Speed Limit On I-80

[mrsticka]

What if the state raised the speed limit on I-80 to 80 MPH from Lincoln all the way to the Wyoming border, but kept it at 75 between Lincoln and Omaha?

[We Don’t Coast]

Why would the state consider doing something like that? And what is your reasoning behind why you’re asking this?

[BRoss]

Why would the state consider doing something like that?

Well to be fair, iirc they did propose increasing the interstate to 80 when they increased speed limits on highways a few years ago. I think they nixed it due to concern from truckers.

[Brad]

Its 2022! Why do we need a set speed limit on the interstate. All Interstate Speed Limit signs should be digital and adjusted for traffic, weather, and time of day. Husker football in Lincoln, crank it down to 65. Snow storm in Paxton, lower it to 45. A clear Sunday morning in the panhandle, crank it up to 90.

[Omaha Cowboy]

Its 2022! Why do we need a set speed limit on the interstate. All Interstate Speed Limit signs should be digital and adjusted for traffic, weather, and time of day. Husker football in Lincoln, crank it down to 65. Snow storm in Paxton, lower it to 45. A clear Sunday morning in the panhandle, crank it up to 90.

I like the concept of you’re saying here. The only fly in the ointment I see, is how much it would cost the state to set up something so interactive…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[Brad]

Its 2022! Why do we need a set speed limit on the interstate. All Interstate Speed Limit signs should be digital and adjusted for traffic, weather, and time of day. Husker football in Lincoln, crank it down to 65. Snow storm in Paxton, lower it to 45. A clear Sunday morning in the panhandle, crank it up to 90.

I like the concept of you’re saying here. The only fly in the ointment I see, is how much it would cost the state to set up something so interactive…

I would guess that 90% of the infrastructure is already in place. And if more rural/remote/isolated states like Wyoming can do it, we can too.

Here is an article from way back in 2012 about some variable speed limit signs in Wyoming. https://www.dot.state.wy.us/news/new-va ... -on-wy0-28

There is no reason I80 couldn't be all digital.

[Omaha Cowboy]

Its 2022! Why do we need a set speed limit on the interstate. All Interstate Speed Limit signs should be digital and adjusted for traffic, weather, and time of day. Husker football in Lincoln, crank it down to 65. Snow storm in Paxton, lower it to 45. A clear Sunday morning in the panhandle, crank it up to 90.

I like the concept of you’re saying here. The only fly in the ointment I see, is how much it would cost the state to set up something so interactive…

I would guess that 90% of the infrastructure is already in place. And if more rural/remote/isolated states like Wyoming can do it, we can too.

Here is an article from way back in 2012 about some variable speed limit signs in Wyoming. https://www.dot.state.wy.us/news/new-va ... -on-wy0-28

There is no reason I80 couldn't be all digital.

Time for someone to lobby the state legislature to create a Bill …

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[Athomsfere]

Why would the state consider doing something like that?

Well to be fair, iirc they did propose increasing the interstate to 80 when they increased speed limits on highways a few years ago. I think they nixed it due to concern from truckers.

Yes, because most trucks (as reported at least) were spead limited to 68MPH or something like that.

70-75 MPH is still a "reasonable" difference in speed I guess for the trucking industry, but going to 80 was considered not so. I tend to agree, as it's generally less safe with high speed variability than absolute speed.

[Athomsfere]

Its 2022! Why do we need a set speed limit on the interstate. All Interstate Speed Limit signs should be digital and adjusted for traffic, weather, and time of day. Husker football in Lincoln, crank it down to 65. Snow storm in Paxton, lower it to 45. A clear Sunday morning in the panhandle, crank it up to 90.

I like the concept of you’re saying here. The only fly in the ointment I see, is how much it would cost the state to set up something so interactive…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

I actually wonder how enforceable variable speed signs would be.

Examples:

1. Some who drives the route everyday, at a time when the limit is generally 80 MPH. It's currently 55 due to intermittent fog and the driver is caught in a clear section, on essentially auto pilot doing 80.

• Correlating the exact minute a ticket was issued in a zone, and when the radar was fired. For example, 11:50 at driver passes a variable sign that states 80, so he does 80 +- 5MPH. The sign changes at 11:51 to 70, and he's tagged roughly 11 minutes later (as there are stretches where its more than 15 miles between signs) doing 85 in a 70. We'd have to know for sure at what time he passed a sign, the then current speed etc.

• An officer writes a ticket for speeding, and due to a slightly mis-calibrated watch, or rounding rounds from the current time, 11:57 to 13:00. The driver gets back on the road and immediately passes a sign that changed at exactly 13:01 to under what his previous speed was. He decides to grab a picture with his phone, which says the speed limit and the time are correct and gets the ticket thrown out.

IDK, just thinking out loud.

[damonhynes]

When autonomous vehicles are shoved down our throats, this'll all be moot.

[Brad]

When autonomous vehicles are shoved down our throats, this'll all be moot.

This will never happen in our lifetime. Not because the technology isn't available, it wont happen because everyone will take sides and fight about it.

[jessep28]

I think that autonomous trucks will have their applications in short haul regional routes that can go from terminal to delivery point and back in one day, but not so much over the road applications. These trucks need to be fueled at some point.

[damonhynes]

When autonomous vehicles are shoved down our throats, this'll all be moot.

This will never happen in our lifetime. Not because the technology isn't available, it wont happen because everyone will take sides and fight about it.

I certainly hope so! I'm pessimistic about certain things, and this is one of them.

[ricko]

I think road travel will probably change in ways we can't imagine now. Much of what is mentioned above is currently do-able, technology-wise. Driverless cars, which I'm a bit skeptical about currently, will be the wave of the future. Frankly, when I was a kid, I thought we'd all be living like the Jetsons by now. On the plus side, I'm looking forward to owning a car in my 80's (Buddha willing) and just telling it to take me wherever I want to go, thereby avoiding the 'crazy old man" bad driver moniker. Overall, I think auto transportation will be much safer down the road.

[S.O.Boy]

When autonomous vehicles are shoved down our throats, this'll all be moot.

This will never happen in our lifetime. Not because the technology isn't available, it wont happen because everyone will take sides and fight about it.

20 years ago people said the same about anti-locks brakes.

[mrsticka]

I figured by 2015 we'd have flying cars like "Back To The Future Part II" depicted.

[Busguy2010]

I'd easily be in favor of 85 or 90 as a speed limit. Every other person does it now anyway. 90 is pretty much my upper limit for comfort. I did 100 in a group pretty much from outside Denver to the Nebraska border. A little too fast for my liking, but did make it home from Denver in dam near only six hours. I can see trucks being the stopper on this though. A lot of trucks are computer limited at 70.

[mrsticka]

States like Idaho, Montana, Nevada and Utah all have 80 MPH speed limits. Even Texas has an 85 MPH speed limit. So I figured why doesn't Nebraska do something like that.

[almighty_tuna]

States like Idaho, Montana, Nevada and Utah all have 80 MPH speed limits.

Like nobody goes 80mph in NE anyway, despite the signage.

[BRoss]

Just saw that NDOT is putting in Variable Advisory Speed (VAS) signs on I-80 from the Wyoming State line to Overton by the end of the year.

https://dot.nebraska.gov/media/i1jd4qws ... mm-vas.pdf

The Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) will begin testing Variable Advisory Speed (VAS) signs along Interstate 80 (I-80) from the Wyoming State line east to the Oshkosh Interstate Exit 95 on Tuesday, Dec. 3.

VAS signs are new safety devices implemented by NDOT to help drivers adjust their behavior for rapidly changing roadway conditions, such as adverse weather, reduced visibility or traffic congestion. By implementing VAS signs, NDOT aims to inform drivers to adapt their speeds proactively, reducing the likelihood of high-speed crashes and their associated risks, such as fatalities, serious injuries and traffic congestion. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), VAS signs can reduce fatal and injury crashes by up to 51%. VAS signs also help lessen the chances of secondary crashes by preparing drivers for slower traffic ahead. NDOT will continuously monitor conditions and determine when reduced speeds should be displayed.

During testing, the VAS signs will display the current enforceable speed limit. Once testing is complete signs will be turned off until reduced speeds are advised. Speeds displayed by VAS signs are advisory, and drivers are encouraged to adhere to the reduced speed to improve safety on the Interstate. VAS signs are expected to be implemented along I-80 from the Wyoming border to the Overton Interstate Exit 248 by December 31.

A video about Variable Advisory Speed Signs from NDOT is available at https://ndot.info/VASsigns

The video above links to:

[Brad]

Probably a good thing. Seems like most of the states I travel to west of Nebraska all use them.

[joleo]

Probably a good thing. Seems like most of the states I travel to west of Nebraska all use them.

Why can't it be binding vs advisory? I've seen it binding in other places and I've seen this in Germany 20 years ago!

Is this a smart system? The one that was in Germany, was constantly moving with people monitoring cameras and conditions. For example, if it was pouring and couldn't see, it would go do to like 25 mph on the freeway, it was constantly moving based off conditions and signs were about ever half mile or so. If they were a traffic jam ahead, it would slowly lower the speed limit leading up to the stopped traffic etc.

They are binding speed limits in Germany based off everything I know from a local. I also saw it in Washington state.

If this is what I think it is, this is great!

[GenX]

Probably a good thing. Seems like most of the states I travel to west of Nebraska all use them.

Why can't it be binding vs advisory? I've seen it binding in other places and I've seen this in Germany 20 years ago!

Is this a smart system? The one that was in Germany, was constantly moving with people monitoring cameras and conditions. For example, if it was pouring and couldn't see, it would go do to like 25 mph on the freeway, it was constantly moving based off conditions and signs were about ever half mile or so. If they were a traffic jam ahead, it would slowly lower the speed limit leading up to the stopped traffic etc.

They are binding speed limits in Germany based off everything I know from a local. I also saw it in Washington state.

If this is what I think it is, this is great!

I’d imagine a lot of people saying “well it said 80 when I went past it” has a lot to do with it.

[BRoss]

Sounds like the Variable Advisory Speed Signs are now no longer just advisory under the recently passed LB 530. NDOT is now authorized to temporarily reduce speed limits during adverse weather, environmental conditions, emergencies, and traffic congestion.

[jessep28]

I know the signs aren't there, but people are definitely treating the 55mph speed limit in the construction West of Lincoln as advisory, lol.