85mph Speed Limit Goes Into Effect Sept 1st

[webby]

Tomorrow is "85 mph day" in Texas

Today, the top speed limit in the country is 80 mph. By tomorrow, September 1, 2011, the Texas Legislature will have upped the state's maximum speed limit to 85 miles per hour, faster than any other state in the nation.

We're not sure yet which of the many rural highways in Texas will be posted at 85. The Texas Department of Transportation has yet to decide. Prospective roadways must first must pass safety and structural integrity tests.

But when it does? Whoo-wee!

 

[Dar-Dar]

Wow. So going at least 90mph isn't pushing it to get a ticket?

Cmon! Jersey is slacking with its 55mph speed limits!

 

[dentrecords]

That's awesome.

 

[MrsJrotax101]

I know where Robert will be visiting soon

 

[webby]

oh c'mon... he blasts past 85 legally on the track. He doesn't need a stinky public road

 

[bootyluvr]

I still don't understand why the raise in the speed limit.. I'm not complaining.. but when the speed limit is 80MPH people will go 80MPH-95MPH.. and when the speed limit is 85MPH people will go 80MPH-100MPH...

Will they be more strict and give more tickets for people going over the 85MPH?

I thought I read a study where the higher the speed limit the more accidents/deaths were found.. :shrug: I dunno.

 

[MrsJrotax101]

oh c'mon... he blasts past 85 legally on the track. He doesn't need a stinky public road

True true...like over 130+ with me in the car

 

[webby]

more accidents/deaths were found

that's true to an extent. The higher the speed, the less chance of surviving a crash.

Studies show that even an increase of 5 mph results in more fatalities, Rader said.

A 2002 study by researchers in New Zealand evaluated the effects of increasing rural interstate speed limits in the U.S. from 65 mph to 70 or 75 mph.
They found states that increased limits from 65 to 75 experienced a 38 percent higher death rate on those roads. States that increased the limit to 70 experienced a 35 percent increase.

Most of the roads they increase speed limits on will probably be more rural / less traffic. Doesn't mean there will be more accidents, just means the accidents that do happen may have a higher chance of being fatal. If you hit someone head on doing 80+, and the other is doing 80mph+...

 

[clevrname]

I wanna go there!

 

[Damaca]

Thats it. I'm moving back! WOO HOO! And I thought 75 in LaSalle County was awesome. Love Texas!!!

 

[wanga]

I wish we could have 85 here in jersey :-(