Texas contemplates 80 MPH speed limits
Posted By RichC on May 18, 2006
Does this seem odd to you? The US is economically concerned over the price of fuel, yet the State of Texas prepares to increase highways speed from 75 to 80 MPH. Maybe its just me, but I recall the last time we were sweating about oil price and imports … we reduced, not increased, speed limits? Before the comments start, I drive above the current highway speeds and prefer it that way. I can’t imagine having slow to a 55MPH limit again … but that’s not the point. The point is the timing; why would any state increase the speedlimit when as a nation we want to reduce our demand for fuel?
As a nation we’re looking for ways to stretch petroleum and reduce dependance on foriegn oil by combining trips, inflating tires, tuning engines and selecting ‘right sized’ automobiles. The car companies are required to increase efficiency in building cars and tax incentives are put in place to implement alternative fuels sources and hybrids. We’re trying to reduce our consumption and use energy more efficiently so why would someone ‘now’ propose a higher speed limit knowing that every vehicle on the road would use more fuel at higher speeds?
Currently, the states of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming have 75 MPH speed limits.
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