National Speed Limit

[dead0man]

Franz. You do lose quite a bit of fuel efficiency over 55mph. I forgot what the %'s are but over 65 the numbers are quite significant. 

That can be true (and it normally is, but varies greatly by car), and it still wouldn't mean we need a national speed limit.  Of the dozen or so ways the Feds can use their power to force us to use less gas, this is one of the dumber ways. 

Why should we expect any less?

[dead0man]

Funny, I had a dream like that too.  Except some asshole was only doing 120 in the passing lane and wouldn't get over.

[dead0man]

I thought everybody out east did that?


(I note you said "fast" lane.  It's not the "lane for going fast", it's the "lane for passing".  One should never be in the left lane (on a controlled access road) unless activly passing somebody.  Regardless of the speeds involved.  I'll stop being a dick now.)

[dead0man]

It's easy to make that mistake.  However, here in New Jersey we know how to drive.  Unfortunately we are surrounded by the homes of the worst drivers in the nation, New York and Pennsylvania.  Pennsylvanians think the left hand lane is just another lane for taking your sweet old tractor-paced time in.  New Yorkers think it's a tool for revenge by passing you back and then slowing down in front of you.  We use it to pass anyone failing to pass the 80mph threshold we expect on our highways.  You won't find any self-respecting New Jerseyan with anyone behind them in the fast lane.

Here's the Northeastern breakdown -
Good drivers: New Jersey, Rhode Island, Connecticut
Bad Drivers: Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, (Virginia)
Unimportant drivers: Maryland, Delaware, Upper New England

Interesting.  Now, are all PA drivers bad, or just those from Philly?  I've spent some time in Western PA and they didn't seem to drive any worse than average.  Then again, I grew up across the river from Missouri, by far the worst state in the midwest region when it comes to driving quality so my judgement may have been a little off at the time.  But after spending a couple of years in the south, I don't even bitch about MO drivers anymore.  I'll give Atlanta credit for being fast as hell (when you're not parked on the highway in traffic), but for the most part, the south has the worst drivers in the country.  Especially out in the boonies.

[dead0man]

Can someone point on the section in the constitution that gives the federal government anything close to the power to do this?

They didn't have it last time and they did it then.  I thought it was quite clear by now that the Fed does what the Fed wants, fark the states and the law.

[dead0man]

They can't unless they threaten to withhold highway funds and NJ caves. (or something else underhanded)

[dead0man]

No, you shouldn't be in the left lane unless you're passing.  From wiki

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[dead0man]

Case and point of what Mr. Moderate said, if you drive 80 MPH on the New York State Thruway around the Catskills to Albany you'll get passed by numerous cars, at 90 MPH some traffic still goes around you.

There is also the Japanese Tourist effect.  You don't notice the jackass from your own state when he makes a jerk move on the highway, but everytime somebody makes a jerk move with an out of state plate it's, "BAH!  Those muckers from Iowa can't drive for sh**t!".