R6 #46
Now that the topic is on the table:
Many of our nation's posted speed limits were set generations ago, when there were cars with two wheel drum brakes, and bias ply tires.
Due to automotive innovations, today's cars have:
4 wheel power disc brakes
anti-lock
stabilatrack
autonomous braking
radial, 4 season tires
etc.
Stopping distances have been cut roughly in half.
Yet we're still dogged with these mind-numbingly slow posted speed limits.
We have a natural feel for the appropriate speed for conditions; at what speed we safely traverse the pavement.
When I switched from Robert:
to my Cobalt:
I was driving to town, about a 20 mile trip. I got to driving it on the familiar highway I've driven hundreds of times over the past few decades.
I was used to the Ford Ranger above. Seemed like I was going about the same speed. I glanced down at the speedometer. It said 70 MPH.
- oops -
I had to learn to back off the pedal deliberately. And the ride at 55 MPH was so lethargic for such an agile car, my attention wandered.
I sincerely believe I'm a safer driver at 65 to 70, depending ...
Then:
On I-95 there are long stretches of highway with posted speed limit of 70 MPH.
There as elsewhere, on a bright sunny day, traffic is moving along at 10 MPH or more over the posted speed limit.
So I had to do 80 or more just to keep up with traffic. And this little gem takes it in stride (a little noisy though, above 70).
Why must a well designed roadster like this be stuck confined to the same speed limit a 20 year old garbage truck with a broken suspension spring can legally drive?
I suspect the State(s) could make money, and perhaps save lives issuing performance licenses to cars and drivers that warrant them.
"It should be obvious to anyone why conservatives and libertarians should be against Trump. He has no grounding in belief. No core philosophy. No morals. No loyalty. No curiosity. No empathy and no understanding. He demands personal loyalty and not loyalty to the nation. His only core belief is in his own superiority to everyone else. His only want is exercise more and more personal power." smb / purveyor of fact 18/03/18
Bookmarks