Texas Continues Expansion Of 80 MPH Speed Limit

I was on a flight back from Virgina when a group of us were talking and they (the Virginians) were completely surprised that there were 80 mph speed limits. I was surprised when I was in VA to not see anything really above 60. I'm glad we have them, there are some nice wide open stretches and 80 is perfectly manageable.

Southern Virgina has 70 mph limit on I-85 an I-95. Northern Virginia is a highway basket case. Richmond taxes the wealthier up North and uses the money to build highways down South. Also the liberal North hates cars and hates highways, the conservative South just yell Yeeee-haw! and guns the push-rod small block V8.
That's 'bout it.

any stupid highway in Europe has 83 mph speed limit, the only reason this speed is dangerous in US is uneducated drivers

Since you mentioned it, we should just nuke your @ss, or let your enemies know that we won't stop them!

BTW, you're on an American site.

From personal experience DO NOT SPEED Virginia. I-295 which loops around Richmond and is a nice connection between I-95 South and I-64 East toward Norfolk now has a 70mph limit. Road design speed looks to be safe at 150 mph in many spots. People will drive 79 mph and no faster - Found out the hard way why-- There is a law in VA that any speed 80 mph or faster (no matter what the limit, though usually limit + 20 is also the same) is not speeding, but Reckless Driving- a class I misdemeanor punishable by jail time!!!!! I was cited for 15 mph over and was shocked when the summons read Reckless Driving. It's really a racket because I got 25 unsolicited letters from lawyers less than 2 weeks later. In contrast, everywhere I drive in Maryland, the average vehicle is traveling far faster than the posted limit. On the North side of the I-695 beltway around Baltimore, the limit is posted at 55, though I'm sure that 50% or more is traveling at 70 at any given time and constant speeds of 75-80 are not rare.

From personal experience DO NOT SPEED Virginia. I-295 which loops around Richmond and is a nice connection between I-95 South and I-64 East toward Norfolk now has a 70mph limit. Road design speed looks to be safe at 150 mph in many spots. People will drive 79 mph and no faster - Found out the hard way why-- There is a law in VA that any speed 80 mph or faster (no matter what the limit, though usually limit + 20 is also the same) is not speeding, but Reckless Driving- a class I misdemeanor punishable by jail time!!!!! I was cited for 15 mph over and was shocked when the summons read Reckless Driving. It's really a racket because I got 25 unsolicited letters from lawyers less than 2 weeks later. In contrast, everywhere I drive in Maryland, the average vehicle is traveling far faster than the posted limit. On the North side of the I-695 beltway around Baltimore, the limit is posted at 55, though I'm sure that 50% or more is traveling at 70 at any given time and constant speeds of 75-80 are not rare.

I wish I was in Texas! I hate how in Illinois it is only 55! So slow. wish speed was relative to the vehicle you drive. Minivans to the right, sports cars to the left. My 335i sedan is comfortable at over 100MPH, so cruising at 80 should be legal. The low speed limits are just for revenue purposes.

Just don't own a hybrid in Texas. Most of the speed limits take you well above the optimum range for a hybrid to be effective.

Just don't own a hybrid in Texas. Most of the speed limits take you well above the optimum range for a hybrid to be effective.

55mph is just stupid. Every car on the road built within the last 15 years is well capable of safely traveling 80mph.

Not quite every car, especially if by car you include crossovers and SUVs/trucks. Also just because the car may be capable, does not mean that it has been properly maintained and can be/is safely operated at 80mph+. Not to be ignored, many roads are in such a poor condition that driving at any otherwise reasonable speed on them would be unsafe.