The FEDS Should Mandate California To Remove The 55mph Speed Limit

Cali produces almost half of the country's fruit and nuts, but it has the slowest truck speed limit? Why should flat stretches of road like the I-15 be limited to 55mph in Cali when the I-15 in Utah is 80mph and has no more fatal accidents??? Maybe they should reduce the speed of freight trains and all cargo ships off the coast of Cali too? It's a matter of national security that food can be shipped out faster to prevent food shortages! I'd also argue that truckers going above 55mph in Cali are safer than the truckers and 4 wheelers driving 52-55mph (who are probably glued to their phone or comatose) on average. Eliminate the silly split speed limit in Cali!

It's been 55 mph forever. When I started driving in 1988, it was 55 mph back then. I doubt if it will ever change, even with a federal mandate.

Laura

Think that's annoying? Imagine speed limiters on all trucks in all states.

Honestly I just ignore it and go the car speed limit, cops don't seem to care, most drivers seem to go 60-63 and cars are going 70-90.

Oh, THATS great advice.

Honestly I just ignore it and go the car speed limit, cops don't seem to care, most drivers seem to go 60-63 and cars are going 70-90.

From the archives

Honestly I just ignore it and go the car speed limit, cops don't seem to care, most drivers seem to go 60-63 and cars are going 70-90.

That's what I do too, but there's always the chance you can get pulled over. Then you have to explain it to your company and etc... I'm mostly worried about HP coming behind me when passing other trucks. HP mostly seems to care about trucks going 65mph+ or drivers slowing them down so I try to stay out of their way. I've only seen super truckers pulled over or being inspected by HP in Cali so far. Do they ever switch gears and decide to start giving tickets for going 3+mph?

SMH...

Honestly I just ignore it and go the car speed limit, cops don't seem to care, most drivers seem to go 60-63 and cars are going 70-90.

That's what I do too, but there's always the chance you can get pulled over. Then you have to explain it to your company and etc... I'm mostly worried about HP coming behind me when passing other trucks. HP mostly seems to care about trucks going 65mph+ or drivers slowing them down so I try to stay out of their way. I've only seen super truckers pulled over or being inspected by HP in Cali so far. Do they ever switch gears and decide to start giving tickets for going 3+mph?

The best thing to do is to obey the speed limit and just enjoy the scenery.

I don’t drive in California, so I’m only stating what is the policy I follow when the speed limit is less than what my truck can do. Rationalizing about speeding is a good way to get in trouble deep.

I'm in Cali frequently. I used to just go with the flow as well. One day, as a result of conversations on here, I just do the speed limit.

It's a gamble and one that isn't worth the risk. There's no reward for speeding there. I know drivers that speed there and those that don't.

It's plain numbers that eventually you're likely to get ticketed for doing it. It's also statistically impossible to make up any real gains in miles in driving up to 10 mph faster. In order to see any gains, you would have to have a constant rate of speed, source of miles and more available hours to realize any benefit. By the time, especially in Socal that you actually calculate the percent of time spent at 55 where you could be at 63, it's inconsequential. Again, no reward, all risk.

There's plenty of other ways to increase your efficiency in CA. One primary way is to drive at nights and early mornings. Select times if you can that are least busy. I also frequently take backroads if I can. There's less traffic and interesting sights.

Also, in today's recession and freight market, more and more incidents are popping up of drivers being let go for the smallest of things as we're still way over capacity in trucks and drivers. Not something I'd want to risk.