Fun & Games on California's Highways

Hello Californians. I just got off of the phone with one of California's traffic operations officials. I asked if he had in his possession any "engineering studies" for a particular section of freeway in a portion of this wonderfully enlightened state, he stated he did not. He expanded that by saying that "engineering studies" were not performed for any freeways in California. Of course my next question was " Why not?". To which he replied.....(sit down first)....because if we did, the limit would increase to 75 from 65 on most sections. He also said that the accident rate would .....(don't get up yet)....decrease if the limit was raised to 75. I then asked if he would summarize what he had just said in a letter, and he replied that he would not. (What a shock, eh?! Well I got the Oregon chief traffic engineer to officially record that policy, but not so lucky in California...yet). This gentleman also stated that no engineering studies were performed for rural two lane highways in Califonia on which the limit had (arbitrarily?) been set at 55. When asked if he would put that in a letter also, he declined again. I asked if there was a legal requirement that scientifically based engineering studies be performed to determine speed limits, wouldn't it be in California's interest to comply? He responded by expressing doubt that such legal requirement existed, or that he was unfamiliar with such requirement's existence. Finally, when questioned about statistics showing decreased accident rates and fatalities in countries in which speed limits were non-existent, he responded by saying that California could not be compared to other states or countries. He did not clarify that statement. Just thought that would put at ease the minds of anyone traveling along one of California's fine highways, whether visitor or resident. I'm reminded of an old saying which might be modified to suit this situation. "Sleep in a well tonight. Your National Guard is a fake." (No malice intended to members of the National Guard, but you get the idea.) Not that this is any surprise to anyone familiar with government policies, but anyone care to comment?

I think "engineering and traffic surveys" are required for roadways where the police intend to enforce the prima facie type speed limits (unsafe speed) by means of radar or laser. This is the ticket where you get cited for 45 in a 25 zone, or something similar. I don't think they're required for enforcing the maximum limits (65 or 70) since the offense does not depend on the speed being "unsafe", but rather in excess of the lawful maximum......

... And since for years that maximum was a federally-mandated 55mph...

move to germany!!

Moogle, are you a little into Uma Thurman? Robert

According to federal law, before a speed limit sign conforming to federal standards may be posted on a road or highway that has been constructed or improved using federal funds, there must first be an engineering study (not a "speed survey") performed by a traffic engineer(s). Absent the proper studies, the speed limit posting is not justified and no jurisdiction exists for its enforcement. Of course, states and municipalities don't always feel like complying with federal laws. Just go to Humboldt County, CA where you may, I'm told, walk down the street smoking marijuana. Legal there according to their laws. Legal also in the rest of California if you need it for medicinal purposes, but NOT legal according to federal law. Used to be legal for certain persons to be denied entrance to certain schools in this country according to state law, but NOT federal law. They attend schools in those places now.

This might be of interest to SoCal folks: There is thsi Toll road in the O.C. area, anyway said toll road was designed by this guy I used to know. I asked him what goes into the design of a freeway, besides the 8 milliom a mile per lane it takes to build it, he says that they take into consideration freeway speed changes. I asked him to ellaborate and this is what he said. Basiclly the 65 MPH law is just that, a law and it cant be changed, so they designed the freeway to have a much higher top speed limit, of about 120MPH. Yes, that is right, there is a freeway/toll road in a certian county of California with a designed top speed of about 120. This was done for the day when cars will drive themselves and technology allows. Why have to rip up a perfectly good freeay becuase cars can travel faster and safer?

Cosmos: I certainly would be interested to know what was used as a base vehicle to determine 120 mph. A minivan or a 911 or a Mini-Cooper or a Hummer or an F-350 dually?

How about an 18 wheeler?