I think I’m correct in saying that alone among the lower 48 states (i.e. the ones which have interstate highways running through them), Illinois is the only one which still stubbornly enforces a 55mph speed limit on its various highways. It’s a huge PITA — like so many things about traveling through Illinois — and we all know that it’s not just Sammy Hagar who can’t drive at 55.
Anyway, the lower speed limit didn’t seem to help much (if at all) a couple days back:
A fiery 60-car pile-up happened late Monday morning on I-55 in central Illinois. The horrific wreck appears to have been caused by loose dirt and high winds. Normally, dust storms connote the deserts of the Southwest, but the combination of dry conditions, loose soil from freshly-plowed fields, and high, gusty winds resulted in extremely low visibility which led to multiple collisions along the stretch of interstate south of Springfield, Illinois.
I’ve driven through this kind of dust storm before — the ones I hit in southern Idaho, South Dakota and South Africa’s Orange Free State and Karoo desert come to mind — and it’s no small danger. Typically, I’ve driven at 10mph or slower under those conditions, the problem being other drivers, who seem to have sooper-dooper x-ray vision and don’t have to slow down until they collide with your car’s rear end.
The same is true of snow storms, of course, the only difference being that snow doesn’t invade every crevice in your car and cause you to choke helplessly while peering through the suddenly-opaque windshield. Then again, you’re unlikely to freeze to death in a sandstorm, so I guess it’s a crap shoot.
I once cursed a trucker all the way through Pennsylvania for recommending I “save 50 miles” by going up through Nashville to Ohio and across Pennsylvania when traveling to Boston in the mid 90s instead of going up through Knoxville.
What he failed to mention was Pennsylvania still enforced the 55mph limit at the time.
From end to end of Pennsylvania, the most infuriating drive I believe I’ve ever taken.
When we travel to Michigan now to see the grandkids I avoid the Chicago route because of Chicago, I see now there is yet another purely time related reason, thank you for pointing it out Dr. Kim!
The worst rain storm I had ever seen happened when my wife and I were driving back from another county. It rained so hard that even with the wipers on the fastest speed they couldn’t get the water off the windshield fast enough to see. It was impossible to drive safely. So I didn’t. I got well off the road, 100’s of feet, and we sat and waited for it to stop. We sat there and saw lots of other cars proceeding apace. Retards. The country is slammed with em.
Returning from a family outing we were caught in a real gully-washer and couldn’t see the road AT ALL. Being painfully aware that that I had to slow way down but knowing I couldn’t count on my fellow motorists to make the same logical choice I took the first opportunity to pull off of the 2 lane state highway into a briefly glimpsed parking area. When the raging thunderstorm subsided we discovered we had parked right next to a very large electrical substation! Thinking logically, I’m sure those things are very well grounded but with lightning still crashing around the pucker factor was off the charts when I realized just where we were!
FYI….
The interstate speed limit in Illinois is 70 mph, although it is usually lowered through and around urban areas.
The trade off was lowering the “excessive speeding” threshold from 31 mph over to 26 mph over the posted limit.
Been that way since 2014.
Now, don’t get me started about that AWB bullshit prickster and his filthy cronies are trying to foist on us. >:-[
Came here to say this also. I haven’t been to IL in 3 or 4 years, but the last time i was there everything was 70 until you got within about 10 miles from Chicago where it dropped to 65. i didn’t get in to the city proper, just dropped my daughter off at O’Hare, so I don’t know what it’s like in the city itself.
Even so… I’m glad i’m in UT where all the interstates are 70 or higher, even through the urban corridor from Ogden through Salt Lake and down to Provo.
I haven’t driven in Illinois since 2005…
You’re not missing anything. 😛