Do I trust Texas drivers to stick to an 85 mph speed limit? Sure… in a 65 mph zone. Much national handwringing has occurred over a new 41-mile stretch of toll road between Austin and San Antonio that, as of today, boasts America’s highest speed limit. As a native Texan, I’ve already been practicing on local back roads. I’ve even passed the true Texas driver’s test — I can load a gun, search the U.S Constitution for violations by Democrats, and top off the speedometer at the same time.
I hope that no orphans, nuns, or senior citizens plan to get stranded on Highway 130, because they will become asphalt pudding. Safety will not be the top concern here. A driver’s attention will be centered on three spots –– the driver’s side windshield looking for cop cars; the rearview mirror looking for cop cars; and the speedometer dial checking to make sure they’re driving no faster than 97 mph, because 100 mph would be dangerous and crazy, right? Let the race begin!
Did Texas really need to provide yet another example of redneck stupidity in our Republican state government?
That these people can do legally for 30 minutes what they do iilegally all day long on Stemmons and I-30 and elsewhere can only lead to one thing, great loss of innocent life.
Kind of like the dire predictions when the right-to-carry law was enacted. Doom!
Phil – Europe, specifically Germany, was redneck stupid long before Texas.
Let’s hope saner, less red Texans will lessen the bloodshed by enforcing their interpretation of the law by refusing to vacate the passing lane.
The biggest danger on every interstate is speed differential. If you’re in a 55 and someone is going 40, they are being just as dangerous as the guy going 70 (assuming most are going 55 and not the customary 64). Most people will want to go between 85 and 94 on that road and anyone going faster or slower is a danger to the public and people that fall into that group are the same people that will go faster or slower than the general public regardless of the posted speed limit.
There was an interesting experiment (more of a statement really) done by some students on 895 in Atlanta. They got in a line across all the lanes and went the speed limit. The speed limit, by the way, is 55 on one of the busiest and fastest moving roads in the southeast. You can find the video by searching “A meditation on the speed limit”.
As far as the speed itself being dangerous, modern cars are fine at speeds approaching and exceeding 100MPH. That road doesn’t offer any environmental danger (straight, flat, in the “arid plain”). Visibility will be high the vast majority of the year and while breaking distance does increase with speed, it increases for everyone. If the guy in front of you stands on his breaks, he’s going to take just as long to stop as you.
I just heard it will cost you $12 EACH WAY. If you are really in a hurry go for it. I am retired and in no rush to get anywhere.
I think what bothers me most is that the road is privately owned and the tolls will go to a private entity. So when accidents occur, and there are sure to be horrific ones, will this private company provide law enforcement, ambulance and fire services? Or is it that the one billion dollars paid to Perry by the company was earmarked to fund services? I think not.