Drove down the fastest highway in the US today

[Armybrat]

Posted speed limit on the new section of the Texas 130 tollway between Austin & San Antonio is 85 mph for half the distance.
Set my cruise at 88, and nobody passed me. The sphincter did tighten up a bit when passing a State Trooper on the side of the road with his radar gun, but all was good.

There have been numerous reports of cars hitting feral hogs since this new stretch of tollway opened two days ago....mostly at night. The only hawgs I saw were the smoked sausage links I brought back from Black's BBQ in Lockhart. :biggrin1:

Incidentally, in a sanctioned experiment, a professional race driver drove a modified Cadillac STS (or CTS?) at a clocked 220 mph on a stretch of the tollway before it opened.

http://i522.photobucket.com/albums/w349/ScoPro/Armybrat3/Fall2012003.jpg

[MLESa7990]

a 1200hp CTS-V

[wyntrout]

That kind of reminds me of the Autobahn in Germany, but that was only the recommended maximum speed. Then I came back to the States in 1986 and got a ticket in Nevada(?)... used to be safe and reasonable or some such "unlimited" speed limit. I had a new Audi Quattro 4000(RED!) and I had just gotten going or it might have been the 115 that I limited us to with the 55MPH government-mandated speed limit. THAT was DANGEROUS... snore...ZZZZZZ! I'm sure that will be one of the new regulations that Obama and his busy EPA regulators are holding back until after the election with all of the rest of the economy, business, and job-killing regulations that his henchmen have been gleefully crafting to their hearts' content!

My wife-to-be and I drove from Andrews AFB in Washington D.C. to SW Colorado to meet her folks and get married. Then we drove to San Francisco for our honeymoon. I spent four months or so down at Castle AFB requalifying in the B52 and the G-model, then we drove back to D.C. via SW CO again. We usually did double the speed limit. I used an Escort Passport and only got the one ticket going and none returning, but two while in CA... sneaky cops would suddenly appear behind you with lights going... no radar for warning!:eek:

I fly quite a bit slower in my GMC van... usually only about 10mph over, depending on road/weather/light conditions... and deer presence is a big factor! I also use the latest Valentine One since those came out in '94. I just traded in my first on the latest model earlier this year. It tells you what and where the "threats" are and how many... not just "beep".

Yeah, it's the law, but I'm in a hurry when I'm on the road... just not as much as I used to be. I'm used to higher speed and try to take everyone's possible actions into consideration... situational awareness. I expect the worst possible actions and am not surprised when people do stupid things... usually without signalling and while yacking on the cell phone.

<Sigh> It's one of my few "sins".:rolleyes:

Wynn:)

[mr surveyor]

I still prefer the dirt roads:D

[Cokeman]

That's only 5 mph over what some of I-15 is through Utah.

[pudge]

My morning newspaper reported that three feral hogs and a deer were responsible for vehicle crashes there a night ago. Suckers were walking across the road ... pretty rude of them to ignore the designated crossing areas!!! I can tell ya this .... NO vehicle lights will illuminate a hog or deer far enough away to stop or safely avoid contact with an animal if you are travelling at 85 mph. Lights just don't shine that far, and the feet per second of vehicle travel at that speed is WAY too much to allow stopping or slowing enough to safely swerve, IF there is room to swerve safely and IF that bugger doesn't move in the direction you swerve!

Not for me, thanks ...

[wyntrout]

Swerving can be BAAD. I trained my wife to stay on the road and not collide with anything or anyone. When we lived in Maine, we were headed south on I-95... at 95mph, coincidentally, passing another car when a jackrabbit ran across the road in from the left front of us, saw the car ahead of us in the other lane, backed up a bit and FROZE... in the middle of our lane. Remember that we were overtaking the car in the right lane... my wife did kind of a body twitch, gripped the wheel a little tighter, and plowed right over the "bunny"... WHAP! I guess that she took her foot off the gas, though. I was so proud of her... none of the run-off-the-road-and-kill-us-all type of reactions that you see in the movies and in real life! There was no damage to my Audi, so the cross member below the engine radiator probably hit him squarely.

We discussed critters in the road and reacting to them a lot. We had every animal imaginable up there, especially Moose! Those suckers are tall and known for coming through the windshield as you hit them in the knees! They don't show in the headlights, either!

You just can't do drastic inputs at highway speeds in most situations... steering or braking.

Wynn:)

[Alfonse]

I love that Texas has this new high speed highway! You don't have to drive 85, there is always the right lane.

As far as headlights, I haven't tried at 85, but at 65 to 70 I have no problem seeing and braking for deer that we have that jump out on the highway. That's with an F250 with halogen headlamps which isn't the fastest stopping rig in the west. No swerve, just slow down and let them walk across.

When I drive other vehicles, particularly with the newer HID headlights, it is even easier to see them with lots of time. That all assumes, of course, that you are paying attention and watching for them.

[Cokeman]

There is always the right lane, but the idiots that go slow don't use it.

[wyntrout]

I use my high beams as much as possible, but I don't like to blind the oncoming drivers. It sure makes a big difference, though.

Wynn:)

[Alfonse]

There is always the right lane, but the idiots that go slow don't use it.

That is so true, and a bit hard to understand. I also don't get why folks, on a two lane (one lane each direction) speed up when you are passing them or drive 10 to 15 mph faster when a passing lane comes up.

It's a mystery to me!

[GROTMAN]

North Carolina is pretty serious about speeding. :)

http://i44.tinypic.com/2ppa5b4.jpg

[pudge]

Driver reaction time is a HUGE factor in this kind of thing. If you don't recognize the hazard instantly, you will travel far too many feet before you begin to take any kind of action. Average reaction time is about 3/4 second for someone in good shape and paying close attention. Double that to 1 1/2 seconds and how much of the distance between you and the hazard has disappeared before your brain sends your foot to the brake pedal? WAY too much!! And that's with full high beams on the road. So much of the time there is oncoming traffic out here in the flat country and you can't use those without blinding them. That's not good, even if you can see better.

I ride a motorcycle, and one of the cardinal rules for safe riding is not to ride faster than you can stop in the distance you can see. Night time, or dusk or dawn, in deer and hog country, especially without high beams in use, means SLOW WAY DOWN!! If the animal is on the highway when your lights illuminate it, that's one thing. But if the animal comes zingin' out from the right-of-way into your path or into the side of your vehicle, it's entirely another! I have a good friend who has been in a coma since Tuesday early AM a week ago last Tuesday. That's eleven days and counting! A hog hit him from the side while he was on his way into Austin to go to work at about 0430 AM. Landed on his head and the knot head wasn't wearing his helmet. NO excuse for that either. Dunno what his speed was, but he had no time to react.

We just gotta be careful as we can and then hope to be lucky when we are travelling in deer and hog country. Where I live and travel, there is also a pretty good chance of contacting a black cow ... wish they were required to have clearance lights at night!!! Be careful out there ....

[jocko]

That is so true, and a bit hard to understand. I also don't get why folks, on a two lane (one lane each direction) speed up when you are passing them or drive 10 to 15 mph faster when a passing lane comes up.

It's a mystery to me!

THEIR ASSHOLES.

Just sayin.

Ol Jocko is back.

[Cokeman]

What about their assholes? :confused:

[GratefulGuy1234]

That is so true, and a bit hard to understand. I also don't get why folks, on a two lane (one lane each direction) speed up when you are passing them or drive 10 to 15 mph faster when a passing lane comes up.

It's a mystery to me!

See, I live in western WA too and see this all the time. What gives?? It really drives me nuts!! Especially when you are passing on a two lane and they speed up, that one is so dangerous.

At least I know it's not just me who notices this!

Drive safe -
Scott

[mr surveyor]

I think he ment "there assholes"

[MLESa7990]

or maybe 'they're assholes'...

[downtownv]

:eek:When did we exit the hi-way and wind up in some guys butt? Are we There Yet?

[Armybrat]

:eek:When did we exit the hi-way and wind up in some guys butt? Are we There Yet?

Well, some guys' butts need to be run over just like those hawgs. :D

[Armybrat]

That's only 5 mph over what some of I-15 is through Utah.

I-10 & I-20 in West Texas have had an 80mph limit for several years.

When we drove out I-10 to Phoenix to see Texas play Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl, we saw dead hogs every few miles east of El Paso.

[muggsy]

Posted speed limit on the new section of the Texas 130 tollway between Austin & San Antonio is 85 mph for half the distance.
Set my cruise at 88, and nobody passed me. The sphincter did tighten up a bit when passing a State Trooper on the side of the road with his radar gun, but all was good.

There have been numerous reports of cars hitting feral hogs since this new stretch of tollway opened two days ago....mostly at night. The only hawgs I saw were the smoked sausage links I brought back from Black's BBQ in Lockhart. :biggrin1:

Incidentally, in a sanctioned experiment, a professional race driver drove a modified Cadillac STS (or CTS?) at a clocked 220 mph on a stretch of the tollway before it opened.

http://i522.photobucket.com/albums/w349/ScoPro/Armybrat3/Fall2012003.jpg

I see cars going 90 mph every day on I-480 and a few of them are being passed by Harleys. Just sayin'. :)

[muggsy]

or maybe 'they're assholes'...

You've got it MLESa7990. You're the only one who truly understands and can fully appreciate the wit and wisdom of ol' Jocko. :)

[wyntrout]

I love these signs:

http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m620/wyntrout/signsIwouldlkietosee.jpg

Wynn:D

[Charlie98]

There is always the right lane, but the idiots that go slow don't use it.

This is Texas... all the people from Oklahoma come down here and drive slow in the left lane, so the 'slow' lane becomes the de facto 'fast' lane... :p

I wish they would pump up the speed limits out in west Texas... there are stretches of I-10 and I-20... even I-40 that could easily handle a faster speed limit.

[Popeye]

Sounds like fun. Might not have been legal, but in 2005 I did a 105 mile an hour three Harley wide blast threw the white sands missle range on Rt 70. What a friekin rush. :D

[jocko]

Sounds like fun. Might not have been legal, but in 2005 I did a 105 mile an hour three Harley wide blast threw the white sands missle range on Rt 70. What a friekin rush. :D

in terre Haute,in. for years the local OG chapter sponsored a ride for the humane shelter and ithe cost q\was $10 to enter. ne of the highlights was after themassive parade, any biker colcd ride his bike downthe entire runway of the TH internation airmport. this was a real hoot, for most of the time whenI did it, I waqs doing about 100 on my Harley and the crotch rockets zoomed past me like I was standing still.. Even the TH 5 bike (harley) police dept who guide dthe rides would blast downtgern way also. Crowds of over 2000 bikes did the charity event, . The lat year they did not have this runway ride due to liability issuyes etc, and the crowd dropped 50% to. but it was a real hoot to do, and so nice to pass one of the local motor cops going 100 and nuttin they cold do about it either. I knew um all very well, so I usually gave themthe #1 sign. they laughed (I think).:popcorn: Just sayin

[Cokeman]

This is Texas... all the people from Oklahoma come down here and drive slow in the left lane, so the 'slow' lane becomes the de facto 'fast' lane... :p

I wish they would pump up the speed limits out in west Texas... there are stretches of I-10 and I-20... even I-40 that could easily handle a faster speed limit.

We get the Idahoans.

[O'Dell]

Sounds like a good road for two of my three cars. They're rated by the factory at 190 and 178. The poor little Prius is governed at 106.

[GROTMAN]

THEIR ASSHOLES.

Just sayin.

Ol Jocko is back.

http://i.imgur.com/7mJuO.png

[QuercusMax]

We get the Idahoans.

Yup, and we get the U-tahns.

[Cokeman]

No you don't.

[QuercusMax]

No you don't.

Sure we do ... we took down the border fence years ago. :biggrin1:

[kb2wji]

80-85 is the perfect cruising speed for the interstate. Decent balance of progress and fuel economy. Problem is, there is a good percentage of people that cant drive safely in their own driveways...

I think there should be graduated license classes. Each class you earn carries with it a +5 mph voucher, which adds 5mph to whatever speed limit you happen to be driving in. You earn higher classes by testing.

Testing: written tests will include basic physics, common sense, and reaction time scenario's. Performance testing will include slow speed accuracy driving (through cones forward and backward, with little room for error, to test judgement and spacial recognition). It will also include high speed vehicle handling. How do you perform when in a spin at 60mph. On snow/ice...rain? Also, you have the opportunity to receive credits for performance driving schools that you complete.

This will create jobs, as people will be needed to monitor/assess, keep records, and run this program. The jobs will be funded by the very people who apply for these extra "MPH coupons". I would gladly pay a couple hundred per year to be able to drive 90mph on the interstates. It will create the need for performance driving schools as well...and lets face it...those schools kick serious a$$.

I wish.

[JFootin]

Nah. I wish it was a simple minimum I.Q. needed to qualify to drive, with a thorough driving test to prove capability. The roads would really clear up, traffic jams would be minimized. Only thing is, we would have to spend trillions developing a comprehensive commuter rail system to get the non-drivers around.

[QuercusMax]

Nah. I wish it was a simple minimum I.Q. needed to qualify to drive, with a thorough driving test to prove capability. The roads would really clear up, traffic jams would be minimized. Only thing is, we would have to spend trillions developing a comprehensive commuter rail system to get the non-drivers around.

And I think we should have the same requirement for voting.

[wyntrout]

Those "elitist" considerations will never happen. We'll continue to have the full spectrum of old people with reduced reflexes, impaired vision, and reduced mental capabilities, as well as the "squirrels" who throw themselves through traffic with wild abandon, the rolling roadblock people who think that they can drive in any lane they choose if they're near the speed LIMIT, the teens who are busy texting and making eye contact with their buds in the back seat, and the host of other people who have had little or no real training to drive and act as though they are sitting on the sofa in their living room, rather than in charge of piloting a 3,000 to 6,000 pound "missile" safely down the highway, following basic traffic rules, and using common courtesies.

Most people get their license and never think of getting the newest Drivers' Manual and seeing what the current laws and regulations are.

I drove in Germany and Europe for three years as well as several temporary duty trips to England and was able to adjust to their rules and pass the 100-question test without any errors. Right of way is a big deal over there and they don't try to provide every 15 or 16-year-old with a driver's license. In Germany you had to be 18 and then spend several thousand dollars to attend REAL driving schools where you learned how to DRIVE and not just parallel parking!

IQ isn't everything and "common sense" is in the eye of the beholder. I like to get where I'm going as soon as possible and without injuries or tickets.

I'm an aggressive driver who uses defensive tactics like situational awareness and keeping up with everything going on the road and trying to anticipate the worst possible actions of the people in front and behind me, so that I'm not surprised when some inconsiderate dumba$$ doesn't signal and suddenly decides to jump or slide over in front of me as I'm overtaking him in the left lane. I also pay attention to the guys behind me and try to give them every inch of room to brake behind me. Not everyone is ready to stop on a dime or is paying enough attention to traffic in front of them. Any time that I have to brake, I'm watching the rear view mirror for the vehicle(s) behind me and trying not to help them run into me from behind.

I've been in some pretty hairy situations in Europe and I've driven and practiced recovery driving in all conditions whenever I got the chance... lots in winters in Europe, Maine, Quebec and Colorado. I've been driving AWD vehicles since 1985 and really appreciate the pull and push capabilities of 4 driven wheels... and more recently full ABS and airbags, etc.

I CAN turn the major aggressive thing off and take it easy sometimes, otherwise I would go nuts. Sometimes traffic is just too congested and slow and you have to adjust... listen to the stereo and chill.:D

Wynn:)

[kb2wji]

Nah. I wish it was a simple minimum I.Q. needed to qualify to drive, with a thorough driving test to prove capability. The roads would really clear up, traffic jams would be minimized. Only thing is, we would have to spend trillions developing a comprehensive commuter rail system to get the non-drivers around.


Ehhh..looks good on paper, but high IQ rarely means one has common sense.

I guess it boils down to two options... a total numbskull that has common sense, or a rocket surgeon with no common sense. :biggrin1:

[Scoundrel]

I also don't get why folks, on a two lane (one lane each direction) speed up when you are passing them or drive 10 to 15 mph faster when a passing lane comes up. It's a mystery to me!

OK, here it is:

1. In my area, passing lanes are sometimes placed in fairly straight, level sections of road - the kind that are easier to drive faster on. So people speed up in these areas, either because they're more comfortable with the higher speed in these areas, or because their vehicle is capable of going faster in these areas (underpowered motorhomes, for example).

2. Some people are subconsciously goaded by people trying to pass them. Their pride kicks in and they speed up. For other people, it's not subconscious - and then Jocko's explanation comes into play.

3. Some people, when not actively being passed by others, will go whatever speed they are comfortable with, which might be slower than the people behind them are comfortable with - this is also subconscious. People passing them is kind of a "peer pressure" which makes them go faster. People in their rear view mirror do not affect them the same way. This assumes that they are even looking in their rear view mirror.

[Armybrat]

Well, all I got to say is - I learned to drive in Mexico. lol

[Bawanna]

It's strange, a few years ago we drove my daughter to Cody Wyoming to go to school. Washington pretty much sucks when it comes to roads, speed limits and lousy drivers. I passed Spokane Wa and entered Idaho and the speed increased, roads were clear, I never saw a state trooper nor did I see any disabled vehicles on the road all the way thru Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.

Only holdups I had were motorhomes trying to pass tractor trailers on hills. Truck going 25, motor home going 26 and every single one of them had Washington plates.

Another thing that amazed me were highway rest areas. Nearly perfectly spaced through Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. Not so at all in Washington.

[Scoundrel]

Only holdups I had were motorhomes trying to pass tractor trailers on hills. Truck going 25, motor home going 26 and every single one of them had Washington plates.

As a motorhome driver, let me just say that there seems to be some hostility toward MHs from truck drivers. The damn things seem to go out of their way to make things difficult for us. I can go up those hills at maybe 45 mph, unless a truck pulls a jackass move and traps me behind him before he gets all the way down to 25mph. Then I've lost my momentum, and my rig takes a while to get that back on a hill.

When not on a hill, those jackasses are doing 70+ when they're supposed to be holding it down to 60, and I can't get around them so that when the next hill comes, I'm not stuck behind them again.

I'm really looking forward to (when my house is paid off) selling my 1990 motorhome with a pathetic 350 V8 in it and buying a big-ass turbo diesel pickup with a travel trailer. Then we'll SEE about that bullshit.

[Alfonse]

And I think we should have the same requirement for voting.

And maybe parenting. That might take care of the other two...

[Alfonse]

OK, here it is:

1. In my area, passing lanes are sometimes placed in fairly straight, level sections of road - the kind that are easier to drive faster on. So people speed up in these areas, either because they're more comfortable with the higher speed in these areas, or because their vehicle is capable of going faster in these areas (underpowered motorhomes, for example).

2. Some people are subconsciously goaded by people trying to pass them. Their pride kicks in and they speed up. For other people, it's not subconscious - and then Jocko's explanation comes into play.

3. Some people, when not actively being passed by others, will go whatever speed they are comfortable with, which might be slower than the people behind them are comfortable with - this is also subconscious. People passing them is kind of a "peer pressure" which makes them go faster. People in their rear view mirror do not affect them the same way. This assumes that they are even looking in their rear view mirror.

I thought they just weren't internally motivated.

[Cokeman]

Sure we do ... we took down the border fence years ago. :biggrin1:

:D :biggrin1:

[Cokeman]

OK, here it is:

1. In my area, passing lanes are sometimes placed in fairly straight, level sections of road - the kind that are easier to drive faster on. So people speed up in these areas, either because they're more comfortable with the higher speed in these areas, or because their vehicle is capable of going faster in these areas (underpowered motorhomes, for example).

2. Some people are subconsciously goaded by people trying to pass them. Their pride kicks in and they speed up. For other people, it's not subconscious - and then Jocko's explanation comes into play.

3. Some people, when not actively being passed by others, will go whatever speed they are comfortable with, which might be slower than the people behind them are comfortable with - this is also subconscious. People passing them is kind of a "peer pressure" which makes them go faster. People in their rear view mirror do not affect them the same way. This assumes that they are even looking in their rear view mirror.

I didn't know you live in Utah. Howdy neighbor. :yo:

[yqtszhj]

My morning newspaper reported that three feral hogs and a deer were responsible for vehicle crashes there a night ago. Suckers were walking across the road ... pretty rude of them to ignore the designated crossing areas!!!



They need to move those deer crossing signs... :rolleyes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFCrJleggrI

[wyntrout]

There ARE people like that. It's like the Disney-fication over the last 50 years where people think animals are tame and friendly... but able to read???

L.O.L. AROTF!

Wynn:D

[O'Dell]

Only holdups I had were motorhomes trying to pass tractor trailers on hills. Truck going 25, motor home going 26 and every single one of them had Washington plates.



Reminds me of that old joke from the 60's. If all the automobiles in the world were lined up bumper to bumper, some idiot in a VW would pull out to pass.

[Scoundrel]

I didn't know you live in Utah. Howdy neighbor. :yo:

Uh, I don't? Been there a couple of times though. Once in a motorhome pulling a 16ft trailer with a Polaris RZR, two 4x4 ATVs, and a Honda scooter on it. I think I did get down to 25mph a couple of times, actually.

Used to have a 73 VW super beetle. That thing had trouble getting up to 55 (back when that was the limit).