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Can you slow down?

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout' started by Coach AI, Mar 14, 2002.

  1. Coach AI

    Coach AI Member

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    With the new speed limits, I find it interesting to see if people will actually bother to follow the new law or not. Will you do it? Will you ignore it? What's your reasoning? Do you even think about it when you speed?

    I'm interested in seeing the rationale behind people who have to speed no matter what. I'd imagine these new laws make it even tougher...or do they?

    This isn't a knock on people who drive fast or not, because frankly I don't care and there are plenty of other things that drivers do that piss me off (such as morons who don't know how to work a turn signal).
     
  2. Dr of Dunk

    Dr of Dunk Clutch Crew

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    I haven't been keeping up. What's this new speed limit thing? I'm in Dallas, but I guess this only affects the Houston area? :confused:
     
  3. DAROckets

    DAROckets Member

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    I can't do it..driving 55 feels like slo-mo....it's pure hell :(

    I usually just wait for somebody who is speeding, and kind of follow behind,hoping the cop would pull that guy over first.
     
  4. B

    B Member

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    I've slowed to 60 MPH, and shockingly I'm getting betting gas mileage. :) Unfortunately I value the time saved by going 75-80 than I do the money saved on gas. Man, I can't wait to get rid of my 50 mile commute.

    B
     
  5. Rocket Fan

    Rocket Fan Member

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    seems weird when in places you have a 55 mile per hour speed limit on the highway... and a 50 mile per hour speed limit on the feeder... seems odd when there is only a 5 mph difference from highway to feeder....

    a while back the speed limits used to be 55 mph didn't they? i'm only 18 so every since i've been driving they've been 70....

    i slow down for the fact that i'm still in high school and i can't have my insurance going up... it's high enough as it is...
     
  6. A-Train

    A-Train Member

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    ...sure there will be fewer accidents and such...but millions will be late!!

    Damn, I can never remember an exact Simpsons quote when I need one :)
     
  7. DEANBCURTIS

    DEANBCURTIS Member

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    Heeheehee, I pity those poor suckers on the freeway. Gas, break, honk. Gas, break, honk. Honk, honk, punch! Gas, gas, gas.
     
  8. Old School

    Old School Member

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    You pity this???



    [image]http://images.chron.com/content/news/photos/02/03/15/traffic.jpg[/image]
     
  9. Smokey

    Smokey Member

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    I go with the flow of traffic, but try not to go more than 10 mph over the speed limit. I don't know who I hate more: slow drivers who bring traffic to a halt or fast drivers who like to ride bumpers.
     
  10. DiSeAsEd MoNkEy

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    guess what guys?

    i went on the freeway, yay.

    :)

    i went over 55 a lot.
     
  11. Band Geek Mobster

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    I've actually noticed that going on the frontage road is actually faster during rush hour when the limit's 50.

    The new speed limit's a joke, and I'm going to slit my wrists once they change I-45 to 55 next week...:(
     
  12. Joe Joe

    Joe Joe Go Stros!
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    Live in Austin. My parents have been wondering why I have come home recently.....

    Where does 55 MPH start on 290 coming from Austin? This could really add some time to my trip.
     
  13. DAROckets

    DAROckets Member

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    I know it's 55 all the way from houston to hempstead :mad: Not sure how far it extends on the other side ?

    ... I also saw much police activity along 290 :(
     
  14. JuanValdez

    JuanValdez Member

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    I don't have to drive the freeways very much, so it won't affect me much. But, when I do get on, I don't think my speed will change at all (as traffic permits). Before I left for college, the speed limit was 55 and I'd drive 100 when I could. Now my limit is more like 80 (ever since the weight of the world crushed my spirit; besides my Civic isn't nearly as cool as my old Porsche). But, ever since I got backto Houston, I've always been a bit foggy on what the limit actually is, I pay so little attention to it.

    It should be understood, of course, that I will go 55 in the fast lane if BK happens to be behind me.
     
  15. DiSeAsEd MoNkEy

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    okay guys i have a plan...

    drive fast and then when you see a cop slow down.

    :)
     
  16. Joe Joe

    Joe Joe Go Stros!
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    I hate it when that happens followed by me stopping.
     
  17. ZRB

    ZRB Member

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    You'd think that they could at least keep the limit at an even 60. That way, you're travelling a mile per minute.

    Oh well, I'm not in Houston, so I don't have to worry about it... yet.
     
  18. Coach AI

    Coach AI Member

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    In the effort to reduce pollution, the speed limits in Harris and surrounding counties (I think it's seven total?) has been lowered to 55.

    Really sucks for someone like me who has to drive an hour up hwy 288 to get to school everyday.:(
     
  19. Jeff

    Jeff Clutch Crew

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    Mrs. JB and I were discussing this very thing today. I have been driving on Houston highways for 16 years and ridden on them since I was a child. I've driven in many other states and cities in Texas. Houston has bad traffic although not the worst drivers (I'll leave that to Florida!).

    What I have noticed is that drivers seem to be more reckless than ever. The only thing I can attribute that to is the fact that there are so many more cars on the road today than there were even 10 years ago. In addition, the city has begun clustering to a greater degree than ever before with most citizens concentrated in essentially 7 major areas:

    Inner loop - Heights, Downtown, West U, Med Center
    I 45 North - Woodlands, Spring, 1960 area
    I 45 South - Clear Lake, Friendswood
    59 North - Kingwood, Humble
    59 South - Sugar Land, Galleria, Sharpstown
    I 10 West - Katy, Memorial
    290 West - Copperfield, Willowbrook (the most recent addition)

    With people congregating in these areas, no zoning and a transportation plan that doesn't work because it consists mainly of pouring more concrete and not looking at multiple, alternate solutions, traffic has gotten worse and people have gotten more frustrated.

    I have to also believe that the distractions from cell phones (among other things) and the ever increasing pace of life in general is making things worse.

    Finally, as a way to increase traffic flow, the width of lanes has been reduced while the average size of cars has increased. Getting by a giant SUV on a street with three lanes that really should only have two can be a little scary espeically when the person driving the SUV is on a cell phone and weaving in and out of traffic.

    I try to drive the speed limit when I'm on the freeway mainly out of concern for the safety of myself and my passenger(s). I would rather drive in the right lane and take my time than end up in an accident, so I try to take it easy. On byways, I drive with the flow of traffic but I try to be careful. I am an agressive driver when it comes to making decisions about changing lanes, etc. but not when it comes to risky driving.

    I'm just not willing to take a chance on getting hurt or getting my passenger(s) hurt by speeding up. If I'm late for something, I'm just late.
     
  20. Scarface

    Scarface Supremely FocASSed
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    WOW!! 55MPH? I live in the Bay Area which is more populated than Houston and has far worse highways yet 65mph is doing fine here. What a freaking joke.... 55mph? Memo to H-town the pollution?! Its caused by the oil refineries...... Just outlaw cellphones and driving like they did in NY, make getting a drivers license really difficult and raise the age to 16 for a permit and actual license at 18. Every traffic infraction incurred before the age of 18 should have somesort of penalty like having to wait 6 more months before actually getting your license.


    Man am I glad I moved from Houston...
     

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