Looks like the 55 speed limit's days are numbered... http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/front/1441328 I just hope they move this along fast... for instance, as fast as they put those new signs up in the first place... cause "I can't drive 55"!
Seems to me that the "new speedlimit" hasn't really changed anything. Heck, I'd just as soon leave the 55s up -- doesn't really seem to make a difference.
the 55 ,mph speed limit goes all the way out to ****#ng Waller County on I-10. What a big bunch of bull ****........... My 2.5 hour drive time from Austin to houston is now 3 freaking hours..... damnit!!!
from what i hear (which is not much ), the 55 speed limit was put into play for emissions restriction purposes, right? i live in Austin, but I have visited Houston for a few weeks at a time over the past couple of months... everyday (while in houston) i drove on 290 and 610 to go to Memorial Park... I noticed that with the new speed limits, the traffic is MUCH MORE dangerous... you got people following the 55MPH limit in all lanes along with people still going the 70MPH limit and higher weaving through traffic... in the days of the 70MPH limit, everyone went at least 65, and those people tended to the right lane b/c they knew they were under the limit... but now that 55 is the limit, people go 55-60 in all lanes, while those still wanting to go faster (which seems like almost 40-50% from my view) switch lanes like a madman... this makes driving in Houston so much more scarier... my mom is a stickler with speed. i was riding with her in Houston a few times when she drove 55 in the middle lane... i told her to move to the right if she was going to go this slow... she got so upset and told me that was the new law and everyone must follow it... i explained to her how people still go faster and if she wants to avoid a potential wreck, she should move over... but she refused! is it just me or is it really scarier to drive in houston with this new law.... dang did i just ramble on for a long time! i'll never wake up at 5am again!
I would be in favor of higher taxes and/or stronger restrictions on industry (which would result in the cost being passed along to the consumers-- us) before a raise in speed limits. I'm not necessarily saying you can accomplish the same things with those solutions, just that if 55-mph speed limits were one of several possible solutions to Houston's pollution problem, I'd choose almost anything else.
I've posted this before, but here it is again. The reason that the government targeted automobiles is because automobiles are the chief supplier of NOx, a major component of ground level ozone (smog) and the only component that has increased in volume being released to the atmosphere since the Clean Air Act was enacted. "EPA tracks emissions of six principal air pollutants carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and volatile organic compounds. All have decreased significantly since passage of the Clean Air Act in 1970 - except for nitrogen oxides In addition, new NOx restrictions have been placed on industries and must be complied with by 2004. I know this because the equipment I operate at the refinery is being shut down and replaced with newer and more efficient (and contractor operated....grrrrrr ) equipment. http://www.epa.gov/air/urbanair/nox/index.html
it's not just you...I drive freeways all the time and it has definitely become scarier than normal. so I drive about 65 or so...that way I can go around those that are going 55 and keep from gettin run over by those going much faster...
Behad - Are those EPA figures Houston-specific or are they a U.S. wide aggregate? It makes a big difference in the argument, given the large amound of industrial activity in the area as opposed to much of the U.S. We are a very automobile-intensive city, however, so maybe those numbers would still be in line; I guess I'd just like to see the breakdown for Houston. Any ideas where to find it?
Has anyone else noticed that there's been almost zero enforcement of the new speed limit? I've driven the freeways 10-15 times in the last month & on only 1 occasion (on the tollway b/t I-10 & 59) did I see someone pulled over (presumably for speeding).
Buck, I have noticed that-- I was back in Houston over Memorial Day weekend. Part of it, I think, is that there aren't many good places on parts of the freeways for cops to coop for speeders. Like the Sam Houston Tollway-- what, are they going to sit on the shoulder...? That's kinda dangerous. Most of the tollway's sided by concrete dividers rather than grassy medians, etc.
Behad, the chronicle link clearly states that the heavy trucks are the primary NitrogenOxide polluters. Why not force them to slow down/clean up instead of the cars?
