Quote:
Originally Posted by jcyuhn
Texas actually seems to be reasonable about limits. Much of our rural interstates are signed at 80MPH, and the remainder is mostly 75 outside cities. Secondary highways are 70 or 75 MPH. Frankly, our limits on secondary highways are much higher than European "A" roads.
And of course we have a new toll road near Austin with an 85MPH limit. Prior to opening it last fall, the state let John Hennessey run some of his cars through to toll readers at top speed. Makes for an interesting video: Hennessey ZL1 Camaro Runs 203.9 MPH on Texas Toll Road - YouTube There are definitely some things I like about this state... |
Texas has always taken a sedate view of raising speed limits. Perhaps realistic might be a better word.
When I started driving it was not unusual to see cars from the 30's and 40's still on the road as folks daily drivers. It seemed like every other person was driving a late 40's car with knee-action shocks. The speed limit was 60 in the daytime and 55 at night. With the headlights cars had then 50 at night was really pushing it.
Roads got better when them new fangled Interstates came through (I once got a ticket for doing 120!) but there were still a lot of cars around that could not deal with the higher speeds.
Time marched on and roads got better and cars got better but until they sort of caught up with each other the speed limits did not go up.
Now the DPS tracks speeds on highways not to just give out tickets but to determine just how fast people are really driving. Then they look at the average safe speed and adjust the max limit.
Several highways I drive were recently raised to 75 from 70 and from 65 to 70.
This is progress.