Speeding

[agentsteel53]

My car does not have cruise control. Which is just as well, I wouldn't use it if I had it. I'm not comfortable taking my foot off the pedals and giving up that control. Besides, my style of driving is never anything resembling constant speed, so it wouldn't work for me if I was.

it's one less thing to worry about.  since I drive a different car every week, I don't get the thousands of miles of experience in which I can figure out what speed I'm going just by the sound and feel. 

my style of driving often involves having cruise control on for as long as an entire tank of gas.

[1995hoo]

I forgot to mention that I am a stickler for obeying the speed limit in school zones, especially near elementary schools since little kids often don't have a sense of traffic safety habits and are so unpredictable.

In my neighborhood I try to keep it to 30 mph (limit is 25) and I get tailgated daily. A lot of my neighbors think it's OK to go 35 to 45 in our neighborhood. I don't care....tailgate me and I'll nail it right on 25.

[agentsteel53]

I forgot to mention that I am a stickler for obeying the speed limit in school zones, especially near elementary schools since little kids often don't have a sense of traffic safety habits and are so unpredictable.

I do my best to stay the Hell out of school zones during school hours for that precise reason.  Well, that and the glut of traffic.  If I am going sign-hunting, I will do so when children are not present.  (Luckily, most municipalities have added the "when children present" banner to their school-zone speed limit signs.  No use in enforcing an artificially low speed limit at 1.30am.

I always shake my head at the wisdom of building a school on a sufficiently busy arterial that the regular speed limit is 70, and the school speed limit is 55.

(only in Texas...)

[1995hoo]

Our school zones in Virginia have signs with two yellow lights such that the reduced speed limit applies only when the lights are flashing (normally only at the beginning and end of the school day–if you drive past a school at midday or at night the lights won't be flashing). I like this system because it's easy, because you don't have to read small print on signs telling you of the school hours, and because it makes it easy for the signs to be adjusted for different schools' hours. When I was growing up, the elementary schools were in session from 9:10 to 3:35 (except Mondays when they closed at 1:35), the junior highs were from 8:10 to 2:35, and the high schools were from 7:30 to 1:50. So a uniform approach to school zone hours wouldn't have worked. The "25 when flashing" is a pretty good system.

I think the high schools could do with more relaxed rules, but I understand why they don't distinguish when they post the school zone speed limits.

[Crazy Volvo Guy]

Fastest I've ever done was 135 in a 65 (yes, that's 70 over) about 6 years ago in my Volvo 940 turbo wagon on an undisclosed freeway in Massachusetts.  This was at approx. 1AM, so there was very little traffic.  Trying to leave some guy in a then-newer Maxima who was in the next lane and for whatever inexplicable reason wanted to ride with his bumper lined up with the middle of my rear quarter panel.  This is something I absolutely CANNOT STAND - either pass me or get behind me, but DON'T keep riding next to me.  Gently speeding up and slowing down resulted in him adjusting his speed likewise to match mine and stay planted right there.  I was doing 75 and made a burst to 95 to try to lose him.  I put some good distance on him, but it pissed him off to the point of getting behind me, throwing his brights on and riding right up on my bumper.  That's when I said fuck it and planted it on the floor.

I was still pulling pretty good by 135, backing off only because I was on Q-rated (93mph) snow tires at the time.  The mods done to that car proved effective as I left the Maxima in the dust.  He eventually caught back up, though, once I let off and resumed my cruising speed of 75.  Since I had a CB in the car, I hopped on 19 and let the truckers I was coming up on know that I had a road raging freak behind me, gave 'em my 20 and ID'd my car and asked 'em if they could kindly impede his progress.  They agreed to oblige - not surprising since truckers HATE douchey "four wheeler" drivers -  I made another brief high-speed burst (~100) past them and watched as one of the truckers pulled out in the left lane immediately behind me, blocking Maxima Douche.  Mission accomplished

[agentsteel53]

for whatever inexplicable reason wanted to ride with his bumper lined up with the middle of my rear quarter panel.

gotta love shadowing behavior.

I had this happen to me once with a Nissan 350Z (what is it with Nissan drivers?).  then, when I moved over a lane, he fell behind.  So far behind that I had lost track of his headlights, as it was night.  And did I mention it was rainy?

next thing you know ... I'm still doing about 64-67 in a 65 (no cruise control; it remains rainy!) - and then I see a blur in my mirrors.  The Nissan must be doing at least 120, and he wants to pass me.  He is one lane to the right of me - I am in the #2 lane on a four-lane freeway.  He merges to the #2 lane ... then the #1 lane ...

then the #0 lane - the paved median!  and then the #-1 lane rejects him!  Sparks fly as he bounces off the median barrier.  He doesn't even tap the brake lights; I just see him recede into the distance in front of me, completely oblivious to the damage to his vehicle, as he continues doing 120-130mph in the rain.

[agentsteel53]

in other news, I took a Hyundai Elantra up to 122 today.

[formulanone]

As a warning, Florida cops do tend to ticket drivers for 1-5 over the limit in school zones. Being that they range from 15mph to 25mph depending on the area, it is usually a good idea to go roughly 1-2 under for safe measure. Judges are typically not sympathetic on that front, even though you rarely see kids cross the road anymore (usually it's what I call impatient parent zones).

[yanksfan6129]

Fastest speed of my young driving career was 95 on NY 17 somewhere between Middletown and Monticello, NY. I assume I'll get faster one day--most of my driving happens during the day in heavily populated areas.

I'm not sure what my fastest sped by is, but it may be 90 in a 55 on I-280 westbound coming home from the city when I worked in Manhattan last summer. I would get out of the 50 mph Newark section like a cannon. Even in rush hour, the three left lanes on 280 westbound right after the road widens from 2 to 5 lanes all at once (because of a big left entrance) are usually fairly empty since not that much traffic gets on at that entrance. So I'd pull over to the left and just go go go because by that time I was tired and just wanted to get home. I know I hit at least 80 while doing that, maybe I hit 90 by the time the speed limit went back up to 65 as I got further west.

[Sykotyk]

In school zones, I _always_ slow to at least below the posted speed. Most places I've seen "when flashing" or "when children present". There's many that list times when it is in effect, but I've yet to see one that was an all-day limit.

And, the first time I saw a 55mph school zone in Texas, I couldn't believe they felt the need to even post it. Honestly, I don't see any kids getting out of the way of a car going 55mph.

[Duke87]

So, I got my Focus up to 105 on the Northway (I-87) on Friday. It definitely had a little more in it, but I ran out of straightaway. This being in a 65, so 40 over.

That's not the most over I've gone, though, seeing as I've achieved 90 in a 45. This was while passing two cars in one shot which, I believe, is also technically not legal.

On that note, I did manage to pass three cars in one shot on US7 in Vermont. Surprising what you can do when the yokels are doing 50 in a 50 and you're doing 80 in a 50 on a nice, long straightaway when there is no one coming the other way.

[corco]

This was while passing two cars in one shot which, I believe, is also technically not legal.

That's illegal? It can be a dick move, but I didn't know it was illegal

[1995hoo]

This was while passing two cars in one shot which, I believe, is also technically not legal.

That's illegal? It can be a dick move, but I didn't know it was illegal

I recall learning that when you're passing on a two-lane road it is illegal, at least in Virginia, to pass more than one vehicle at a time–legally you have to pass one, move back onto your side of the road, then pass another. Practically speaking I've never heard of this law being enforced. It doesn't apply on a road where there is more than one lane on each side because in that circumstance you don't have the safety concern of driving in the lane used by oncoming traffic.

Thing about laws like that is that they may vary from state to state, which is hardly unusual for traffic laws (consider, for example, that in North Carolina it is illegal to make a left on red from a one-way street into another one-way street).

[Scott5114]

It may be impossible to achieve such a maneuver anyway if the first car you're passing isn't giving the car ahead adequate space so that you can merge back into the proper lane.

[1995hoo]

It may be impossible to achieve such a maneuver anyway if the first car you're passing isn't giving the car ahead adequate space so that you can merge back into the proper lane.

Or if he's an asshole who speeds up when you go to pass him.

[J N Winkler]

I recall learning that when you're passing on a two-lane road it is illegal, at least in Virginia, to pass more than one vehicle at a time–legally you have to pass one, move back onto your side of the road, then pass another. Practically speaking I've never heard of this law being enforced. It doesn't apply on a road where there is more than one lane on each side because in that circumstance you don't have the safety concern of driving in the lane used by oncoming traffic.

I do occasionally pass multiple vehicles at one time, especially when they are travelling in a platoon and tailgating each other.  I think the real purpose of the Virginia law is to give the police a little more leverage over reckless drivers who get into the passing lane and just keep going regardless of the oncoming traffic.

[formulanone]

^ I can see why they would want the law, but as long as you're not a total menace, there's little point in enforcing it. That said, I passed more than one vehicle last week on a two-lane road for the first time in years...Florida's roads can be quite straight at times, and sometimes her terrain is quite flat, too (see SR 31). Also, if the road isn't too narrow, it's doable, but it's kind of like passing in an intersection.

I'be also heard that slower traffic cannot hold up more than 5 cars on a two-lane road in some states (Washington springs to mind), or must move onto the shoulder. I wish there was such a law in the Sunshine State.

[roadfro]

^ The same kind of situations come up in Nevada quite often. There's been a couple times where I've passed a couple cars at once on a two-lane highway. Those were situations where I could tell the vehicles were traveling together, and it was one of those places in the middle of Nevada where the road is straight and wide open for like 20 miles at a time.

It does not appear that Nevada has a law requiring passing one car at a time. However, Nevada made the "cannot hold up 5 or more vehicles" rule into law in 2001--the 2009 MUTCD's turnout series of signs are almost the exact specification NDOT has used since 2001 in areas where turnouts are provided.

[Truvelo]

Unfortunately our roads are unlike those in the middle of Nevada or anywhere else in North America that uses the grid system.

Last week I was up in Scotland and the place was full of foreign RV's but at least they had the decency to keep a good distance apart to allow passing traffic to pull in if required although in the case of the picture below there was a sufficient gap in oncoming traffic to pass two before the bend.

[Duke87]

This was while passing two cars in one shot which, I believe, is also technically not legal.

That's illegal? It can be a dick move, but I didn't know it was illegal

I'm pretty sure it's illegal in Connecticut. Probably because in the conditions that exist here it normally shouldn't be possible without doing something reckless, like going 90 in a 45. If I had attempted it and only gotten up to, say, 65 (still 20 over!), I would have stayed in the oncoming lane too long and creamed head-on into the next guy coming the other way.
I can see where it would and should be legal in states where you have passing zones with light enough oncoming traffic and far enough visibility to reasonably permit it, but Connecticut is not like that.

[KEK Inc.]

I've gone 97 MPH (156 km/h) on I-280 SB in Los Altos Hills.  

I cruised at 83 MPH (134 km/h) in a 55 (90) passing a cop going the other way on US-101 in Southern Oregon.  The cop did turn around at the next turnout, and I slowed down to the speed limit.  Fortunately, he passed me and joined an entourage of other cops around a white van with illegal substances.  I lucked out.    

[mightyace]

It does not appear that Nevada has a law requiring passing one car at a time. However, Nevada made the "cannot hold up 5 or more vehicles" rule into law in 2001--the 2009 MUTCD's turnout series of signs are almost the exact specification NDOT has used since 2001 in areas where turnouts are provided.

So, this can set up a situation where you're breaking the law no matter what you do.  i.e. You're doing the speed limit but have 10 cars behind you.  So, you're nailed for holding up traffic.  Or, you speed up and get nailed for speeding.

NO FAIR!!!!!!!!

Hopefully, in such a case, you can get to a turnout before the cops nab you.

_______________________________________________

Such, a rule wouldn't work on rural TN roads as many of them have no shoulders.  (even in areas where there's plenty of room for them)

[vdeane]

Or you could pull over and let them go.

Practically speaking I've never heard of this law being enforced.

I have.  Ironically it was a laywer who was teaching law at at a college that got the ticket.

I'be also heard that slower traffic cannot hold up more than 5 cars on a two-lane road in some states (Washington springs to mind), or must move onto the shoulder. I wish there was such a law in the Sunshine State.

I really wish NY had this.  I've been in long lines of cars often on US 11 and work zones on NY 17.

[mightyace]

Or you could pull over and let them go.

What if there's no place to pull over?  That's what I'm saying about TN rural roads.

My main point is that, IMO, it is not RIGHT to put someone in a position where they are breaking the law no matter what they do.  If you are doing the speed limit on a two lane road, you should NEVER get a ticket no matter how many cars are behind you!  Why should I have to pull over if 10 people behind me want to break the law?  Isn't that aiding and abetting a crime?

Now, if you are going below the limit, that's another story.

[agentsteel53]

I've passed as many as 11 in one burst.

this weekend I passed 6 18-wheelers in a convoy in one fell swoop.   I must've had about 10 miles of visibility on a straight section of US-93 in Nevada.

also: got pulled over for 58 in a 55 in Oregon.  After a thorough search of my car, which culminated in a very long explanation of how US-99 has not been signed since 1969, and my attempt to sell the offending 99 marker to the cops for 200 bucks (they declined) ... I was let go with a verbal warning.

wtf?