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

Mortimer wrote:

> 
> I'm not sure what other countries' laws are about undertaking (ie
overtaking 
> on the opposite side to the driver's side).

In the US it varies from area to area. Its generally considered "not 
good," but is not expressly forbidden in most areas.
> 
> As a matter of interest, in the USA are large articulated trucks (heavy 
> goods vehicles - HGVs - in UK parlance) legally restricted to a lower
limit 
> than other vehicles? 

Depends on the highway. When the posted speed limit is 70 mph or lower, 
trucks are generally not held to a lower limit. On rural interstate 
highways (such as I-10 where I was travelling last week) the automobile 
speed limit is 80, and trucks are limited to 70. At night, cars are 
limited to 70 and IIRC trucks to 65. Some areas place limits on vehicles 
  based on axle count, or simply whether or not the vehicle is towing a 
trailer (meaning that a pickup towing an RV trailer or stock trailer is 
held to the same limit as an 18-wheel truck). I think it is california 
(big surprise) that limits all vehicles with trailers to an absurdly low 
speed like 55 or 60 mph. While I understand the reasoning for lowering 
the limit for heavy vehicles, the big risk comes from creating a large 
speed DIFFERENTIAL between vehicles sharing the highway. 10 mph 
differential is acceptable in rural areas where passing is easy. Not 
acceptable in urban areas where lane-changing is an exercise in
frustration.

Apart from that, however, some trucking lines do install speed limiters 
to contain fuel consumption, and where they set their limiter is up to 
the company. I passed a few trucks that were apparently limited to about 
60-65, but the majority were able to run 70. And a few were running up 
closer to the car speed limit of 80.