Texas to raise speed limit?
05-18-2006, 03:45 AM
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Texas to raise speed limit?
Texas Considers Raising Speed Limit
SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Drivers on two West Texas highways could soon be able to go 80
mph without risking a speeding ticket.
A proposal by the state Department of Transportation seeks to raise the speed limit on
Interstates 10 and 20 in West Texas, despite opposition from fuel conservation
advocates. The Texas Transportation Commission could take up the proposal next week.
Legislation passed last year allows for higher speeds in 10 West Texas counties, most of
which currently have 75 mph speed limits.
Carlos Lopez, director of traffic operations for the transportation department, said a
survey of both interstates found that 85 percent of motorists already were driving up to
79 mph.
``If people begin to think that the number on the sign is unreasonable, then they won't
respect it,'' Lopez said. ``Just putting up a lower number on the highway isn't going to
slow down traffic.''
But with gas prices at a premium, some groups said drivers should be encouraged to
slow down rather than speed up.
Increasing the speed limit ``will have a perverse reaction,'' said Peter Iwanowicz,
director of environmental health at the American Lung Association. ``Increasing the
speed limit will increase fuel use.''
U.S. Department of Energy studies show gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds
above 60 mph.
Transportation department spokesman Randall Dillard said the 80 mph speed limit was
also intended to make the interstate safer, because motorists would be traveling at a
uniform speed.
SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Drivers on two West Texas highways could soon be able to go 80
mph without risking a speeding ticket.
A proposal by the state Department of Transportation seeks to raise the speed limit on
Interstates 10 and 20 in West Texas, despite opposition from fuel conservation
advocates. The Texas Transportation Commission could take up the proposal next week.
Legislation passed last year allows for higher speeds in 10 West Texas counties, most of
which currently have 75 mph speed limits.
Carlos Lopez, director of traffic operations for the transportation department, said a
survey of both interstates found that 85 percent of motorists already were driving up to
79 mph.
``If people begin to think that the number on the sign is unreasonable, then they won't
respect it,'' Lopez said. ``Just putting up a lower number on the highway isn't going to
slow down traffic.''
But with gas prices at a premium, some groups said drivers should be encouraged to
slow down rather than speed up.
Increasing the speed limit ``will have a perverse reaction,'' said Peter Iwanowicz,
director of environmental health at the American Lung Association. ``Increasing the
speed limit will increase fuel use.''
U.S. Department of Energy studies show gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds
above 60 mph.
Transportation department spokesman Randall Dillard said the 80 mph speed limit was
also intended to make the interstate safer, because motorists would be traveling at a
uniform speed.
06-02-2006, 03:09 AM
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FYI it applies to highways only out in West Texas, for example on I-10 it starts and stops once it gets close to san antonio..if anyone has been on I-10 before there isn't a car on there that does under 80 to begin with, I've been cruising at 80 and got passed by two modded BMW 7 series V12s doing about 100+.
Eitherway if you've been west of SAN AN you will notice that there IS NOTHING OUT THERE, its just endless plains and desert, so it makes sence to up the limit.
Eitherway if you've been west of SAN AN you will notice that there IS NOTHING OUT THERE, its just endless plains and desert, so it makes sence to up the limit.
06-06-2006, 09:12 PM
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Texas to raise speed limit.
yeah i know. i live in Odessa, Tx. when i travel west i saw them changing the speed limite signs. yes there is nothing out here and we should be allowed to drive that fast.
01-30-2007, 12:33 PM
#10
Wow, a thread where I can post some of the useless information I have stored in my head..
While driving along the other day, I noticed that in my SS S/C 80mph = exactly 3k rpms in 5th gear.
That is all...
While driving along the other day, I noticed that in my SS S/C 80mph = exactly 3k rpms in 5th gear.
That is all...
Last edited by Pyros777; 01-30-2007 at 08:53 PM.
01-30-2007, 08:03 PM
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sounds like fun, but i dooubt they ever raise the speed limit anywhere around here. it would be useful though since people here cruise around 80mph as well. at least raise it to 70mph. this 60 and 55 stuff sucks!
01-31-2007, 11:53 PM
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I was out west about 2 years ago when I took this pic. The speed limit changed on the other side of San Antonio somewhere around Kerrville or Junction...I haven't been back out that way to see if it has changed to 80 like I heard...
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01-31-2007, 11:58 PM
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FYI it applies to highways only out in West Texas, for example on I-10 it starts and stops once it gets close to san antonio..if anyone has been on I-10 before there isn't a car on there that does under 80 to begin with, I've been cruising at 80 and got passed by two modded BMW 7 series V12s doing about 100+.
Eitherway if you've been west of SAN AN you will notice that there IS NOTHING OUT THERE, its just endless plains and desert, so it makes sence to up the limit.
Eitherway if you've been west of SAN AN you will notice that there IS NOTHING OUT THERE, its just endless plains and desert, so it makes sence to up the limit.
02-02-2007, 06:14 PM
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It can be done in less but not by much....On the trip when I took that picture above I basically drove across the state and where I ended up was about 70 miles from El Paso and I started in Freeport, actually Lake Jackson, but I did it in 11 hours only stopping for gas and eating on the fly...
Here's a link to the distance I traveled...Road trip...
Here's a link to the distance I traveled...Road trip...
02-02-2007, 11:30 PM
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Oddly, over thanksgiving, I noticed my car got great gas mileage while cruising between 75 and 90 mph. I averaged just over 32 mpg for the entire trip. The whole thing about worse gas mileage is only half true. If a car is set up for it, they will get decent mileage. Hell, just do like germany. Make it illegal to run out of gas. And I think most people in a 70 or 75 zone definitely cruise closer to 80-85.
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