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From: werner@ut-ngp.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Flame against 55MPH speed-limit
Message-ID: <344@ut-ngp.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 10-Jun-83 20:48:45 EDT
Article-I.D.: ut-ngp.344
Posted: Fri Jun 10 20:48:45 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 11-Jun-83 23:34:09 EDT
Lines: 53

I bet this topic must have "flowered" repeatedly, but I had not been
around on the net - so : EXCUSE MY FLAME.

I have often wondered how many people like and dislike the 55MPH.
Judging by the number of people speeding, I am not, necessarily member of
a minority, when I believe that 55MPH is too slow and here is my argument:

First, to torpedo the argument about the number of traffic accidents:
  I am as appalled as the next fellow, but with that argument you cannot
  stop at 55 - why not 35, so why not 75.  A decent mass-transportation
  is the only feasable solution to a) move at a speed compatible with the
  state of technology  and b) keep traffic accidents down.  So if we can't
  achieve that, 55 as a speed-limit on high-ways is a "non-win"

Second, the argument not everyone is physically able to go faster.
  Certainly true, but it's not only me which gets bored and distracted
  at 55, and I consider myself "more dangerous" at 55 than at 75 or more,
  when I concentrate well at what I am doing - driving.
  I got my "wheels" in Germany and am quite comfortable at driving as fast 
  as the car will go, given that I am driving VW's, Fiats, Opels, etc.
  A VW was considered slow, but easily does 75. Even the slowest go 70
  (I am thinking of a Citroen deux-chevaux).  Now, I also had the opportunity
  to  drive  some BMW, Mercedes, Porsches and I would not like those to be
  driven at full power at most traffic hours. But I did go faster than 200 KPH
  at some rare opportunities, and I call anyone a bigot that calls me more
  irresponsible than all those folks that drink/smoke and drive.  Nor was
  I more dangerous than many drivers who don't know when it is safer to 
  accelerate rather than to brake.

Third, the speed-limit must be a conspiracy of insurance companies and police
  departments to raise funds.  What about the rest of us whose time is worth
  money, and, in most cases, is spent contributing to the economy's progress
  while not wasting time getting from here to there and back.  That pays taxes
  which pays police departments, too, however, does not contribute to the
  profits of insurance companies.

Forth, I believe dealing with things in order of priorities, and I feel that
  the current speed-limit is turning things upside-down.  Drinking is a
  considerable bigger problem than speed.  Next, is probably lack of skill to
  handle several tons of steel at any speed.  Then driving attitude, lack of
  taking driving serious, comes to mind.  The sorry shape of many cars, and
  the joke of the car-inspection done by most gas-stations is next on my list.
  And, considering that dead=dead, if we can't get ourselves protected from
  guns, I really don't mind taking the risk of driving quite a bit faster than
  55.

Enough , let's here it from you believers in using a car the way it is meant 
  to  be: driving where mass-transportation is not feasable due to the lack
  of a MASSive demand, but then at somewhere closer to 100MPH rather than 50.

Driving a car on the highway at 55 reminds me of programming in FORTRAN.
  It works but it often takes you an awful long time to get where you want
  to go.  And, of course , your productivity goes to hell.