I commute 135 miles each way to work. Just shoot me if they lower the national speed limit to 55 mph again.

The last time around there was a fuel shortage. Has anyone seen fuel rationing? Mile long lines at gas stations? A jump in the locking gas cap market?

There's no reason to set speed limits lower to save gas. If someone wants to do 55 to save money, more power to 'em. Let the rest of us remain productive and efficient.

This is not for the environment or to reduce gas prices. This is grandstanding legislation and a revenue generating scheme.

DIAF, Senator Warner and you Democratic counterpart in the House, Rep. Speier.

Because everybody obeys the speed limits now.

farkin' heathen: I commute 135 miles each way to work. Just shoot me if they lower the national speed limit to 55 mph again.

Dear lord I would rent a site at a camp ground and pitch a damn tent during the week and only come home on weekends. I would at least be buying my own plane and flying to work. I have thought about doing it before and it was only going to be a possible 1 hour drive.

It appears no one got the reference, subby, so I'll give you +2

In before Hagar reference.

Coronach: If someone wants to do 55 to save money, more power to 'em. Let the rest of us remain productive and efficient.

exactly. 65 is reasonable and safe, and you can go slower if you want.

and politically, it's a big loser. in PA, i always said the two things Tom Ridge did in his first term as governor that guaranteed him re-elected were re-start capital punishment and repeal the 55 mph speed limit.

It's all about ticket revenue for local police.

Eddie_Dean_NY: This is grandstanding legislation and a revenue generating scheme

That's all any speed limits are, minus the grandstanding.
Speed limits have nothing to do with safety. They're about providing revenue for the uniformed highway robbers we pretend have some kind of moral superiority.

sometimes I think Congress does things just to prove the point that they're still in charge.

Weaver95: sometimes I think Congress does things just to prove the point that they're still in charge.

and it's usually the wrong things, dammit.

According to fueleconomy.gov, a website run by the Department of Energy, "each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.30 per gallon for gas.

Exactly.

You burn more gas, therefore you must buy more gas.

If you wish to buy less gas, you must burn less gas.

Do we really need legislation for this conundrum?

Also, I'd just like to take this opportunity to point out that if the states hadn't allowed themselves to be bribed with Federal highway money, Congress would have no say over what the speed limit is outside DC. Which is the way it should be.

Why is Congress against the free market? If one can afford to drive at 70 mph, let 'em. Nobody's made it illegal to sit inside your idling, parked car to enjoy the air conditioning. Now THAT'S wasting gas.

Churchill2004: Also, I'd just like to take this opportunity to point out that if the states hadn't allowed themselves to be bribed with Federal highway money, Congress would have no say over what the speed limit is outside DC. Which is the way it should be.

Pfft, you think that's bad? Read This (pops)and tell me how state, county or local are doing any better than the Feds...

This is a good thing.

I'm tired of the people who think it's acceptable to drive 80MPH down the interstate. Yes, I will get in front of you and force you to do a reasonable speed.

You're not special, and I'm not going to let you put anyone else's life at risk simply because you weren't good enough to make it into NASCAR.

TheOther: Pfft, you think that's bad? Read This (pops)and tell me how state, county or local are doing any better than the Feds...

Who said they're doing better? One level of local idiocy is enough without the Federal behemoth piled on top of it.

Coronach: The last time around there was a fuel shortage. Has anyone seen fuel rationing? Mile long lines at gas stations? A jump in the locking gas cap market?

There's no reason to set speed limits lower to save gas. If someone wants to do 55 to save money, more power to 'em. Let the rest of us remain productive and efficient.

I always see gas lines at Raceway gas stations, and they are usually 5 cents cheaper than other stations.

SchlingFo: This is a good thing.

I'm tired of the people who think it's acceptable to drive 80MPH down the interstate. Yes, I will get in front of you and force you to do a reasonable speed.

You're not special, and I'm not going to let you put anyone else's life at risk simply because you weren't good enough to make it into NASCAR.

Trolling a driving thread?

Coronach: A jump in the locking gas cap market?

Actually, I believe there has been a jump in the locking gas cap market, but I'm still on your side. 55 is just stupid and I'd never get anywhere on time.

So the Party of Less Government^tm and short memories (it would seem) is bringing back the '70 since this policy worked out so well back then.

/Remember in November

neapoi: Trolling a driving thread?

He must be, because driving 80 MPH is very reasonable on a flat, straight highway, provided the driver isn't weaving from lane to lane.

Constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, federal legislation to ban abortion; and now federally mandated speed limits.

The New Republican Party Slogan: All for States' Rights...Unless We're Against Them!

Yanks_RSJ: driving 80 MPH is very reasonable on a flat, straight highway

If you're out in the middle of Montana, maybe.

But, if you're anywhere near a town, with other people on the road, you WILL slow down.

SchlingFo: I'm tired of the people who think it's acceptable to drive 80MPH down the interstate. Yes, I will get in front of you and force you to do a reasonable speed.

Even if it is a reasonable speed?


You were a hall monitor in grade school, weren't you?

Gwendolyn: farkin' heathen: I commute 135 miles each way to work. Just shoot me if they lower the national speed limit to 55 mph again.

Dear lord I would rent a site at a camp ground and pitch a damn tent during the week and only come home on weekends. I would at least be buying my own plane and flying to work. I have thought about doing it before and it was only going to be a possible 1 hour drive.

Believe me, I have thought of it. The place I work will pay for some of my commute (read most), but my husband didn't really enjoy it when I stayed in the other town at night. Why? 5 kids, blended family kind of thing.

SchlingFo: But, if you're anywhere near a town, with other people on the road, you WILL slow down.

hahaha, that's what you think.

farkin' heathen: I commute 135 miles each way to work. Just shoot me if they lower the national speed limit to 55 mph again.

That's your choice to waste your life away sitting in the car for hours on end every day... but why??

SchlingFo:

But, if you're anywhere near a town, with other people on the road, you WILL slow down.

My German-built V8 says otherwise.

clancifer: That's your choice to waste your life away sitting in the car for hours on end every day... but why??

It pays the bills. I could work much closer to home, but having worked there before, I know that the environment that I work in is much less stressful. It is a trade-off. I still get home between 5:30 and 6pm nightly. I also generally only work four days a week, no holidays and no call.

timujin: Even if it is a reasonable speed?

80? what state is that?

SchlingFo: I'm tired of the people who think it's acceptable to drive 80MPH down the interstate. Yes, I will get in front of you and force you to do a reasonable speed.

Texas neocons: when they aren't telling you to not tell them what to do, they're telling you what to do.

albo: 80? what state is that?

Texas, the same state SchlingFo lives in.

albo: timujin: Even if it is a reasonable speed?

80? what state is that?

Texas. Particularly, in the western part of the state on I-10 and I-20.

SchlingFo: I'm tired of the people who think it's acceptable to drive 80MPH down the interstate. Yes, I will get in front of you and force you to do a reasonable speed.

"Reasonable" depends on your skill and on equipment...mine's rated at 172MPH...others with bald tires and 300,000 on the odometer are dangerous at 35MPH and I dount a 90 year old granny can get it over 30MPH



/another case of personal accountability going out the window to appease fascists (like SchlingFo)
//and profiteers (insurance companies and counties looking for hidden road taxes)

dustman81: Texas. Particularly, in the western part of the state on I-10 and I-20

only time i was in that area i was with my mom and sisters in 1980 during an storm and we were doing no more than 35 mph at night in ice-rutted roads because apparently they don't have salt, plows, or even illegals with shovels in Texas

SchlingFo: you WILL slow down.

Um, no. I won't.

Yes, I will get in front of you and force you to do a reasonable speed.

When were you appointed or deputized to be an officer of the law?

Someday, you are going to pull that BS on the wrong person. And seeing as you live in Houston, that day is going to come sooner rather than later. You are not the Dark Knight riding around dispensing justice on the roads, you are an asshole who is eventually going to get run over, assaulted, or shot.

Eddie_Dean_NY: And seeing as you live in Houston,

Where the fark in Houston can you even get your speed up to 55, much less 80?

SchlingFo: This is a good thing.

I'm tired of the people who think it's acceptable to drive 80MPH down the interstate. Yes, I will get in front of you and force you to do a reasonable speed.

You're not special, and I'm not going to let you put anyone else's life at risk simply because you weren't good enough to make it into NASCAR.

going at 80MPH?

/yes will get off your lawn grandpa

TheOther: Where the fark in Houston can you even get your speed up to 55, much less 80?

The tollway after 9pm on a weekend. You know, when rush hour thins out a bit.

Eddie_Dean_NY: This is not for the environment or to reduce gas prices. This is grandstanding legislation and a revenue generating scheme.

DIAF, Senator Warner and you Democratic counterpart in the House, Rep. Speier.

How does this generate revenue and for who? Grandstanding? Warner isn't going for re-election.

SchlingFo: This is a good thing.

I'm tired of the people who think it's acceptable to drive 80MPH down the interstate. Yes, I will get in front of you and force you to do a reasonable speed.

You're not special, and I'm not going to let you put anyone else's life at risk simply because you weren't good enough to make it into NASCAR.

80? fark, 80 isn't that fast. Interstates are wide and straight, most of the time I could do 90 and be completely safe, and I'm not even that great of a driver.

Hell, before fuel went up if you weren't going 10 miles over the limit (75 or 80) people would damn near hit you.

Eddie_Dean_NY: Someday, you are going to pull that BS on the wrong person. And seeing as you live in Houston, that day is going to come sooner rather than later. You are not the Dark Knight riding around dispensing justice on the roads, you are an asshole who is eventually going to get run over, assaulted, or shot.

Read his profile. You won't waste any more time trying to discuss things rationally.

3_Butt_Cheeks: Eddie_Dean_NY: This is not for the environment or to reduce gas prices. This is grandstanding legislation and a revenue generating scheme.

DIAF, Senator Warner and you Democratic counterpart in the House, Rep. Speier.

How does this generate revenue and for who? Grandstanding? Warner isn't going for re-election.

Lower the speed limit to 55 on interstates and there won't be ONE person on there who doesn't speed. Lots of speeding tickets.

/Hell, only about 10% of the people got 70 or slower on the interstate around my parts anyway.

Yanks_RSJ: Eddie_Dean_NY: Someday, you are going to pull that BS on the wrong person. And seeing as you live in Houston, that day is going to come sooner rather than later. You are not the Dark Knight riding around dispensing justice on the roads, you are an asshole who is eventually going to get run over, assaulted, or shot.

Read his profile. You won't waste any more time trying to discuss things rationally.

A fundie that hates guns and racers? Who would have known

The last time they did this it totally sucked. What used to take 2 hours, now took all day. Huh, it took me 16 hours to get to LA.

/seriously hates 55 speed limit
//loves the lax speed limit enforcement of the south and the west

Yanks_RSJ: Read his profile. You won't waste any more time trying to discuss things rationally.

I have. I just like taking the lance out against the windmill every once in a while.

3_Butt_Cheeks: How does this generate revenue and for who?

Police departments across the country. State troopers. Local JPs, whoever gets the money from the fines they hand out for speeding.

Grandstanding? Warner isn't going for re-election.

They (both the Republican Senator and the Democratic Representative) get to point to their proposals and tell both the environmentalist and the law enforcement lobbies that their party is working for them.

It doesn't have to be about getting re-elected, it can be about making sure the next guy who is elected is one of your team.

On the 405, everyone does at least 80 mph. Some go as low as 70, but they're grandmas that everyone else passes by with a dirty glance.

It makes up for the time during the week when we're stuck going an average of 10 mph to get home.

Eddie_Dean_NY: whoever gets the money from the fines they hand out for speeding.

Oh, and one more thing about this sort of stuff, the more speeding tickets a department gives out, the more federal funding they get. Just like DUI laws. The harsher they are seen as being on drunks and unsafe drivers, the more the feds will fund their efforts.