55 mph again???

[magyar123]

Some idiot senator - Warner from West Virginia - is pushing for Congress to lower the speed limit back down to 55.

[Flamingo]

Brief, true story about 55 MPG. Flat tire on way home from work last week, 15 miles from home. Called hubby; he came and fixed and put on the donut. He said he would follow me home but don't go any faster than 55 MPG due to the donut. Did 55 MPG all the way home on roads where that was the speed limit. People passing me looked at me like I was crazy and I got the finger twice. They zoomed passed me and I felt like I was crawling although I was doing the posted speed limit.

No one does 55 anymore...gas costs apparently don't matter and unless they rise higher, people will still speed on the roads.

[Cali]

Most people do 5 or 10 miles faster.

I have't seen a 55mpg sign in years.

[AngelinaCatHub]

OK, let’s look at facts. All our food and Chinese hardware comes here by Semi Tractor Trailers. So far? Now those people are paying what on diesel? Lot’s o cash. They are paid by the mile they drive. So far? Department of Transportation has a time restriction upon how long they can drive. Are we still there? So, if you go X miles an hour in one hour you are paid X amount. Got it? If you go down to 55, and in an hour only travel 55 miles, you are penalized for the difference. Right? Now, we must refuel. The pump does not know you or care about you. It takes X amount to fill it, but you only made Y amount this week and are in the hole by Z. So what to do? BK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ‘Hub

El Stupido in Congress needs an A reaming.

[JRScott]

Basically since the Democrats have blocked drilling thus far, I think they are just looking for anything that might help the situation. I however doubt that they'd see much more savings than they did in the 1970s as a % of overall gas usage.

[erinb1975]

FYI, Warner is a republican from Virginia.....not West Virginia.

[AngelinaCatHub]

There does not seem to be much difference this day as to being a Democrat or a Republican. Niether name applies as we are no longer democratic, nor are we a republic, as both parties are going socialist at this time. We have seen this coming for years in the dumbing down of America. Power is what these folks want and to control our lives from the cradle to the grave.

The closest we ever got to a third party was Ross perot (sp) then he went off his rocker. He hated the Bush's so much all he did was become a spoiler and that is when Bubba got in, and G Bush senior sat on his arse and never did campaign.

When the Republicans threw in Dole, I was convinced they threw the race. I believe they did it again this time. I have often wondered if there were agreements that "you get in this time, we get in next time".

[JRScott]

I agree there is not much difference in the R and D. There are R that oppose drilling as well but are switching sides.

There are two main problems with third party candidates having a chance.

1. Ballot Access laws. The R & D has spent the better part of the last 50 years trying to ensure that other parties are kept off the ballots. There are some friendly ballot states like Utah, but most are not so friendly, NC being one of the hardest to get on the ballot.

2. Media Coverage. With rare exceptions such as Glenn Beck on CNN, the major news channels/anchors do not give fair and balanced coverage to the third party candidates. If they did the R and D would not have such high poll numbers. Ross Perot went from 7% to 19% in his first election. As bad as things are today I think they could do even better. I believe if they could get proper coverage and ballot access Bob Barr and Chuck Baldwin could give McCain and Obama a run for their money. (Obama's problem would be Brian Moore who is even more socialist).

We need Americans to write their state legislatures and remove these unfair election laws. In addition folks need to write the major news networks and programs and demand equal time for third party candidates.

Neither McCain nor Obama were the strongest candidates for their parties. Because the media influences things unduly they seek to get weaker candidates so that they have bad news to throw at them. For the R Hunter, Paul and Romney (despite him being Mormon) would have all been better choices. All were married to the same spouse for their adult lives, none had any ethics violations, and for the most part they did at least attempt to uphold all election promises. For the D, Richardson or Edwards. Neither of them had the baggage that Clinton or Obama carries.

As for the 55 mph limit. My dad's a trucker, has been since the 70s. They don't necessarily obey that as someone pointed out they are paid by the mile. Cooked log books are not uncommon.

[magyar123]

There does not seem to be much difference this day as to being a Democrat or a Republican. Niether name applies as we are no longer democratic, nor are we a republic, as both parties are going socialist at this time. We have seen this coming for years in the dumbing down of America. Power is what these folks want and to control our lives from the cradle to the grave.

The closest we ever got to a third party was Ross perot (sp) then he went off his rocker. He hated the Bush's so much all he did was become a spoiler and that is when Bubba got in, and G Bush senior sat on his arse and never did campaign.

When the Republicans threw in Dole, I was convinced they threw the race. I believe they did it again this time. I have often wondered if there were agreements that "you get in this time, we get in next time".

"Throwing the race" has been going on even before Dole/Clinton in 1996. 1984 - Mondale/Reagan, 1988 - Dukakis/Bush Sr.

[JRScott]

I'd agree Mag, if you go back and look over the last hundred years, there is really a pattern in the executive branch.

[AngelinaCatHub]

JR, since the invention of GPS etc, and onboard computers to come, it will be difficult to cook books. I contend, safety will go down if we go back to 55. I never drive my TDI above the indicated 80 on my odometer as I respect the repair of a broken timing belt, but it always gets me by and I have been brave enough to stay at that indicated speed when a FHP (Florida) was patrolling with laser. They allow about 15, but you can bet on 10, but when 55, you can bet that the polititians will be bellowing 55 and you won't get by at 65. It is all about control. "A balogna slice at a time, freedom, bye bye."

[AngelinaCat]

I'll add my 2 cents, though it might be a bit 'off topic'; in 2006, we had a situation where a long-haul driver, had been trying to catch up with his schedule, and DID NOT take his recommended rest breaks. He drifted off to sleep at the wheel for a moment and plowed into a mini-van carrying seven children home from school. All seven children were killed. He was not hurt, of course, and passed all toxicology tests, and was doing the speed limit (60mph on that particular road). He was and is extremely remorseful. But the children are still dead.

Last month he was sentanced to seven years in prison for each child killed. That is 49 years. He is in his late 30s, so he will be an old man--even at good behavior--when and if he gets out.

[JRScott]

Most truckers violate the legal limits because of their corporate structure. In many cases companies do not allow sufficient time to get the load to its destination. Currently my dad doesn't do long haul anymore, he stopped doing it in the late 80s. He has a union Job for about 6 more days when it ends as they are closing his hub. In the union job he's not violated the rules as far as I know, because its mostly short haul and he's home at night.

I know when he did do long haul though it was not uncommon for them to have him pick up a load that could not reach its destination in time if he followed the rules. (He commonly broke speed limits too....and got tickets for it ). He got safety awards throughout the 90s until he switched companies.

I am sorry to hear of the children , I'm assuming he was found guilty of vehicular manslaughter rather than murder with such a low sentence. Sadly I bet the situation is not a singular incident in violating the law on driving. They push the drivers pretty hard with unrealistic expectations given legal constraints.

[BigJohn]

If I can get a harness for my dog and a cart she can pull, I would not mind seeing the posted speed limit drop to 5 miles per hour. Come to think about it, that might not be a good idea especially if she sees a cat.

On the serious side, I tell my wife when I am driving on Interstate 10, I put my truck on crusie control and I crawl into the back seat and let my dog drive the truck. I think my wife believes me.

[AngelinaCat]

Most truckers violate the legal limits because of their corporate structure. In many cases companies do not allow sufficient time to get the load to its destination. Currently my dad doesn't do long haul anymore, he stopped doing it in the late 80s. He has a union Job for about 6 more days when it ends as they are closing his hub. In the union job he's not violated the rules as far as I know, because its mostly short haul and he's home at night.

I know when he did do long haul though it was not uncommon for them to have him pick up a load that could not reach its destination in time if he followed the rules. (He commonly broke speed limits too....and got tickets for it ). He got safety awards throughout the 90s until he switched companies.

I am sorry to hear of the children , I'm assuming he was found guilty of vehicular manslaughter rather than murder with such a low sentence. Sadly I bet the situation is not a singular incident in violating the law on driving. They push the drivers pretty hard with unrealistic expectations given legal constraints.

Hi JR:

I'm glad your Dad is out of the long-haul. I think the companies bear as much responsibility as do the drivers. And you are right, the one case I spoke of was just one of many. Our area of Northeast Florida is still very rural--thank goodness--but the truck routes criss-cross through going from I-75 to I-95 to I-10, so we encounter them every day.

In some ways, I think the independent truckers MAY have it a little better than those driving for the companies. One of our neighbors is an independent, and he sets his own hours, and what he wishes to haul and from which point A to which point B. Yes, he has to compete with the Companies, but so far, he says he is doing okay. I should add that his children are grown and out on their own. It's not like he has a young family to support.