULES would be CHINA and RUSSIA, & IRAQ...Not good.
K Jul 19th 2012 12:21PM
Speed limits are NOT irrelevant when the trooper is writing you out that ticket.
Shana Jul 19th 2012 2:41PM
Charles, you support what we are saying. If the police don't pull over those going a few ticks over the limit, then those who want to ONLY do the limit should hit the middle lane or pull over and allow others to move it along.
Frank Jul 19th 2012 2:03PM
If the damn troopers would give out as many tickets for going slow in the left lane as they do for speeding all the highways would be safer.
lottie rox Jul 19th 2012 2:10PM
1. In paragraph 8 the writer talks about "worst" Philly drivers in a state with "low" speed limits. So what? What's the speed limit got to do with bad driving? Spurious correlation. PA highways tend to be hilly and curvy and poorly paved so 65 is plenty, especially when people routinely do 10 over.
2. You don't like PA scenery and think it's boring, stay out of PA.
3. We do 65 because it is a reasonable speed and balances with economy. And we drive mostly in the right lane unless there is little traffic and the right lane is rutted or patched.
David Seminara Jul 19th 2012 5:12PM
Lottie,
It isn't that the low speed limits cause bad driving but I was noting that all of the cities that have the worst drivers- i.e. most accidents- are in low speed limit states. This means that the relatively low speed limits haven't helped reduce accidents there. Who knows, perhaps if the limits were even lower, they'd be even worse.
I love PA. Went to college there. But it's a big state and crossing it via the PA Turnpike is not fun or very scenic. If you head out onto the secondary roads, there's a lot of beauty. Thanks for reading.
kim Jul 19th 2012 4:18PM
i will admit i do have a lead foot. there i said it. but i am a safe driver. no accidents or tickets. i too hate it when some old geezer or really young driver gets in the left lane and stays there and i have no problem passing them on the right with a one finger salute as i go by. it really gets me angry when i am in the left lane and someone cuts me off then slows me down WHILE IN THE DAMN LEFT LANE and this happens a lot. i do move over when someone comes up behind me who is going faster then get right back over.there is another law here in colorado that states to move accedents to side of road. (if your car can be moved and no injuries). just another useless sign because no one ever uses it.
al s Jul 19th 2012 7:34PM
Nobody here is mentioning slow drivers in the MIDDLE lane of a three-laner. They force people to pass them on BOTH sides--and picking lanes after passing can be pretty hairy on a crowded highway.
lglastorl Jul 19th 2012 2:46PM
"Yes, I know that higher speed limits translate into more frequent and severe traffic accidents, but I feel like I'm capable of determining what a safe speed is based upon traffic, weather conditions and the like."
While YOU, in your opinion, may be able to do this...I doubt that most drivers can ACTUALLY do this. Common sense is not so common. I would also wager that people who have experienced high speed accidents and lived to discuss it, would probably express regret at their 'choice' to speed.
"The U.S. incarcerates more people than any other country in the world, and I'm quite sure we hand out the most speeding tickets too."
If you are speeding, and the law states a "speed limit" is to be followed...then, of course, you should be ticketed. It's not a matter of not getting caught doing something you know is wrong...it's doing the right thing to begin with.
"But I'm not sure all the Big Brother tactics make us any safer."
I would bet that people who feel "inconvenienced" by the seat belt law would be grateful if one saved their life in an accident. I would bet that people who dislike the "annoyance" of helmets while riding a motorcycle would be thankful to have been wearing one if in an accident.
Our society is all about entitlement and not being inconvenienced. Is it really necessary that you have to go an extra 15 or 20 miles over a speed limit just because you can handle your car safely? Will arriving, alive, just 10 minutes later, really be all that much of a bother? Just slow down and observe the posted speed limit. Obey the law put in place for the safety of others and yourself. It's not restricting your freedom...it's protecting your life. It should tell you that people in the business of keeping you safe, actually care.
THE_MAD_BOMBER Jul 19th 2012 3:19PM
SPEED LIMITS HAVE ONLY ONE PURPOSE......THE ROBBERY OF THE DRIVER BY THE POLITICIANS!!!!!!