Texas studies 85 MPH speed limit, fastest in US. Is this crazy?

Now I can get out of 3rd gear!

this is how it should be

How many accidents do you see on the autoban?

Less laws generally is better. But I am rarely in a hurry when driving, and I like to enjoy the trip and the scenery. I don't like to drive too fast, lest I get there before I leave?

I'm not so sure I like for the speed limit to be higher, if I am then forced to drive faster to keep up with the safe flow of traffic. But I haven't seen any problems in the few places where the speed limit is a bit higher.

Wasn't a lot of the reason for lowering speed limit to 55, the supposed shortage of oil? That was so phony. U.S. has found so much oil, we could be totally energy independent and stop importing oil, if the government would let us develop it.

What Texas really needs to do, is nullify ObamaCare, and allow real alternatives to the failing U.S. dollar.

Most issues, including speed limit, would seem to be states rights issues. Texas can do what they want, within reason. States should compete for citizens. If people don't like how a state does things, there's other states.

Ever driven across Texas????

In some parts of Texas it would be understandable. But they need to keep the highways in excellent shape where they post those speed limits.

peole drive that in 70mph in VA hey would drivwe 95 there

If they are going for 85 they need to adopt Montana's de facto "reasonable and prudent" speed limit, and have some kind of education on what it means. If the Italians can have mopeds and Ferraris on the same autostada/interstate then we can figure it out too!
Personally I like to drive about 60 in my old VW Rabbit, I don't want to get run over any worse than I am already by people who have to push the envelope and go 5-10+ over the limit.
With an "undefined" speed limit of basically no more than 5-10 mph faster than the conditions favor, drivers would begin to adopt good driving practices such as keep up with traffic, lane discipline, and don't drive faster than everyone else.
I't worked fine for Montana, it was just a stupid court case over a speeding ticket that got it repealed.

Will your VW Rabbit reach 85mph?

Too many drivers are already speeding; plus texting, talking on phone, eating, etc...
No wonder we have so many fatal accidents or worse...get injured for life.

They do the same in Europe, and the still have deregulated stretches of freeways where there are no speed limits.
Texas is a big state with large expanses between cities, they'll do fine.

What do they think they're in... Montana?

I know the saying goes, "everything's bigger in Texas," but this seems a little much. There's been a lot more idiot drivers out there, and this might cause a few more accidents. But I don't know. I could be wrong.

No, Do you think the German people are crazy?

Im not really sure.But i think most of texas is like country really.So them going that fast would not afffect anybody.

I advocated increasing the speed limits in UK from 70 - 80 on motorways.
Most people drive at 80 - 85 anyway. The police just turn a blind eye.
If it were genuinely raised to 80 - 85 people would break that and probably try going 95+ not enough drivers with the skills to manage that. I like the blind eye of the British police best.

In 1960s Britain - before a speed limit was introduced - people were perfectly happy to do a nice even 100 mph. Calculating an ETA was easy and all was well..... until AC Cars ruined it for everyone by doing 180 on the Preston Bypass in an AC Cobra.
Sure enough, the next thing you know, there was a permanent 70 mph speed limit.

Thanks AC Cars. ( Wankers )

when I was a kid, many states did not have limits other than in bad weather. the signs stated "reasonable" speed. so if everyone was doing 100 and you were doing 105.. no problem. but if you were doing 130 then there's issue.

And at that time, we had crappy brakes, bias ply tires, NO seatbelts.. so with todays cars, people's stupidity is better protected.

driving through TX at 55 was TORTURE in the mid 70's.

Yes, Illinois didn't have any speed limit until the middle of 1957. I went to Wisconsin in June and didn't come back till September. I remember how funny it was to see the speed limit signs when I crossed over into Illinois.

At least on Motorways (Freeways in the US). The German autobahns have no general speed limit except for certain local restrictions. Some European countries highways like in Austria, France, and Italy are around that speed limit at 130kph(81mph) and is proposed in the UK for 2013.

Most speed limits in Europe are 80, and the Autobahan - the safest road in the world - has no speed limit in many places. Step on it! Besides, it just gets me out of Texas faster.

It's a waste of gas. I think 85 is crazy. If they raise it to 85, in actuality, the speeds driven will range anywhere form 95-105. I think gas needs to be rationed again...then people will see how wasteful it is to go over 60. But, I'm in the minority here was usual so what does it matter?

Thank you for your response. You make some valid points.

You're welcome. Just observations when it was raised to 65 here back some years ago. I'm not an old fuddy duddy but people blitzing by at hyper warp speed...and texting....I think I'll stay home

The texters are the worst.

Amen to that

I'm too busy enjoying my driving to want to text someone.

Time is money, and I am not one for the saying that "life is the journey, not the destination." I remember the days of 55... they were hell. The drive that took 8 hours from Phoenix to L.A. got chopped down to 5 when they raised the limit to 75. More recently, 1100 Miles from Medford to Phoenix. At 80 MPH, 19 hours, At 55 in a VW beetle, 26 hours.

Time is money...because after 65 mph, you're throwing money hand over fist on gas. I think part of the problem is the internet has made us all want everything by last year. I'm not saying I drive 55 (tho in areas where there's speed traps I do if that's the limit) but when I see I"m around 70 mph...I ease down.

It sounds like a realistic speed limit for a modern highway!

that's just way too fast. Not only endangers the person going that speed but everyone else in their way.

The Autobahn in Germany has no speed limit and it is the safest road in the world.

that's my average speed to be honest.

Autobahn, autobahn, autobahn, lol.
We need to get rid of stupid drivers, so let them kill themselves off so the rest of society can be rid of them.
Lets create an autobahn for the exceptionally stupid drivers so they can go to that indy 500 race in the sky, lol!!!!

slow driving is always safe and promising that you will reach the destination.

AH...so Im not the only one who thinks this way :)

Slow drivers, driving under the limit cause lots of accidents, especially the idiots driving under the limit in the left lane.