No Speed Limits? California Considering “Unlimited” Lanes on Two Highways

[jimtranr]

I remember driving this through "reasonable and proper" Nevada on the way from Colorado to southern California in 1957 at an average of about 105 mph. There was virtually no traffic on the road, which was mostly rural two-lane, and not a cop in sight. But that was then...

[Mack]

Originally Posted by mtroo

Reasonable and prudent lasted around 5 or 6 years here. It was challenged at the Montana Supreme Court as being vague. Some pinhead was doing 120 mph and argued this both reasonable and prudent. The reasonable and prudent came about as a result of the 1994 US Congress lifting the mandated 55mph speed limit. Before that, the police would hand out conservation fines of $5 for anything under about 90mph. Currently our speed limit is 80mph on the interstate, 70mph on two lanes. Although we are a rural state (around 4 times the size of Michigan or Ohio) and until recently less than 1 million people, our large critters can wreak havoc. I have a friend that hit a moose, and when the tow truck operator came to retreive the car off Hwy 200, he was in total disbelief that the driver could survive. So some limits do seem reasonable.

giant-mouse.jpg

That driver must have hit this.

[antipop]

Well I've had my fun on the German autobahn and seeing the three crossed lines on the signs was always happy moment.

As long as you know what you're doing and see far ahead, you can push it quite far without feeling being in danger. Also since the rest of the drivers are expecting to see people at over 200kph in the left lane, they are more cautious when overtaking.

[W9TR]

Yes - I love the 3 slashes on the BAB!

But also, even when the speed limit is unrestricted, there is a Richtgeschwindigkeit, or advisory speed limit of 130 kph, about 80 mph. Above that speed, you hold increased liability should an incident occur.

Driving at 200 kph for extended periods really wears you out as there is always someone going faster so you have to pull into the right lane and often brake heavily for slower moving traffic.

Then there are the cars. Most German cars are built for these speeds.

The thought of somebody in a Hyundai doing 100 on the interstate, loose body trim flapping I the breeze, just scares the hell out of me.
Tom

[Macuser]

Working on highways for a living for the past 30+ years has taught me that the general public doesn't have the driving skills necessary for no speed limit type of driving. And God forbid that no limit might apply to the big rigs.

[antipop]

Originally Posted by W9TR

Yes - I love the 3 slashes on the BAB!

But also, even when the speed limit is unrestricted, there is a Richtgeschwindigkeit, or advisory speed limit of 130 kph, about 80 mph. Above that speed, you hold increased liability should an incident occur.

Driving at 200 kph for extended periods really wears you out as there is always someone going faster so you have to pull into the right lane and often brake heavily for slower moving traffic.

Then there are the cars. Most German cars are built for these speeds.

The thought of somebody in a Hyundai doing 100 on the interstate, loose body trim flapping I the breeze, just scares the hell out of me.
Tom

The car is really key here, 200kph in a Macan or a G Wagon is really hard to sustain for any long period of time. In a 911, it's a different story.

I'm guessing a 7-series or S-class you shouldn't feel it.

Time of the day is important too, it's easier to maintain those speeds at 1am than 1pm.

[Route 66]

I routinely drive the freeways here in CA at 80MPH and have people zipping past me all the time. I like the idea of those speed demons having their own lanes separate from the rest of us.

[PHC1]

The number one selling vehicle in the US is a Ford F-150. Just let that sink in for a moment...

[Poppyhome]

Originally Posted by W9TR

Then there are the cars. Most German cars are built for these speeds.

My electric German cars top speed is limited to 150 km/h (93 mph).

Ron