The 55 mph speed limit

[Ron-Solo]

"Shirley", you can't be serious asking a question like that...

I am serious, and don't call me Shirley.

[desmark6]

That's my next question....

perhaps i should re-phrase the interogative:

Why is the 55 MPH speed limit for trucks rarely enforced? On a trip down i5/i80 today I noted that not a single semi was going less than 60, many were going 70+. CHP were everywhere...

Kinda like fishing, as much as we'd like too we just simply can't catch'em all!!!!!

[IrishJoe3]

Kinda like fishing, as much as we'd like too we just simply can't catch'em all!!!!!

LOL As I tell people who I catch speeding and complain about everyone else speeding; "Well there's only one of me, and a lot of them"

[ledman]

Hey Guys, the whole "shirley/surely" thing was meant to be a humorous reference to Airplane... No disrespect/name calling intended!

http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=Qo7qoonzTCE&feature=related

(and to answer the question, there really aren't that many of us LEOs around - you've heard the comparison to a fisherman catching fish, right? also, and I think most of us LEOs have been in the same position - for some strange reason, I'm ALWAYS seeing violations/good stops when I'm otherwise engaged or on my way to handling something else)

(oh and this is for LEDMAN: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkiZMFFNi44 )

Hahaah! that's great! I actually watched Airplane last weekend, it was On Demand for free, lol a Classic!
So, Samuelx, have you ever been in a Turkish Prison? LMAO!!

[rromeo]

Why is there a 55 MPH speed limit for trailers?

[BillCA]

At 55 mph you can slow down and get a trailer under control if it starts weaving or it has problems. This includes big rigs. But mostly, it's because the weight of a towed load adds tremendously to the stopping distance of the vehicle. On big rigs air systems allow braking on the trailers but the total GVW can be 79,000 pounds. That's a lot of metal to bring to a stop if something goes wonky.

Most cars tow small trailers less than half their weight. No trailer brakes required. But those car & light truck brakes will be stressed hard to bring the extra weight to a stop.

Additionally, trailers don't always "track" well behind vehicles. It can depend on how they're loaded, their suspensions and other factors. Ever see someone towing a jet-ski on a trailer that keeps wanting to "do the Rumba" behind the tow vehicle? I have. I've also seen U-Haul trailers mis-loaded with too much weight to one side and too far aft. This means a lot of pulling to one side while also having only "light" contact on the tongue & ball -- a recipe for disaster.

I've towed a trailer both by pickup and on a motorcycle. If you get into a situation where the trailer begins to oscillate back and forth behind you, there are two ways to correct it. A slight acelleration to "pull" it into line or a gradual slowing down so it pushes against the ball and tends to "center" on the ball. In either case, it warrants stopping to inspect your load.

Stuff in trailers bounces around, especially on truck routes with their pounded pavement. In Semi's this bouncing can cause load shifts that unbalance a trailer enough that going into a turn (e.g. cloverleaf offramp or a curve on a grade) can topple the trailer.

There have been lots of studies on this and until the trucking industry comes up with serious improvements in trailer braking and towing technology we'll see 55 mph as the defacto standard and 65 mph as the standard for some flat, straight stretches.

[rromeo]

I ask because most states don't have a lower speed limit for trucks.

[Carsgunsandchics]

It's for the children

It's for the safety of others once again.

I came back to edit my orig post to conform but it was already done for me.

[BillCA]

I ask because most states don't have a lower speed limit for trucks.

Some states don't, that's true. But many states do limit truck traffic speeds, especially in congested areas.

What I find interesting is that at least several states (I think Utah is one) that have a minimum speed limit posted on freeways & highways. I recall seeing "Minimum Speed 40 mph" signs on one of my trips. It essentially prevents people from clogging the highway by driving anything too slow on the road.

Remember, many cars can stop from 60 mph in as little as 120-130 ft. Worn brakes might up that to 150ft. But an 18-wheeler may take up to 300 ft to stop -- more if he's avoiding a jack-knife situation. (Just remember though, a train will take from 1/3 to 1 mile to stop from 60 mph).

[Big O]

I count only 9 states with lower speed limits for trucks vs. cars (http://www.motorists.org/speed-limits/state-chart).

1 of these states (Texas) only has a different speed limit at night. 5 states have a 10 mph lower limit for trucks. California is the only one with a 15 mph difference. What do we know that everyone else doesn't?

[POLICESTATE]

I count only 9 states with lower speed limits for trucks vs. cars (http://www.motorists.org/speed-limits/state-chart).

1 of these states (Texas) only has a different speed limit at night. 5 states have a 10 mph lower limit for trucks. California is the only one with a 15 mph difference. What do we know that everyone else doesn't?

That people drive like **** in California

[audiopro74]

I was told by a dot investigator that the limit difference is is for the debris field difference. In cali

[Super Spy]

I wish the semi's would stay the hell out of the fast lane. 580 West everyday I see a-holes in the #1 lane 5 miles before the 238 merge.....and they sure as hell don't get out of the #1 lane after the merge. What a bunch of inconsiderate douche bags!

[E Pluribus Unum]

State maximum speed limits are not needed. 22350 is the ONLY speed limit law we need.

In California, if it is safe to do 80, and you do 56 in a 55 state maximum area, you're breaking the law. That's crap. Everyone should be able to drive as fast as reasonably safe for conditions.

[E Pluribus Unum]

I wish the semi's would stay the hell out of the fast lane.

They are supposed to... they can and do get tickets for violating this.