Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 beta 3/9/83; site wbux5.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!wivax!decvax!harpo!floyd!vax135!ariel!hou5f!hou5a!hou5d!hogpc!houxm!houxz!wbux5!lat From: lat@wbux5.UUCP Newsgroups: net.flame Subject: Re: 55 and speeding Message-ID: <115@wbux5.UUCP> Date: Wed, 15-Jun-83 13:58:59 EDT Article-I.D.: wbux5.115 Posted: Wed Jun 15 13:58:59 1983 Date-Received: Fri, 17-Jun-83 10:03:52 EDT References: sdcattb.2628, <185@hound.UUCP> Organization: Bell Labs, West Long Branch, NJ Lines: 66 I have been reading the arguments for and against the 55 mph speed limit with much interest. I am originally from Connecticut (now in New Jersey), and I drive back "home" on the average of once or twice a month (~200 miles one way). Before the speed limit is raised. lowered, kept the same, or whatever, I think people should learn the "rules of the road" first. I admit I do not go 55 on the highway...I drive between 60 and 65 when the conditions permit. What I hate most about other drivers is when there are three (3) lanes to drive in, and the slowest people are in the middle lane. This irks me to no end, especially when I have a 3 1/2 hour drive ahead of me. Theoretically, the right hand lane is for the slow-moving vehicles (ever seen signs "slower traffic keep right"?). What is the matter with these people? Are they afraid of being behind a mac-truck? Or of entries and exits from the highways? If people can't keep up with the flow of traffic, they should be in the far right-hand lane. No wonder so many people lane-hop. And it's even worse when there are only two (2) lanes!!!! I am forced to go to the right-hand lane to pass them. And I have had more close calls trying to get around these people (who, by the way, are usually too stubborn to get in the right hand lane, even when there is no traffic in it!!!!), then I have had doing 65 on the highway. And, when people see speed traps set up, why do they insist on going 45 in a 55 mph zone???? On my last trip to CT., I ran into this constantly through the Stratford area. Every time a cop was sitting by the side of the road with radar (even if they were checking the other lane), the traffic would slow to 45!!!!! I see no need for this. If you are doing the speed limit, what are you worried about? And why do people insist on doing 90 - 100 mph during rush hour? On my way down I-95 through Maryland one day, I almost got mashed between a mac-truck and a Cadillac...I saw the Cadillac behind me tooling along at a high rate of speed, and decided to move from the left-hand lane to the middle-lane. The mac-truck in the far right-hand lane decided to move into the middle-lane at the same time. And the Cadillac just kept on coming, and passed me while I was in limbo between the two lanes. That is a very scary feeling, and was very inconsiderate (and stupid) on the part of the driver of the Cadillac. If he/she had hit me (probably a side-swipe) I bet they would have kept on going without a second thought. I am not in favor of the 55 mph speed limit because I am very comfortable doing 60 - 65. But I am also not in favor of raising the limit unless people learn to be half-way courteous on the highways. There should be some kind of compromise or happy medium, and I don't think 55 is the answer. And I do not get better gas mileage doing 55, because my car runs better when it revs higher. At least I haven't started hearing the flames about "women drivers"....... Laurie [mhuxt,harpo,houxz]!wbux5!lat