Photo: Utah DOT on Facebook
When petrolheads like us argue about what is the best highway in the United States, I have a sneaking suspicion most of us would answer US Route 50. Stretching 3,008 miles (4,841 km) from Ocean City to West Sacramento, US 50 is also the uncredited star of a cult movie that's highly acclaimed among car guys.
I’m refering to 1971’s Vanishing Point, an action road movie exploring existentialism through the eyes of Kowalski (Barry Newman), a car delivery driver and ex-cop that drives a Challenger R/T 440 Magnum. We don’t want to spoil it for you, but a certain element of the film has to be taken into consideration.
That’s the filming locations. Route 50 is what made Vanishing Point so special, giving it an eerie hell-bent for leather feel to the viewing experience.
Fast forward to the present moment, and studies commanded by the state are highlighting what we always expected: raising the speed limit translated to fewer highway crashes, according to a material published by the Missoulian. Today, 36 percent of Utah’s interstate highways adopted the new limit.
Although 2013 and 2014 data is unavailable at the present moment, the previously mentioned publication cites a 2012 study, which found out that the 80 mph speed limit translated to an 11 percent to 20 percent drop in crashes related to speeding. How is that possible, you might be asking now?
Think about it this way - I’m no researcher, but I’m pretty sure that no driver enjoys to travel at low speeds on a stretch of highway. That little 5 mph (8 km/h) difference compared to how things were before benefits a driver’s state of mind because me and you know we can floor it to get home more quickly or satisfy our need for speed. Fingers crossed more states will adopt the 80 mph speed limit.
That’s the filming locations. Route 50 is what made Vanishing Point so special, giving it an eerie hell-bent for leather feel to the viewing experience.
The “Loneliest road in America”, especially those desertified locations in Utah, were straight enough for Kowalski’s 1970 Dodge Challenger to stretch the legs of its supercharged Magnum V8 powerplant
But Hollywood never reflects reality and it’s a little sad us petrolheads will barely experience the mad highway adventures of Kowalski. Still, those of you with a need for speed can head to the U, a place where state officials raised the highway speed limit on some stretches to 80 mph (128 km/h) in 2008.Fast forward to the present moment, and studies commanded by the state are highlighting what we always expected: raising the speed limit translated to fewer highway crashes, according to a material published by the Missoulian. Today, 36 percent of Utah’s interstate highways adopted the new limit.
Although 2013 and 2014 data is unavailable at the present moment, the previously mentioned publication cites a 2012 study, which found out that the 80 mph speed limit translated to an 11 percent to 20 percent drop in crashes related to speeding. How is that possible, you might be asking now?
Think about it this way - I’m no researcher, but I’m pretty sure that no driver enjoys to travel at low speeds on a stretch of highway. That little 5 mph (8 km/h) difference compared to how things were before benefits a driver’s state of mind because me and you know we can floor it to get home more quickly or satisfy our need for speed. Fingers crossed more states will adopt the 80 mph speed limit.
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