I did catch this on CNN I think, over the weekend, but didn’t pay a whole lot of attention to it, because I’ve only been to Texas once in my life, and I don’t plan on going there anytime soon. But, I am a bit of a leadfoot, so I suppose this is good news for my kindred Texans:

Texas increases speed to 80 mph on some roads via WaPo with a hat-tip to Captain Capitalism.

Texas Department of Transportation specialists had studied the situation and found that in the three years since the speed limit in that area was increased from 70 to 75 mph, the number of fatalities had actually dropped…

State transportation officials say they tested the effects of the new law before it was even passed in the Legislature and found that 85 percent of drivers traveling in that area already were driving between 76 and 79 mph

As I’ve always been told by those “in the know,” (i.e., police officers who are pretty much professional drivers) that the safest speed to drive is that which is the 85th percentile – and though it’s impossible to actually guage this at any time, I think it’s pretty reasonable to assume most drivers can guesstimate it within a few mph of accurate.

Turns out the old excuse, although not a legal defense, is at the very least, a safe bet.