AARoads Forum

There seems to be a variety of people's preferred highway cruising speeds. What's yours and why? (Assume free-flowing traffic)

For local trips, my cruising speed is 5 mph above. It feels like this is the regional equilibrium between being passed and passing others. For vacations/long road trips, my cruising speed is exactly the speed limit. I get to spend less time passing and more time focusing on the scenery.

Generally 75-79 mph...so it can be anywhere from 5 - 20 above.

Depends on the area and speed limit

On the ISTHA Tollways around Chicagoland, 55 MPH is severly undersigned, when free flowing traffic flows in the 70-75 MPH range (I believe the Chicago Tribune studied it a few years back and reported average speed in the low 70s on many segments of the Tollways). I probably roll in the 75-80 crowd there, honestly. Same could be said for the I-465 Beltway around Indy - woefully undersigned, and equally ignored

Out in Rural Areas, cruising speed is probably in the 75-85 MPH range, depending on Signed Speed Limit (55-70)

In a Metro area I am less familiar with, I will simply flow with traffic. If Locals stick to the Limit or close to, I will. If traffic is flowing @ 80 MPH in a 55...well, I ain't getting run over

I'm in the speed limit camp–set cruise, stay in the right lane. In my neck of the woods people in the right lane are usually doing 2-8 over so it's rare I'll have to slow down. If someone is actually going slow enough for me to pass, I just move left and back and don't touch cruise. It's the least taxing way to drive on the highway and also gives you the best fuel efficiency.

I don't take personal offense to people passing me like a lot of drivers seem to. Others can go around me. If a left laner seems intent on matching me I'll fall back as a courtesy and let the conga line behind them undertake them.

On Interstate's and other freeways I do 10 over usually. On I-75 I do 80 mph, speed limit is 70 south of Bay City, 75 north of Bay City.

And I'd like to add that the freeway's that have a 55 mph speed limit in Michigan are usually ignored. Most people around here drive the speed they are comfortable driving. I know the 55 mph zones in Detroit are totally ignored.

If the limit is 60, I usually find myself going around 72-74, the typical speed of the inner lanes around here. Congestion has gotten so bad around here, when there isn't any traffic, people just don't give a shit and start pushing it.

If the limit is 70, no more than 80. Mostly because of fuel economy.

Around these parts, cruising speed is dependent upon freeway layout and, of course, traffic level.  When clear, I'm usually about 8-10 miles over posted limits on 4+4 facilities such as I-580 over Altamont Pass -- and my guess is I'm right around the mean speed (I pass about the same number as those who pass me!).  I'm on I-880 up to Oakland and Alameda at least once a week; it's down to the limit or no more than +3 to +5 simply because of (a) higher traffic volume, (b) the periodic curvature often masks congestion ahead (particularly around San Leandro and the Coliseum area of Oakland), so I tend to back off a bit that far north, and (c) it's the most heavily patrolled (CHP and Alameda county sheriffs) in the region.  Just about everything around here is a straight 65; 880 drops to 55 north of Oakland Airport.  The only 70 zones are on I-5, I-580 east of Altamont, and parts of CA 99 over in the Valley.  During daytime one can usually do 75-80 without fear of being pulled over; it usually takes blatant speed exhibition to arouse the CHP in that area -- and they're on the prowl for DUI's at night (as well they should be!).  My Camry may as well not have cruise control (it's a bit tricky these days); the 4-runner's better; if I'm driving it in the Valley, the cruise is set at about 77 during the day and about 73 at night.  I certainly don't bother with cruise control within this urban region; the few times I tried it locally I ended up braking out of it within 5 minutes! 

I'll have to pay attention to my speeds on my next trip down to my old stomping grounds in the high desert -- it seems everyone's 10-15 over the limit out on 15 or 58; that always seemed to be S.O.P. out there!   

Typically no more than 3-5 over regardless of limit or whatever the other traffic is doing.

I drive 8-9 mph over the speed limit, even when traffic is doing more than that. 

Used to go up to 15 over, like 70 in a 55.  I was overconfident in my ability to detect speed traps.  My last speeding ticket in 2013 put an end to that (I think I have had 3 in my life).  Haven't had one since.

I generally do the speed of traffic, which in the Northeast means:

55 mph rural - I'll do 70 
55 mph urban/suburban = I'll do 75
65 mph rural = I'll do 75
65 mph urban/suburban = I'll do 80
70 mph rural = I'll do 80

I find that above those speeds, I risk getting pulled over, but at those speeds, I won't.

IMO, the poll should combine 0-10 mph over the limit, and have a new option for 10-20 mph over. I usually fit into that latter category, although I have been known to go up to 80 mph in a 55, especially on roads with low traffic volumes in areas with no known cop hideouts.
But generally speaking, anything more than 20 over is fairly risky around here. Cops love to nab you for 78 in a 55, or 88 in a 65, where they can, by the slimmest of margins, get you for going more than 20 over.

My preferred cruising speed with my family is around 8-12 mph over the limit. On my own, I assume a bit less liability and tend to go a little faster than that, especially in 55 mph zones.

Quote from: jemacedo9 on May 16, 2018, 07:31:02 AM
I generally do the speed of traffic, which in the Northeast means:

55 mph rural - I'll do 70 
55 mph urban/suburban = I'll do 75
65 mph rural = I'll do 75
65 mph urban/suburban = I'll do 80
70 mph rural = I'll do 80

By Northeast, you really mean East Coast. Inland, in areas like upstate NY, rural freeways tend to move much faster than urban ones. We don't get those freight trains of speed demons like they do on the coast  ;-)

Quote from: Flint1979 on May 16, 2018, 02:13:03 AM
And I'd like to add that the freeway's that have a 55 mph speed limit in Michigan America are usually ignored. Most people around here drive the speed they are comfortable driving. I know the 55 mph zones in Detroit every city in the nation are totally ignored.

Fixed

Quote from: webny99 on May 16, 2018, 08:20:34 AM

Quote from: jemacedo9 on May 16, 2018, 07:31:02 AM
I generally do the speed of traffic, which in the Northeast means:

55 mph rural - I'll do 70 
55 mph urban/suburban = I'll do 75
65 mph rural = I'll do 75
65 mph urban/suburban = I'll do 80
70 mph rural = I'll do 80

By Northeast, you really mean East Coast. Inland, in areas like upstate NY, rural freeways tend to move much faster than urban ones. We don't get those freight trains of speed demons like they do on the coast  ;-)

I'm up in the Rochester area one week out of every month. (I lived there 2007-2016.)

In the Rochester area, the SLs are 55 and I tend to do 70.
Most of my travels in rural W NY lately are on I-390 and I-86, and in those 65 areas, if I go 75, I am passing most traffic without cops pulling out.  Though I will say that in the past year, I've noticed traffic speeds picking up a little over what I'm used to.

I like to stick to speed limit minus one or two; if the speed limit is 55 I'll go 53-54 and set cruise control (something a great deal of people around here seem to have forgotten how to use), using the extra 1-2 mph as a buffer zone so I don't end up technically speeding while going down a hill or something.

Although let me also say that my road rage levels are much lower even in congested hallway traffic than they were on the average day in the hallways of my high school.

I go with the flow of traffic, generally. Usually a few miles over the limit, typically up to 10 unless traffic is going faster than that.

Kick on Sirius/XM radio, set AC  to freeze carbon dioxide out of the air, and dial up the exact speed limit on the cruise control.

Drive all day long and enjoy the ride.

:popcorn:

On highways I've driven many times, I tend to do 6-10 mph more than the speed limit. Sometimes, it's even more than that if I just really want to get to my destination. I-35 in Iowa and Minnesota is a common cause of this, for me.

On highways I've never driven or only driven a few times, it's no more than 5 mph above the speed limit. I like to see the scenery and be on the lookout for interesting, roadgeek-y things.

The only time these rules change is in construction zones, in which case I will do at most the speed limit, out of principle.

Quote from: Jardine on May 16, 2018, 09:21:26 AM
Kick on Sirius/XM radio, set AC  to freeze carbon dioxide out of the air, and dial up the exact speed limit on the cruise control.

Drive all day long and enjoy the ride.

:popcorn:

Same for me! :cheers:

Generally in Chicagoland: In city, 70 mph. Rural: 78-80 mph.

Average on road trips: About 65 in city, 75 in rural. Out of state I tend to go over the limit but not as much

Quote from: jeffandnicole on May 16, 2018, 08:33:37 AM

Quote from: Flint1979 on May 16, 2018, 02:13:03 AM
And I'd like to add that the freeway's that have a 55 mph speed limit in Michigan America are usually ignored. Most people around here drive the speed they are comfortable driving. I know the 55 mph zones in Detroit every city in the nation are totally ignored.

Fixed

Nice  :-D

My parents usually go 5 over, as cops (usually) won’t waste their time on such a minute violation. However, there are some exceptions, such as I-40 in NM, where outside of Albuquerque, we usually go 80 (because who cares?) Although there is a speed trap between Albuquerque and Grants.

Also, anyone who puts the speed limit at 55 is relying on a law so antiquated, its not even funny. We need a minimum max speed of 65 (except for some exemptions).

Quote from: MCRoads on May 16, 2018, 10:29:22 AM
We need a minimum max speed of 65 (except for some exemptions).

Which roads does it apply to, though? These should not be 65:

• I-93 through Franconia Notch
• I-93 in the tunnels in Boston
• MA 2 near the at-grade intersections from ​approximately exits 27-32
• Lowell Connector

Rural Freeway/Interstate - 75
Urban Freeway- 70
Rural Road - <= 15 over speed limit

Quote from: jemacedo9 on May 16, 2018, 08:49:24 AM
In the Rochester area, the SLs are 55 and I tend to do 70.

Yep - you'd definitely have some company at 70 in a 55.

QuoteMost of my travels in rural W NY lately are on I-390 and I-86, and in those 65 areas, if I go 75, I am passing most traffic without cops pulling out.  Though I will say that in the past year, I've noticed traffic speeds picking up a little over what I'm used to.

When with my family, 75 is my preferred traveling speed, too, so I'd have to agree; you're probably doing more passing than being passed on I-390 and I-86. This is in sharp contrast to the thruway, where you're getting passed and passing with equal frequency (if not getting passed more frequently) when cruising at 75.

The stretch of I-390 between Avon and Henrietta has meaty traffic flow. On that stretch, 80 is closer to the average speed, due at least in part to commuters.

10 over the limit, or whatever the flow of traffic is. The PA Turnpike is 70 mph, but I've driven it when traffic flow is up to 90 mph on the I-276 portion. Traffic also seems to frequently flow faster than 65 on the 55 mph urban expressways in PA, even pretty substandard ones like the US 422 West Shore Bypass in Reading.

It's not always a matter of how much over the speed limit for me. Depends on how reasonable the speed limit is. In Idaho's (and Utah, Montana, etc.) 80 zones, I cruise between 80 and 85. But if I go to Oregon where it's 70 on I-84 (or Washington, California, etc), it's generally ~78. Back when I-84 in OR was 65, I was going 75-78. And when Central/Eastern Oregon's US highways were all 55, I was going 65-70 (sometimes pushing it to 72-75). Now that they're mostly 65, I stick with ~73-75.

For urban highways, like I-84 in Idaho, I struggle to keep it below 75 in light traffic (65 zone) because of how well designed and wide it is it is. Though I try to keep it below 75 because I see a lot of enforcement. In Oregon in 55 zones like I-205 in Portland or US-26, I struggle to keep it below 70 (but that's my goal). In Utah's 70 urban zones I was often pushing 80 (with the flow of traffic).

My general formula is 5 over on surface streets, 7 over on freeways/divided highways, with the following special cases:
-70: 75
-75: 77 or 78 (haven't actually encountered a 75 mph speed limit yet, so not 100% decided; 78 would seem to be a more logical progression, though)
-80 or above: 80 (my car only has five gears, so I don't want to push the engine faster)

I've been known to go 80 on the New Jersey Turnpike, since the design standards are so high and there's essentially no speed enforcement.  On the other hand, on my upcoming trip to Florida, I plan to be exactly the limit through DC because of speed cameras as well as Hopewell, VA and Emporia, VA because they're well-known speed traps.  I've also read cases about North Carolina pulling people for only a couple MPH over, especially on I-95 (plus there was that image posted in the memes thread), as well as with Florida (including cases of out of state drivers being pulled over for speeding even when doing the speed limit), so I'm wondering if I should be worried about those states as well.

Come to think of it, how do states with 80 and 85 (i.e. TX Route 130) mph speed limits, how does traffic treat them? Does traffic flow at and/or do cops enforce the exact speed limit, or 5-10 over even then? Going 95 mph on that one road in Texas sounds awesome.

Well, my vote is in the majority:  6-10 mph over.

But my preferred highway cruising speed doesn't really depend on the speed limit.  The speed limit is what limits my preferred highway cruising speed.

Absent speed limits, I would prefer to drive about 85 to 90 mph on the open Interstate.  For two-lane highways with wide shoulders and good sight distance, I would prefer about 75 mph–less than that absent the shoulders and good sight distance.

I voted 6-10 mph over as well with the actual differential being based on the following conditions:

For highways posted at 55 that either were (prior to October 1973) or should be higher; I set the cruise at 67 (such is the exception to the 6-10 mph differential range)

For highways posted at 65; I set the cruise at 73.

For highways posted at 70; I set the cruise at 77-78.

Although I haven't encountered that many of them, for highways posted at 60; I set the cruise at 67.

For lower posted speeds, mainly through urban areas; I'll set the cruise to about 10 over (5-6 over if the highway is curvy).

One reason for my ranges is due to both of my vehicles' sweet spot in terms of optimum fuel economy is typically when the average speed falls between the 68-72 mph range; courtesy of the overdrive transmissions.

Quote from: vdeane on May 16, 2018, 01:06:34 PM
I've been known to go 80 on the New Jersey Turnpike, since the design standards are so high and there's essentially no speed enforcement.  On the other hand, on my upcoming trip to Florida, I plan to be exactly the limit through DC because of speed cameras as well as Hopewell, VA and Emporia, VA because they're well-known speed traps.  I've also read cases about North Carolina pulling people for only a couple MPH over, especially on I-95 (plus there was that image posted in the memes thread), as well as with Florida (including cases of out of state drivers being pulled over for speeding even when doing the speed limit), so I'm wondering if I should be worried about those states as well.

In my general opinion...People worry too much.  And/or some of the stories are exaggerated, or there's other reasons why someone got stopped.  No doubt some stories are true, but I'm sure people aren't going to tell everyone that they passed a cop and didn't get pulled over.  They're more likely to tell the stories of when they got stopped.

I took another road trip last week to Florida.  In 65 and 70 mph zones, between NJ and FL, I generally feel fine travelling at speeds up to 79 mph in:  NJ, DE, MD, VA, NC, SC, GA and FL.

Yes, that's all of them. (I take the beltway around DC; I don't go thru DC)

At night, I may slow it down to 74 mph simply because there's less traffic out there.  In construction zones I'll slow down close to the speed limit, but my experiences tell me that the cops in construction zones with lights flashing are there for visibility and if any incidents arise.  In Maryland, watch for the speed cameras, but they still allow 10 over.

On my way down, my trip was at night between NJ and SC.  I passed the occasional cop in the median at around 74 mph or so; the occasional faster vehicle nearby went by without any action either.  There was one person that pulled in front of me and I was still fairly close to him when we passed a cop - certainly within tailgating range - and the cop didn't bother either of us.  After a short snooze in a rest area, we travelled during the day from SC to FL.  In either SC or GA we did see two cops with cars pulled over, but otherwise at my faster pace no issues from anyone. 

I always say NC is the worst for long distances of seemingly rural 65 mph zones.  But there's seemingly no uptick in police either.

At one point in Florida I was doing about 82 mph and saw a cop in the median before slowing down.  I think luckily his radar gun wasn't pointing down the road, because he didn't go after me. Or maybe 82 was within his allowance.  I can't say for sure, because he didn't stop me...or even look at me from what I could tell.

On my return trip, I was going about 78 mph in Virginia, and noted that traffic in the left lane appeared to be passing me a few mph faster.  In fact, there was a few times I passed a cop in the median with this faster traffic.  At one point, I decided to get in their line just to see how fast they were going, and it was about 81, 82 mph.  That tells me that, unless they all managed to slow down when passing a cop every time (about 4 times or so within the first 30 miles), that the cops weren't interested in speeds in the low 80's, even with the well-known and somewhat signed 'reckless driving' penaltiies.  I did see one person pulled over; obviously I have no idea why and/or how fast that vehicle may have been going.

I've now taken 295 around Richmond a few times, which includes what is believed to be strict enforcement of the speed limit in Hopewell.  Can't say for sure, because at 74 mph, I've never been stopped.  Maybe there were no cops out there.  But again, I haven't been able to duplicate anyone's worries around here in regards to supposedly strict enforcement.

I've done this same, boring road trip for about 6 years now, and my experiences have all been the same.  Keeping it under 80 keeps you out of trouble.

On Virginia freeways, speed limit to 5 above.

On Virginia surface routes, the speed limit.

In other states where I'm able to determine if the police are warrantlessly "wiretapping" my speed, anywhere from 7-15 mph above the limit, depending on terrain, weather and traffic.

Quote from: MNHighwayMan on May 16, 2018, 09:35:54 AM
On highways I've driven many times, I tend to do 6-10 mph more than the speed limit. Sometimes, it's even more than that if I just really want to get to my destination. I-35 in Iowa and Minnesota is a common cause of this, for me.

On highways I've never driven or only driven a few times, it's no more than 5 mph above the speed limit. I like to see the scenery and be on the lookout for interesting, roadgeek-y things.

The only time these rules change is in construction zones, in which case I will do at most the speed limit, out of principle.

Another thing people in my neck of the woods are TERRIBLE at - on US (I) 41, the speed limit is nominally 70 mph, and traffic moves anywhere from 65-82 at free flow depending on who's on the road at any given time, average probably around 72.  When there's a work zone, the limit drops to 55, and people are still probably averaging around 65-68 if they even slow down at all, completely ignoring the fact that A) it's 55, and B) fines double in work zones.

On rural freeways, I tend to go pretty much exactly 4 or 9 miles miles an hour over the limit. Whether this is actually enough to keep the police from pulling me over or it's all in my head, that's pretty much always been what I do. On two lane rural highways in the middle of nowhere, I tend to go about 75. On urban roads, I just try to keep with traffic, whatever that speed ends up being.

Quote from: NoGoodNamesAvailable on May 15, 2018, 11:10:33 PM
I'm in the speed limit camp—set cruise, stay in the right lane. [...] It's the least taxing way to drive on the highway and also gives you the best fuel efficiency.

I've read though that the most fuel-efficient way to drive is to continually build up a bit of speed and then coast (pulse and glide).

Urban freeways:  I will cruise at 70 during the day, 65 at night.  The speed limit is irrelevant.

Rural freeways:  70, unless the speed limit is higher.  However, I've never been in a higher zone.  When speed limits are fair, I have no issue obeying them.

Construction zones:  The speed limit, even if it's only 45.  The potential for debris is quite high, plus there is always the chance a human could be very close to the road.

Any "Speed Limit 55 (or less)" signs on freeways are just begging to be ignored.  In the rare case someone does pay attention to them, they just laugh at them and continue at 70 mph.  Lake Shore Drive's freeway section is painfully underposted, to the point where I won't use the road anymore.  The options are a) go with the flow at about 30 over and risk getting a ticket, or b) go the speed limit and risk getting killed.

Quote from: Super Mateo on May 16, 2018, 08:07:17 PM
Urban freeways:  I will cruise at 70 during the day, 65 at night.  The speed limit is irrelevant.

Rural freeways:  70, unless the speed limit is higher.  However, I've never been in a higher zone.  When speed limits are fair, I have no issue obeying them.

Construction zones:  The speed limit, even if it's only 45.  The potential for debris is quite high, plus there is always the chance a human could be very close to the road.

Any "Speed Limit 55 (or less)" signs on freeways are just begging to be ignored.  In the rare case someone does pay attention to them, they just laugh at them and continue at 70 mph.  Lake Shore Drive's freeway section is painfully underposted, to the point where I won't use the road anymore.  The options are a) go with the flow at about 30 over and risk getting a ticket, or b) go the speed limit and risk getting killed.

I take the mid-range for LSD. Posted I think is 45?? so I do about 55-60 and stick to the middle lanes

Quote from: Super Mateo on May 16, 2018, 08:07:17 PM
Construction zones:  The speed limit, even if it's only 45.  The potential for debris is quite high, plus there is always the chance a human could be very close to the road.

Any "Speed Limit 55 (or less)" signs on freeways are just begging to be ignored.  In the rare case someone does pay attention to them, they just laugh at them and continue at 70 mph.

I must be one of the only ones on here who goes over the speed limit in construction zones–at least some zones.

When people are actually working in a construction zone, I slow down to the speed limit or even slower.  But the more common occurrence for me is that I'm cruising along on a 70-mph or 75-mph Interstate in the middle of nowhere, then there's a five-mile section of head-to-head traffic because one of the roadways is being redone.  The speed limit drops to 55 mph for those five miles, but nobody is working on that side of the highway, and usually not even on the other side.  Most traffic wants to go 60 to 65 mph (or faster) despite the 55 limit, and I agree with them.  There's nothing to actually watch out for, and your only worry is a highway patrol using radar.  (On my last long-distance trip, there was an Iowa trooper at the very beginning of the zone doing just that, too; a few of us had to step on our brakes.....briefly.)

Quote from: kphoger on May 17, 2018, 12:48:11 PM
I must be one of the only ones on here who goes over the speed limit in construction zones–at least some zones.

Nah.  You're just one of the few that admit to it. 

In my observances, nearly 100% of the motorists are going over the speed limit in construction zones.  Sure, there's a few that are doing the limit or under, which is true of any speed zone.  Maybe this is a regional thing, and maybe in other areas people truly are going at or under the limit.  But the overwhelming vast majority are going over the limit.

This also matches up with surveys vs. reality.  In surveys, a lot of people will say they go the speed limit, with many saying they go 1 - 5 over the limit, with most of the remainder saying they go 6 - 10 over the limit.  However, automated equipment along the highways tell a different story.  On most highways, fewer than 5% are going at or under the limit, and nearly 50% of motorists are going at least 10 mph over the limit. 

Maybe they feel the survey is a setup and they'll get a ticket or their insurance rates will go up.  But chances are, they're going faster than they are willing to admit.

Quote from: jeffandnicole on May 17, 2018, 01:09:11 PM
In my observances, nearly 100% of the motorists are going over the speed limit in construction zones.  Sure, there's a few that are doing the limit or under, which is true of any speed zone.  Maybe this is a regional thing, and maybe in other areas people truly are going at or under the limit.  But the overwhelming vast majority are going over the limit.

This is my observation over here as well. WSDOT rarely posts construction zone limits. As a driver, your only indication of a work zone are the "work zone ahead" signs, orange barrels, and equipment/workers doing their thing. Because most drivers are focused on what is going on dead ahead of them, most take no notice, and continue at whatever speed they were doing before the work zone. I usually continue at whatever speed I was doing, to avoid doing anything unusual that might cause drivers behind me to brake, change lanes, etc.

I have personally never seen Washington State Patrol doing any speed enforcement near work zones, and I've never heard of a sting either. Speed cameras aren't used.

Quote from: jeffandnicole on May 17, 2018, 01:09:11 PM

Quote from: kphoger on May 17, 2018, 12:48:11 PM
I must be one of the only ones on here who goes over the speed limit in construction zones—at least some zones.

Nah.  You're just one of the few that admit to it. 

In my observances, nearly 100% of the motorists are going over the speed limit in construction zones.  Sure, there's a few that are doing the limit or under, which is true of any speed zone.  Maybe this is a regional thing, and maybe in other areas people truly are going at or under the limit.  But the overwhelming vast majority are going over the limit.

This also matches up with surveys vs. reality.  In surveys, a lot of people will say they go the speed limit, with many saying they go 1 - 5 over the limit, with most of the remainder saying they go 6 - 10 over the limit.  However, automated equipment along the highways tell a different story.  On most highways, fewer than 5% are going at or under the limit, and nearly 50% of motorists are going at least 10 mph over the limit. 

Maybe they feel the survey is a setup and they'll get a ticket or their insurance rates will go up.  But chances are, they're going faster than they are willing to admit.

I try to go only 5 over in a work zone...but there are many times where if I do, I am well below the flow of traffic and even holding it up, in the right lane...so I will speed up in those cases to not be a hold up.

The only exception to that is...on work zones not separated by concrete barrier where workers are close to the road...then I will slow down to the SL regardless of who is behind me.

Quote from: jeffandnicole on May 17, 2018, 01:09:11 PM
On most highways, fewer than 5% are going at or under the limit, and nearly 50% of motorists are going at least 10 mph over the limit. Maybe they feel the survey is a setup and they'll get a ticket or their insurance rates will go up.  But chances are, they're going faster than they are willing to admit.

I agree, some people are probably going faster than they are willing to admit. However, I doubt nearly 50% are going at least 10 mph over (unless you are just referring to a regional thing).

I referenced a Regional thing in the Chicago area, where the Chicago Tribune studied Average Speeds on the ISTHA Tollways a few years back. Most Miles were, at the time, signed 55 (many still are), and its very clear the average speed is in the low 70s. That is Averaging 15+ over, so that would certainly be most

*EDIT* Sorry, I misrepresented. Average speed is in the high 60s, but still over the 10 MPH number. 70s is the 85th Percentile, which is referenced in the piece as well

http://www.chicagotribune.com/chi-drivers-speeding-on-the-illinois-tollway-map-20140827-htmlstory.html From 2013 ISTHA data, story from 2014 in the Chicago Tribune

Quote from: ilpt4u on May 17, 2018, 04:05:45 PM
I referenced a Regional thing in the Chicago area, where the Chicago Tribune studied Average Speeds on the ISTHA Tollways a few years back. Most Miles were, at the time, signed 55 (many still are), and its very clear the average speed is in the low 70s. That is Averaging 15+ over, so that would certainly be most

*EDIT* Sorry, I misrepresented. Average speed is in the high 60s, but still over the 10 MPH number. 70s is the 85th Percentile, which is referenced in the piece as well

http://www.chicagotribune.com/chi-drivers-speeding-on-the-illinois-tollway-map-20140827-htmlstory.html From 2013 ISTHA data, story from 2014 in the Chicago Tribune

Anecdotal evidence from my own memory matches that chart.  I routinely drove 75 mph on the 55-mph highways in Chicagoland, and that was just slightly faster than the average flow of traffic.  I don't think I ever saw a trooper clocking people a single time on the E-W Tollway, which is the one I most commonly drove.

Lets see, I do what I feel like is right. 6-10 above on average.
Sorry to be detailed:
Oregon:
Undivided mountainous 2 lane highways: 50-60 mph
Other 2 lane highways: 60-65 mph
Super 2: 65-70 mph (55 is ridiculous on OR 18, a 2 lane expressway in certain areas)
Urban freeway: 65-70 mph, 60 downtown Portland
Rural freeway: 75 mph on I-5/I-84 in locations not specified in this section. I-84 between mp 130-218, Baker Valley, mp 364-376 (approximate) 80 mph. Rye Canyon, Siskoyu Pass (never been to Cali but I've been up the pass on a school field trip), and the mountains between Grants Pass and Green: 65-70 mph. Cabbage Hill: 60 mph.
Divided 4 lane: 70 mph non-expressway/freeway, 75 mph freeway/expressway.
Urban non-expressway/freeway: Speed Limit. Exception: Sherwood 99W: 52 mph

Washington:
Undivided mountanious: 50-60 mph
Other 2 lane highways: Speed Limit
Super 2: Speed Limit if it is 65 mph, or 65 otherwise. Sometimes push to 70.
Urban Freeway: 70 mph, downtown Seattle/Tacoma/Spokane 60 mph. I-182 70-75 mph
Rural Freeway: 75 mph on I-5/I-82 north of Yakima/I-90 west of I-90. 80 mph on other portions of I-90/1-82.
Divided 4 lane: 70 mph on WA 8, US 395, all freeways. Seattle expressways 10 over. Other divided: 65 mph.
Urban non-expressway/freeway: Speed Limit. Exception: Wenatchee US 2: 60 mph.

Idaho/Montana:
2 lane highway: Speed Limit
Urban Freeway: 75 mph
Rural Freeway: 82 mph (80 mph on I-90)
Divided 4 lane: 75 mph
Urban non-expressway/freeway: Speed Limit.

Illinois:
2 lane highway: 65 mph
Urban Freeway: 70 mph, 55 mph in downtown Chicago.
Rural Freeway: 82 mph
Divided 4 lane: N/A never been on one in Illinois
Urban non-expressway/freeway: Speed Limit.

Quote from: jeffandnicole on May 17, 2018, 01:09:11 PM

Quote from: kphoger on May 17, 2018, 12:48:11 PM
I must be one of the only ones on here who goes over the speed limit in construction zones—at least some zones.

Nah.  You're just one of the few that admit to it. 

In my observances, nearly 100% of the motorists are going over the speed limit in construction zones.  Sure, there's a few that are doing the limit or under, which is true of any speed zone.  Maybe this is a regional thing, and maybe in other areas people truly are going at or under the limit.  But the overwhelming vast majority are going over the limit.

This also matches up with surveys vs. reality.  In surveys, a lot of people will say they go the speed limit, with many saying they go 1 - 5 over the limit, with most of the remainder saying they go 6 - 10 over the limit.  However, automated equipment along the highways tell a different story.  On most highways, fewer than 5% are going at or under the limit, and nearly 50% of motorists are going at least 10 mph over the limit. 

Maybe they feel the survey is a setup and they'll get a ticket or their insurance rates will go up.  But chances are, they're going faster than they are willing to admit.

It's crazy how much construction zones vary. I'll look at the rural interstate example where they close half the freeway and shift one side of the road to the other side.

In Idaho, they usually drop the speed limit from 80 to 70 when they do this. More than reasonable. In reality, it's hard to speed here since you usually get stuck behind a truck going ~60.

Oregon, it varies. I've never seen above 55, but 45 and 50 I have seen (normal speed limit 70, on I-84 at least). This is on the slow side, and often ignored. I try to stay within 10 on these, but one time I said fuck it and hit 80 in a 45 during a rare passing opportunity.

In Montana, they often lowered it to 35! From 80...wtf? I thought Montana was supposed to be one of the most lenient states for speed limits. Yeah I sort of played along this time (especially since I had to get off and get gas in the middle), but yeah if that lasted long at all (in Oregon and Idaho it wasn't uncommon to have these last ~10 miles; the ones I saw in MT recently were only a couple miles long) I'd probably be going 60 through it unless I saw workers or cops. Especially since the signs seemed to indicate that fines only doubled when workers were present (as opposed to a lot of other states where they double in any work zone, regardless of present workers). I don't even know what most people drive in these, since the highway was basically empty (I-15 between Canada and Great Falls).

To me slowing down for a work zone is more than just workers. Lanes narrow, shoulders disappear, obstacles such as barriers and cones are often placed extremely close to the driving lanes, etc.

Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on May 17, 2018, 08:07:40 PM
To me slowing down for a work zone is more than just workers. Lanes narrow, shoulders disappear, obstacles such as barriers and cones are often placed extremely close to the driving lanes, etc.

Can't remember the statistics, but the vast majority of fatalities in work zones are motorists, not construction workers.

I don't really understand the logic behind work zone speed limits. In some places, the lower limits are only when workers are present. In some places, it's 24/7 in the work zone. Same with double fines. In some cases, it's just when the workers are there and in other cases, it's all the time.

And also, if the speed limit on a 70 mph highway is lowered to 55 in a work zone, why is it necessary to lower the speed limit from 55 to 45 in a work zone?

Quote from: hbelkins
And also, if the speed limit on a 70 mph highway is lowered to 55 in a work zone, why is it necessary to lower the speed limit from 55 to 45 in a work zone?

Probably because the two roads have different design speeds and characteristics, which is why they had different speed limits in the first place. It's not a matter of just "going slow" in general; the principle is you should go slower than you would in normal conditions.

Quote from: Roadsguy on May 16, 2018, 01:27:26 PM
Come to think of it, how do states with 80 and 85 (i.e. TX Route 130) mph speed limits, how does traffic treat them? Does traffic flow at and/or do cops enforce the exact speed limit, or 5-10 over even then? Going 95 mph on that one road in Texas sounds awesome.

In Utah, most rural interstates are 80 mph. I think the average speed is 83 mph, and most traffic stays under 85. There are always a few who go 90-100+, but I think you'd have them regardless of what the limit is. Generally cops won't ticket anything below 85, but that was the same policy that they had used back when the limit was 75.

It turns out that raising the speed limits didn't actually change the average driving speed. In Utah's case, raising it from 75 to 80 changed the average speed from 82 to 83.

As for construction zones in Utah, the work zone limit is typically 10 below the regular limit.

Quote from: doorknob60 on May 17, 2018, 05:37:36 PM
In Montana, they often lowered it to 35! From 80...wtf?

The most insane work zone speed limit I've run across was on Mexican federal highway 15(D), between Tepic and Guadalajara.  This is a four-lane divided toll road, with a normal speed limit of 110 km/h.  When I drove a portion of it back in 2006, they were mostly done with a resurfacing job.  All the actual pavement work had been done, the top layer was silky smooth.  The only thing left to do, as far as I could tell, was to paint the lane stripes.  No equipment by the highway, no workers present, just waiting for the paint truck to come by at some point.  And the speed limit was 20.  Not miles, either, but 20 km/h.  For those of you not familiar with metric, that's a work zone drop from 68 mph to 12 mph.

I did 120 km/h.

I remember when they were widening I-75 between Flint and Saginaw, they worked on one side one summer and the other side the next summer so it was always a two year project for any stretch. They would open a third lane up going northbound from Wednesday to Saturday and then reverse it and have the third lane going southbound the rest of the week, the other direction only had two lanes. The jersey barrier they used for the median was so close to you if you were in the left lane going either direction that it almost seemed like you were going to side swipe the median.

In Michigan the speed limit is generally 70 mph in the southern part of the state and 75 mph in the northern part of the state except for I-69 gets a 75 mph speed limit between Lansing and Swartz Creek then again between Davison and Port Huron, the stretch through Flint is 70 mph. For construction zones it's usually 60 mph or 45 mph if workers are present.

If I'm familiar with the road, I'll make a judgement based on the road and how active law enforcement is in that area.  Some roads are safe at way over the posted limit and others aren't.  I consider shoulders, visibility, possible cross-traffic and animals, as well as curves and grade.

If I am not familiar with the road, I'll limit it to about 5 mph over.

The poll doesn't have my answer: Whatever seems reasonable at the time.

With that said, I generally try to keep it around 65 mph in the DC-area 55-mph zones. I also tend to keep it at 65 in the 60-mph zone I most frequently travel because there are often cops there. I kick it up to 70 in the 65-mph zones and I generally keep it at 70 in the 70-mph zones.

When I travel elsewhere this all may vary–in Florida I'll often do 75 to 80, but I no longer go much faster than that except occasionally when I want to complete a pass and get out of the way. Back in 2005, the first time I ever drive across Alligator Alley I seldom dipped below 100 mph, but those days are long gone for me. That road has more enforcement now, too.

Quote from: kphoger on May 18, 2018, 01:25:32 PM

Quote from: doorknob60 on May 17, 2018, 05:37:36 PM
In Montana, they often lowered it to 35! From 80...wtf?

The most insane work zone speed limit I've run across was on Mexican federal highway 15(D), between Tepic and Guadalajara.  This is a four-lane divided toll road, with a normal speed limit of 110 km/h.  When I drove a portion of it back in 2006, they were mostly done with a resurfacing job.  All the actual pavement work had been done, the top layer was silky smooth.  The only thing left to do, as far as I could tell, was to paint the lane stripes.  No equipment by the highway, no workers present, just waiting for the paint truck to come by at some point.  And the speed limit was 20.  Not miles, either, but 20 km/h.  For those of you not familiar with metric, that's a work zone drop from 68 mph to 12 mph.

I did 120 km/h.

Ha, reminds me of a work zone on Costa Rica Highway 1 in the general area of Cañas. Normal speed limit was somewhere between 80 and 100 km/h (not exactly sure, possibly varied), but the work zone speed limit was 30 km/h. And this was a lengthy work zone, dozens of km long if I'm remembering right. For the most part the conditions didn't require the slow speeds (there were a few exceptions). Everyone was going 80-100 km/h still. Speed limit and red light compliance was very low in Costa Rica, in my experience (though I was not the one driving).

I don't know that it's wise to admit in a public forum that you don't normally obey the law.  :)

I will say that there are three guiding principles I adhere to when driving:

1.  I drive within my and my vehicle's capabilities given the conditions present.

2.  Subject to that constraint, I drive with the objective of minimizing my interactions with other vehicles.  ("Interactions" = passing/being passed by cars in adjacent lanes, or other actions that require me to react to other vehicles or for other drivers to react to me.)

3.  Subject to those two guidelines, my car's fuel efficiency starts to drop considerably somewhere in the 70-75mph range (depends on conditions, of course).  The extra time savings is almost never worth the extra cost.

Quote from: MikeTheActuary on May 19, 2018, 01:27:24 PM
I don't know that it's wise to admit in a public forum that you don't normally obey the law.  :)

No one would be fooling anyone if they said they never exceeded the speed limit. Everyone does it, in public, on the road, so stating it on a roads forum shouldn't be a shocker. Nor should one expect honesty to have any adverse consequences.

Unless you were talking about default rejection of other laws besides the speed limit, which is slightly different territory...

At 50 km/h or below I always respect the speed limit. Otherwise I typically do 10 km/h more than what is signed, if it's safe to do so. I also go 5 km/h slower than signed when passing a speed camera (they're signed beforehand here, often with a speed limit reminder), just to be on the safe side.

As I understand it, it would only be admissable if you said where and when you exceeded the speed limit, not just a general rule.  Besides, we don't use our real names here, right?

Assuming fair weather, a dry road surface, smooth traffic, and easy geometry, my open-road cruising speed depends on the speed limit.  I generally set my cruise control at the limit if it is 70 or less.  If it is 75 and above, I usually set cruise at 72 to 74; I don't especially care for speed limits north of 70 because it is at this point that aerodynamic drag starts to have a serious effect on driving range.  I will speed up well above the speed limit as required to complete overtakes, but I have no real interest in cruising above the limit--I don't want to give any headspace to enforcement tolerances and I don't want watching for cops as part of my task load.

Quote from: MikeTheActuary on May 19, 2018, 01:27:24 PM
3.  Subject to those two guidelines, my car's fuel efficiency starts to drop considerably somewhere in the 70-75mph range (depends on conditions, of course).  The extra time savings is almost never worth the extra cost.

Assuming fuel efficiency goes from 30 to 25 MPG for 55 to 75 increase in speed (pretty drastic estimate), and with fuel $3/gallon, you value your time at $4.125/hour. Good to see insurance companies keep my rates low by paying actuaries below minimum wage...

This answer varies depending on which state/province I am in. For example, in SD where the limit is 80 mph, I basically drove right around the limit. But in Michigan on I-94 where it's 70 mph, I was driving around 75 mph. Nevertheless, I voted for the option which matches my driving in Ontario (10+ mph :)).

For Ontario:
In 2-lane 80 km/h zones, I tend to go between 95-100
In 2-lane 90 km/h zones, I tend to go between 105-110
In freeway 90 km/h zones, I tend to go between 110-120
In freeway 100 km/h zones, I tend to go between 120-130

I dream of the day when Ontario bumps up our 400-series speed limits to 120 or 130, but it doesn't seem to be happening anytime soon. :-|

Quote from: MikeTheActuary on May 19, 2018, 01:27:24 PM
I don't know that it's wise to admit in a public forum that you don't normally obey the law.  :)

Because I'm sure there's state troopers from all 50 states that browse this forum looking for those dastardly lawbreakers, never mind the admissibility of a forum post as evidence of a crime as significant as going a bit too fast...

It depends on what highway I'm on.

Quote from: MNHighwayMan on May 20, 2018, 12:03:22 AM

Quote from: MikeTheActuary on May 19, 2018, 01:27:24 PM
I don't know that it's wise to admit in a public forum that you don't normally obey the law.  :)

Because I'm sure there's state troopers from all 50 states that browse this forum looking for those dastardly lawbreakers, never mind the admissibility of a forum post as evidence of a crime as significant as going a bit too fast...

Never say never. If anyone ends up in a very high profile accident - something with big consequences, like multiple casualties and large property damage; I am thinking along the lines of fuel tanker fire on a bridge that SF had - forum and social media posts may very well come up during investigation. 
Chances are really slim, but this is not an impossible scenario.

You can do 80 mph on just about any stretch of Interstate highway in the state of Michigan and be fine. I have never been pulled over for 80 mph anywhere in the state. I travel around Michigan pretty good on a regular basis and drive on every 2-di in the state just about every week and have never been bothered for doing 80 mph. I guess 1 cop out of maybe 1,000 might pull you over for doing 80 a state cop that I know told me that they won't bother you at 80. I do 80 mph on the 55 mph stretch of I-75 and I-94 in Detroit all the time and don't get bothered. I-94 needs to be widened from Port Huron to New Buffalo but I'll save that for another topic.

Quote from: Flint1979 on May 20, 2018, 12:19:30 AM
You can do 80 mph on just about any stretch of Interstate highway in the state of Michigan and be fine. I have never been pulled over for 80 mph anywhere in the state. I travel around Michigan pretty good on a regular basis and drive on every 2-di in the state just about every week and have never been bothered for doing 80 mph. I guess 1 cop out of maybe 1,000 might pull you over for doing 80 a state cop that I know told me that they won't bother you at 80.

I guess I found that 1 out of 1,000 cop. A few years ago I was riding with family friends through the Novi portion of I-96. Cruising down the road, we were doing 80 mph and were probably around the 75th percentile for speed during that particular time. I was looking out the window and accidentally made eye contact with a police officer a lane or two over. A minute later, we were pulled over and told that we were going 80 mph in a 70 mph zone. The driver said that she was just keeping pace with traffic. In response, the officer said he was making an example out of us for all the other traffic doing 80 mph on this stretch. In the end, no ticket was given. I still feel like I'm at fault because of that unfortunate eye contact.  :-/

Quote from: adwerkema on May 20, 2018, 03:09:21 PM

Quote from: Flint1979 on May 20, 2018, 12:19:30 AM
You can do 80 mph on just about any stretch of Interstate highway in the state of Michigan and be fine. I have never been pulled over for 80 mph anywhere in the state. I travel around Michigan pretty good on a regular basis and drive on every 2-di in the state just about every week and have never been bothered for doing 80 mph. I guess 1 cop out of maybe 1,000 might pull you over for doing 80 a state cop that I know told me that they won't bother you at 80.

I guess I found that 1 out of 1,000 cop. A few years ago I was riding with family friends through the Novi portion of I-96. Cruising down the road, we were doing 80 mph and were probably around the 75th percentile for speed during that particular time. I was looking out the window and accidentally made eye contact with a police officer a lane or two over. A minute later, we were pulled over and told that we were going 80 mph in a 70 mph zone. The driver said that she was just keeping pace with traffic. In response, the officer said he was making an example out of us for all the other traffic doing 80 mph on this stretch. In the end, no ticket was given. I still feel like I'm at fault because of that unfortunate eye contact.  :-/

It's rare I guess but I've passed many state cops and never got pulled over for doing 80. I have for doing 83 up by Houghton Lake on NB I-75 I was in the left lane approaching exit 227 (M-55 going towards Houghton Lake) and had my cruise set for 78 mph, I punched it to overtake the right lane to get up to the exit and noticed two state boys sitting in the median around the curve just before the exit and I thought shit I think they got me and I came around the exit and saw the state boy coming behind me, he pulls me over and told me he had me doing 83 in a 70 and I was still doing 69 mph around the exit ramp. I didn't get a ticket.

Another time I was on the Southfield Freeway in Dearborn and was doing a 70 in a 55 zone and a Dearborn cop pulled me over, I didn't get a ticket that time either. They also told me that I looked like someone they were looking for around Tireman and Miller (that seven point intersection on the Detroit-Dearborn border) but I hadn't been anywhere around there I was coming northbound and was coming off Michigan Avenue I had just left Fairlane.

On freeways it's generally "whatever speed everyone else is driving". In metro Atlanta that's usually in the vicinity of 75 mph, whether the speed limit is 55 or 70. Over a decade of driving here tells me that won't cause any problems. On rural freeways with little traffic, I generally default to about 7 mph over the limit; on surface roads usually 5 over.

I always do 3 mph below the speed limit, no matter what the posted speed is.

Quote from: mjb2002 on May 20, 2018, 09:54:10 PM
I always do 3 mph below the speed limit, no matter what the posted speed is.

I have no objections to that, provided you will move to the shoulder to let others by on rural two-lane highways  :-P

Quote from: webny99 on May 21, 2018, 09:28:41 AM

Quote from: mjb2002 on May 20, 2018, 09:54:10 PM
I always do 3 mph below the speed limit, no matter what the posted speed is.

I have no objections to that, provided you will move to the shoulder to let others by on rural two-lane highways  :-P

Quote from: NYS V&T law
S 1131. Driving on shoulders and slopes. Except for bicycles and those classes of vehicles required to travel on shoulders or slopes, no motor vehicle shall be driven over, across, along, or within any shoulder or slope of any state controlled-access highway except at a location specifically authorized and posted by the department of transportation. The foregoing limitation shall not prevent motor vehicles from using shoulders or slopes when directed by police officers or flagpersons, nor does it prevent motor vehicles from stopping, standing, or parking on shoulders or slopes where such stopping, standing, or parking is lawful.

So either you're a police officer, or you just added another piece to "insist on KREP = unsafe driver" statistics.

Quote from: kalvado on May 21, 2018, 10:15:55 AM

Quote from: webny99 on May 21, 2018, 09:28:41 AM

Quote from: mjb2002 on May 20, 2018, 09:54:10 PM
I always do 3 mph below the speed limit, no matter what the posted speed is.

I have no objections to that, provided you will move to the shoulder to let others by on rural two-lane highways  :-P

Quote from: NYS V&T law
S 1131. Driving on shoulders and slopes. Except for bicycles and those classes of vehicles required to travel on shoulders or slopes, no motor vehicle shall be driven over, across, along, or within any shoulder or slope of any state controlled-access highway except at a location specifically authorized and posted by the department of transportation. The foregoing limitation shall not prevent motor vehicles from using shoulders or slopes when directed by police officers or flagpersons, nor does it prevent motor vehicles from stopping, standing, or parking on shoulders or slopes where such stopping, standing, or parking is lawful.

So either you're a police officer, or you just added another piece to "insist on KREP = unsafe driver" statistics.

If the slower person moves to the shoulder and stops, it's legal.  If the slower person moves to the shoulder and continues driving, it's not.

Quote from: kalvado on May 21, 2018, 10:15:55 AM

Quote from: webny99 on May 21, 2018, 09:28:41 AM

Quote from: mjb2002 on May 20, 2018, 09:54:10 PM
I always do 3 mph below the speed limit, no matter what the posted speed is.

I have no objections to that, provided you will move to the shoulder to let others by on rural two-lane highways  :-P

Quote from: NYS V&T law
S 1131. Driving on shoulders and slopes. Except for bicycles and those classes of vehicles required to travel on shoulders or slopes, no motor vehicle shall be driven over, across, along, or within any shoulder or slope of any state controlled-access highway except at a location specifically authorized and posted by the department of transportation. The foregoing limitation shall not prevent motor vehicles from using shoulders or slopes when directed by police officers or flagpersons, nor does it prevent motor vehicles from stopping, standing, or parking on shoulders or slopes where such stopping, standing, or parking is lawful.

So either you're a police officer, or you just added another piece to "insist on KREP = unsafe driver" statistics.

Common courtesy on Mexican two-lane highways.  After driving in Mexico awhile, where slower traffic does indeed move over onto the shoulder, you'll really wish people in the US did it as well.

---

In point of fact, it is specifically legal to do this in Texas, per statute.

Quote from: Transportation Code, Title 7, Subtitle C, Chapter 545, Subchapter A, Section 058
(a) An operator may drive on an improved shoulder to the right of the main traveled portion of a roadway if that operation is necessary and may be done safely, but only:

(1) to stop, stand, or park;

(2) to accelerate before entering the main traveled lane of traffic;

(3) to decelerate before making a right turn;

(4) to pass another vehicle that is slowing or stopped on the main traveled portion of the highway, disabled, or preparing to make a left turn;

(5) to allow another vehicle traveling faster to pass;

(6) as permitted or required by an official traffic-control device;  or

(7) to avoid a collision.

Quote from: kphoger on May 21, 2018, 02:07:02 PM
Common courtesy on Mexican two-lane highways.  After driving in Mexico awhile, where slower traffic does indeed move over onto the shoulder, you'll really wish people in the US did it as well.

In some countries, such as South Africa, it's common for both directions to move onto the shoulder to allow faster traffic to pass on the center line (assuming the shoulder isn't wide enough for a whole vehicle). Seems smart, but South Africa also has a lot more road deaths per capita than the US, so maybe it's not as great as I think.

Quote from: jakeroot on May 21, 2018, 03:08:01 PM

Quote from: kphoger on May 21, 2018, 02:07:02 PM
Common courtesy on Mexican two-lane highways.  After driving in Mexico awhile, where slower traffic does indeed move over onto the shoulder, you'll really wish people in the US did it as well.

In some countries, such as South Africa, it's common for both directions to move onto the shoulder to allow faster traffic to pass on the center line (assuming the shoulder isn't wide enough for a whole vehicle). Seems smart, but South Africa also has a lot more road deaths per capita than the US, so maybe it's not as great as I think.

That's what they do in Mexico too.

And Texas, actually.  Although they're less likely in Texas to pass down the center line compared to Mexico, it certainly happens quite a lot, and I've personally done it a few times.  I think the main difference is that oncoming traffic is a LOT more likely to ride the shoulder too in Mexico than in Texas.  The last time I drove through Texas (this past March), I witnessed slower traffic riding the shoulder–or had faster traffic willing to pass me while I rode the shoulder–probably a dozen times just between Sonora and Abilene.

Quote from: kphoger on May 21, 2018, 02:07:02 PM
Common courtesy on Mexican two-lane highways.  After driving in Mexico awhile, where slower traffic does indeed move over onto the shoulder, you'll really wish people in the US did it as well.

---

In point of fact, it is specifically legal to do this in Texas, per statute.

In NYS we're specifically told that passing vehicle stopped in driving lane for left turn by moving over to shoulder is explicitly illegal. Best case scenario is two cars trying to make a turn a block apart in opposite directions... You shall not pass!

Quote from: jakeroot on May 21, 2018, 03:08:01 PM
In some countries, such as South Africa, it's common for both directions to move onto the shoulder to allow faster traffic to pass on the center line (assuming the shoulder isn't wide enough for a whole vehicle). Seems smart, but South Africa also has a lot more road deaths per capita than the US, so maybe it's not as great as I think.

We used to have lots of two lane roads with wide shoulders which encouraged such passing behavior, but due to the accident rate most have been converted to 2+1 roads (alternating passing lanes) and fatalities have dropped accordingly.