Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!dciem!mmt From: mmt@dciem.UUCP (Martin Taylor) Newsgroups: net.flame Subject: Re: 55mph Message-ID: <251@dciem.UUCP> Date: Mon, 18-Jul-83 17:05:59 EDT Article-I.D.: dciem.251 Posted: Mon Jul 18 17:05:59 1983 Date-Received: Mon, 18-Jul-83 18:51:45 EDT References: bunkerb.212 Lines: 20 Last year I had 2 occasions to drive on the German autobahns (no speed limit) for a couple of thousand km. I found it felt much safer to drive 160 kph on roads where people maintain lane discipline (keep right except to pass) than to drive 110 kph here (with a 100 kph limit few people adhere to). In Germany, quite a few cars go over 200 kph (some by quite a lot), but there is seldom a problem, because those drivers are used to the timings at which things happen at those speeds. One is scared when timings happen differently from what one expects, and the first few minutes or hours at 160 can be difficult when you are used to 110. But if you drive at 110 on the autobahn, you make the traffic flow around you, which is more dangerous than going with the flow. Remember that the main reason for reducing the speed limit to 55 mph in the USA and 100 kph in most Canadian provinces was to save fuel, not lives. It is very scary when moderately heavy traffic in 3 lanes at 100-120 kph divides around someone doing 95 in the middle lane and then closes up again. Why, oh why, do so many people think the right lane is only for passing? Martin Taylor