How fast do Texans need to drive on ice??

[stevej37]

Average speeds topped 100 before 133-vehicle pileup on icy I-35W in Fort Worth

https://www.yahoo.com/news/average-speeds-topped-100-133-202017416.html

[KFC911]

In a 4x4 pick 'em up truck? Fast as it will go

Not restricted to Texas either

[stevej37]

After reading the article again... I think the author is mixed up.
How do the numbers equal 100 mph average?.....


"According to the document from Mobility Partners, 15 minutes before the collision, the average vehicle speed was 65 mph in the right lane and 82 in the left."

[masraum]

Originally Posted by stevej37

After reading the article again... I think the author is mixed up.
How do the numbers equal 100 mph average?.....


"According to the document from Mobility Partners, 15 minutes before the collision, the average vehicle speed was 65 mph in the right lane and 82 in the left."

That was an error that was allowed to fly because it made the title more exciting. Yeah, the freeways are a free for all here, and when inclement weather cranks up, the morons don't slow down because "muh truck don't care! I gots 4WD, and I sit 10' up!"

[GH85Carrera]

I have driven in many states, and Texas drivers are no different than Florida or California drivers. 90 MPH is about average speed and only the occasional triple digit speeder.

In Florida on one of the turnpikes, my radar detector started warning me, and I was a little angel as always in the right lane going the 70 MPH speed limit as a line of 6 various makes of HUGE Suvs rolled past in the left lane at 90. They all passed right past a state trooper and he never moved. I figured that was the real speed limit.

In California going from Monterey to San Jose and the traffic was certainly not traveling even close to the speed limit, more like 85 to 90.

On the Pennsylvania turnpike, same thing. Most traffic was moving at 80+ even three lanes wide through construction zones.

In Oklahoma, outside of the cities the interstates have a 75 MPH limit, and most traffic is at 85. There are some sections of the turnpike where the limit is 80. I lived through the horrible days of the national 55 MPH speed limit. It is almost surreal now to roll past a State Trooper at 80 with his radar blasting and know I am going the speed limit. In the bad old days of the 55MPH limit a ticket at 80 was damn near a felony and likely to get handcuffs and the car impounded.

[KFC911]

^^^^ Unless you just killed 4 college kids less than 15 over won't draw any attention from the popo on most roads.

Unless it's Barney and you're goin' 6 over

[cockerpunk]

Originally Posted by masraum

"muh truck don't care! I gots 4WD, and I sit 10' up!"

the worst drivers in a snow/ice storm, and the most likely to end up in the ditch.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by cockerpunk

the worst drivers in a snow/ice storm, and the most likely to end up in the ditch.

Yep, I think they have some mental image of their "four by" being able to scale glaciers. They are quickly educated.

[jamesnmlaw]

Was in north GA for 10 days after New Year's. Saw plenty of LEOs stopping vehicles along county/state roads. Going thru ATL to Hartsfield-Jackson was a free-for-all with only slow downs when construction dictates. I think it depends on place, jurisdiction, road conditions, luck, and if you're driving a red Mustang.

[GH85Carrera]

Last year we were going up I-35 towards Kansas, and it started raining really hard. The speed limit is 75, but that is just nucking futs to go more than 60 in a hard rain due to hydroplaning. I slowed to 60, and poked along in the right lane. A Suburban blasted past me in the left lane at every bit of 75, if not faster. About two miles up the road, we passed them in the center median. They had ended up upside down and it looked like there was several rolls before it stopped. There were already several people helping so we just poked along at a safe speed. Hopefully that idiot driver did not have any passengers, and it did not look like he hit any other cars in his (or hers) insane driving. I hope they pulled the driver's license and sent them back to driving school to start over.

[stomachmonkey]

I drive that stretch of 35 regularly.

No one was doing 100+.

Accident was in the HOV so speeds would be on the higher end but 90ish is about what you can expect.

TX drivers generally suck and the roads themselves are really slick around here.

[cockerpunk]

Originally Posted by masraum

Yep, I think they have some mental image of their "four by" being able to scale glaciers. They are quickly educated.

as with all things related to street driving: the vehicle is plenty capable, its the driver who is terrible at everything.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

... but that is just nucking futs to go more than 60 in a hard rain due to hydroplaning....

Glen speaks the truth here.

There are weeks long sometimes multiple month stretches with no rain around here.

A lot of time for oils to build up on the road surface so when we finally do get precip the roads turn into skating rinks.

[Otter74]

More often than not, four-wheel drive just means you'll eventually get twice as deep into trouble when you crash due to driving too fast for conditions.

This 80-90 thing may hold for many states, but one place it doesn't is Ohio. It's earned its reputation.

[nota]

what is this ice stuff

and why are they spilling it on the roads

our cold chills are 40's maybe upper 30's just before dawn

[masraum]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Glen speaks the truth here.

There are weeks long sometimes multiple month stretches with no rain around here.

A lot of time for oils to build up on the road surface so when we finally do get precip the roads turn into skating rinks.

Yep, I used to run into that in Florida. No rain for a while, then the first rain and the ground is nearly as slick as black ice despite the temp being in the 90s.

[911 Rod]

The craziest part is they tailgate at these speeds in the wet!

[KFC911]

The higher yer truck is jacked up in the air ... the further it gets from the law of gravity and physics - An old Texas proverb

[jyl]

The scary thing is that if you try to drive at safe speeds in those conditions, the yahoos will rage you off the road.

[stevej37]

It seems like whenever a car/truck goes into a slide on ice....it gains speed and takes out other cars that can't avoid it.