Re: On Topic? Cars, anyway: 55 MPH speed limit...

On 2008-07-24, Leftie <No@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> Brent P wrote:
>> On 2008-07-24, Leftie <No@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>> 
>>>     I've always sup****ted 55, as long as you can go 60 and be left 
>>> alone. 
>> 
>> So long as the cops don't bother those driving at your chosen speed.
How
>> absurd a standard. 

>     The standard is perfectly reasonable, and long-standing. It's to 
> account for both speedometer error and people momentarily drifting above

> the limit. I use cruise control and know my speedometer error, so I can 
> set it for 60 and know I'll be going 58. You're the one being absurd.

Upper bound speed limits are not to be set because of what somebody feels
is 'right'. Neither should having a armed government employee stop you
on the side of road under the threat of violence be determined by his
personal speed tolerances. 

Google 85th percentile method to see how speed limits should be set. 

>>> I do 58-60 in the center lane on my commute (lots of off-ramps in 
>>> the right lane) and idiots keep passing me on *both* sides. Americans 
>>> are stupid.

>> That may be true generally but in this case you're driving in the wrong
>> lane. Keep right except to pass. If you can't deal with the merge
>> impaired go fast enough so you aren't being passed on the right. 
 
>     This is how we got into the current situation: being told to crowd 
> into the right-hand lane to make more room for speeders.

*sigh*  A sign with an absurdly low number on it is not a license to
drive poorly. 

> On a 3 lane 
> highway with off-ramps on the right, the right lane should be for those 
> going below the limit, including those exiting or entering from ramps. 

WRONG. It's supposed to be the normal cruising lane. It was before the
NMSL idiotcy of 55mph and still is. 

> The center lane should be for cruising at the limit or so, 

WRONG. It's for passing people in the right lane. 

> and the left lane for passing and emergency vehicles.

Somewhat WRONG. It's for passing people in the middle lane. 

>  This allows for the optimum 
> flow of traffic and for maximum safety. 

No it does not. Optimum flow and maximum safety is achieved by a strict
keep right except to pass discipline. This is why the autobahn is safer
than the US interstate and much better to drive. 

> But that's just too sensible for  this dumbass country...

Actually most of those dumb***** are driving just like you, except they
have a different idea of where the speed cut offs for each lane are.
That's why your idea is pure bunk. 

Keep right except to pass is pure simplicity. It works like fluid flow
in a pipe. It makes for an engineered system. Your idea is a complex
social interaction that cannot scale. That's why it breaks down so
quickly with increased traffic volumes. Too many people with different
social ideas of what speed each lane should be.