A proposal is before Padre Island National Seashore moguls to reduce the speed limit on this mostly deserted sixty-mile long beach from 25 to 15 MPH. The purpose would be so that no Kemp Ridley sea turtles would be run over. Fishermen and others who four-wheel this seashore, the longest undeveloped barrier island in the world, are not happy about it. That is easy to understand. That is slower than some can run! It would make the trip to Port Mansfield Cut a four-hour marathon.
Never fear. It would be difficult to enforce. In these austerity times it is hard to imagine a game and fish fed hiding behind dunes with their radar units.
Now, move the scenario to our Texas highways where others propose 85 MPH speed limits on some open and largely deserted strips of highway. It would not be turtles in danger, but deer, skunks, coyotes, and.....people.
Both of these are mostly a joke. Eighty-five is a common speed already. Enforcement is negligible in those wide open spaces. Some people go that fast on the causeway bridge without a worry.
What ever happened to good judgement? Why do we have to be lawed into safe driving, be it 15 or 85? I truly believe speed limits contribute to speeding by a lot of people. I am a 70 or a little less driver on the Interstate. I am passed a lot of times by folks with heavy feet. Doesn't bother me except when they get on my bumper.
We will watch the speed limit deal with some interest.
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