I’ve spent the last week driving around in an underpowered, less-than-easy-to-see-out-of Chevy HHR for work. The car pretty much sucks. But you know what I realized this week, after driving for ~50 hours and logging over 1,000 miles (yes, it is averages out to be very slow driving)….our speed limits suck even more than that piece of shit car.
And really I’m talking about our higher limit roadways and highways.
Why can’t we just pick a realistic speed limit and stick to it. The current system is total bullshit. It’s like, yeah, the speed limit is 55, but we’ll give you roughly 10 for free. But that’s just it, it’s rough…it’s an invitation to gamble (I realize I was just in Vegas, but it’s true). You might be OK at ten over with the state patrol, but come Evendale they’re looking for $$$.
The problem is an extension of the way we drive, and our need to get places as fast as possible. Yes, we could take our time, be respectful of other drivers, and only move left to pass…instead we pretend like our lives will be that much more fulfilled if we can save a few precious minutes by zipping past one another, weaving back and forth on the highway.
Plus we have to deal with the one guy wants who wants to go 67, and the guy behind him who decides he’s more comfortable at 68, so they have this sick twisted cruise control battle that I get stuck behind. And I’m part of the problem, I want to go faster than both those jerks, not because I have to, but because I think I can do it without a ticket.
We need to pick realistic limits ~5-10 mph faster on most every road. And instead of one number, you need a range of, let’s say, 5 mph. So cruising down I-75 would read Speed Limits 70-75 (or 75-80 as I would have it). If everyone aims to stay in the middle (and doesn’t fall into the 1 mph battle above), we should all cruise with much less angst. And the numbers on the speed limits sign–yeah, they’re LIMITS. Which means there is no more guess work. If you’re going over or under that, you’re likely to get pulled over. No more slamming on the brakes and slowing down because you see a speed trap and you’re doing five over.
We can leave a slow lane in the far right for the elderly/people that love driving 10 mph below the speed limit for no reason (I hate you!).
I understand we could simply raise the speed limit and actually enforce it, but I think there should be an enforceable minimum as well–if you really want to drive THAT slow, I’m begging you, please move over to the right. Frankly it’s for your safety as much as it’s for my convenience.
Maybe all we need is a higher speed limit/a minimum speed for the left lane or two.
No matter what you do to the speed limit people will still go faster than one another, and there will always be jackasses on the road. I think, however, the overall pace of traffic would move better if we took out a lot of the wiggle room. At the least I could drive the speed I want without worrying about a ticket. And really, this is all about self-preservation.
If this were on twitter I’d throw in #nevergonnahappen and #inmydreams hashtags….I’m not crazy, just ranting.
But just think about all the injuries and deaths that would occur!!! At anything over 65-70, axles break, wheels fall off, and the heavens collapse into an inescapable black hole… You’re the asshole for even suggesting this!