The Oil Drum

38 comments on A short-term closure of a theme perhaps, and a song?

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Catskill on May 15, 2006 - 8:22pm

This is why I think going back to 55 mph limit would be impossible unless it was done voluntarily - it does seem so slow with cars now built to so handily achieve and handle 70 - 80 mph.

Plus enforcement is a joke - not that I blame the cops - I would be hesitant to pull over speeders in the middle of the free-for-all that is typical of an interstate...

I've thought for a long time that there should be limiters of some sort on engines that would not allow cruising speeds over 70 mph - but then how would you be able to work in the ability to get the extra punch when you really need it (i.e. emergency situation, passing etc) ?

Still I can't see why giant pick-ups hauling trailers with boats etc etc need to be flying down the road at 80 mph. I'm a geologist and drive a full size Ford (work truck) for field work - I've had to haul a few things and been in a couple situations that really required a bit of power - but I've been doing this about 12 years and the times I've truly needed what these trucks are capable of are very few and far between. They are overpowered for image rather than utility - and they waste a huge amount of fuel.

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Donal on May 15, 2006 - 9:44pm

I suspect a lot of those truckers are flying on No-Doze and coffee.

On some highways the newest, smoothest lane is the leftmost lane, so everyone stays left to avoid that thump-thump-thump where the concrete joints don't align anymore. During long, boring drives, I've often thought that building a left lane, or several left lanes, with bad joints and maintaining right lanes better might induce drivers to save the left lanes for quick passes. It also might slow some people down - although I've seen some pretty fast action on some really decrepit highways in Connecticut, home of the "Road Legally Closed" dodge back in the 70s.