🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <WARSAW.92Mar19125843@anthem.nlm.nih.gov> warsaw@nlm.nih.gov (Barry A. Warsaw) writes:
>> Comments from me (Greg Drew) deleted.
>in fact, i think this is what state DOT agencies tend to do, when
>other mitigating factors don't exist.  at least this is my impression
>from religiously reading the "Road Warrior" column in the Montgomery
>Journal every week [%].  on state and local roads, speed limits are
>often set using the method you describe, though sometimes factors such
>as the number of cross streets, residents concerns, etc. will
>necessitate the lowering of limits below the "natural" speed.  when
>this happens the number of offenders does increase.
I do not mind when speeds are lowered for such real concerns as school zones 
and residential areas where children might be present.  I in fact observe
the limits in these areas.  
Unfortunatly, not all highway officials in every area set speeds in this 
manner.  Sometimes  they seem to get set lower because of seemingly random
factors or the "speed kills" myth.  As a positive note, my compliments to
the Fairfax co/VA dot officials;  they recently changed a much travelled
road near my parent's home from t lanes with curves to 4 lanes, divided, and 
straight.  Corresponding with the change in the road was a 10mph limit 
increase.  
>
>as for enforcement of 55mph on the interstates, you have to understand
>that states risk losing big federal highway $$$ when the number of
>offenders increases beyond some federally mandated max.  that's why
>maryland at least will occasionally send the troopers out en mass for
>big (often highly publicized) crackdowns.  also, when checking on % of
>violators for federal highway bucks, the state will usually set up
>radar/vascar on curves and tops of hills when average interstate
>speeds are lower anyway.
Of course, raising the limit would reduce the number of violators which
would lower the risk of loosing the highway numbers.  There was a bill last 
year in MD which would have raised the limit to 65 on those interstates
eligable for that speed limit.  Our esteemed Gov.  killed it because of the
"speed kills" myth.  

I personally would like to see the "speed kills" replaced with "unsafe driving
and vehicles" kills.  Enforcing the use of turn signals, proper lane usage
(slower cars to the right, pass on the left), and proper vehicle maintenence
(usable mirrors, working signals, good shocks/brakes/tires, etc) would do
far more for safe driving than making interstate drivers go 55.
				 --GDD
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Greg Drew                          | Watch for coming attractions 
gdrew@trellis.cs.umd.edu           |
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