[Rally]

[quote author=ferrari link=topic=12510.msg124397#msg124397 date=1439585012]
e[quote author=Yvonne link=topic=12510.msg124395#msg124395 date=1439584286]
[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.
[/quote]

The real lesson is that unless you are actively passing someone you should not be in the left lane.  It's basically the rule of thumb that allow Germany to have highways without speed limits.  It kills me when someone in one of the left most lanes is going slower than the traffic to their right.
[/quote]

Oh I agree with you completely, but some days oldfartdom just takes over.

[Rally]

[quote author=ferrari link=topic=12510.msg124397#msg124397 date=1439585012]
e[quote author=Yvonne link=topic=12510.msg124395#msg124395 date=1439584286]
[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.
[/quote]

The real lesson is that unless you are actively passing someone you should not be in the left lane.  It's basically the rule of thumb that allow Germany to have highways without speed limits.  It kills me when someone in one of the left most lanes is going slower than the traffic to their right.
[/quote]

Oh I agree with you completely, but some days oldfartdom just takes over.