55: A Meditation on the Speed Limit

Older Comments on 55: A Meditation on the Speed Limit

• Posted 08/12/11 by ricinsac
  .... great film - maybe not the best approach but surely something must be done to reduce the 40,000 highway deaths each year (plus many more injuries) ... and of course the lobbyists in Washington don't care and wont let us change the status quo - deaths be ####ed (as michael below states_
• Posted 07/08/11 by Kent Paul Dolan
  This has been done before, many times, and so has an opposite phenomenon. A shipmate of mine was pulled over, in a 65 mph zone, in the leftmost lane, for _impeding traffic_ while driving 80 mph on a Los Angeles ten lane highway. He dared the police officer to write him a ticket and then come before a judge to defend that ticket, and the cop just drove away. Arrested for driving 55 in a 55 zone (I can't be in the way of faster traffic, because the group of us are preventing anyone _from_ driving faster than we are), I'd just tell the judge, "if you want me to drive faster than the highest speed at which I can legally drive, increase the legal limit to the speed at which you want me to drive. That's not really not too much to ask of the legal system, now, is it?" xanthian.
• Posted 05/30/11 by billymoon
  45 years,No tickets some parking,thats it.In my 20's I went fast at times,on my motorcycle.I would go to the Jaguar Show Room,NYC east 57th Street,and sit in a 1964 XKE.The speedometer went to 200 mph,Why ?If the speed limits are 55 or 60 mph.Why do they make cars that will travel at such high speeds?Fast is OK,0 to 60 mph in two seconds,but that is the top end.No faster.0 to55 mph in a half of a second,good Idea?????????
• Posted 12/07/10 by Jaybee
  Actually, the 55 mile an hour speed limit was originally imposed by the 1974 Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act in an effort to save gas and oil during a national crisis which began in 1973. While they thought that it had led to less auto fatalities, the actual numbers are mixed. However, this was when cars typically only went 15miles/gal
• Posted 11/15/10 by Speed Demon
  My opinion based on my experiences - The original purpose of speed limits is to promote safety.They are set artificially low to provide a source of income for municipalities. I was born and raised in Detroit, MI (the so-called birthpalce of the automobile, a.k.a "Motor City"). I watched speed limits on highways throughout the state lowered to 55 mph. Some years ago, the laws were changed allowing speed limits to be raised. Speed limits in municipalities in S.E. MI. (with the exception of Detroit) were raised - some 65, some 70. The speed limits in Detroit remained at 55. Why? Because, at the time, downtown Detroit was the center of commerce in SE MI and the majority of traffic during rush hour flowed into and out of downtown Detroit. All major highways in S.E. MI terminate in downtown Detroit. You could travel on these freeways at 65-70 mph but once you crossed the border into Detroit, the speed limits slowed to 55. Same freeway, different speed limit.
• Posted 08/04/10 by Zephaniah
  Im from Europe (CZ), so my experience may differ... Anyway, in here, if youre tachometer says that you're driving 90 km/h, you are actually moving at least 6 km/h slower (usually much more). Its a simple and logical result of mass production of cars. So you are not ment to drive 55, you are ment to drive 'round' 55 and i belive that not even american traffic cop is going to stop you for 2-3 miles over. The test would be relevant if youre tachometers were at "little under 60". btw: I belive the 55 idea started during the 70s fuel crisis and it was ment to cut down the fuel consumption. From a european point of view, that is just stupid. You would save much more fuel by getting rid of those ridiculous and painfully ineffective automatic transmissions. Learn to use a stick shift guys. There is really no reason to start wars over this ;D
• Posted 05/08/10 by Tyler
  Amazing how everyone becomes a law professor and highway safety expert on the internet - as someone who designs highway systems for a living, perhaps I'll set a few things straight: Believe it or not, traffic laws exist for a reason - that might come as a shick to some, but, alas, it is the truth. 50% of people driving on a freeway will exceed the speedlimit by 10 miles per hour. It takes an average of 1 second for someone to respond to an incident while driving. At a velocity of 60 seconds, it will take the average person nearly 7 seconds to come to a stop in an emergency braking situation, and they will travel over 300 feet (over the length of a football feild) before coming to a stop. Yes, the left lane is the passing lane, however, if you are speeding, you do not have the right-of-way. The average velocity while traveling the Autobahn is 53 miles per hour (much slower than most US Freeways) on average, an engine loses 1% efficiency for every mile an hour over 55 miles per hour in velocity.
• Posted 03/02/10 by Richard W Gideon
  I've often wished I could do the same. A very real problem with ignoring the posted speed limit in very busy and congested areas, is the development of a habit of assuming that prerogative when some kind of police officer doesn't think you should do so. Get used to driving 70 on the interstate during peak hours to clear the path to suburbia and then one night, a trooper decides to roust you and you're busted for doing what you always do. It's a real trap; follow local custom to maintain and conform to community standards without the benefit of the protection of the law and be liable for damages if there is a negative result or some officer with a book of tickets is having a bad hair day.
• Posted 11/29/09 by L
  Man yea that is a great idea, lets self enforce traffic laws we don't agree with. That'll show the government! Ignorant idiots.
• Posted 08/30/09 by Alex
  really great. I kind of always thought about what it would be like to do this. On certain roads in Canada this would definitely work, the traffic flows at 25+ km/h higher then the limit.
• Posted 08/05/09 by Xed
  Thats just effin brilliant right there. When the law makes it dangerous....change it. If the speed limit was say....75 or 80 on all major highways.... I think speeding tickets would be quite rare indeed(I'm lucky that i live in TN, speed limit is 70 on all major highways....most country backroads are 55).
• Posted 07/30/09 by Michael
  Those guys need there permits taken away, that was the stupidest thing I've ever seen anyone do. People like this are the ones that truly cause accidents.
• Posted 07/24/09 by UE
  Great film. I'm a firm believer in following traffic laws, and you know what? I have never been pulled over. Not once. It's not that hard. If the sign says go 55 mph, then I go 55 mph. No harm, no foul. And shame on anyone who thinks breaking any law is acceptable. If other driver's don't like me following the law, then too bad. What are they going to do? Turn me into the police? HA!
• Posted 06/20/09 by C
  JDJ, sorry, but you're a wee bit brainwashed there. Also, if you're in the left lane doing exactly the speed limit right next to someone else doing exactly the speed limit, they have every right to be angry at you; you are doing nothing more than creating a jam and a hazard. The sad fact is that in this country, speed limits are based on profitability, not safety. Many stretches of the Autobahn in Germany have no speed limit. And guess what? IT'S NOT CHAOS. And don't feed me any BS about drivers actually being better in Europe. It's all relative, European drivers are marginally better at best than American drivers, depending upon where you go. Germans are not noted for being the best drivers in Europe. Case in point, though, the unlimited speed sections of the Autobahn system are among the safest stretches of highway in the world. I'll also note that the average motorway speed limit in Europe is 130km/h or 81MPH. Arbitrary speed limits set to maximize profitability, like those prevalent in this country, do nothing more than hamper efficiency, instigate road rage, provide governments with a cash cow that encourages them to abuse the law to stretch their revenue income to as much as they can get away with and greatly diminishes the general public's respect of the law and its enforcement officers. This stuff isn't that hard to figure out. Stop believing everything you hear on the 6 'o clock news, turn off the TV and actually do some real research. And pay a visit to the National Motorist Association's website: http://www.motorists.org
• Posted 06/17/09 by JDJ
  As one who obeys traffic laws(speed limits, stop signs, etc) it amazes me how many people get angry at me when my driving slows them down to the legal speed limit. Do away with speed limits and what do you get? CHAOS!!!
• Posted 06/17/09 by Joe
  According to most traffic laws you are not allowed to speed to pass so technically maxing out at the limit in ANY lane is legal.
• Posted 06/17/09 by EDWARD
  YOU CAN BLAME IT ON THE POLICE THEY DONT ENFORCE THE TRAFFIC LAWS ANYMORE. ITS A FREE FOR ALL IN SUFFOLK COUNTY NY. ALL THESE GOVERNMENTS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT BEING BROKE WHEN THEY HAVE A CASH COW RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM. ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS JUST START ENFORCING THE TRAFFIC LAWS AND THE MONEY WILL START FLYING IN. PLUS IT WILL MAKE THINGS SAFER ON THE ROADS.
• Posted 06/17/09 by meg cossman
  This might have been more compelling if the students were indeed actually following the law. The left lane is a passing lane, not a cruising lane. They were illegally blocking traffic which is indeed dangerous and irresponsible.
• Posted 05/25/09 by phil
  Maryland is considering speed cameras. Allowing automated enforcement (with criminal punishments and not monetary fines) would enforce the laws and change habits. Driving at low engine speed (in high gear) and keeping a safe distance between cars is not exciting, but it is better for your car, everyone around you and for your own safety.
• Posted 03/26/09 by Jon
  That is awesome. I have wanted to do the exact same thing for years. If you want national media attn do 2 laps around DC like this. If you do though put something on your back window to explain what you are doing. What would be great is if you could get a police car escort, using the guise of a public safety demonstration or something. Part of what is funny though... or sad... is that people won't be mad at the law which you are following... they will be mad at YOU for not breaking the law. I think there is intentionality in our legal system today to make sure that everyone in some small way is on the wrong side of the law. This gives the "authorities" an excuse if they want one to get into your business. They want to be allowed to monitor you at all times for completely unrelated behaviors that they see as threatening. Freedom THREATENS our current system. That is why they do not want you to follow the law. They want you in a position where you can be controlled.
• Posted 03/26/09 by Jon
  That is awesome. I have wanted to do the exact same thing for years. If you want national media attn do 2 laps around DC like this. If you do though put something on your back window to explain what you are doing. What would be great is if you could get a police car escort, using the guise of a public safety demonstration or something. Part of what is funny though... or sad... is that people won't be mad at the law which you are following... they will be mad at YOU for not breaking the law. I think there is intentionality in our legal system today to make sure that everyone in some small way is on the wrong side of the law. This gives the "authorities" an excuse if they want one to get into your business. They want to be allowed to monitor you at all times for completely unrelated behaviors that they see as threatening. Freedom THREATENS our current system. That is why they do not want you to follow the law. They want you in a position where you can be controlled.
• Posted 03/09/09 by Nick
  They were surprised when people were mad when a couple of kids with cameras and cellphones slowed down traffic? I would have been pissed too.