🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1994Jan14.200626.25500@dg-rtp.dg.com> goudreau@batman.rtp.dg.com (Bob Goudreau) writes:
>In article <1994Jan13.231607.21289@seas.smu.edu> shyamal@seas.smu.edu (Shyamal Prasad) writes:
>>
>>They just want to get to work (or the mall) and back, drink that coke,
>>get on the phone and let the kids jump around in tbe back seat.
>>Nothing wrong with this kind of driving culture (its wonderful
>>actually), but I doubt it would allows 70mph+ speed limits unless
>>there is stronger drivers ed or something.
>
>Well, I think several proofs by existence should lay your doubts to
>rest.  That "driving culture" has existed in the US for several decades
>now (well, not the car-phone part, but certainly all the rest,
>including the easy licensing tests).  Most notably, it existed prior
>to 1974 and the "temporary" national fuel-emergency speed limit.
>Before that time, 70 mph was a *very* common speed limit in many
>states.  Several states had roads posted with even higher limits, and
>some states had no limits at all on the open road (between towns).

I could not help but respond. I am aware of what you stated. I also
know that Nevada and Montana were the two states that never had posted
speed limits. A few months ago I had posted to rec.autos.driving
asking about the history of the US 55 mph law and I must say I learned
a lot from the good old internet! 

All I was saying was that it is hard to drive significantly faster
than 70 mph if you want to do all those things.  There will always be
those who want to drive faster, but most will not be able to just because
this "driving culture" has set in.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

If speed limits go up I think that the easy going driving attitude
will also fade away(?). I think that would be really sad. I find the
way America uses cars really fascinating.

I also speak from some experience - its hard to eat a sandwhich and
sip a drink at 100 mph, its much easier at 65 mph behind a big truck.
This I discoverd in a European country where nearly all cars go 90 mph
and above. They don't even have the kind of traffic density you have
here, and people do not commute the same distances in general. I'm
sure many people can drive very fast with ease while fiddling with the
radio and all, but I think that would not be the average driver.

I guess I should restate my belief as: if speed limits go away or go
up much higher than the de facto value we see today (approx 70 mph) a
very unique "driving culture" will also go with it.

Oh well.....now I am wasting net bandwidth :-) Just a nerdy desire to
get the last word in, that's all ;-)

Shyamal
-- 
Shyamal Prasad, Department of Computer Science
Southern Methodist University, Dallas TX 75275, USA