Man are 80MPH speed limits nice

[Mike W.]

I remember a C+D editorial years ago now saying what this country really needs is an 85MPH speed limit. I think it was back in the days of the filthy 55 speed limits. Regardless, I took it about as seriously as expecting an immediate doubling of pay for guys named Mike. Ok, maybe less so.

Past few days I've been traveling across Nevada, Idaho, Montana and North Dakota, all of which except ND have had maximums, at times, of 80, and ND has been 75. With about 5 bluesmobiles spotted in nearly 1500 miles, it's been glorious. Today was over 600 miles, mostly across Montana,which is a big ass state, and the only reason we didn't get into the hotel before 6 is because they didn't use the street name for the exit, they had some number name so I overshot and had to backtrack. We did get out crazy early, for me at least, it was before 10. Had the CC set on the new Datsun a little over 85 as it seems 5 fast, and it just chewed up the miles. Not exactly the Autobahn, but it's almost, almost, reasonable.

Never would have thought I'd see it in my lifetime. Not that my home state of California has gone that way, but even some is amazing to me.

Yes, a rare rave, not a rant.

[MLastovo]

Hey Mike,
I wish I had known you were going to be passing through ND. I would have had either my sister in Bismarck or my brother in Fargo take you out to lunch.

Safe travels,
Darin

[Theotherotter]

I recently drove my E12 from northwest Washington to Chicago; we took non-Interstates from Bellingham to Rapid City, then I-90 the rest of the way. I agree that it's awfully nice. Even on the back highways in Montana I could do 75, and the short bits of 90 in Montana and all of SD I could do 80-90. It's a great way to cover ground (and a great car to do it in.)

[Mike W.]

Thanks Darin, I do recall meeting your sister a few months back. I don't recall her name, but even at the time I told her I would remember her as "Darin's sister" and she seemed good with that and laughed.

But we're barely making it into the state, Dickenson, where my wife's Mother was born, is as far in as we're getting.

[1st 5er]

A recent trip from CA's Bay area back to the HTX area, had me longing for the 80 MPH at the TX line.
Those last 700 + miles just flew by.
If only the cruise control had worked in the E23 at the time.

[MyE21]

California essentially has 80 mph speed limits in many areas.

For example, the 5 freeway between Irvine and San Diego. If you’re doing 80 in the fast lane you’ll have people flying by you on the right.

Much of the 405, and other so cal freeways, are flowing at 75-80 these days, easily. Highway patrol pulls on and everyone just ignores them and continues on.

[Mike W.]

California essentially has 80 mph speed limits in many areas.

For example, the 5 freeway between Irvine and San Diego. If you’re doing 80 in the fast lane you’ll have people flying by you on the right.

Much of the 405, and other so cal freeways, are flowing at 75-80 these days, easily. Highway patrol pulls on and everyone just ignores them and continues on.

I have seen that in Southern California at times, when traffic allows, but up north and in the central valley it's a different story, not nearly that fast. Speeds have picked up in the past few years, 75 is now common, but 80 is rare. Even going down 5 thru the valley traffic moves faster as you get closer to the grapevine. I-80 at times and places will move at 75+, but not much more and only in places. Thru the mountain states in the past few days has been entirely different. Plus relatively sparse traffic allows near continuous traffic at 80+.

[bert poliakoff]

Years ago I got stopped for speeding in Montana. I said to the cop I thought you had no speed limits here. He never really responded to that but after 20 mins of chatting he let me go. Next day I got nailed again in Nevada. I told the cop the same thing. His answer was I was in a Township so that didn't apply. But he said not to worry, the fine is only $65 and no points on your record. That has to be one of the all time great revenue generators. It gets better. Driving home in AZ I get stopped again for making an illegal right turn out of a Circle K. $285 on that one and I wasn't;t even going 10mph

[topher800]

My Montana story, back in the early/mid 1990's, got pulled over doing ~75-80 mph. Gave me a ticket for "wasting a resource", $5, cash, on the spot. I asked if he had change for a $20. One of the passengers eyes went wide and he quickly dug out a $5.

We traverse Denver to California at least once a year. Going I70 to I15 to Vegas and Bakersfield. The Utah stretches have been 80 mph for a number of years. It's funny, I don't really speed there.

[bert poliakoff]

Yes a lot of the time if you get a good cop you can get him to give you a seat belt violation or what they call waste of a finite resource. The fines can get around the $200 mark but no points. All they care about is generating income. I got stopped once going from PHX to Colorado. Cop said I was doing 85 and I new he hadn't clocked me as I was in my X5 and going 130. He was a decent guy and said how about a seatbelt violation. I agreed and he came back and said it was a lesser fine for a finite resource. I happily accepted. It was still $180 All about revenue

[1st 5er]

All they care about is generating income... All about revenue

I beg to differ with you.
Safety of the masses is at the heart of the matter.
Quotas, revenue, etc is indicative of the LEOs on the street and working. The bosses knows you're out there. Kinda like locks, "keeping honest people honest".

There are some jurisdictions that are less tolerant than others, Splendora for example north east of HTX up 59. Rarely does my drive thru that area not have at least 1 unit with lights flashing behind someone on the shoulder of that 6 lane section, not including the 2 lane feeder roads on each side.
The speed limit is 65, I've usually got cruise on 69 - 71, and am passing very few.
To me, it equates to fishing a hot spot.
That comes close to "revenue generation", but bottom line, speed limits are law, and w/o enforcement... well look at Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, et al, summer 2020 +.

[kojo96]

"That comes close to "revenue generation", but bottom line, speed limits are law, and w/o enforcement... well look at Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, et al, summer 2020 +."

Those were all peaceful protests, no laws were broken, none, ever.

[1st 5er]

[Mike W.]

All they care about is generating income... All about revenue

I beg to differ with you.
Safety of the masses is at the heart of the matter.
Quotas, revenue, etc is indicative of the LEOs on the street and working. The bosses knows you're out there. Kinda like locks, "keeping honest people honest".

And I'll disagree with both of you. They're doing what they enjoy doing in giving out tickets. Running radar sitting in one spot doesn't promote safety, it's shooting fish in a barrel. Cruising, watching the asshats that cut people off, tailgate, cut across 3 or 4 lanes to get to an exit, those are the dangerous drivers. Revenue? Naw, it goes to the county or the state and is so far removed from their budget, it has no direct effect.

[bert poliakoff]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[1st 5er]

I beg to differ with you.
Safety of the masses is at the heart of the matter.
Quotas, revenue, etc is indicative of the LEOs on the street and working. The bosses knows you're out there. Kinda like locks, "keeping honest people honest".

... the asshats that cut people off, tailgate, cut across 3 or 4 lanes to get to an exit, those are the dangerous drivers.

These are typically the chronic speeders too. DAMHIK

[Mike W.]

OK, it's not a perfect world. Dragging my 4WD vacationmobile home, with a pretty good sized U Haul van based box truck with a car trailer in tow, with car, feeling like I'm doing 90 at 65, when the semis blow past me at 80+, I'm workin' hard to keep it in the lane going straight. I've got the aerodynamics of a brick and really feel it when they go blasting by. Oh well.

[garageboy]

Sucks that we all used to be able to agree, based on the evidence clearly in front of us, that revenue generation has been the guiding principle in law enforcement's approach to speeding. "Safety of the masses"? Now some have to claim it's about politics and the blue states are bad, blah, blah, blah. Un-fucking-believable. Some of y'all need some serious de-programming to get this bullshit out of your heads and bring you back to reality.

Yeah, I said it.

And to start another religious war, I discovered on my Yellowstone road trip back in 2019, that I-90 is a FAR superior way to cross this country than I-80 or even I-70. Not only beautiful scenery, but great speed limits, moderate traffic, and respectable enforcement. I don't know if I'll ever drive on I-80 again if I can avoid it (except in New Jersey, of course)...

[Mike W.]

Sucks that we all used to be able to agree, based on the evidence clearly in front of us, that revenue generation has been the guiding principle in law enforcement's approach to speeding. "Safety of the masses"? Now some have to claim it's about politics and the blue states are bad, blah, blah, blah...

Huh.

I see no mention of politics or Red/Blue states until you brought it up.

[garageboy]

I see no mention of politics or Red/Blue states until you brought it up.

It was a bit more subtle...

... bottom line, speed limits are law, and w/o enforcement... well look at Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, et al, summer 2020 +.

piled on with...

Those were all peaceful protests, no laws were broken, none, ever.

Like I said, It was nice before vile lies just had to be expressed by some...

[kojo96]

I see no mention of politics or Red/Blue states until you brought it up.

It was a bit more subtle...

... bottom line, speed limits are law, and w/o enforcement... well look at Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, et al, summer 2020 +.

piled on with...

Those were all peaceful protests, no laws were broken, none, ever.

Like I said, It was nice before vile lies just had to be expressed by some...

Ya know, I was going to put some effort into a real thought out reply... then quickly decided that you ain't worth the time. Keep on keeping on brother, fight back against the vial lies.

[1st 5er]

It was a bit more subtle...

piled on with...


Like I said, It was nice before vile lies just had to be expressed by some...

Ya know, I was going to put some effort into a real thought out reply... then quickly decided that you ain't worth the time. Keep on keeping on brother, fight back against the vial lies.

^^^^ THIS ^^^^

[41magfan]

I-75 in Florida… if you aren’t at 80, you are hazard in the road. 65-70 in the right lane is a scary proposition. Heading south out of Ga, the speeds pick up noticeably

[bert poliakoff]

Just drove CA to AZ 80-90 all the way. Of course I only saw 3 of our "friends" which helped

[Mike W.]

Just drove CA to AZ 80-90 all the way. Of course I only saw 3 of our "friends" which helped

40, 10, 8, 66 or what?

I think I made my best time across the Mojave on 66 not long after 40 came in. No traffic, no working speedo on the '61 Ford and I just put my foot down. Dunno how fast I was going, but the temp gauge said I was ok.