85 mph coming to Texas soon??

[Frizlefrak]

Seems the Lone Star is looking to up the ante a bit....

85 MPH coming soon?

It's already posted 80 MPH from El Paso to Kerrville.....You can already cover the 565 miles from here to San Antonio in 7 hours without worrying about a ticket. This would shave almost another half hour off the trip.

Of course, half the morons on the road would be an accident looking for a place to happen at those speeds....but the same could be argued for them at 70.

And of course, everyone will be running 90-95.

Thoughts?

[Taurus]

Originally Posted by Frizlefrak

Seems the Lone Star is looking to up the ante a bit....

85 MPH coming soon?

It's already posted 80 MPH from El Paso to Kerrville.....You can already cover the 565 miles from here to San Antonio in 7 hours without worrying about a ticket. This would shave almost another half hour off the trip.

Of course, half the morons on the road would be an accident looking for a place to happen at those speeds....but the same could be argued for them at 70.

And of course, everyone will be running 90-95.

Thoughts?

We're testing it here in Utah as well, posted 85 MPH in two 20 mile stretches between SLC and St. George. Everyone does 90, which I don't mind. What I don't like is getting passed by a semi doing 95, that's a little hairy..........

[Frizlefrak]

Yeah, the semi thing is a bit worrisome. A blown tire at those speeds could be massive carnage. I do like the idea here though....there are NO large cities between El Paso and San Antonio on I-10. 565 miles of tiny towns and open spaces, and not a lot of scenery.

[Midnight85]

Combine those speeds with Hellinois' potholes and you wouldn't have a car left by the time you got where you were going. We still creep along at 65 but it is easier to avoid the chasms in the road.

[corvette bill]

I would say anything over 75 driven buy both halfs your half and the morons is an accident wating to happen. When do we consider enough is enough or do we just let the morons kill themself and some of the other half with all of the brains.

[PLRX]

We need a state that do the 85+ lane. If you do 84 or less you get a ticket or a "strapped".

[Frizlefrak]

Originally Posted by corvette bill

I would say anything over 75 driven buy both halfs your half and the morons is an accident wating to happen. When do we consider enough is enough or do we just let the morons kill themself and some of the other half with all of the brains.

Call it "Highway Darwinism"

[Sweet 90]

Originally Posted by Frizlefrak

Call it "Highway Darwinism"

You could, but they can wreak havoc on the intelligent species as well, thereby screwing up evolution even more

[PortDawg]

I REALLY want to live in Texas someday...maybe...

[Wathen1955]

I like the idea but you know as well as I that idiots will be on the road with their cheap and unsafe cars. Also with a 85, speeds will be more like 95+. Imagine driving 90 in your Vette and a Chevy Aveo is 20 feet behind you.

[PLRX]

Originally Posted by Wathen1955

I like the idea but you know as well as I that idiots will be on the road with their cheap and unsafe cars. Also with a 85, speeds will be more like 95+. Imagine driving 90 in your Vette and a Chevy Aveo is 20 feet behind you.

I dont think the wind would let that make it to 80 MPH. I was behind one of those things once and looks like a kite bouncing all over the place. Looked unsafe so I got away from it quick.

[Frizlefrak]

Originally Posted by PLRX

I dont think the wind would let that make it to 80 MPH. I was behind one of those things once and looks like a kite bouncing all over the place. Looked unsafe so I got away from it quick.

Only if he hooked a tow strap to me.....

[PLRX]

Originally Posted by Frizlefrak

Only if he hooked a tow strap to me.....

where is this going?

[Frizlefrak]

Originally Posted by PLRX

where is this going?

[PLRX]

From the Powerblock Blog




Speed limit will increase to 85 mph on Texas highway
September 06, 2012
by powerblocktv
85 miles per hour, Austin, Dallas, Texas Transportation Commission

From Dallasnews.com:

Texas will soon open a stretch of highway with the highest speed limit in the country.

The Texas Transportation Commission has approved the 85 mph speed limit for a 41-mile-long toll road near the increasingly crowded Interstate 35 corridor between Austin and San Antonio.

The road runs several miles east of the interstate between two of the state’s largest metropolitan areas. And while some drivers may be eager to put the pedal to the metal and rip through the Central Texas countryside, others are asking if it is safe.

“The research is clear that when speed limits go up, fatalities go up,” said Russ Rader, a spokesman for the nonprofit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Higher speed limits get people to their destinations faster, Rader said, “But the trade-off is more crashes and more highway deaths.”

A 2009 report in the American Journal of Public Health studied traffic fatalities in the U.S. from 1995 to 2005 and found that more than 12,500 deaths were attributable to increases in speed limits on all kinds of roads.

The study also said that rural highways showed a 9.1 percent increase in fatalities on roads where speed limits were raised, but did not cite specific numbers in those instances.

Most highways in the U.S. top out at 75 mph, and there are no longer any roads in the U.S. with no speed limit like Germany’s autobahn. Some highways in rural West Texas and Utah have 80 mph speed limits.

The Texas Legislature last year approved 85 mph limits for some new stretches of road. The strip of toll road running from Austin to Seguin, about 35 miles northeast of San Antonio, will be the first to allow that speed when it opens in November.

The Texas Transportation Commission, which is appointed by Gov. Rick Perry, approved the 85 mph speed limit at a public meeting on Aug. 30. A transportation department spokesman said commissioners would not comment on their decision.

Agency officials had previously said they would study the toll road’s topography, the speeds that most drivers were reaching, and the safety of access points and cross sections before approving the 85 mph speed limit.

“Safety is our top priority and tests have shown the designated speed is a safe one,” agency spokeswoman Veronica Beyer said.

Alan Guckian, who lives in Austin and regularly drives to Seguin to visit family, said he’ll likely use the road for convenience and the pleasure of driving fast.

“I would love it,” Guckian said. “Sometimes it’s fun to just open it up.”

Steve Marcy sometimes uses another part of the toll road on his daily commute from Round Rock, north of Austin, to his job in San Antonio. The section he drives now has an 80 mph speed limit.

Marcy said he’d be comfortable driving 85, but would be concerned about others driving vehicles that are not in good condition.

“A tire blowout (at 85 mph) could be a big hazard,” Marcy said.

Chris Lippincott, spokesman for SH 130 Concession Co. that is building the road, said the company is committed to operating a safe highway.

“On any road, drivers hold the key to safety based on traffic, travel conditions and the capabilities of their own vehicles,” Lippincott said.

Toll prices have not yet been set for the new section. Marcy predicted the higher speed limit will attract new drivers, but said most won’t think it’s worth the cost of the tolls.

“For most people I talk to, it’s a cost issue,” Marcy said.

[WW7]

Most of the cars here in West Virginia would have parts flying off them at 85 mph.. People here usually keep their cars at least 20-25 years before getting a new one.. ...I've had guys ask if I was selling my "94 F150" just so they could move up to a newer model...........WW

[PLRX]

Originally Posted by WW7

Most of the cars here in West Virginia would have parts flying off them at 85 mph.. People here usually keep their cars at least 20-25 years before getting a new one.. ...I've had guys ask if I was selling my "94 F150" just so they could move up to a newer model...........WW

That explains why Hokie sold his 87

[jda67gta]

Originally Posted by PortDawg

I REALLY want to live in Texas someday...maybe...

C'mon down. We'll hunt a little dove, kill a few whitetails, and drink a little Makers 46- all in the same day.

[C4fan]

Here in OK I drive 75-80 most of the time if traffic allows anyway. It would be nice to know that it was legal though. Most of the time (unless the leo's are having a crack down they ignore me. And I often follow them at that speed all the way to work or home.

[DukeAllen]

Looks like I have to go down there and finally use up all of a mid 80s speedometer.