Suing for higher speed limits

[lildog]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070629/ap_on_fe_st/odd_speed_challenger

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Dave Hilts should drive 85 up the toll road. Then he will find out for himself what the state's incentive for too-low speed limits is.

[AntonLee]

I hope he wins.  Although I'm not so sure most normal NH drivers would be happy.  Definately not Mainers. . . I go up 95 and dream of someday being able to go 100mph down the straightaway. . . but that is not until you get the mainers doing 45 out of your lane.  haha

interesting topic.

[KBCraig]

I found I-93, at least north of the cities, to be perfectly suited for 100+ (not that I drove anywhere near that fast in our van). North of about Tilton or so, the traffic really thinned out.

I know that I-91 is on the "wrong" side of the Connecticut River, but it is a pretty good road, too. Great views of NH.

[Recumbent ReCycler]

I found I-93, at least north of the cities, to be perfectly suited for 100+ (not that I drove anywhere near that fast in our van). North of about Tilton or so, the traffic really thinned out.

I know what you mean.  I think that it would be safe to drive on several of NH's highways at 100+ mph.  Heck, parts of Germany's Autobahn have only 2 lanes going in each direction and are narrower than the Spaulding Turnpike south of the Rochester tolls.  I miss being able to travel at reasonable speeds (100-140 mph) on the Autobahn.  Kudos to this guy Larry Lemay.  I hope I can meet him sometime soon.  David Hilts is obviously an ignoramus with very limited driving experience.  I've driven roughly 900,000 miles in various countries without causing an accident.  Thousands of those miles were at over 100 mph.  If you read last years NHTSA study results, you would realize that faster drivers get into far fewer accidents than slower drivers, and that inattention, not speed, is the primary cause of a vast majority of accidents. 

Oh yeah, another thing I'd like to point out is that Germany's Autobahn not only has a significantly lower accident rate than US highways, but also has a lower death rate.  If you study traffic laws and enforcement in the US and Germany, you will realize that aggressive speed enforcement in the US and the lack of enforcement of keep right except to pass are major contributors to highway traffic accidents in the US.  The German system is much better IMHO.

[KBCraig]

Dittos from a fellow former Autobahnfahrer, DoL!

The only rules needed for safety are:
1) Keep right except to pass.
2) Failure to follow Rule One means you are at fault if you get hit from behind.
3) Don't out-run your visibility, whether it's limited due to darkness or fog.

The fastest I ever drove was 140+ in a friend's 911t. I routinely drove 85-110 in my Audio 100 (while cursing the lack of a fifth gear; it wouldn't have changed the top speed, but it would have lowered the revs.)

Kevin

[toowm]

I had a meeting in Montana (no speed limit) and hoped to set a personal record. I went up the continental divide and floored it down the mountain, but the %$^#&$ rental couldn't get past 110. The I-294 circle around Chicago used to average 90 in the left lane.

[TylerM]

In areas I know there are no speed traps I've done 111mph in my Buick LeSabre (that's where the limiter kicks in) with no traffic and wasn't a danger. I think 80mph should be the speed limit on interstates. 80 is not dangerous. Heck, i've done more than that on a two-lane divided.

[Kat Kanning]

Suing the government isn't civil disobedience.

[d_goddard]

Suing the government isn't civil disobedience.

But it does keep them on the defensive!

[toowm]

Civil disojudicience

[Recumbent ReCycler]

Does anyone know how to contact Larry Lemay?  I would like to offer to help him out if I can.  I have done a lot of research on speed limits, motor vehicle safety, and the legal side of traffic laws.  I did a google search of his name, but only came up with a bunch of articles on his lawsuit.

[Dreepa]

I drive 55- 60.  I don't like paying lots for gas.

[Recumbent ReCycler]

I drive 55- 60.  I don't like paying lots for gas.

While some vehicles are most efficient at those speeds, some are more efficient at lower speeds (like hybrids) while others are more efficient at higher speeds.  I once had a vehicle that had a locking torque converter connected to a 700R4 transmission, taller than factory tires, and a gear ratio that had the engine turning at about 2000 rpms while driving 100 mph.  It actually got the best gas mileage between 90 and 110 mph and rode very smooth at those speeds.  You will get your best gas mileage at your highest gear.  While wind resistance is a major factor in gas mileage, there are other things that usually have a significantly greater effect on your mileage.  If you are driving a vehicle that sounds like the hamsters are about to be overcome by asthma when you are going 65 mph, then your vehicle was probably designed to be more efficient at a lower speed.  If your engine is barely doing more than idling while maintaining 60 mph, then your vehicle was probably designed to be more efficient at higher speeds.  It is misleading for the government to put out those propaganda ads, etc. that say that you lose gas mileage whenever you go over 60 or 65 mph.  That may be true with some vehicles, but to make a blanket statement like that is what I call lying.

[KBCraig]

Back to the lawsuit...

I expect the judge to dismiss it, because it's a matter for the legislative and executive branches to decide, not the judiciary.

And they will say this with straight faces, even if appealed all the way to the NH supreme court. And then they'll get back to their regular program of ordering the Governor and Legislature to "define adequacy" and "fully fund it".

They don't teach irony in law school.