You'd think something called the

would be as easy to follow as, say, directions for making toast.

But after decades of legislative tinkering, Oregon's historic speed canon reads more like the evil offspring of the

and the assembly instructions for

.

Essentially, the rule, which has been around since cars started rattling past 35 mph in the 1920s, says that posted speeds are not the final word on the state's roads. Oregon drivers have the freedom to decide what is the "reasonable and prudent" speed by considering traffic, road, weather and other conditions.

Woot! Crank up the

and stomp the gas! Oregonians have a license to speed, as long as they can convince a judge that they're of sound mind and steering.

Actually, they don't. But that's how a convoy of readers responding to

on speed signs see things.

If you recall, I tried to settle a row between a Portland man and his 22-year-old grandson, who insisted Southwest Multnomah Boulevard's "Speed 25" signs are nothing more than a polite suggestion because they don't contain the word "limit."

The grandson thought state law gave him room to wiggle out of a ticket by citing special circumstances. But I sided with the grandfather, who argued that the signs set the maximum speed.

Referring to Oregon's Basic Rule, several readers rebuked me for not siding with the grandson.

Thomas Bradley of Portland tried to school me with a three-page, handwritten letter. "'Speed' and 'Speed Limit' signs," he concluded, "are not the same."

Oak Grove resident Sue Conachan, meanwhile, said she learned about the Basic Rule in driver's education 40 years ago. "We don't have speed limits like some other states," she said. "It would say it on the signs."

To paraphrase "The Big Lebowski," a lot of motorists are driving in the past, man! They're hung up on some rule from the '60s, man!

For years, the Basic Rule did allow drivers to prevail in certain cases of going above "the recommended speed." The signs that simply say "Speed" are a holdover from that bygone driving culture. But things changed in 2003, when the Legislature made traveling faster than the posted speeds in cities, school zones and on interstates a -- wait for it --

.

So, the only times the Basic Rule is applied in those areas is when drivers should be slowing to reasonable, prudent speeds due to hazardous road conditions. "A good example would be a driver cited for traveling 45 mph in a 45 mph-posted area on a snowy or icy road," said Portland police Lt. Eric Schober.

Also, all new signs in school zones and on freeways now contain the word "limit."

Technically, speed signs on rural roads and state highways are still advisories. But even on a clear, wide-open day, it would be smart to stay close to the "55" posted along U.S. 95 between

Jordan Valley to the Nevada line.

The Basic Rule doesn't specifically allow drivers to exceed posted speeds. In fact, that's

for a ticket. "Under perfect conditions, we'll let you go 60, 65," said

. "But 70, 75, 80 -- we'll go after you. We have our limits."

Exactly. To end the confusion, maybe it's time for the Legislature to establish limits for all roads. If not, why bother posting any speed at all?