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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