Eat your heart out, Jimmy Carter. You too, highway patrolman who gave me a warning ticket for driving 74 on this highway a few years ago when the speed limit was 70 mph.
This sign designates the speed limit on Highway 349 between Midland, Texas, and Rankin. Other signs note that the distance between the two cities is 55 miles. At one time not so awfully long ago, when gasoline prices were much higher in today's dollars, the speed limit was 55 MPH. And that short trip between the two cities took a dreadfully long time to drive. One hour, to be precise.
Those 55 MPH speed limits were pure torture for anyone who drove on these lonely West Texas roadways. I recall one trip on that road back in the 55 MPH days when oncoming drivers were all giving me the peace sign, the "V" sign with their first two fingers. Obviously something was going on. I had never seen the use of that hand signal for this purpose before or since, but they were warning of a radar trap ahead.
There was a lot of cooperation among drivers back then. Mercy sakes alive those CB radios were squawking. We all had a common enemy to avoid, and radar detectors helped warn of law enforcement hot spots. Many drivers ignored the posted speed limits and drove at what was probably a reasonably safe speed. It was civil disobedience on four wheels.
Bad laws are meant to be repealed, and eventually that one was. In fact, many drivers actually slowed down to 70 MPH and obeyed the law when the speed limits were bumped up from 55 to 70 on most highways.
It's statistically a little bit more dangerous now, but most of us are able to judge the risk for ourselves and assume the risk, if it is there.
And that 55 mile trip between Midland and Rankin? It's a breeze at 75 mph.
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Followup, 8/13/05: There's a funny joke from the 55 MPH era --
West Texas roughneck speeding down the highway gets pulled over by a Highway Patrol officer.
The roughneck is late for a job, and he's absolutely livid about being pulled over. He says to the officer, "What would you do if I called you a son of a bitch?"
"You can't use abusive language to a peace officer. I would arrest you."
"Well what would you do if I just thought it."
"I can't arrest you for what you're thinking."
"Okay then, I think you're a SON OF A BITCH!!!"
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