2007-02-28 01:14:00 · 12 answers · asked by John U 7 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ Houston
The roads in texas are long and boring and if there is not much traffic, you should not have to go slower. I nearly fell asleep when they did that 55 mile an hour junk. Now that was dangerous. Haven't traveled for a couple of years, well I quit driving the Texas Highways at NIGHT twenty years ago when some hispanic nut driving a beat up piece of junk played car killer with other cars on 90 south of columbus. His car had an engine now. I got up to 100 trying to get back in the right lane and he would not allow it, fast or slow he fought me and I had my kids in the car. He finally let us in after trapping me in the oncoming lane for a dangerous curve. we reported him to dps in columbus.
Yeah, I haven't heard of slow down at night. Thought the slow speeds with dark on them were for truckers.
2007-02-28 15:26:32 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The answer is simple. Follow the money! Speed limits are not designed for safety as we are told. They are for reveneue generation. Tickets are big business and are the life blood of some communities. You will find "speed traps" all over where the speed limit is quickly reduced around curve or over a hill in order to be able to generate undisputable tickets. Consider the facts of all the speed limits in places that makes no sense. Freeway with 4 to 6 lanes and the speed limits are from 55 to 70. Some school zones where children play and are out and about, 20 to 45 miles per hour. Housing areas from 30 MPH and up..... if speed limits were for safety speed limits would be very slow in places where there is a greater possibility of accidents and/or harming people/children and the speed limits would be higher on freeways (that don't go through cities or congested areas.) They say dropping the speed limit 5 MPH to 65 at night makes it safer. Statistics would probably not substantiate this. Follow the money!
2007-02-28 17:01:40 · answer #2 · answered by Pappy 1 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Sorry to tell one or two this, but there is no conspiracy. Speed limits are set for the LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR driver... you know the guy whose car somehow passes inspection and who got a 70 on his driving test, not for the 85th percentile speed. The fact that some small bergs use highways as revenue generation is immaterial.
As for night speeds being lower, those who said it is because of reduced visibility are 100% correct. The difference between 70 mph and 65 mph is not 7.7% more energy in a crash, it is 24.9% (remember inverse cube laws).
Do us all a favor at night... ease off the hammer a bit.
2007-02-28 18:26:09 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Basically it is because of reduced visibility. our night vision is much different than our day vision, and this difference increases as we age.
As shown below 60 mph it is 88 feet per second
MPH FPH FPM FPS
40, 211200 3520 58.67
45, 237600 3960 66.00
50, 264000 4400 73.33
55, 290400 4840 80.67
60, 316800 5280 88.00
65, 343200 5720 95.33
70, 369600 6160 102.67
75, 396000 6600 110.00
80, 422400 7040 117.33
our headlights range out maybe 150 feet, but we may not 'see' something well enough not much further than 50 feet at night.
our reaction times vary due to conditions, but at best our time to see, determine, decide, and then act can easily be 1/2 a second.
then our stopping distance is added, at 60 mph we travel 88 feet per second, our stopping distance may be 150 feet. so with 44 feet to react, about 150 feet to stop, we may cover almost 2/3 of a football field before coming to a stop.
that said, at 55 it is 40 + 125 for about half a football field. a small difference, yet a deadly one. we all over drive our headlights, so a reduced speed at night gives us that extra margin, enough that it may save a life.
2007-02-28 10:13:53 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It keeps people safe t go slower at night. they realize that five mph duringa n impact can make a heck of a difference. i work at a physical rehab hospital for patients who have ahad accidents and such. 30mph and 35mph can be the difference between paraplegia and scratches and bruises.
2007-02-28 12:42:26 · answer #5 · answered by beautyzhername 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since everything in Texas is bigger and better,it only follows that the night here is darker than other,lesser states.Therefore,we have to slow down a little bit.
2007-02-28 13:41:38 · answer #6 · answered by zskip62 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
probley because of all the wild life that roams at night (deer, loose cattle, coyotes, ect.) Texas is respective towards the land and wildlife, maybe thats why!?
2007-02-28 09:31:34 · answer #7 · answered by texcjb 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because visibility is limited at night.
2007-02-28 09:17:02 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
peoples reflexes are not as good in the night..harder to see, more truck drivers. I live in Dallas and I hate that as well.
2007-02-28 09:16:51 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
im not from texas but i know they claim it's for safety reasons
2007-03-03 10:32:47 · answer #10 · answered by truckergurl985 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋