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70 MPH speed limit. Better traffic flow?

Home ▸ Archive ▸ Serious Business ▸ 70 MPH speed limit. Better traffic flow?
T

thavoice

Senior Member

14,376 posts
Jul 21, 2011 10:13 AM
Just drove around 2300 miles through 7 states and I believe all but Ohio have a speed limit of 70.

Traffic seemed to flow better in those states than in Ohio with the 65 MPH limit.

My thoughts were that a certain segment of the population will go right around whatever the speed limit is. A certain percentage will always be 80MPH, but a very large middle half feel comfortable and confident driving 70-75 MPH.

So in states where the limit is 70 there are those who will go the limit because that is how they are, and a large middle section that is comfy going 70-75 therefore making the traffic flow alot better. I usually go 70-75 no matter the limit. FOr one, I feel if I go that route I will not get pulled over in a 65 zone, and personally feel comfortable at that limit.

I will say though..that once in Florida man oh man were people flying. I was 75 and people were passing me like I was standing still.

I dont recall seeing many states having a diff limit for trucks. Did I just miss that?
Jul 21, 2011 10:13am
ts1227's avatar

ts1227

Senior Member

12,319 posts
Jul 21, 2011 10:15 AM
You can go 70 on the turnpike now, which is nice.

No, not many states stagger their truck speed limit, and Ohio did away with that too on interstates only in 2009.

Ohio always gets there regarding laws like this, it just takes them 20 years longer than the rest of the country usually.
Jul 21, 2011 10:15am
W

WebFire

Go Bucks!

14,779 posts
Jul 21, 2011 10:22 AM
So if I understood, it's not the speed limit that makes traffic congestive, it's people ignoring the speed limit?

I would say letting the trucks run at or within 5 mph of other traffic probably has a more positive affect on traffic flow than the actual speed limit itself. But I haven't done any scientific studies and I do not have links.
Jul 21, 2011 10:22am
Raw Dawgin' it's avatar

Raw Dawgin' it

Just Ain't Care

11,466 posts
Jul 21, 2011 10:26 AM
I want to experience the autoban just once. Just watched a video of a Porche 911 GT3 hit 199mph on it. We need that system in the states for the fun of driving and population control
Jul 21, 2011 10:26am
T

thavoice

Senior Member

14,376 posts
Jul 21, 2011 10:27 AM
WebFire;836516 wrote:So if I understood, it's not the speed limit that makes traffic congestive, it's people ignoring the speed limit?

I would say letting the trucks run at or within 5 mph of other traffic probably has a more positive affect on traffic flow than the actual speed limit itself. But I haven't done any scientific studies and I do not have links.
That is one way to look at it. If everyone went the same speed then it should flow nicely. What I am saying is that the states that had a 70 limit seemed to flow better because of the reasons I stated. Those who go the limit added to those who feel safe and confident to got 70-75 make the roads flow better because more are going about the same speed. Instead of having people go 3 diff speeds (limit of 65), 72 or so, and 80 you have most people doing around 72 or 80+...just two diff speeds for the most part
Jul 21, 2011 10:27am
se-alum's avatar

se-alum

The Biggest Boss

13,948 posts
Jul 21, 2011 10:28 AM
Anyone else notice that people seem to drive faster when they get outside their home state?? When we got down to the beach, I'm always running between 75 and 85, rarely is there ever anyone pulled over.
Jul 21, 2011 10:28am
Ironman92's avatar

Ironman92

Administrator

49,363 posts
Jul 21, 2011 10:28 AM
agree


Montana doesn't have a speed limit does it?
Jul 21, 2011 10:28am
C

Con_Alma

Senior Member

12,198 posts
Jul 21, 2011 10:29 AM
Yes they do but they have night speed limits!
Jul 21, 2011 10:29am
ts1227's avatar

ts1227

Senior Member

12,319 posts
Jul 21, 2011 10:31 AM
Ironman92;836533 wrote:agree


Montana doesn't have a speed limit does it?

They had to institute one after the federal speed limit law was rescinded in the 90s and a few court cases over their "reasonable and prudent" limit . Its like 75 or 80
Jul 21, 2011 10:31am
T

thavoice

Senior Member

14,376 posts
Jul 21, 2011 10:33 AM
se-alum;836532 wrote:Anyone else notice that people seem to drive faster when they get outside their home state?? When we got down to the beach, I'm always running between 75 and 85, rarely is there ever anyone pulled over.

Dont know if that is true but it does seem like it! Always seem like when you get passed by someone flying it is from out of state. wonder if it is because they are usually on longer drives and going alot faster really can add up to get ya there alot quicker!

Seemed like heading to Florida getting kinda close to the beaches...man oh man they were 85 plus for the most part!
Jul 21, 2011 10:33am
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Jul 21, 2011 10:33 AM
Speed limits are stupid. If you can't drive safely at 80-85 mph you shouldn't be driving, period.
Jul 21, 2011 10:33am
FatHobbit's avatar

FatHobbit

Senior Member

8,651 posts
Jul 21, 2011 10:35 AM
se-alum;836532 wrote:Anyone else notice that people seem to drive faster when they get outside their home state?? When we got down to the beach, I'm always running between 75 and 85, rarely is there ever anyone pulled over.

It is outside their home state or just outside Ohio?
Jul 21, 2011 10:35am
C

Con_Alma

Senior Member

12,198 posts
Jul 21, 2011 10:35 AM
Maximum speed limit on the highways in Montana is 75.

http://us-highways.com/montana/mtspeed.htm
Jul 21, 2011 10:35am
Raw Dawgin' it's avatar

Raw Dawgin' it

Just Ain't Care

11,466 posts
Jul 21, 2011 10:43 AM
justincredible;836545 wrote:Speed limits are stupid. If you can't drive safely at 80-85 mph you shouldn't be driving, period.

+1

[video=youtube;-Mg3do2c938][/video]
Jul 21, 2011 10:43am
se-alum's avatar

se-alum

The Biggest Boss

13,948 posts
Jul 21, 2011 10:56 AM
FatHobbit;836548 wrote:It is outside their home state or just outside Ohio?
I guess I would have to say outside of Ohio, since I don't really know the speed limits of other states. I just know that once we hit the WV border going down south, it seems like thats the starting line for the race, and everyone just hammers it, then coming back it's like the finish line, and everyone backs down close to the speed limit.
Jul 21, 2011 10:56am
T

thavoice

Senior Member

14,376 posts
Jul 21, 2011 10:58 AM
se-alum;836596 wrote:I guess I would have to say outside of Ohio, since I don't really know the speed limits of other states. I just know that once we hit the WV border going down south, it seems like thats the starting line for the race, and everyone just hammers it, then coming back it's like the finish line, and everyone backs down close to the speed limit.



I bet it is like that for most states. I thikn many people really believe that the cops are worse in their state than others so feel like when they get out of their home state they are home free with less cops
Jul 21, 2011 10:58am
lhslep134's avatar

lhslep134

why so serious?

9,774 posts
Jul 21, 2011 11:00 AM
I don't see why it wouldn't be a better traffic flow.
Jul 21, 2011 11:00am
FatHobbit's avatar

FatHobbit

Senior Member

8,651 posts
Jul 21, 2011 11:22 AM
se-alum;836596 wrote:I guess I would have to say outside of Ohio, since I don't really know the speed limits of other states. I just know that once we hit the WV border going down south, it seems like thats the starting line for the race, and everyone just hammers it, then coming back it's like the finish line, and everyone backs down close to the speed limit.

I agree. My dad was a truck driver at times and he said that some states (including Ohio) are much more strict about traffic laws than others. I'm guessing that's why Ohio is so slow.
Jul 21, 2011 11:22am
iclfan2's avatar

iclfan2

Reppin' the 330/216/843

6,360 posts
Jul 21, 2011 11:30 AM
There is no valid reason Ohio highways should not be 70. It is ridiculous. Even worse is that some highways are 55, it feels like you are crawling.
Jul 21, 2011 11:30am
B

bogey

Member

99 posts
Jul 21, 2011 12:02 PM
I take I-75 to Florida every summer and you can bet your house that you will see more State Highway Patrolmen in Ohio than in Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida combined! I-71 is just crawling compared to those other states due to this it seems. Plus, you have to be going insanely fast to get a ticket in the southern states.....I was going 85 in Georgia and looked in my mirror as a Statey was coming up behind me. He jumped out one lane and flew right past me without even a thought of pulling me over it seemed.
Jul 21, 2011 12:02pm
gerb131's avatar

gerb131

Senior Member

9,932 posts
Jul 21, 2011 12:13 PM
Since they upped the truck limit they need to up the car limit. Some people wont pass the trucks...
Jul 21, 2011 12:13pm
Mr. 300's avatar

Mr. 300

Senior Member

3,090 posts
Jul 21, 2011 12:17 PM
I drive I-77 for work every day. Never do I drive under 70, with the cruise usually set at 74. No big deal if you don't go crazy on the speed.
Jul 21, 2011 12:17pm
se-alum's avatar

se-alum

The Biggest Boss

13,948 posts
Jul 21, 2011 12:20 PM
I wonder what the reasoning is for some of the speed limit decisions. For instance, a large part of US 35 between Gallipolis and Chillicothe is 60mph, even w/ a part of that being limited access. Then, just West of Chillicothe on US 35, the speed limit is 65mph. All of this is 4-lane highway. It makes zero sense.
Jul 21, 2011 12:20pm
ts1227's avatar

ts1227

Senior Member

12,319 posts
Jul 21, 2011 12:30 PM
iclfan2;836633 wrote:There is no valid reason Ohio highways should not be 70. It is ridiculous. Even worse is that some highways are 55, it feels like you are crawling.

Many of them in Ohio were 75 before the federal limit was put on in the 70s. When it was lifted, they chose not to go back to them.
Jul 21, 2011 12:30pm
hasbeen's avatar

hasbeen

Excuse me, Flo?

6,504 posts
Jul 21, 2011 1:27 PM
The people driving 5-10 under is what restricts the flow of traffic.
Jul 21, 2011 1:27pm