When I learned to drive 40+ years ago everyone knew that the speed limit + 5MPH was the real world speed limit. The story was that was the limit of speedometer accuracy. Up to ten over was always pretty safe. Also back then the speed limit was more of a suggestion than the law. Kind of like if a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it does it make a noise? If I speed and no one is there to catch me did I break a law? My personal record is 104MPH, that is when the radiator hose gave out.
The point is that 40+ years ago, no matter what speed I was going people passed me.
So I just got back from a 1700 mile road trip. I did most of it at speed limit + 4 MPH regulated by cruise control and monitored by Garmin GPS. I went from somewhere around Kansas City to 100 miles of Denver with NO ONE passing me. When I got to Denver - 100 miles a total of 3 cares zipped by.
What happened in the last 40 some years that made so many law abiding drivers?
Are you all sheep? are you all looking at gas mileage? Scared of tickets?
I went by two or three speed traps at +4 and they did not twitch.
I haven't noticed that. Old anecdote about Iowa, when the Feds instituted new national speed limits, the people of this fine state weren't used to going 55 miles per hour and were wrecking until they got used to it.
Try I-25 in off peak hours, I think it runs about 10+ mph the posted limit.
Thomas Sowell: There are no solutions, just trade-offs.
FredHayek wrote: I haven't noticed that. Old anecdote about Iowa, when the Feds instituted new national speed limits, the people of this fine state weren't used to going 55 miles per hour and were wrecking until they got used to it.
Try I-25 in off peak hours, I think it runs about 10+ mph the posted limit.
Road trip much?
Does your driving recollections of 40~ years ago reflect or contradict mine?
Come on down to AZ.....from what I have been able to observe....the posted speed limit is only for out of state drivers (we want them to be safe on the roads) but in-state drivers can pretty much do what they please. Same goes for stop signs....true story.....one lady in the area told my husband that she never stops for the neighborhood stop signs, they are placed there for tourists and snow birds.
We take a major road trip every year....and I think you may be onto something Bob, drivers do seem to be speeding less, and I have wondered if a. they are trying to conserve their very expensive gas or b. there are a lot of people driving with one or two drinks in them and they don't want to get busted for speeding and have to breath into a bottle. There are, however, big differences in speeding behavior in different regions....mid west.....and some parts of the east coast (PA, NY, NJ) we see fewer speeders......Texas, AZ are the worst for speeders. Colorado, somewhere in the middle.
archer wrote: We take a major road trip every year....and I think you may be onto something Bob, drivers do seem to be speeding less, and I have wondered if a. they are trying to conserve their very expensive gas or b. there are a lot of people driving with one or two drinks in them and they don't want to get busted for speeding and have to breath into a bottle. There are, however, big differences in speeding behavior in different regions....mid west.....and some parts of the east coast (PA, NY, NJ) we see fewer speeders......Texas, AZ are the worst for speeders. Colorado, somewhere in the middle.
I did not think of the cocktail hour drivers. I used to love starting a trip at dusk and driving all night. Now I do my best to drive during daylight. This last trip was mostly between early morning and late afternoon.
While I do know people who start drinking as soon as they wake up,, I can not believe they are a significant part of interstate traffic.
Your right of course about drinking drivers....I posted that as a bit of a joke.....it's probably MJ that keeps them slower now
Age can certainly change old habits.....we always traveled in the night, especially long road trips....it always seemed shorter if the bulk of the driving was done before the sun came up.....it also kept the pups (we always travel with a few furry friends) calm and sleeping, not much to see in the dark. I also like night time radio....though now with satellite radio travel entertainment has improved. But with age came less desire to drive all night, and we no longer will do the 24 hour drives just switching drivers at pit stops. 6 hour days.....pull into an RV park, have a glass of wine, cook a nice dinner, watch a little TV, or open the computer, a good night sleep and then back on the road in the morning with some good home brewed coffee. We have become the happier, slower, more relaxed drivers on the road!
archer wrote: Your right of course about drinking drivers....I posted that as a bit of a joke.....it's probably MJ that keeps them slower now
Age can certainly change old habits.....we always traveled in the night, especially long road trips....it always seemed shorter if the bulk of the driving was done before the sun came up.....it also kept the pups (we always travel with a few furry friends) calm and sleeping, not much to see in the dark. I also like night time radio....though now with satellite radio travel entertainment has improved. But with age came less desire to drive all night, and we no longer will do the 24 hour drives just switching drivers at pit stops. 6 hour days.....pull into an RV park, have a glass of wine, cook a nice dinner, watch a little TV, or open the computer, a good night sleep and then back on the road in the morning with some good home brewed coffee. We have become the happier, slower, more relaxed drivers on the road!
:thumbsup: I remember the days when I was able to drive to Alaska by myself (4000 miles in 5 days). Now I plan the road trips around the stops.
The left is angry because they are now being judged by the content of their character and not by the color of their skin.
But as to your theory BB - maybe more people are using cruise control? I am sure 40 years ago there wasn't such a convenience in cars. I dont use it now because I don't like the feeling it gives me of not being in control of the car.
