Oklahoma

[kphoger]

I think I-44 has traffic levels too high to qualify for 80 mph.

Really the speed limit should be 100. I've been on this road enough times to know the speed limit and how fast people drive on this road it's a very fast high speed road.

South of Lawton, I might worry about going airborne at those speeds, what with the annoying undulating roadbed.

[Bobby5280]

South of Lawton, I might worry about going airborne at those speeds, what with the annoying undulating roadbed.

Yeah, that concrete road bed isn't so great. But it looks like there is some hope. According to the ACCESS Oklahoma web site they're supposed to start re-building the segment of I-44 from Exit 30 down to Exit 20 starting in Summer of 2026. That's from the OK-36 interchange South of Lawton down to the Walters Exit with OK-5/US-277/US-281.

Between the Walters Exit and Randlett (US-70) they rehabilitated a couple or so miles of I-44 not too long ago. But it looks like some bumpy segments will remain.

I don't really like driving any faster than 75mph anyway. The gas mileage in my truck starts getting crappy going any faster than that.

[kphoger]

I haven't actually driven it since ... umm ... 2022, maybe?

[Rothman]

I don't really like driving any faster than 75mph anyway. The gas mileage in my truck starts getting crappy going any faster than that.

I start to get worried about gas mileage above 80 mph and the high speed limits in Texas on my recent trip certainly had my brain doing calculus on when that line is when gas station stops eliminate any time savings when speeding...

[kphoger]

I start to get worried about gas mileage above 80 mph and the high speed limits in Texas on my recent trip certainly had my brain doing calculus on when that line is when gas station stops eliminate any time savings when speeding...

There's no such line for me.  Because I plan my gas station stops ahead of time, I hardly ever drop down to near empty anyway.

[Rothman]

I start to get worried about gas mileage above 80 mph and the high speed limits in Texas on my recent trip certainly had my brain doing calculus on when that line is when gas station stops eliminate any time savings when speeding...

There's no such line for me.  Because I plan my gas station stops ahead of time, I hardly ever drop down to near empty anyway.

Sure there is.  It's a matter of time rather than gas consumption.  How fast is too fast because it triggers more gas stops, even if you plan them out ahead of time?

[kphoger]

I start to get worried about gas mileage above 80 mph and the high speed limits in Texas on my recent trip certainly had my brain doing calculus on when that line is when gas station stops eliminate any time savings when speeding...

There's no such line for me.  Because I plan my gas station stops ahead of time, I hardly ever drop down to near empty anyway.

Sure there is.  It's a matter of time rather than gas consumption.  How fast is too fast because it triggers more gas stops, even if you plan them out ahead of time?

No there isn't.  I don't plan my gas stops based on gas mileage.  I aim for approximately 120–150 miles per driving stretch, with a gas fill-up every other pit stop.  So a 700-mile road trip is going to have four pit stops along the way, no matter what my gas mileage is, and two of those stops will include filling up with gas.

[Rothman]

I start to get worried about gas mileage above 80 mph and the high speed limits in Texas on my recent trip certainly had my brain doing calculus on when that line is when gas station stops eliminate any time savings when speeding...

There's no such line for me.  Because I plan my gas station stops ahead of time, I hardly ever drop down to near empty anyway.

Sure there is.  It's a matter of time rather than gas consumption.  How fast is too fast because it triggers more gas stops, even if you plan them out ahead of time?

No there isn't.  I don't plan my gas stops based on gas mileage.  I aim for approximately 120–150 miles per driving stretch, with a gas fill-up every other pit stop.  So a 700-mile road trip is going to have four pit stops along the way, no matter what my gas mileage is, and two of those stops will include filling up with gas.

Well, your inattention to time spent driving doesn't mean the threshold isn't there for you.  It just means you've chosen to ignore it by not accounting for it.

[kphoger]

Well, your inattention to time spent driving doesn't mean the threshold isn't there for you.  It just means you've chosen to ignore it by not accounting for it.

Nope.  There is no threshold at which "gas station stops eliminate any time savings when speeding" for me.  For you, perhaps, but not for me.  In my case, speeding always saves time.

[Plutonic Panda]

I drive extremely fast so my fuel stops are pretty frequently and I don't mind paying for more fuel and honestly that is good for the economy. It adds up to more tax.

[Rothman]

I drive extremely fast so my fuel stops are pretty frequently and I don't mind paying for more fuel and honestly that is good for the economy. It adds up to more tax.

But then...you might be losing time savings by the increased gas stops.

[Rothman]

Well, your inattention to time spent driving doesn't mean the threshold isn't there for you.  It just means you've chosen to ignore it by not accounting for it.

Nope.  There is no threshold at which "gas station stops eliminate any time savings when speeding" for me.  For you, perhaps, but not for me.  In my case, speeding always saves time.

Pfft.  But you could be saving more time by stopping for gas fewer times...

[Plutonic Panda]

I drive extremely fast so my fuel stops are pretty frequently and I don't mind paying for more fuel and honestly that is good for the economy. It adds up to more tax.

But then...you might be losing time savings by the increased gas stops.

I don't think so. I haven't timed it but even if that's the case I mean so what are we making an argument for decrease speeds?

[Rothman]

I drive extremely fast so my fuel stops are pretty frequently and I don't mind paying for more fuel and honestly that is good for the economy. It adds up to more tax.

But then...you might be losing time savings by the increased gas stops.

I don't think so. I haven't timed it but even if that's the case I mean so what are we making an argument for decrease speeds?

If it means spending less time traveling, yes.

[Plutonic Panda]

I drive extremely fast so my fuel stops are pretty frequently and I don't mind paying for more fuel and honestly that is good for the economy. It adds up to more tax.

But then...you might be losing time savings by the increased gas stops.

I don't think so. I haven't timed it but even if that's the case I mean so what are we making an argument for decrease speeds?

If it means spending less time traveling, yes.

No, sir, that does not particularly mean less time traveling how do you know that?

[kphoger]

Pfft.  But you could be saving more time by stopping for gas fewer times...

You don't have very good reading comprehension, do you?  As I said, I plan pit stops approximately every 120 to 150 miles.  At no point did I say that that's because of the vehicle's fuel consumption.  In fact, it's because 2–2½ hours of driving is the point at which my wife and I tend to get road weary and need a break.  (It's also about as long as I want to try pushing a young child between potty breaks, but our kids are well past that point now.)

Heck, if anything, driving faster would allow us to go more miles without needing a break, which could potentially eliminate one pit stop from a long road trip.

[kphoger]

But then...you might be losing time savings by the increased gas stops.

At a certain point, though, you run greater risk of wasting time being pulled over by the cops.

When I used to work in dispatch, and a guy was running late getting to work in the morning, I'd always tell him:  "Don't go too fast.  Remember, it takes even longer to get a speeding ticket."

[Plutonic Panda]

And this is anecdotal, but I do believe that driving faster also keeps you more attentive. I mean think about it when you drive faster you pay more attention to the road.

[Rothman]

But then...you might be losing time savings by the increased gas stops.

At a certain point, though, you run greater risk of wasting time being pulled over by the cops.

When I used to work in dispatch, and a guy was running late getting to work in the morning, I'd always tell him:  "Don't go too fast.  Remember, it takes even longer to get a speeding ticket."

I can count my tickets on one hand and number of times pulled over on two.  Given a driving period of over 30 years, the frequency is much, much less than the frequency of gas stops.

[Rothman]

Pfft.  But you could be saving more time by stopping for gas fewer times...

You don't have very good reading comprehension, do you?  As I said, I plan pit stops approximately every 120 to 150 miles.  At no point did I say that that's because of the vehicle's fuel consumption.  In fact, it's because 2–2½ hours of driving is the point at which my wife and I tend to get road weary and need a break.  (It's also about as long as I want to try pushing a young child between potty breaks, but our kids are well past that point now.)

Heck, if anything, driving faster would allow us to go more miles without needing a break, which could potentially eliminate one pit stop from a long road trip.

And your analytical skills need some improvement.  You made it halfway down the logic path with that last statement.

[ElishaGOtis]

Drag = 0.5 * surface area * air density * drag coefficient * velocity ^ 2

This is also why environmental speed limits existed in some areas, including the principle of the NMSL (which was not environmental in nature). Above a gasoline vehicle's optimum cruising speed (usually 40-50mph), the v^2 factor significantly kicks in and drops the MPG accordingly. That and the amount of work required to create enough kinetic energy to overcome rolling friction, which also is a factor of v^2 (KE=0.5mv^2).

Of course, this all assumes people actually listen to said reduced limits. In practice this rarely occurs... Slower SPEEDS do reduce gas consumption and pollution, but slower LIMITS do not without intense, preferably automated, enforcement (which rightfully isn't exactly the most popular).

[bugo]

I would rather drive at a faster speed and have to make more frequent stops than driving at a slower speed and not stopping as often. I hate driving at low speeds, and my stress level is lower at 80 than trying to do 55 down a rural Interstate. It's relaxing to put some good music on, set the cruise to 80 and drive down a straight, well-built freeway with low traffic volumes.

[Plutonic Panda]

Yes, I would actually and you know that statement has become less and less true with each passing year with better technology.

[CoreySamson]

I drove most of OK 10 today. Quite a variety of scenery, including Osage grasslands, flat farmland, pine forests, several lake and dam crossings, and even a canyon of sorts. Also pretty remote and relatively untraveled, which adds to its appeal.

[Great Lakes Roads]

I-44 south of Lawton is finally getting some much-needed attention from the OTA!

Awarded from the November 20, 2025 letting-

HEB-MC-65E - Pavement Rehabilitation (DBR/Diamond Grind) (MP 5.73 to MP 20.09) and SH-36 Ramps
Interstate Improvement, Inc.
$11,491,376.05
GEN 
H.E. Bailey Turnpike 
Capital Plan