Catonic wrote:
But I stand firm by my principles -- the speed limit should be replaced by the traffic speed advisory signs like you see for on- and off-ramps. I know of one ramp in my own city I've pulled at 80MPH (without loosing control, omg) which is marked as a 45MPH ramp. Yes, I've merged into traffic speeding above the limit! What a concept! I've _accelerated_ on the on-ramp, merging in at the speed limit! It's called an acceleration lane for a reason.

Uhh... You're an idiot. Those yellow speed signs on ramps -ARE THE SPEED LIMIT- not an "advisory speed".

You shouldn't merge left going faster than traffic already in the left lane. If you do that you're going to driver hell.

--timball

Uhh... You're an idiot. Those yellow speed signs on ramps -ARE THE SPEED LIMIT- not an "advisory speed".

You shouldn't merge left going faster than traffic already in the left lane. If you do that you're going to driver hell.

--timball

You know, this is one of those things I've wondered about, but never really followed up on. I've always held the belief that advisory speed signs were just that.

When I see "You're an idiot," though, I guess that makes we want to dig further, since vicariously, I am being called an idiot. Therefore, I did some research this time.

Link to something I found from the TX DOT site.

Laws will vary from state to state of course, but here's what Texas has to say about it:

* * *

Regulatory Versus Advisory Speeds

Advisory speeds are determined primarily by physical and design characteristics of the roadway. The setting of regulatory speeds, while also affected by physical and design factors, is determined in large part by existing free flow traffic speeds.

A Transportation Commission minute order, city ordinance, or county ordinance is not required for advisory speed zones but is required for regulatory speed zones. Therefore, advisory speed zones are more flexible in that they can be changed without revising existing commission minute orders or city or county ordinances.

From the standpoint of enforcement, when a regulatory speed zone has been established and signs are posted, the speed values shown on the signs are the maximum lawful prima facie speeds. An advisory speed sign serves to advise drivers of safe speeds that are recommended for certain roadway conditions, such as horizontal curves. It does aid the enforcement officer, however, in determining reasonable and prudent speeds. A driver might be cited for exceeding the posted value of an advisory speed zone on the grounds that they were driving at a speed that was not reasonable and prudent for the conditions existing at the time and location.

* * *

Ultimately, it is up to the officer's discretion as to whether the advisory speed is regarded as a regulatory speed.

Idiot? I guess it depends on the state you're talking about.

Hijexx wrote:

Ultimately, it is up to the officer's discretion as to whether the advisory speed is regarded as a regulatory speed.

Idiot? I guess it depends on the state you're talking about.

Do advisory speed signs look different that normal speed signs? When I was taking driver's ed I learned that the "yellow" ramp signs were yellow to get your attention.

And pulling out of IAD's crazy round-a-bout traffic schema the speed limit is 25mph even though you feel like you should be going at least 45mph (and more than likely people are driving at 70mph). I've heard of multiple people getting speeding tickets in that zone. But again. that's DC.

--timball

Catonic wrote:
What a concept!

This is what happens in Taiwan. Go there. DRIVE. Its nuts!

wilpig wrote:
snip...I know of one ramp in my own city I've pulled at 80MPH (without loosing control, omg) which is marked as a 45MPH ramp. Yes, I've merged into traffic speeding above the limit! What a concept! I've _accelerated_ on the on-ramp, merging in at the speed limit! It's called an acceleration lane for a reason.
.../snip

I agree with you Wilpig...

Acceleration Lanes seem to be a thing of the past... People pull onto them and don't accelerate to highway speeds, I've even seen people stop at the bottom, as if the YIELD/MERGE was a STOP signal... tying up traffic and causing accidents.

Here in Atlanta, we have the best thing to cause accidents... Keep Moving Lanes. These are lanes are usually off highway OFF ramps, and they allow you to turn left and KEEP MOVING. They are all posted, with Signage, and people STILL STOP!. I've seen several episodes, where people beep at the stopped morons, and the moron who stopped GET'S OUT OF THE CAR and yells at the guy who beeped!

I'm ready to move to Utah, or South Dakota, just to get away from these stupid people.

Just my 2¢, YMMV.