Fords solution for speeding

darkfox1 · April 1, 2015

Our speed limit jumped today.

Seriously.. its 2015 and we continue to live in 1950s speed limits. It's good to know SOMEONE at the DOT thinks.

To be fair though, Atlanta recently raised most of its I-20 limits to 70 and FINALLY raised 285 to 65 (though.. its a digital sign so that they can change it at will and then fine you for exceeding a moving goalpost..)

Augusta GA however.. still considers 55 to be "fast."

I can see this ford thing being useful for parents to lock out their kids, but tbh.. being unable to exceed a speed seems like a safety issue to me. How many times have you had to speed up on the interstate or on the road to avoid an accident?

I think most of this stuff is going to be trialed in Europe where people will take more of this kind of er.. "stuff." Ya know they're working on the self driving car now too.. how long before "you're not allowed to go there" becomes a reality in your vehicle?

I'm all for creature comforts, but my truck doesn't even have power seats.. and tbh.. I don't miss em at all.

j-ten-ner · April 1, 2015

Just don't buy this crab and it'll go away...

Home made headache.

so long

j-ten-ner

galliher_nc · April 2, 2015

Wow,your speed limit is 80mph now?

I do 80-85 on the interstate anyway and so do most of the other cars. It's about time they started to raise them up.

MikeNH · April 2, 2015

Seriously.. its 2015 and we continue to live in 1950s speed limits. It's good to know SOMEONE at the DOT thinks.

To be fair though, Atlanta recently raised most of its I-20 limits to 70 and FINALLY raised 285 to 65 (though.. its a digital sign so that they can change it at will and then fine you for exceeding a moving goalpost..)

Augusta GA however.. still considers 55 to be "fast."

I can see this ford thing being useful for parents to lock out their kids, but tbh.. being unable to exceed a speed seems like a safety issue to me. How many times have you had to speed up on the interstate or on the road to avoid an accident?

I think most of this stuff is going to be trialed in Europe where people will take more of this kind of er.. "stuff." Ya know they're working on the self driving car now too.. how long before "you're not allowed to go there" becomes a reality in your vehicle?

I'm all for creature comforts, but my truck doesn't even have power seats.. and tbh.. I don't miss em at all.

That's the thing- the interstates were designed in the late 40s and early 50s to support speeds of 70 MPH in rural/light traffic areas. Even the biggest POS on the road today will out handle, out stop and crash safer than the best car in those categories then. No reason rural interstates can't be 80-85.

kstruckcountry · April 2, 2015

I think it's good the limits are at 75 here. Raise them 10 mph and people will still drive 5-10 over. I saw it happen here, they said "we're raising it to 75, but now there's no tolerance". So now everyone just drives 85 instead of 80.

MikeNH · April 2, 2015

I think it's good the limits are at 75 here. Raise them 10 mph and people will still drive 5-10 over. I saw it happen here, they said "we're raising it to 75, but now there's no tolerance". So now everyone just drives 85 instead of 80.

I'm getting ready for bed so I'm not going to bother searching but I thought I read once you get to an 80-85 limit, people often don't go much faster. Obviously some will but the article made it sound like that was about where people felt safe so that was it. Even on unrestricted parts of the autobahn most drivers don't go much above 130 km/h apparently and that's the standard speed limit otherwise as I understood it.

darkfox1 · April 2, 2015

If it were legal on rural interstates I would cruise at 100mph. In a city I think 80 is sufficient. The only time traffic is light enough for more than that in city limits on the interstate is on like Christmas day.

I probably wouldn't go any faster than that though. Your reaction time to dear and people who want to "teach you a lesson" by cutting you off is slowed considerably.

I think everyone drives at their own internal speed limit. Regardless of what Ford or the state decides is their limit.

Texas Husker · April 2, 2015

On the toll road Watch out for the hogs though....

But as others have noted, not a fan of the oversight, albeit some need it.

What's that old saying?...

Let's just remove all the warning labels/signs and let the problem sort itself out - Gandhi

^^Not sure where it came from so in true internet fashion, attribute to someone random

Super 8 · April 2, 2015

Wow,your speed limit is 80mph now?

Yes, just jumped to 80 from the past 75, but at a cost, they raised our gas tax another 6 cents at the same time.

Super 8 · April 2, 2015

That's the thing- the interstates were designed in the late 40s and early 50s to support speeds of 70 MPH in rural/light traffic areas. Even the biggest POS on the road today will out handle, out stop and crash safer than the best car in those categories then. No reason rural interstates can't be 80-85.

Interstate past me opened in 1983.

MikeNH · April 2, 2015

Interstate past me opened in 1983.

The concept for the interstate system was drawn up after WWII. The build out took decades obviously. But my point stands.

kstruckcountry · April 2, 2015

You may be right, that people will drive 80-85 no matter what the speed limit is. But if that's the case why not just leave the limit at 75? Most people here do drive 65 in a 55, 70 in a 60, etc though.

Yeah vehicles are safer now, but that doesn't mean people have gotten better at driving, and people certainly ARENT more focused than they used to be.

Stex · April 2, 2015

The death rate attributed to speed has always been a straw argument with no statistical support. The lack of going with the flow (i.e. way to slow or way to fast in traffic) has more statistical support but still just a factor not necessarily causation. Most places raise speed limits and traffic accidents and deaths decline.

They raised my 200 mile interstate route from 70 to 75 and 80. I still drive about 78 like always. As most traffic is still 70-75 and it is a truck with the drag coefficient of a brick against a costal wind. Now in a new stang or Camaro/vet maybe 80-85...

kilbornf · April 2, 2015

How that work down there on the interstate if you get ticket for speeding?$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ pay and wait till next time .Points against your license?

darkfox1 · April 2, 2015

I just heard on the news this morning about a wreck 1 exit from mine on I-20. The speed limit there is 70. The cop on the radio said "they were goin too fast.. like 65-70." uuuhh.. so they were doing the speed limit or 5 under officer?

I saw a 35mph sign today that someone had painted to say 85. It was so good it had me fooled for a split second until I saw the paint had ran a bit. Had me laughing for a good while. Wanted to stop and take a pic but thought slamming on brakes and running off the road may have been confusing to the dump truck right behind me.

I agree, traveling with the flow of traffic is more important. I argue that commuters have 2 jobs.. one of them is their job they're commuting to, the other is towing the line in traffic while commuting to said job. If you drive 10-15mph below everyone else and keep a huge gap in front of you you're causing a problem and you aren't doing your part. (unless its moving like 3mph.. then keeping a gap allows people to travel between lanes..)

If there's anything I'd like to see a company implement in vehicles its more of an auto drive in bumper to bumper situations. It senses the car in front of it and creeps forward and applies brakes as needed to keep a moderate distance so that you dont have to do it. Like cruise control for 3mph commutes. Seems less nanny than a speed limit cap.