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National Boards => General Highway Talk => Topic started by: jeffandnicole on October 11, 2013, 01:28:35 PM

Title: Unrealistic Driving Times/Mileage
Post by: jeffandnicole on October 11, 2013, 01:28:35 PM
You know those websites/billboards/advertisements that tell you you're thisclose, when it's virtually impossible to get there within the time/distance stated.

One such example I came across today:  New Castle Airport near Wilmington, DE, which claims one is only a 25 minute drive to Downtown Philadelphia.  http://www.newcastleairportilg.com/

Per Google Maps, http://goo.gl/maps/QToF9 , the distance between the two is about 37 miles, and 44 minutes of driving.  In order to get there in 25 minutes, one would need to average about 89 mph, and that includes driving on local streets as well!
Title: Re: Unrealistic Driving Times/Mileage
Post by: hotdogPi on October 11, 2013, 03:22:44 PM
I-95
16 miles
14 min

Not quite unrealistic, but still above the speed limit. Seen on I-93 in Massachusetts. However, this one is official.
Title: Re: Unrealistic Driving Times/Mileage
Post by: agentsteel53 on October 11, 2013, 04:21:50 PM
somewhere in the midwest (I-80 in Iowa) is an advertisement for a Best Western, explicitly stated to be 110 miles distant.

"only an hour away!"
Title: Re: Unrealistic Driving Times/Mileage
Post by: Molandfreak on October 11, 2013, 06:30:47 PM
I bet Wall Drug gets their driving times wrong quite frequently :bigass:
Title: Re: Unrealistic Driving Times/Mileage
Post by: TCN7JM on October 11, 2013, 07:09:00 PM
Quote from: Molandfreak on October 11, 2013, 06:30:47 PM
I bet Wall Drug gets their driving times wrong quite frequently :bigass:

Huh? Around here it's usually just the number of miles to the tourist trap, never an estimated amount of time.
Title: Re: Unrealistic Driving Times/Mileage
Post by: Molandfreak on October 11, 2013, 07:30:54 PM

Quote from: TCN7JM on October 11, 2013, 07:09:00 PM
Quote from: Molandfreak on October 11, 2013, 06:30:47 PM
I bet Wall Drug gets their driving times wrong quite frequently :bigass:

Huh? Around here it's usually just the number of miles to the tourist trap, never an estimated amount of time.
There are far too many signs, though. At least one of them has to have a time estimate.
Title: Re: Unrealistic Driving Times/Mileage
Post by: SD Mapman on October 11, 2013, 08:13:58 PM
Quote from: Molandfreak on October 11, 2013, 07:30:54 PM

Quote from: TCN7JM on October 11, 2013, 07:09:00 PM
Quote from: Molandfreak on October 11, 2013, 06:30:47 PM
I bet Wall Drug gets their driving times wrong quite frequently :bigass:

Huh? Around here it's usually just the number of miles to the tourist trap, never an estimated amount of time.
There are far too many signs, though. At least one of them has to have a time estimate.
I haven't seen one. EVER. (and their ice water is horrible)
Title: Re: Unrealistic Driving Times/Mileage
Post by: Molandfreak on October 11, 2013, 08:15:03 PM

Quote from: SD Mapman on October 11, 2013, 08:13:58 PM
Quote from: Molandfreak on October 11, 2013, 07:30:54 PM

Quote from: TCN7JM on October 11, 2013, 07:09:00 PM
Quote from: Molandfreak on October 11, 2013, 06:30:47 PM
I bet Wall Drug gets their driving times wrong quite frequently :bigass:

Huh? Around here it's usually just the number of miles to the tourist trap, never an estimated amount of time.
There are far too many signs, though. At least one of them has to have a time estimate.
I haven't seen one. EVER. (and their ice water is horrible)
True fact. So is their coffee.
Title: Re: Unrealistic Driving Times/Mileage
Post by: SD Mapman on October 11, 2013, 08:17:59 PM
Quote from: Molandfreak on October 11, 2013, 07:30:54 PM
There are far too many signs, though. At least one of them has to have a time estimate.
I think that's because SD is very vague about taxing billboards and other signs... there are more Deadwood billboards on I-90 than Las Vegas billboards on I-15 (I think).
Title: Re: Unrealistic Driving Times/Mileage
Post by: NE2 on October 11, 2013, 08:47:26 PM
Quote from: SD Mapman on October 11, 2013, 08:13:58 PM
(and their ice water is horrible)
That's because a Texan ran their procurement division the day they ordered their ahhssss water.
Title: Re: Unrealistic Driving Times/Mileage
Post by: SD Mapman on October 11, 2013, 09:56:17 PM
I'll roll with that.

Quote from: Molandfreak on October 11, 2013, 08:15:03 PM
True fact. So is their coffee.
It is 5 cents, after all.
Title: Re: Unrealistic Driving Times/Mileage
Post by: cpzilliacus on October 11, 2013, 10:32:59 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on October 11, 2013, 01:28:35 PM
You know those websites/billboards/advertisements that tell you you're thisclose, when it's virtually impossible to get there within the time/distance stated.

Classic examples in this case - advertisements for real estate for sale to people living in the Washington, D.C. metro area, often well south along the I-81 corridor or in relatively distant parts of West Virginia, invariably touted as "2 hours to the Capital Beltway."
Title: Re: Unrealistic Driving Times/Mileage
Post by: deathtopumpkins on October 13, 2013, 12:46:38 AM
Quote from: 1 on October 11, 2013, 03:22:44 PM
I-95
16 miles
14 min

Not quite unrealistic, but still above the speed limit. Seen on I-93 in Massachusetts. However, this one is official.

Based on past discussion on this board it is probable that MassDOT bases these travel times off the actual speed of traffic rather than the speed limit.

Although 16 miles in 14 minutes is only around 67 mph. Easily corresponds to 65 mph (the speed limit on 93 outside of 128/95) if you round.
Title: Re: Unrealistic Driving Times/Mileage
Post by: TCN7JM on October 14, 2013, 11:33:50 PM
Hotels are pretty bad at advertising from other cities, I've noticed. I saw a sign just outside Mankato which said the trek of about 35 miles to St. James can be done in 25 minutes with the speed limit at 60 miles per hour. I see signs like this all the time with hotels, but I never thought to actually test how far off they were.
Title: Re: Unrealistic Driving Times/Mileage
Post by: Crazy Packers Fan on November 16, 2013, 09:17:15 AM
Sort of related - a trucker told my dad it would take an hour to go through Texas on I-40. Unfortunately, our car was not capable of going upwards of 175 mph.
Title: Re: Unrealistic Driving Times/Mileage
Post by: roadman65 on November 16, 2013, 06:47:54 PM
Quote from: Crazy Packers Fan on November 16, 2013, 09:17:15 AM
Sort of related - a trucker told my dad it would take an hour to go through Texas on I-40. Unfortunately, our car was not capable of going upwards of 175 mph.
I wonder how long it takes him to ace all of I-10 in Texas LOL?    He most likely the same man who once told my dad years ago he could go from Staten Island to Daytona Beach in 14 hours.
Title: Re: Unrealistic Driving Times/Mileage
Post by: Scott5114 on November 18, 2013, 05:26:03 AM
There used to be a billboard just south of Oklahoma City that did this on purpose, probably as a joke. I think it was a car lot. It said the destination was "Only 15 minutes ahead! (at 200 mph)"
Title: Re: Unrealistic Driving Times/Mileage
Post by: KEK Inc. on November 18, 2013, 09:34:45 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on November 16, 2013, 06:47:54 PM
He most likely the same man who once told my dad years ago he could go from Staten Island to Daytona Beach in 14 hours.

Google says that Staten Is. to Daytona Beach is 14 hours and 40 minuets.