Yet in Germany it's called "enforcing lane discipline, " and is expected. Or so I've been told.

quote Originally posted by s550w: While I could see national speed limits again, hopefully we will see better mpg cars instead.

I would like to see both happen--modified this time tho.
On Interstates, the limit stays as is.
All other roads & highways drop to 55.
In Texas, we have too many sub-par roads with a 65mph speed limit on them, many with no shoulders, too many sharp curves, business and industry entrances.

Ditto all that has been said about slower drivers not using the left lane. I tend to drive conservativly, and always use the right lane. Even if I drive at a posted speed limit of 70mph, I stay in the right lane most of the time.

I don't speed---can't afford the fines. Jane handles that department. Last one was 90 in a 70.

Bah, I cant drive 55. I am not the slowest driver, but I am also not a retarded speeder who does not care about anyone else on the road.

Now with a 55mph speed limit its making the agressive drivers, like me, just get more pissed off at the slow speed of the roadways. Defencive drivers might not see the difference and will actually support this. But if the road was full of defencive drivers, then the roads will be REALLY unsafe, same with agressive, there is a balance on the roadways, and it should not be disturbed.

Here are my average speeds I drive:

in a 65mph zone: 80mph
in a 55: 65mph
in a 45: 50mph
in a 35: 45mph
in a 25: 30mph
in a 15: 30mph
in a 5: 15mph

Thats my regular cruise driving, now if its 2AM and the roads are empty, the chart has a few more 3 digit numbers generally, only if cops are missing and the roads are empty, I would never do that when there is traffic. My gas milage is fine, right about at the rated milage for cars, its all dependant on how you drive, if you floor it or drive a massive SUV with the aerodynamic profile of a brick of course your gas milage goes to hell in a handbasket at speed, it shouldnt affect us with our sleeker low profile aerodynamic cars.

Wow! Would you settle for 55 in a schoolzone?

quote Originally posted by maryjane: Wow! Would you settle for 55 in a schoolzone?

Well... if its raising the speed limit, Hell yeah! if lowering, No way! :P

quote Originally posted by Pyrthian: well - there is a HUGE fuel consumption difference between 55 & 70. how can anyone be unconvinced of JUST the fuel savings? the pollution reduction goes with the fuel savings - and the lives - basicly speculation.

depends on the aerodynamic efficiency of the car, the gearing, etc.

quote Originally posted by Racing_Master: if you floor it or drive a massive SUV with the aerodynamic profile of a brick of course your gas milage goes to hell in a handbasket at speed, it shouldnt affect us with our sleeker low profile aerodynamic cars.

Brick??? No way, my SUV's are more like huge-a$$ cinder blocks filled with concrete.

Simple rule of thumb I use while driving is 5-7mph or 10% over the posted speed limit whichever is less. I've passed many speed traps using this rule and not once did the cop flinch or attempt to come after me. It's kept me ticket free for the past 12 years and gas mileage has been respectable in all of my vehicles.

Since this passing lane issue has come up in this thread and I've read through all of this it's brought to my attention a few of my own character flaws while driving. When the wife says, "You're more aggressive when you drive." that's the first sign you need to be patient and calm while driving. My biggest annoyance is those impeding traffic in the left lane. And unfortunately, I'll tail gate and press them to move over...a big smiling grill of a 4x4 in the rear view mirror makes many drivers move out of the way rather quickly but of course some don't...my wife hates when I do this so I've stopped doing it for the most part. I realized, finally, that doing this puts us and the car in front of us in a potentially dangerous situation.

If the flow of traffic is faster than the posted speed limit, which it is more often than not, and you are in the left lane, going the speed limit, you're going to get run over, just move over. It prevents a lot of agression and aggrevation for everyone on the road.

None of us our perfect drivers. None of us. Yes, we get angry and upset at jerks who zip in and out of traffic and get no where fast. And yes, the thrill of driving triple digits is exhilerating but it's not safe on our roads or in traffic (of course we all know this) .

My only contribution to driving in heavy traffic is that I have at least taught my wife to give the bird to stupid driver's. She's from Bulgaria and when I first did this in front of her she was in stitches on the reaction of the other driver...ok, so it was a bad thing to teach her...lol

Took a small trip in the Magnum this past weekend. Interstate all the way. Cruise control on both ways. I was in a hurry getting there @ 70mph. Coming back same exact way with cruise at 55 cause I wasnt in a hurry. I got nearly 30% more mpg at 70. Not speculation, just the fact. 26 going, 18 coming back.

55 saves gas ,we need to save gas thru out the whole country so we can drive our cars as long as possible
The speed limit should be 55 mph (except for me) onr day it will be much lower
Do not forget my write in for president ,,I have not been able to contact my vice preidential canadate THOR the terrible .he may be in jail he would be in charge of extracting information from terr suspects ,you think the democrats and thier al qaeda allies are unhappy now wait till they see and hear thor just watching him eat will send them into apolpexy fit he will have a special cage I mean office at the white house we will have a tailor make up a suit so his knuckles dragging the ground
will not be so obvious!!THOR would never miss an oportunity to serve his country,or the chance at young couter
There will be an uproar about the multiple murder trials but he walked on ALL charges ,and for such a plum job as VP he will turn in his M/C colors(his bros will understand)The guys a real man an animal thus drawing the real womens vote ,they will not get close enough to smell him !! I will have the drug charges against him expunged or what ever
Motorcycles will be allowed to go 70mph,, but cars 55 mph,including fiero,s however once the oil fields are under my control the price of gas will drop dramaticlly.I do not know what we will use the large Iranian parking lot for ,but I will think of something Chinese imports will be set as the same as france ,the french will love us..Quebec will clamour for more integration into canada,,fiero will be the official car of america ..Driving prices above $20,000 for a non runner

[This message has been edited by uhlanstan (edited 05-28-2008).]