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BeachSt October 14th, 2013 3:03pm

I drove the speed limit for a bit on the highway last midnight- 55 mph, empty road, dark, 5 lanes. That didn't last long. Should there be different speed limits based on the time of day?

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curly
10/16/13 9:19 pm

I've seen this before. Canada? New Zealand? I can't remember, but I've seen daytime and night time speed limits posted together. And sorry mate, but the night limit was slower, not faster.

BeachSt Coastal Virginia
10/15/13 8:57 am

Really?! 40%?!?!?! You've got to be kidding me. 55 has been the speed limit for the past 3-5 decades, yet cars can go faster, are safer, driving laws are stricter. I just don't understand why people insist on living in the past.

FollowYourBliss Never Happy, Ever After
10/14/13 3:27 pm

Yes! Got a 300 speeding ticket in Oregon because it was 65, and I was going 85. It was 100% flat and straight, and I was one of three cars on the whole road. The other 2 were semi trucks.

BeachSt Coastal Virginia
10/14/13 8:01 pm

So ridiculous. Anything over 80 is automatically reckless here which is terrible!!

BeachSt Coastal Virginia
10/15/13 8:24 pm

That actually scared me one day coming down from DC. The speed limit is 70, but 81 and you're ticketed for reckless driving. Well, everyone was going about 85-95 and it was 3 am. We weren't doing anything wrong, but those cops hide everywhere.

BeachSt Coastal Virginia
10/15/13 8:25 pm

Made the trip in record time. A cop came out of the trees and got the guy in front of me, but I made it ticket free. Still ridiculous.

dotails DotUrTsAndCrossUrEyes
10/14/13 1:02 pm

Yeah u should go slower at night when you reaction speed is decreased.

BeachSt Coastal Virginia
10/14/13 2:14 pm

You mean faster when there's no one on the road but me and a straight stretch 4 lane highway at midnight, right? I mean, what do you care? You're asleep?

dotails DotUrTsAndCrossUrEyes
10/15/13 8:06 am

Um why are there seat belt laws? To protect life so We should slow down when it is dark or foggy, icy or otherwise hazardous to drive at high speed. Your life is worth saving.

BeachSt Coastal Virginia
10/15/13 8:54 am

My life is in my hands. Sorry, but a lit 4 lane highway shouldn't be 55 mph. I know how to drive, thank you. I can judge the safety of the road for myself. The road was fine to go 100+ on.

dotails DotUrTsAndCrossUrEyes
10/15/13 12:04 pm

Ok so no enforced speed limits at night? Just drive as fast as you feel is right? Thats how society in general is acting. No moral absolutes just how I feel. No hard feelings just callin it how I see it.

BeachSt Coastal Virginia
10/15/13 3:36 pm

Morals in driving. If there are no children to kill and if know the car and my driving abilities are up for it, then yes. Cars are manufactured to go faster, there are no morals involved. The US has a slow highway speed limit.

BeachSt Coastal Virginia
10/15/13 3:36 pm

Maybe I'm just this way because we have the NATO base, and all my European friends are extremely surprised that our speed limits are so low. Or could just be a southern freedom thang.

dotails DotUrTsAndCrossUrEyes
10/15/13 8:17 pm

Interesting perspective. Yeah the morals thing was just a cute coincidence I pointed out cause I thought it was intriguing.personally,I don't thing humans are up to the task at driving at the speeds the do now but when the google car comes out it...

dotails DotUrTsAndCrossUrEyes
10/15/13 8:19 pm

... Could be like in the bee movie where the stoplights are nonexistent because all the cars are aware of each other weaving through the intersection like insects. Exciting tech.

dotails DotUrTsAndCrossUrEyes
10/15/13 8:20 pm

*don't think humans
*they do now
Corrections

BeachSt Coastal Virginia
10/15/13 8:22 pm

Humans aren't capable? How can you say that when the highest speed limit in the country is 85 on a tolled, 20 mile stretch of road?? There are good drivers in America still. The lower the speed limit, the more accidents there are. That's a fact.

Jungle in the dog house
10/14/13 12:55 pm

55 mph? I didn't know that still existed.

Reply
EarlyBird Portland
10/14/13 1:15 pm

Are you kidding? That's what it is almost everywhere here. 55mph!

Grr...

BeachSt Coastal Virginia
10/14/13 2:15 pm

55 in the "city." 60 on the country highways. 65 out of the city on the highway. 70 out on the main stretches.

Jungle in the dog house
10/14/13 6:56 pm

65 in city freeways. 70-75 on rural freeways and highways.

BeachSt Coastal Virginia
10/14/13 8:00 pm

That's Texas, as well. So much better. We're catching up slowly but surely.

rrruggi Peach State
10/14/13 8:22 am

Most of our freeways have electronic speed limit signs. Based on the time of day and traffic volume, the speed limit increases or decreases. We have relatively high speed limits compared to most states though.

Reply
BeachSt Coastal Virginia
10/14/13 11:34 am

And where is this? Drivers in Atlanta seem to drive fast no matter what is posted.

EarlyBird Portland
10/14/13 1:18 pm

rr- I've never heard of that before but love the idea!

BeachSt Coastal Virginia
10/14/13 2:16 pm

They have them on the bridge portion of one of our bridge-tunnels.

BeachSt Coastal Virginia
10/14/13 2:20 pm

But inside the tunnel the signs are as old as the tunnel itself, 50 years old.

BeachSt Coastal Virginia
10/14/13 2:20 pm

That's how we know the speed limit is too low. It's been the speed limit since before the 1960's

rrruggi Peach State
10/15/13 5:40 am

It's mainly in the Atlanta metro, but you're right. Speed limits don't really mean anything to us. Police don't even seem to bother either. I think they've given up?

BeachSt Coastal Virginia
10/15/13 8:55 am

I read an article that said they were gonna start doubling down. Beginning by posting more cops there supposedly. It'll probably turn into Va where there's a trooper ever 10 miles.

DerekWills Lone Star Gun Rights
10/14/13 8:18 am

Yes. And they should increase all speed limits by 10-15mph.

Reply
EarlyBird Portland
10/14/13 1:19 pm

This state is 55mph almost everywhere!
Hate it.

PeppyHare Do a barrel roll
10/14/13 8:15 am

I think they should have dynamic speed limits in larger cities based on traffic, time of day, and weather conditions.

Octopus
10/14/13 8:13 am

Not due to the "always slow", but because I feel that inconsistency could cause confusion for some people and wouldn't be sure exactly how to implement this.

BeachSt Coastal Virginia
10/14/13 9:47 am

Electronic signs that change after 10 pm. or have the double speed limit signs like ones you see for regular and truck speed limits.

BeachSt Coastal Virginia
10/14/13 8:07 am

I ask because afterwards I cruised around the 7 cities at a gentle average speed of 90. Although there was no one around, and I had control, I could have technically been arrested in Va. I think that should change AT LEAST at night.

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Posco BBQ Enthusiast
10/14/13 8:06 am

Maybe not the time of day but on what would be accepted as a safe speed at the time. I would've drove faster too.

Posco BBQ Enthusiast
10/14/13 8:07 am

And waiting for red lights to turn when no other car is on the road. I hate that.

BeachSt Coastal Virginia
10/14/13 8:08 am

see above^

Yes, the lights flash red and yellow in some places past 2 am which makes so much more sense.

Posco BBQ Enthusiast
10/14/13 8:10 am

That would make sense.