Wyoming To Drop Speed Limit On Part of I-80 - Truckers' Trucking Forum

Cybergal · **^ Top** #1 10.02.2008

Wyoming To Drop Speed Limit On Part of I-80
10/2/08

Quote:

Beginning Oct. 15, a lower wintertime speed limit will be imposed on a stretch of I-80 in Wyoming.

The 65 mph speed limit will be posted and enforced for six months in an effort to reduce crashes on the 52-mile section of Interstate 80 between the Peterson Interchange 22 miles east of Rawlins and the Quealy Dome Interchange 20 miles west of Laramie.

In addition, by late November, the Wyoming Department of Transportation expects to have variable speed limits signs installed on part of the section to allow the speed limit to be dropped to as low as 35 mph when needed due to road or weather conditions.

The new limit is being set because the highway section is prone to unpredictable and extreme weather. "High winds, icy roads and blowing snow have contributed to the challenges faced by motorists," explains Wyoming Highway Patrol Col. Sam Powell. "The weather is extremely unpredictable, and you can have great visibility and dry roads one minute and near zero visibility and solid ice the next."

The 10-mph speed reduction will give drivers additional time to react to situations that unfold very rapidly in front of them.

The seasonal speed limit also will set the stage for further speed limit reductions using the variable signs based on a case-by-case evaluation of road and weather conditions, officials say.

The highway will return to a 75-mph speed limit on April 15.

WYDOT's analysis of crash and speed data indicates about three-quarters of all crashes on I-80 during the past decade occurred during the winter months, and unsafe speed was a factor in 71 percent of them.

Ten sensors have been installed on the highway section to gauge the speed of traffic, and additional weather and visibility sensors are planned to provide information to help decide what the safe speed limit for the conditions is.

The University of Wyoming is working with WYDOT to study the effectiveness of the system, and if the pilot project proves effective in reducing crashes, other I-80 sections have been identified as candidates for variable speed limits in the future.

http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/new...?news_id=61567

Ronnocomot · **^ Top** #2 10.02.2008

Great, so folks will go 75 instead of the usual 85.

Truckerjo · **^ Top** #3 10.02.2008

LOL cracks me up people can't adjust their own speed to prevent a crash do to bad weather.... Nope they need Johnny law to tell them they HAVE to slow down or face getting a ticket to MAKE MONEY for the area municipal.

boughtout · **^ Top** #4 10.02.2008

What is the truck speed limit in WY? I was there years ago on my honeymoon, and can't remember if it was the same as cars or not.

Truckerjo · **^ Top** #5 10.02.2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by boughtout

What is the truck speed limit in WY? I was there years ago on my honeymoon, and can't remember if it was the same as cars or not.

It is the same... some areas they have different speeds like corners and downgrades.

txviking · **^ Top** #6 07.19.2009

If people didn't insist on going 75mph on black ice in whiteout conditions, this wouldn't be a problem.

ibflat2 · **^ Top** #7 07.21.2009

you will laugh at this, but when I was living in Cheyenne and driving heavy duty tow truck, I went out for a truck that slid off the roadway.

I get there, the trooper arrives about 5 minutes later, and starts all the paperwork and stuff for the report.

Trooper asked the driver how fast he was going, and the driver points at the speed limit sign and says "speed limit"

Trooper and me exchange looks at each other. 3 inchs of ice on the road and its snowing. Driver was doing 75 on it, when he lost it and slid off the road.

"HERES YOUR SIGN" kind of came to mind at that point.

I guess that people (remember I drive tow truck and see "mistakes" all the time) think that the speed limit signs mean that is how fast to go ALL THE TIME...

boyhowdy120 · **^ Top** #8 10.05.2009

You are so right on this one! Two years ago I left early out of Salt lake to get a jump on the city traffic so at 3 am local I left, traveled up throught the sisters' with lite snow and slushy/wet road conditions, this was right B4 thanksgiving, headed west to xt 60 I think, to the little america trk stp and decided that I would stop and get about an hr nap, the prking lot was wet, this was about 5:45 and it was still dark. When I got up to leave, it was about 9:15am and the prking lot was frozen, trks trying to leave that had set their trlr brks the nite b4 were having trouble getting their wheels to turn, dragging the trlrs around and getting in line to go into the tire shop to thaw out.
I headed out onto the frwy east and by the time I got to wamsutter, I counted over 25 tractor/ trailers that were stopped, ran into the ditch, turned around backwards, upside down, and sideways, all on the westbound side. Guess I got off the rd at the right time when all of a sudden the road turned to black ice. I will always remember this because there was a tractor pulling a reefer that had frozen turkeys that had flipped and frozen turkeys were all over the frwy.

IdahoPhil · **^ Top** #9 10.05.2009

Speed limit doesn't mean anything to some of the super truckers going thru Idaho, they speed no matter what. Even in construction zones they pass you like you're standing still.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread:

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Trucker Forum	Replies	Last Post
Drive the speed posted....DUH	luvmyhubby	The Truckers' Image	77	03.13.2009 06.42 PM
Old gears: Transmission info of yesteryear.	PackRatTDI	Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]	5	02.01.2009 06.49 AM
Move Over For Faster Truckers	Cybergal	Truckers News	28	08.28.2007 02.21 AM
OOIDA: Speed limiter proposal unsafe, doesn’t address real problems	Cybergal	Teamsters, OOIDA, NAFTA	43	03.03.2007 09.02 PM
Special Alert!! Tennessee EPA Speed Limits	TurboTrucker	Trucking Industry Regulations	22	12.13.2006 10.55 AM

Truckers' Trucking Forum/Message Board - The Premiere Truck Driver Forum

The Following User Says Thank You to Cybergal For This Useful Post:
boyhowdy120 (10.05.2009)

The Following User Says Thank You to Truckerjo For This Useful Post:
LooneyTune (10.05.2009)

The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to ibflat2 For This Useful Post:
boyhowdy120 (10.05.2009), LooneyTune (10.05.2009), simplyred1962 (10.05.2009)

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)