The saying goes that everything is bigger in Texas. This fall that will apply to speed, too.
The Texas Transportation Commission has approved an 85-mph speed limit for a new toll road between Austin and San Antonio. It will be the highest speed limit in the United States, according to local news reports.
The toll road is a 41-mile stretch of Texas State Highway 130 known as Segments 5 and 6, running from Mustang Ridge near Austin to Seguin outside of San Antonio. If motorists drive at the speed limit, they'll cover the 41 miles in less than a half hour.
The 85-mph limit surpasses the current high in the United States, set on portions of Interstate 15 in Utah and sections of I-10 and I-20 in west Texas, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
But are the higher speeds safe?
The Insurance Institute says the higher the speed, the more dangerous for the motorists. Higher speeds limit reaction times, increases braking distances and put stresses on safety equipment in cars and on roads, the institute says.
"There are limits to the amount of crash energy that can be managed by vehicles, restraint systems and roadway hardware such as barriers and crash cushions. The higher the speed, the higher the likelihood that these limits will be exceeded in crashes, limiting the protection available for vehicle occupants," according to the institute's website.
Texas officials say safety won't be compromised by the higher speeds.
"Safety is our top priority and tests have shown the designated speed is a safe one," Mark Cross, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Transportation, is quoted as saying by the Texas Tribune.
The SH 130 Concession Co. which built and will operate the toll road, says motorists bear responsibility for safety.
"We are committed to operating a safe, reliable highway for our customers. On any road, drivers hold the key to safety based on traffic, travel conditions and the capabilities of their own vehicles," the company said in a statement, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Tolls have yet to be set, but whatever they are drivers won't have to slow down to pay them.
"There will be no toll plazas on segments 5 & 6 of SH 130. Tolls will be collected electronically at certain points along the roadway, meaning motorists will not have to slow down or stop. Traffic will be 100% free flowing," according to The SH 130 Concession Co., which was formed by the Spanish construction company Cintra and the Texas company Zachary American Infrastructure.
Officials hope drivers will use the highway to avoid and alleviate congestion on Interstate 35, which the toll road operators say is more congested in the area than at any part in its entire length, from Canada to Mexico.
"We look forward to opening this segment of SH 130, which will help reduce congestion for the Austin-San Antonio corridor by providing Texas drivers and others with an alternate route for traveling through our great state," Cross told the Texas Tribune.
The toll road is required to open by November 11 but may open sooner.
"We are confident we will be open ahead of schedule,” Chris Lippincott, spokesman for the SH 130 Concession Company, told Texas Weekly.
While the higher speed promises quicker trips for drivers, it also means more money into state coffers. The concession company will pay the Texas Department of Transportation a $100 million bonus for the 85-mph limits, the Texas Tribune reported. If the limit had been set at 80 mph, the bonus would have been only $67 million, according to the report.
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Just shows how stupid I am! I thought we were TRYING to bring gas prices down, get better gas mileage and be safer?
85MPH, actually anything over 55MPH sure isn't going to get it done! Plus you put additional pressure on law enforcement. I do not know how Texas police work, but whatever the posted speed limit is you can NORMALLY get away with exceeding it by 10MPH. This eliminates problems in court with arguments about speedometer being off a couple of miles! Sooooo. I wouldn't be surprised that citations would be issued at 95MPH plus. A year ago they did the same thing here in Columbus, GA.. The Interstate was posted at 55MPH, starting at the N. side of Columbus going to Ft. Benning. EVERY morning & evening you could find people driving 65 +. SOOOOO. They raised it to 65. NOW you can get passed by people doing 75 +! And YES when there are accidents they are worse!!
Maybe the issue is that we don't need to be treated like children. I make enough that I don't mind gas prices, I do mind wasting time in the car. I'm willing to take the risk of an accident at 85-95 mph. Why should the government stop me? Look at Germany. They have far fewer deaths per mile on the Autobahn. Know how? The pull people for things like riding in the fast lane, passing on the right, etc. That will reduce deaths. That's why most people tailgate – to try to get people out of lanes they don't belong in.
@ Brian: The reason why Germany has less accidents is because, historically, German driver's licenses cost $1500+ to acquire, even after the 20+ hours of professional instruction, 12 hours of theory, and tests. Figure that out and it weeds out alot of bad drivers on the road. I bet there would be less folks on the road here if we all had to pay that kind of money as a teenager. Besides, the autobahns actually have "suggested" speed limits nowadays at certain stretches. But you are right about the driving courtesy is better in Germany. I learned to get out of the way when I saw a speeding Porsche on the autobahn. And I was even speeding too.
I lived nine years in Germany and broke 100mph on a daily basis. @Mike, you're partly right in that the vehicle inspections in Germany are rigorous and you won't find clunkers dropping pieces off as is ordinary in the US. More importantly, Germans know how to drive. You have to be 18, take a three month $3000 course, and pass a 3 hour 200 question test (half written, half illustrated right-of-way scenarios). In North Carolina 16 year olds get a license with 17 questions answered correctly, and they drive as poorly as you may imagine. If they made the test any harder, few tarheels could pass it.
Driving is a social contract with your fellow man. In Germany, it's a safe bet the motorist next to you knows and follows the rules. No so America. Watch the insurance actuarial tables.
Brian you are correct.
The German motorway is not as strict as these people would have you beleive, and I am not going through your entire message point by point as these people did (like the one guy who came up with 2.25 by multiplying, he's wrong).
Anyway, these guys propbably votein the types who tell us no Softdrinks, or toys in Happy meals. They do not want to think for themselves, and they do not want us to either. Again, you are correct here.
The speed limit is already 80 for most of the way on I20 between Odessa and El Paso and there haven't been any problems with it. How is the enforcement any different if you go 10 miles over at 55 or 10 miles over at 85? Does it take more police to stop someone going 10 miles over at 85 than at 55? Actually it might help reduce the number of police needed because less people might feel the need to speed if they can already go 85.
In addition to what Brian stated in Germany and Italy, there is an unwritten rule of the road that if you are in the fast lane (left lane) and some comes up on you faster and flash thier light the slower car is obligated to get out of the way. This road road ediquette helps to save lives at high speed. Unlike in the US, people are rude and think they drive slower than the defacto speed limit in the left which causes accidents
Maybe so, and maybe not so. Anyone who says they can drive hy 35 from San Antonio to waco at 85 miles an hour has got to be in a SR 51 Blackbird.
how the hell is a black bird going to go 85 MPH?
The "You have impacted the ground" indicator is illuminated.
Bob.....the Blackbird is the SR-71....turn on the History Channel.
Ah, Bob, it's an SR-71, not a -51...:) I'm sorry but with fact checking like that, I can't listen to the rest of your argument.
Bob, the lead sled is the SR-71. I am not familiar with an SR-51 designation, but it certainly is not a Blackbird, which is faster than 85 mph sitting still on the ground. And, nobody is driving 85 between Austin and Waco most of the time. Either traffic or traffic cops make sure of that. This new toll road runs between South Austin and San Antonio – the other way.
Come to think about it, the usual average speed between Austin and Waco is closer to 8.5 mph.
I, for one, look forward to driving next to 20 year old, rusted out Honda civics driving 90 miles per hour on bald summer tires.
Don't you?
Yes, I do. If you don't feel safe, take alternative routes.
I would trust a rusty 20 year old Honda driven by a responsible person more than I would brand new Prius battery b0mb driven by a dingdong on a cell phone.
You're welcome to use I35 if you don't want to deal with the 85 mph speed limit. No one is forcing you to get on the new road.
Its irresponsible and dangerous to let any american drive faster than 50mph. Worst drivers in the world.
Hey, we finally found a way to get states to set actual safe speeds rather than setting them low so they can rack up speeding tickets. Too bad you have to set up a toll road and pay both the government and a third party business. Guess I would rather the extra money go to a company managing a road than an insurance company though.
Absolute rubbish. I can easily drive 85+ and never have any issues.
Bottom line, don't use the road if you don't like it, period.
That's just entirely inaccurate, I will have you know. The Chinese are the worst drivers in the world. There are 50,000 new cars on the road every DAY in China; thanks to decades of Communism and only recent economic expansion, nearly everyone is a first-time driver; countless new roads because of ongoing infrastructure projects; motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians ignore all traffic signs and laws; and about 70,000 die in car crashes every year, more than twice US statistics. Two years ago there was a four-mile-long traffic jam that lasted for ten days. So you can take your lies, stop insulting Texans, and leave.
@@@ SAMMY HAGAR there you go man highway just for you!!!!
when we lived in TX, ppl routinely drove that fast anyway. now it's legal on that one stretch, whoopee. in 2 years down there, i was actively afraid for my life anytime we drove anywhere, ppl don't just speed, they drive like maniacs!
There are maniac drivers in every state... and btw... Texas has some of the most courteous drivers I've ever seen. Always waving, letting you in to traffic, etc. Friendly folks.
If you don't like the way we drive in Texas, then stay off the sidewalks!
The distance between Texarkana and El Paso is about three times the distance to drive across most states. The distance to drive from Dumas to Brownsville is about three times the distance to drive across most states. Much of that area in either direction is open range land with little population and traffic. Going faster is reasonable. Starting about 2 counties out from a majaor population center the speed limits drop to 55 or 60 mph to accommodate heavier traffic and population densities.
Before the oil embargo of the 1980's, there were no posted maximum speed limits on many Montana or Wyoming highways, which are a lot like vast segments of Texas highways. Texas speed laws require you to drive in a manner that is "safe and prudent for the driving conditions" regardless of what the actual speed limit may be. In Texas, you can be ticketed for speeding when you are below the legal speed limit if weather or traffic conditions are such that the faster speed is just not safe or prudent.
Those that try to bash these higher speed limits have likely never driven on a real highway outside an overcrowded city. The existing 80mph areas are your stereotypical desert highway, straight, level and wide and with no barriers or ditches at their sides. Sight lines are a mile or more providing more than ample reaction time and if you did have to swerve off road to avoid something you don't have to swerve hard and the only obstacles are low scrub trees and tumbleweeds. This new highway isn't in a desert area, but I have no doubt it provides similarly good sight lines and reaction times.
@BS1, the road is nice and there's great visibility. I was stationed in Germany for several years (ten all together) and the first thing SH130 made me think of was the autobahn. Someone mentioned some stats about Germany in another post. When I first went to Germany I was told that per capita Germany has fewer accidents than the U.S., but more fatalities. I guess when you're zipping along at 125mph the slightest error can be tragic. Germans, in my opinion, are the most courteous drivers I've come across. Texas... not so courteous drivers.
That on ramp is crooked. That's a poorly made road.
Do us all a favor. Give Texas back to Mexico.
Texas was its own country before joining the U.S. You're an uninformed troll.
Texas was not taken from Mexico in the first place; it was annexed as a sovereign Republic.
Do us all a favor – come here and try to give Texas back to Mexico. We are generally a very friendly state, but we could change that just for you! Actually, it would be better to give Texas back to Texans and make everybody outside Texas be required to have a passport for 30-day entry, then go home! We just happen to be the ONLY state in the US which is self-sufficient.
independentthinker do your homework
Spanish control of Texas was followed by Mexican control of Texas, and it can be difficult to separate the Spanish and Mexican influences on the future state. The most obvious legacy is that of the language; every major river in modern Texas, except the Red River, has a Spanish or Anglicized name, as do 42 of the state's 254 counties. Numerous towns also bear Spanish names.[67] An additional obvious legacy i
Wesscott.... We let texans run this country and see what happened. Give it back to Mexico.
sputnick1... if Texas was given back, the rest of the country would fail. The exonomy in Texas is whats holding this country together. How about you going South of the border so we don't need to hear from the like of people such as yourself?!?
yes please! boot Texas from the USA and bomb their oil fields. they will rot like an arab country losing its oil
We all have guns. Come at us, bros.
So Texans want to drive fast? Let them! While they're at it they should make seat belts and air bags optional. I mean, if they want to be the big bad Texans let them die like the armadillos!
We sould just govern the speed of all vehicles to 30 mph while we're at it...
Given that the crash energy increases by nearly 50% when speeds rise from 70 to 85, it is a certainty that safety will be compromised by this measure.
I don't really have a problem with that. Just with the regulators trying to deny the reality of their decision. Why not just own it and be done with it?
Two guys are driving through Texas when they get pulled over by a state trooper.
The trooper walks up, taps on the window with his nightstick, the driver rolls down the window, and the trooper smacks him in the head with the stick. The driver says, "Why'd you do that?
The trooper says, "You're in Texas, son. When I pull you over, you'll have your license ready."
Driver says, "I'm sorry, officer, I'm not from around here."
The trooper runs a check on the guy's license, and he's clean.
He gives the guy his license back and walks around to the passenger side and taps on the window. The passenger rolls his window down, and the trooper smacks him with the nightstick.
The passenger says, "What'd you do that for?"
The cop says, "Just making your wishes come true."
The passenger says, "Huh?"
The cop says, "I know that two miles down the road you're gonna say, "I wish that sucker would've tried that stuff with me!"
Autobahn speed limits are higher and there are fewer accidents. Keep big rigs, grannie and the teenagers off the left lane of the highway, and accident rates will drop. It has nothing to do with a speed limit.
the MAJOR difference is the Autobahn is in EUROPE.... in Europe people dont drive in the PASSING lane because they think they own it.
even Italy a place with some of the most craziest drivers they DONT sit in the passing lane. It is an american self serving thing.
I am a HUGE proponent of private highways across the United States that are self policed. There is no reason that companies shouldn't be able to purchase land and build their own toll roads that they police and set their own limits on. I do NOT beleive they should be able to buy any part of the current highway system. They shouldn't be able to take away the routes we already have established. But why shouldn't they be allowed to buy up desert land from Vegas (where I live) to Victorville and let those who wish to drive 120 miles per hour or more? Most of use are already doing 85 the whole way anyway. Stop letting government tell us what is safe, we have our own brains!
the mittens way....
use those tax evading dollars to buy roads.....
yeah get government out of my business... but it is ok for the government to send my kids to their deaths in Iraq.
Bam...why so dramatic? If your kids get sent to Iraq it is because they were able to use their own brains to make that decision to enlist. I haven't seen anyone drafted in the last 30 years...
It figures. The state that wants to drill more oil has once again raised the bar on absurdity. The state is full of people who care less for the economy, the environment, and the impact on available energy. Drive those vehicles that get less than ten miles per gallon faster to get even less mileage, for what purpose? The road should have a toll. Ten dollars each way to drive faster. Get a grip people of Texas! Find ways to save money, save fuel, save the environment instead of new ways to squander it.
It does have a toll. That's why it's called a tollway.
what do YOU care what I do with the oil I purchased?
Don't know what makes you think faster speeds means less in MPG, several studies have shown vehicles get better MPG at increased speeds. I drove a Mustang for 10 years and the best MPG I ever got with it was 28 mpg with an average speed of 110 mph back when Montana had that awesome speed law.
Maybe you should spend a little more time reading before you judge people Sandy.
That's actually not accurate. There is a law of diminishing returns that applies as you break past the peak efficiency point, as the higher speeds create more drag on your vehicle and thus reduce your fuel efficiency. In a state as windy as Texas, your MPG at 85 will be much lower than it would be at 65.
My car at 80 (30mpg)was better than at 65 (28mpg). This is correct " There is a law of diminishing returns that applies as you break past the peak efficiency point, as the higher speeds create more drag on your vehicle and thus reduce your fuel efficiency. In a state as windy as Texas, your MPG at 85 will be much lower than it would be at 65." but gearing in your car will also play a factor in your MPG.
coasting at higher speeds doesnt lower the gas mileage more than 1 or 2 mpg if that at all...if u r jsut coasting and dont need to slow down u r getting much better gas mileage.
Breaking and speeding up because someone wont get out of the PASSING lane wastes much more gas than that.
not driving at all gets you the best gas mileage...