Why is California's speed limit set at 55?

I remember when Wisconsin and Illinois were he'll on 55 for everyone ...in the early 80s I got a speeding ticket on 29 in North Dakota for 65 lol.

 

A orange mega went by me a few days ago. I was going 60. He almost pulled my bumper off getting back to the right lane I was pissed. My CMS said he was going 73mph. About 25 minutes later there he was on the shoulder. CHP behind him. I laughed.

@scottied67

I love the speed limit. Big trucks are scary when you go over 60. What about the kids in the $70,000 SUV? What if they drop their participation trophies for organic kale gardening when trucks go super duper fast like 62? Think about the kids.

I hate the speed limit. I love hearing the complaining here. I’m conflicted by it.

 

Cali . . . where?

Removed those useless pages from the road atlas years ago.

F that state.

 

If it saves one spotted-owl from coughing in his old age making truck driver's lives more over-stressed is a small price to pay. At least, that's what the Communists and Hippies (is there a difference) say.

 

It's all about the clean air.

More speed requires more throttle. More throttle equals more pollution.

When I took the emissions class. I think it was the pcv in 1962 that started it all for Cali. Then I think they wanted no vacuum advance on the distributors and the people weren't allow to tow trailers also. (excluding semis). I think the egr got involved somehow also. Not sure. The speed limit was 55 for cars. Not sure on semis.

It's been 30 years since I took the class so I don't remember all the details.

Back in the day. There were 2 cars. Cali emissions certified and Federal emissions certified. And had labels stating such.
Nowadays. It's one standard emission and label.

Seems like everything pollution. Always starts with cali. Everyone else just follows suit. Eventually.

Minus the 55 mph.

Cali is all about clean air. But the only time I ever saw blue skies. Was when the refinery blew up. And the governor issued stay home from work due to the gas shortage. SUPPOSEDLY. They wanted no gas cars on the showroom floors starting 2015. They wanted nothing but battery operated. I guess that never happened. But it's the only way I see them ever having blue skies. Getting rid of gas vehicles. That was evident the week traffic stayed home from work.

 

remember how blue the sky was after 9/11? complaining about pollution instead of adapting to the conditions? Every creature that has thrived on this rock has left a layer, ours will be crusted over with plastic. Just a independent hippy, will give, just hate the taking.

 

I've been running 55 for the last 3 weeks because I can. My mpg went from 6.2 to 7.5

 

Socal is so-nice in winter. I can put up with 60mph on cruise all day it's like a vacation getting away from the Oregon chain nazis on 82/84.

 

since I retired I get up to 35- 40 sometimes, aint gotta be anywhere. City folks just don't understand us slow folks. We going to where we want to go, just have to wade into the mass of humanity and then they freak when all the clothes come off.

 

55mph is a sensible speed. Nobody really needs to go faster than that.