[Rally]

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[quote author=garvin link=topic=12510.msg124391#msg124391 date=1439583976]
President Nixon, citing gasoline shortages triggered by the OPEC oil embargo, imposed a federal speed limit of 55 mph in November 1973. The embargo ended four months later, but the federal speed limit lasted another 20 years. That's a good example of what I'm talking about.

This is apropos Garvin's post, but kind of off the topic of the thread, but could someone explain something to me? A few weeks ago, someone said that the 55 MPH speed limit led to congestion. I can see how increased volume leads to lowered speeds, but I can't see the how reduced speed leads to increased volume.
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The other day I was tooling along I-10 going 70, the speed limit, in the fast lane.  Like the old codger I am I finally noticed cars pulling up very closes to me then passing on the right.  A glance in the mirror showed the congestion my speed had caused.  Took 5 minutes before I could safely move out of the fast lane.  If everyone goes the same speed there should be no congestion at any speed, but I have yet to see a freeway where that applies.

[Rally]

e

[quote author=garvin link=topic=12510.msg124391#msg124391 date=1439583976]
President Nixon, citing gasoline shortages triggered by the OPEC oil embargo, imposed a federal speed limit of 55 mph in November 1973. The embargo ended four months later, but the federal speed limit lasted another 20 years. That's a good example of what I'm talking about.

This is apropos Garvin's post, but kind of off the topic of the thread, but could someone explain something to me? A few weeks ago, someone said that the 55 MPH speed limit led to congestion. I can see how increased volume leads to lowered speeds, but I can't see the how reduced speed leads to increased volume.
[/quote]

The other day I was tooling along I-10 going 70, the speed limit, in the fast lane.  Like the old codger I am I finally noticed cars pulling up very closes to me then passing on the right.  A glance in the mirror showed the congestion my speed had caused.  Took 5 minutes before I could safely move out of the fast lane.  If everyone goes the same speed there should be no congestion at any speed, but I have yet to see a freeway where that applies.