OT: Utah I-70 speed limit is now 80 mph

[ckcarr]

This must have just happened, or I've been asleep at the wheel.

But going to Green River today I see the old 75 mph signs have a new 80 mph sign bolted over them.

No need to reply, unless you appreciate the wide open west and high speed limits. I'm just passing on important information.

[SergioK]

I found it interesting that Utah Highway Patrol officers would drive slow, purposefully, while firing their rear radar to get speeders traveling faster than 80mph. It makes sense though... if someone is cruising along at 90-95mph all they'd need to do is drive around 45-50mph and they'll pick up new traffic almost every minute. I remember coming on a UHP trooper rather fast yet I was only going about 65mph.

[John Lyon]

They should get a ticket for going so slow.

[bradzdotcom]

when i'm in an area where it "feels like" it might be prudent to reel in the right wrist, i usually settle on 12mph over what the sign suggests.
that's seems to be the top edge of the gray area when/if you get zapped.

of course that depends on whether the LEO got laid the night before and if he did/didn't want to.
your MPH may vary.

[Bob Hancock]

In Georgia 14 over will get you a fine and nothing on your record, so some LEO's don't bother to pull you unless there are other factors like a school zone or something. Good to hear Utah has upped the limit.

[SergioK]

Originally Posted by bradzdotcom

when i'm in an area where it "feels like" it might be prudent to reel in the right wrist, i usually settle on 12mph over what the sign suggests.
that's seems to be the top edge of the gray area when/if you get zapped.

of course that depends on whether the LEO got laid the night before and if he did/didn't want to.
your MPH may vary.

That seems about right. When I was a kid I once received an awards certificate for 5mph over. Seems some LEOs have sensitive egos. My buddy won't bother unless it's a solid 15+.

John, I'd rather a rolling slow LEO than one camped off the side just picking guys off with his scope. And if you think about it, if he has to catch up to speeding traffic, he'd have to drive 100+ to get new traffic, maybe every two to three minutes. I do miss the days when CHP didn't use radar though...

[Manda Racing]

We drove to Nebraska on I 15, I 70, and I 80 a couple months ago. Several 80 mph areas were wonderful. Still a long 24 hr drive though. Whew. Beautiful country.

[Moybin]

My brother transferred from south Bay Area back to near Flint, MI in March and reported that Wyoming is using the electronic signs which update on some cycle, mostly based on driving conditions. He said this is common on the Autobahn in Germany.

That would be on I-80 in Wyoming. Anyone have experience with electronic speed posting on the Autobahn?

[BikerMiker]

Anyone have experience with electronic speed posting on the Autobahn?

The lit speed signs are typically close to areas of congestion and they are based on time of day and I do believe other road conditions as well. Not many lit signs in rural regions where you can waste a full tank of gas (diesel) within an hour of driving. That's all I know about them.

Yeah..... Living in Germany ruined me.

It turned me from typically speeding +20 to now speeding +f*ck it. I don't have any patience left in me for those that use the left lane for slow cruising and those that won't even reach the speed limit on back roads where I can't pass. I use a radar detector and the Waze app in tandem and I am considering laser jamming to boot.

It's horrible.

The Autobahn's roads in general, are much better than any highway I've been on and you can tell a lot of thought went into their design. I was impressed that most had some sort of micro-grooved pavement to drain the rain water and made them safer (and faster!) in the wet.

I think that's a funny thing about the Germans. As a whole, they are very environmentally conscious but allow driving from A to B as fast as possible (there are some rules) which uses more resources and is a source of pollutants.

The real kicker is that they have less fatal accidents per capita than the US and most other industrialized countries.

[SergioK]

Originally Posted by BikerMiker

The real kicker is that they have less fatal accidents per capita than the US and most other industrialized countries.

Question: what is "Driver Training"?

Answer: Something that absolutely does not exist in the United States.

[Bob Hancock]

Originally Posted by SergioK

Question: what is "Driver Training"?

Answer: Something that absolutely does not exist in the United States.

Of course we know they have real driver training and they obey the traffic rules for the most part. I remember moving from Germany to south Florida much to my amazement and annoyance. South Florida drivers are the worst!

[anotheroldrider]

As an oilfield brat growing up on the western slope, there was no daytime speed limit in Montana, and Wyoming had one but couldn't have cared less.

Ah - the good ol' days. Speaking of good days, I have one more Monday left before I retire to a shop full of bike projects.

Art

[Manda Racing]

There's hope for us in some states. Thank you Utah.

[SergioK]

Saw this on ACH a couple weeks ago...

hehe

[twodear]

Sheesh, the limit is 70 or 80 MPH and you guys are grumbling about being picked off at 12 or more MPH over that?

In Victoria the open highway limit is 100 KPH (there might be 110 KPH in a few places). A few years back there was essentially no tolerance; 3 KPH over would result in an infringement and a multi-hundred dollar fine.

The average speed in any state/territory where an average driver might be "safe" is 10 KPH, or about 6 MPH. The Northern Territory has fairly relaxed limits (where they exist) but in other states the max limit will be no higher than 110 KPH and those are really rare.

[twodear]

Hey, I can read that

Originally Posted by Manda Racing

There's hope for us in some states. Thank you Utah.

[AZ-J]

I do 80 anyway (no police cars!)

[SeabeckS]

Ah, for the good old days of "reasonable and proper" speeds on Nevada highways.

While cruising Maine Street one summer eve (long ago) with my brother in his "built" 59 Impala we stopped in at the local Dairy Queen for a coke slush. Five seconds after we pulled into the parking lot, the local NHP officer pulled in and "blocked" our car in...(he was Patrol Officer Art Block...lol).

He sauntered up to the driver's side window, leaned in and said, "Ben, I know that was you on the Austin Highway the other night, who out ran me at 146+MPH. If you ever pull that S#!^ on me again, you'll be in jail for at least a MONTH".

Ben's reply? "Yessir, Officer Block!"!

Whereupon, Officer Block got back in his NHP Pontiac Bonneville cruiser and casually departed the scene.

Ah, for the good ol' days!