Like the topic title asks, "How fast do you drive?"
I usually keep my speed between 65 m.p.h. and 75 m.p.h., traveling no more than 65 m.p.h. at night. (I can't see the police at night, due to a lot of them using dark blue cars - lol).
NOTE: This refers to driving on Interstates and other limited access roadways.
Be well,
Bryant
I don't drive a car, but I do have a mini-motorbike that is allowed on streets...
Limit: 45mph
Me: 44.9mph
On Freeways usually the speed limit; 75 mph, sometimes 80. Never gotten a speeding ticket on a 75 mph freeway, but I did get one on the ringroad of Amsterdam where a sleepy 60 mph is allowed...
Germany has no speed limits on many freeways, but I'll usually stick between 75 and 80, I'm not a fugitive nor in a hurry, and it saves some fuel, to keep my mileage above 42 mpg.
There's this stretch of I-75 that goes through downriver Detroit where there are no cops that I like driving on. Speed limit is 70, but you could easily go 85+
Normally on freeways here I'd go 5 over, sometimes 10 if traffic is fast, which normally it is around here.
ComputerGuy said:
I don't drive a car, but I do have a mini-motorbike that is allowed on streets...
Limit: 45mph
Me: 44.9mph
Lol, just a hair below the max speed.
Chris said:
Germany has no speed limits on many freeways, but I'll usually stick between 75 and 80, I'm not a fugitive nor in a hurry, and it saves some fuel, to keep my mileage above 42 mpg.
Wow! 42 mpg?! What kind of vehicle do you drive?
rawr apples said:
Normally on freeways here I'd go 5 over, sometimes 10 if traffic is fast, which normally it is around here.
Atlanta traffic flows very fast, except when there are traffic jams. I might be driving 70 or 75, but get passed like I'm standing still.
Be well,
Bryant
I usually set my cruise control at around 90mph which is just under 2500rpm as I don't want to kill my engine. Here in the UK the motorway (freeway) speed limit is 70mph and the trigger speed for speed cameras is 79mph so at these speeds I have to be careful. Most traffic at night moves at well over the speed limit so by doing 90 I'm keeping up with most of the traffic.
Chris probably drives a diesel as they are popular here in Europe. 42mpg is easily attainable in a modern diesel, even at 90mph I get into the 40's no problem. If I do 55mph in 5th gear the on board computer registers 70mpg :cool:
In cities here in Oregon, I usually follow the speed limit, but anytime I see a "Speed 55" sign, I completely disregard it, as it's basically arcane NMSL holdover bull that our idiot politicians have been too lazy/stupid to fix. Ditto with "Speed 65" signs on the Interstates.
I usually go about 75 on the freeways, and on non-freeways, and I usually travel about 60-65mph on other rural roads, sometimes even a little higher if the road supports it.
-Alex (Tarkus)
The speed limit.
Faster than I should. :-D
On rural highways I set the cruise at 5 over, so that's usually 80 or 70 out here. In cities I play the rabbit game and go as fast as the fastest car in front of me. On I-5 in Seattle where my typical urban freeway drive was from Tacoma to Seattle I'd usually average 75, in Denver where it's Fort Collins to Denver I've found I'm averaging 85-90 (keeping in mind the speed limit is 75 until you get inside E-470).
I've only gotten one speeding ticket too, going 82 in a 65 in Upstate New York :)
i don't drive but in texas on I-10 you can drive 80mph some speeders go about 90
No more than 120 on freeways and 105 on expressway.
If you're wondering I'm talking about km.p.h not m.p.h.
Even though you're talking kilometers those speeds are quite low.
What is the normal tolerance in the US a cop will give before pulling you over? Over here a cop will only stop you for doing less than 85 in a 70 if you're driving erratically. Over 85 and a cop will do you regardless of you safely you claim your driving is. Speed cameras are less forgiving as they are set to trigger at 10%+2mph so in a 70 you'll be done for doing 79 :angry:
Depending on jurisdiction cops give between 5 and 10 over. Anything over 10 and you're pretty much guaranteed a ticket anywhere- with a few exceptions I know of.
You're generally OK in the state of Oregon in their rural 55 zones (eg US-20 from Ontario to Bend) as long as you keep it under 70 and you're wearing Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, or Washington license plates (on the flipside if you're wearing California plates prepare to get a ticket for going 56), and it seems like the under 70 in the 55 applies in some urban areas as well (Denver, Chicago).
I have a lead foot -- but I generally go a similar speed to the traffic around me, no matter what the posted speed is. I try to keep it to 75 at most, but in some areas I still get run off the road for going so slow. . .
As I only have my permit right now I stick to the speed limit unless its 35 on a surface street, in which case I do 40, don't know why, and I try to stick to the speed limit on freeways, but in traffic it's too dangerous to do less than 10-15 over, and at that speed I'm still getting passed and run up on.
Depending on the traffic situation, I usually put cruise control at either 60mph (if the Autobahn is empty) or at 70 if there's much traffic. Could easily go faster and most of the time want to go faster, but alas, with fuel being as expensive as it is, fuel efficient driving is the way to go for me.
given my car's fuel efficiency at 65-70, it doesn't matter if I drive 60 or 70 since both give me the same results. Hence I take the higher legal limit ;-)
Basically 70 mph on freeways that I think should be 70(but are only 65 in most cases)
Maybe you should adopt the UK system whereby the default limit on a divided highway is 70 unless another limit is signed. This would make the limit easier to remember and would reduce clutter by not having speed limit signs everywhere.
QuoteMaybe you should adopt the UK system whereby the default limit on a divided highway is 70 unless another limit is signed. This would make the limit easier to remember and would reduce clutter by not having speed limit signs everywhere.
Most states have default speed limits if it is unsigned. However, states usually sign it anyway since many (most?) people don't remember what the defaults are.
And then some states like NY post a sign saying "State Speed Limit 55" so you always know.
yeah most of the speed limits are low. Wisconsin has a default speed limit of 55 unless signed - that INCLUDES the Interstates, so if they weren't signed, they'd be 55. :rolleyes:
I guess that same thing applies here then...
I usually drive at 70 mph. This works well because the default speed limit in Oklahoma is 70 for freeways and 65 for most rural highways. Norman and Oklahoma City post their freeways at 60 but I really don't see any reason to slow down unless there's congestion or the cops are sitting in the totally obvious spot under the gore point sign they're always under. I will bump it up to 75 if I'm late or on a turnpike (you get 5 bonus MPH on the limit since you're such a good customer).
In cities I'll usually stick with 45-50 mph.
In Ohio...i drive fast enough to keep pace with the traffic, but not so fast it gets me unwanted attention..
when i travel out of state, i try to keep my nose TOTALLY clean speed-wise (highway cops just LOVE out-of-towners!)
It's easy to see the cops in Ohio. They are usually the conspicuous cars sitting in the medians.
I only drive at the most 10 mph over the limit.
QuoteChris probably drives a diesel as they are popular here in Europe. 42mpg is easily attainable in a modern diesel, even at 90mph I get into the 40's no problem. If I do 55mph in 5th gear the on board computer registers 70mpg
Yeah, I drive on diesel. Just fueled up at the local gas station: 48 mpg :love: Eat that Toyota Prius :biggrin:
Chris said:
:love: Eat that Toyota Prius :biggrin:
:-D :-D
Be well,
Bryant
Well in Southern California, if you aren't in traffic, you're going 10-20 over, no exceptions, except for those collecting Social Security, or those who can't vote yet. Hey...that would be a good sign. :-D
when i drive im gonna go 2,000,142 M.P.S
Quote from: BigMatt on May 02, 2009, 07:25:49 PM
when i drive im gonna go 2,000,142 M.P.S
What's that? 2 million millimeters per second :-D
I usually do about 75 on freeways during the day, except if they're of the urban variety, then I'll do what the traffic gives me, up to about 5 over.
At night, I only do the speed limit unless the area's well-lit, in which case I'll do five over.
Quote42mpg is easily attainable in a modern diesel, even at 90mph I get into the 40's no problem. If I do 55mph in 5th gear the on board computer registers 70mpg
It's also entirely possible that you guys are talking imperial gallons, which is not the same as US gallons. In that case, 42 and 70 mpg imperial are 35 and 58 mpg US, respectively.
As for how fast I drive... often the answer ends up being "as fast as the guy in front of me is going."
If the highway is wide open and there's no one in front of me, I'll be getting up to 70 to 80 unless I have to slow down for a curve or to pass someone (blowing by someone doing 50 in the right lane at 80 is inadvisable).
Well, I was talking about US Gallons :)
I fueled up a couple of days ago: 48 mpg on average. (I calculate it by the amount of fuel I consume, and the distance driven, not by board computer, since they are usually not really correct, as several tests have pointed out.)
further proof to the mentality that the U.S. has towards fuel efficiency - or the lack thereof. :rolleyes:
Well, don't expect normal-sized (sedans, hatchbacks, mini-mpv's) European cars to get any more than 32 mpg on gasoline. The advantage of diesel is that is just consumes far less fuel, like 40% less. I never understood why Americans don't drive diesel with their personal cars, the higher diesel price is easily offset by a higher mileage per gallon.
^^^
I know I said before that I think that it's mostly perception in this country. Based in part upon horrible early diesel cars here and the perception that diesel has to be smelly and is only for trucks.
As, you have said in the past, that's no longer the truth. So, how do we change public perception over here?
I've heard that the BMW 335d has been approved for sale in all 50 states due to it's low emissions. What people need to do is take a test drive in this sort of diesel car and it'll change their feelings towards diesel forever. 0-60 in under 6 seconds and 50-70mph acceleration that beats a Porsche should do for starters :colorful:
What might the street price of the BMW 335d be?
As you probably already know, over here, BMW in considered a premium brand.
On rural interstates, around 75-80. On turnpikes, 80-85. On urban freeways, usually from 65-80 depending on traffic.
The reason you don't see diesel as much in the US is thus:
Diesel engines spew out a lot more particulate matter and sulfur oxides than traditional gasoline engines. US EPA emissions standards for those things tend to be quite a bit tighter than in Europe. This means that in order to sell the car here, the exhaust needs to be filtered far more, making it more expensive to build, and when the cars start to get old, they'll fail emissions tests like crazy.
Also factor in that cars in America are larger, because people expect them to be larger and the smaller ones simply aren't safe due to all the other large car and trucks around. Not to mention that we don't have lots of old cities and towns with really narrow streets like Europe does, so there was no reason to make cars smaller until fuel efficiency became a concern.
Because of this, the American version of any diesel car produced will be larger and thus not quite as efficient.
...of course, the US doesn't have the same exorbitant taxes on gas that Europe does, so of course there won't be the same motivation to be fuel efficient.
Actually, most diesel cars after 2004 have a particle filter that filters 95% of the particle matter. And all diesel sold is ULS (Ultra Low Sulfur) which contains 95% less sulfur than traditional (regular) diesel. The newest diesel cars are even cleaner than hybrids!
Quote from: Scott5114 on April 08, 2009, 04:27:00 AM
I usually drive at 70 mph. This works well because the default speed limit in Oklahoma is 70 for freeways and 65 for most rural highways. Norman and Oklahoma City post their freeways at 60 but I really don't see any reason to slow down unless there's congestion or the cops are sitting in the totally obvious spot under the gore point sign they're always under. I will bump it up to 75 if I'm late or on a turnpike (you get 5 bonus MPH on the limit since you're such a good customer).
In cities I'll usually stick with 45-50 mph.
If you happen to see a slowpoke with Maryland plates in the right lane doing 55, that's probably me.
Quote from: Truvelo on May 04, 2009, 09:19:52 AM
Quote from: BigMatt on May 02, 2009, 07:25:49 PM
when i drive im gonna go 2,000,142 M.P.S
What's that? 2 million millimeters per second :-D
What's that in furlongs per fortnight? About 1.8 x 10^12?
Quote from: Chris on May 05, 2009, 01:51:06 PM
I never understood why Americans don't drive diesel with their personal cars, the higher diesel price is easily offset by a higher mileage per gallon.
Three words: Oldsmobile 350 diesel.
Over 9000! :spin:
90 if I can get away with it. Usually, I can.
I drive different speeds depending on the road... in my townhouse community, I usually do 20 even though the speed limit's 25 as little kids and animals are known to run out in front of you. On roads with a speed limit of 35, I usually do about 40, so I appear to be going just a tad slower than everyone around me to avoid getting pulled over. So I usually end up doing about 5 over. On the interstate, I try to stick to about 65... though often have to go up to 70 to merge or pass people.
kind of a thing to note is that usually if you "go with the flow of traffic", meaning maintain the speed that the traffic in your lane maintains and not constantly change lanes - endangering traffic by weaving back and forth, you're much less likely to get pulled over.
I have driven at 72-74 mph - in a 65 zone and cops have passed by me (I haven't detected them visually - usually because they're unmarked) and pulled others over who were weaving around or just suffering from a lead foot (note: I usually have the cruise control on)
I mostly drive 130 km/h (80 mph) on freeways with 100/120 km/h (62/75 mph) limit.
But that's in my home country, the Netherlands. :sombrero:
I have tested the top speed of all the cars I owned.
My first one, a '94 Toyota Corolla got 190 km/h (120 mph), the second one, a '95 Peugeot 306 got 180 km/h (110 mph) and my current one, an '04 Renault Kangoo business van got 160 km/h (100 mph). All tested legally, since Autobahns in Germany often do not have a speed limit. :cool:
Michigan's freeway speed limit is 70 mph, but I set the cruise control at 100 kph (62 mph). :coffee:
I've started speeding more lately... hit 75 in a 35 zone the other day (I-264 approaching the Downtown Tunnel in Norfolk, VA). But I still had people running up on me... :banghead:
Quote from: deathtopumpkins on June 29, 2009, 03:01:02 PM
I've started speeding more lately... hit 75 in a 35 zone the other day (I-264 approaching the Downtown Tunnel in Norfolk, VA). But I still had people running up on me... :banghead:
Better watch yourself in VA with those oppressive laws and ridiculous fines. A criminal misdemeanor charge for speeding is ludicrous.
Here in NJ generally the flow on freeways is 75mph, keep it below 80 and nobody bothers you. The notable exception is the NJ Turnpike, the flow is generally 80-90mph depending on the lane, its mostly the NJTA's fault as those extra long skip lines they paint give one the perception they are crawling.
As for VA, I generally don't enter the left lane to pass anyone unless I can clearly see the median is patrol free. The traffic flows annoyingly close to the reckless driving cut off. I know a lot of folks don't particularly care for NJ's highway patrols, but they are pretty reasonable with enforcement and fines compared to most states *cough* Virginia. NJ's reputation comes mostly from the small towns patrolling lesser roads.
Quote from: NJRoadfan on June 29, 2009, 06:24:08 PM
Quote from: deathtopumpkins on June 29, 2009, 03:01:02 PM
I've started speeding more lately... hit 75 in a 35 zone the other day (I-264 approaching the Downtown Tunnel in Norfolk, VA). But I still had people running up on me... :banghead:
Better watch yourself in VA with those oppressive laws and ridiculous fines. A criminal misdemeanor charge for speeding is ludicrous.
Here in NJ generally the flow on freeways is 75mph, keep it below 80 and nobody bothers you. The notable exception is the NJ Turnpike, the flow is generally 80-90mph depending on the lane, its mostly the NJTA's fault as those extra long skip lines they paint give one the perception they are crawling.
As for VA, I generally don't enter the left lane to pass anyone unless I can clearly see the median is patrol free. The traffic flows annoyingly close to the reckless driving cut off. I know a lot of folks don't particularly care for NJ's highway patrols, but they are pretty reasonable with enforcement and fines compared to most states *cough* Virginia. NJ's reputation comes mostly from the small towns patrolling lesser roads.
Well I always ensure that I am going a tad bit slower than most of the traffic around me... ;-) And keep on the lookout for cops. But on the urban interstates around here, it just seems almost impossible to avoid reckless drivers. I can't even count how many people I saw on that one trip down 264 who were texting, making out with the passenger ( :-/ ), eating, etc. Same with the number of near collisions and people who had to be doing above 90.
And some of this was even going on in the Downtown Tunnel/Berkeley Bridge and its approaches (the reason for the 35 speed limit)...
</rant>
heh, I once did 92 in a 15. Serves San Jose Airport right for totally mislabeling its layout when it was being reconstructed around 2005. I had a plane to catch, and a terminal to find!
I drive whatever speed I happen to be comfortable with, which fluctuates wildly depending on the road, place and conditions.
In town I usually try to stick to within 5-10 of the posted limit. On open freeway, I disregard speed limits entirely and my comfort zone is somewhere between 70 and 90 most of the time depending on how I feel. I generally keep it between 70 and 80.
How bad are traffic fines in the United States?
If you drive 12 mph over the limit in the Netherlands, you're out $ 155, while the same find will cost you only $ 42 in Germany.
Quote from: Chris on June 30, 2009, 09:59:50 AM
How bad are traffic fines in the United States?
If you drive 12 mph over the limit in the Netherlands, you're out $ 155, while the same find will cost you only $ 42 in Germany.
The last two tickets I got, over 3 years ago, I was able to go to "traffic school" and the total cost was somewhere between $50 and $100 each.
I think that the range you quoted is valid here though it's more likely to be toward the high end.
Well, traffic in greater Nashville falls into two classes, the ridiculously reckless like Deathtopumpkins said and the fabulously fainthearted.
You have one group of people who wants to run 55-65 and the other group who wants to run 80+ (speed limit 70).
That makes it especially frustrating because on the 4-lane sections of freeway here if you don't fall into either group.
depends on the state. Most states have a "Absolute limit" meaning 1 mph technically is a speeding violation - but most states dont ticket for less than 5 over despite that (some localities will though - I've seen or heard of some in WI that do) many consider a higher overspeed reckless driving as well.
In NY traffic always falls into those two classes on four lane roads. Oddly, when you get to six lanes or more, everybody wants to do 70 mph and above. Doing the speed limit is an invitation to frustration.
In NY you can generally go up to 10 mph above the speed limit without worry on freeways (unless a police officer needs to get their quota of tickets in) on a car (though I've heard that police check for above 68 mph regardless of speed limit); buses can go up to 80 without trouble.
Quote from: deathtopumpkins on June 30, 2009, 02:11:52 AM
Quote from: NJRoadfan on June 29, 2009, 06:24:08 PM
Quote from: deathtopumpkins on June 29, 2009, 03:01:02 PM
I've started speeding more lately... hit 75 in a 35 zone the other day (I-264 approaching the Downtown Tunnel in Norfolk, VA). But I still had people running up on me... :banghead:
Better watch yourself in VA with those oppressive laws and ridiculous fines. A criminal misdemeanor charge for speeding is ludicrous.
Here in NJ generally the flow on freeways is 75mph, keep it below 80 and nobody bothers you. The notable exception is the NJ Turnpike, the flow is generally 80-90mph depending on the lane, its mostly the NJTA's fault as those extra long skip lines they paint give one the perception they are crawling.
As for VA, I generally don't enter the left lane to pass anyone unless I can clearly see the median is patrol free. The traffic flows annoyingly close to the reckless driving cut off. I know a lot of folks don't particularly care for NJ's highway patrols, but they are pretty reasonable with enforcement and fines compared to most states *cough* Virginia. NJ's reputation comes mostly from the small towns patrolling lesser roads.
Well I always ensure that I am going a tad bit slower than most of the traffic around me... ;-) And keep on the lookout for cops. But on the urban interstates around here, it just seems almost impossible to avoid reckless drivers. I can't even count how many people I saw on that one trip down 264 who were texting, making out with the passenger ( :-/ ), eating, etc. Same with the number of near collisions and people who had to be doing above 90.
And some of this was even going on in the Downtown Tunnel/Berkeley Bridge and its approaches (the reason for the 35 speed limit)...
</rant>
I agree on I-95 and I-295 in VA today the cops were all over and it seemed like another Operation Land, Air , and Speed
Well they're out in force today because it's the 4th of July! :-D Roads over here are crawling with cops.
When I was in Ontario last month I saw plenty of these signs. I wonder if anyone really has got this penalty.
For example, in the UK causing death by dangerous driving is supposed to carry a max £5000 fine and 6 years in prison but in reality all you would get is a small fine and 3 year prison sentence which means you'll be out in 18 months because prison sentences are halved if your behaviour is good. Oh yeah, the driving ban runs concurrently with the prison term so if you have an 18 month ban you'll get your licence back when you come out of prison X-(
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Quote from: Truvelo on July 05, 2009, 01:26:38 PM
When I was in Ontario last month I saw plenty of these signs. I wonder if anyone really has got this penalty.
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Last time I was in Canada (about 8 years ago), my idiot of a cousin, who was traveling in a different car than I was, didn't realize the signs were in km/h rather than in miles per hour. He got pulled over for doing 160 km/h in a 100 km/h zone and got a nice hefty fine for it. On the same trip, he somehow managed to take a wrong ramp in Toronto and we saw him pass by us on the freeway going the opposite direction.
looks like, in the distance, the limit is 100. So anyone caught doing 150 (which is about 90mph) is given ... that. Not cool. Looks like the kind of road on which you could drive 90mph safely if the traffic levels are low. That is, after all, what freeways are designed for.
speeding needs to not be a crime. Reckless driving, on the other hand ...
Doing 150 in Canada = 10,000 dollar fine
Doing 190 in Germany = legal
Quote from: Chris on July 08, 2009, 04:07:47 PM
Doing 150 in Canada = 10,000 dollar fine
Doing 190 in Germany = legal
Doing 240+ (150mph+) in a stock car at a "driving experience" = priceless :clap:
Quote from: Chris on July 08, 2009, 04:07:47 PM
Doing 150 in Canada = 10,000 dollar fine
Doing 190 in Germany = legal
And what makes it worse is that the Autobahns are a lot busier so doing 190 on a rural Canadian freeway should be made legal :-/
Quote from: agentsteel53 on May 27, 2009, 05:05:31 PM
90 if I can get away with it. Usually, I can.
You need to teach me this sometime. Hell, write a book:
How to Drive 90 MPH and Get Away With It by Danger Moose.
If I'm driving a long distance, I do about 80 and only if it's daytime. I tend to go slower at night in case I can't see the cops in time to slow down.
I rented a Volkswagen Jetta two years ago to drive to Memphis and that car can go! I was doing 85-90 most of the way up there. I even found myself doing 100 around big trucks :wow: !!
Quote from: golden eagleIf I'm driving a long distance, I do about 80 and only if it's daytime. I tend to go slower at night in case I can't see the cops in time to slow down.
I'm the same way. Speeding tickets are too damned expensive.
Be well,
Bryant