I-81 in Virginia, which I had the privilege of driving yesterday, definitely leaves a bit to be desired:
(a) Six lanes would be nice.
(b) A bigger differential between the speed limit and "reckless driving" would be nice.
(c) Less cops running radar would be nice.
Agreed on all points. Six lanes is desired, but the issue is cost and the fact we're dealing with VDOT - a broke state transportation agency. Maybe the fuel tax increase recently passed will get us somewhere - after it adds up in 20 years. Virginia has tried to raise the reckless driving threshold to 85 MPH on 70 MPH stretches, though it fails. I'll easily push up to 82-83 MPH usually (and still get passed on the left), but I will almost never exceed 79 MPH in Virginia. Too risky. Virginia State Police love enforcement and police trapping. Same with certain localities. You'll find them on any interstate really. I-95 from the state line to Stony Creek is a hot spot for both state and local police and same with I-295 around Hopewell, that stretch being enforced by Hopewell's police department, not State Police. I take I-295 often, I never once have not seen them hiding out in the median. They generally will wait till you exceed 80 MPH though, so they can slap that hefty fine on there for reckless driving.
Always good to have Waze on at all times, especially through VA. It's really helpful to know where the cops hide out. Just stay right and stick to 70 MPH (or whatever the speed is) when passing an enforced area, then continue back up to 75 - 80 MPH once away from the enforced area.
It's crazy, above 80 MPH is reckless in Virginia, yet in Texas, 85 MPH is the posted speed on one highway. The reckless threshold should be 85 MPH for 70 MPH stretches. Most would agree.
There are signs posted stating that trucks must use the right lane when operating below 70 mph, which basically means they may only use the left lane at exactly 70 mph, in order to comply with both said signs and the speed limit. I can't say I had ever seen anything quite so contradictory on the same roadway before!
Also agree. There's signage in Chesapeake on I-64 before the High Rise Bridge indicating the same thing - use right lane when operating below 60 MPH (the speed limit here). Wondered the same before.
I've also never driven on a 70 mph highway on which I was so hesitant to exceed 80 mph. I wouldn't bat an eyelash about doing 85 on most other 70 mph highways, say in PA or Ohio. But the heavy police presence, the "speed enforced by aircraft" signs, and the "over 80 mph constitutes reckless driving" had me really nervous to cruise at 85 or even 82-83.
For police presence, try to stay at about 78 - 79 MPH and use Waze. For speed enforced by aircraft, that program was terminated years ago. Don't worry about that, there's nobody in the air enforcing. They never removed it, probably just another way for Virginia State Police to lure drivers to slow down.