BS: How fast do you drive ?

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 10 Jun 07 - 04:22 AM

My pet peeves - people who say they're alright to drive after a couple of pints of beer. I'd rather go sober and drive home than rely on that twisted thinking. It was that twisted thinking that killed my brother in 1974. Driver was over the limit but got off with a fine - didn't lose his licence because he was a taxi driver and pleaded he'd lose his income. He didn't fare so well the second time he killed someone with his car.

And the other peeve - people who insist on pulling into the 3-4 second gap I leave between me and the vehicle in front. It's there for a reason, and the reason is NOT so some inconsiderate bastard can pull into it!

Llanfair - I too, slow down for tailgaters if safe to do so - a gentle millisecond tap on the brakes to show the lights is usually enough... if there is space in the inside lane I'll cross back in, but only at my speed and when I feel safe to do so, not because some speeding git in a willy-mobile or a 4X4 Intimidator thinks I should.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 10 Jun 07 - 04:19 AM

AFAIK the only section of UK motorway where there is deer danger is a bit of the M25 near Oxshott - and I don't think I've EVER seen that bit of the M25 rolling faster than 50.

The physics of friction are not that complex. Between two surfaces there is a thing called "the coefficient of friction". It is the ratio between the normal (vertical) force and the lateral force required to cause the two surfaces to slide. It is (largely) a constant.

So the heavier a vehicle, to more force required to cause it to slide (or to lock up the wheels in braking. Ergo, a truck with brakes in good order should stop as well as a car with the brakes in good order.

Swerve brings in issues of stability. Some high vehicles will roll before they slide, but they have to be pretty high to achieve it. Or badly designed like the Mercedes A class.   Certainly my Series 1b Isuzu Trouper (2.6i, early body shape) would slide before rolling.

There are many circumstances in which 100mph involves no real risk to anyone, and it should not be illegal. There are others (last time I came back from Nottingham) when the visibility and road conditions are poor. It was pissing down. Lil old petrolhead me was doing about 50. Everyone and their dog was charging past at about 70 or so. Unsafe - but in accordance with the speed limit.

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: Llanfair
Date: 10 Jun 07 - 03:48 AM

Were you both OK, Carol? I've got a forester, too, and, when I was hit head on by a motorcyclist. I had more injuries from the airbag than the actual collision!! It wrote the car off, but I got another because they are so versatile.
I am most comfortable driving at 50mph ish. I live in the Welsh countryside and our major roads are 2 lane and twisty. I always leave a good gap between me and the vehicle in front, even tractors, and I hate tailgaters so much that I wait for a totally impassible bit of road, and slow right down.
I pay my road tax, and have just the same rights as the speed merchants.
The motorcyclist was on my side of the road, by the way.

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 09 Jun 07 - 11:22 PM

Good Lord, Carol! That deer sure smashed in your car. There is always danger of hitting deer on the country roads around here, but it's not as bad as in upstate New York. There are incredible numbers of them out at night around there.

I've had a couple of fairly close encounters with them in Ontario, but not as close as the time in Pennsylvania. That deer missed my windshield by just inches. He jumped right over the hood of the car, and I was in a '75 Honda Civic, going about 55 mph. It would not have been good at all if I had hit him.

As for moose, hitting them will usually kill you. They're just too darn big.

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: Rapparee
Date: 09 Jun 07 - 11:04 PM

I do not think that I am an expert driver, but I do think that I am a competent driver. But what scares me isn't my driving, but the driving of others -- I can control my own driving.

Today I went to the store, about a mile and half away. Driving to and from the store (straight on and turn left into the parking lot) I saw the following:

1. A car make a left hand turn from the right hand lane -- across three lanes of traffic and a center "chicken lane" -- while the driver lit a cigarette.

2. A driver weave in and out of two lanes of traffic and the "chicken lane" while talking on a cell phone.

3. A driver, who was obviously going well over the speed limit, whip around a motorcycle...the motorcycle cop turned on his red & blues...and my heart was gladdened, forsooth!

Tomorrow morning I think I'll go out and shoot some targets. It's a lot safer at the shooting range than on the roads!

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 09 Jun 07 - 10:49 PM

Yes, I think so Kendall -- and now that I am thoroughly chastened I vow to learn to use it. In my defence I never speed in town, only on the highway and I am NEVER the fastest on the road, but that doesn't excuse it --- I accept the criticism and will try and slow down.......

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: kendall
Date: 09 Jun 07 - 07:55 PM

You can thank God it wasn't a Moose.

Trubrit, does that lovely car have a cruise control?

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: CarolC
Date: 09 Jun 07 - 07:32 PM

We were incredibly lucky, and I know it.


it was a nice car

I really did love that car. And it had great crumple zones ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: Mickey191
Date: 09 Jun 07 - 07:27 PM

Carol, Glad you both were spared--it was a nice car. Following shows how lucky you were:

A State Trooper told me of an accident involving a 19 year old girl who was beheaded by a kicking deer as he went flying through her windshield.

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: CarolC
Date: 09 Jun 07 - 07:06 PM

Speaking of deer, here's a couple of pictures of our car after we hit a deer going about 50 - 55 mph. The deer's body stopped just short of where JtS and I were sitting in the driver's and front passenger's seats. Fortunaly, the only injury was a scrape on JtS' knuckle.

Just try to imagine what this car would have looked like (and JtS and me as well) if we had been going 80 - 90 (or more) mph.

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/1104475892034261223SZrNyG

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/1104480833034261223GKfEYd

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 09 Jun 07 - 06:19 PM

I think that is a fair comment -- I try really hard to keep an eye on my speed -- I think the being able to move around freely has a lot to do with it........I will take your words to heart.

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: Mickey191
Date: 09 Jun 07 - 06:17 PM

Having just read your "Iraq" post I'm at a loss to explain a grown woman doing 80 or 90 MPH because you have a lovely & powerful car. After having a death, no matter how tangential, touch your life one might assume you'd be more responsible.

How many might die or become crippled because you are unable to stop if a deer came out. Or if you hydroplaned. GROW UP!

The cop did the public and you no favor by letting you off.

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 09 Jun 07 - 05:39 PM

I drive too fast. I know I do.....I have a lovely powerful car and I am out and about all the time in my job--on the highways I have found myself doing 90 which is just too fast but you don't 'feel' it in my car. I try not to go over 80 now ever and make a point not to be the fastest on the road......I don't want a speeding ticket. I think it is partly to do with getting my license later in life (late 20s) and the sheer absolute pleasure it gives me having a vehicle and going where I want to go without being beholden to anyone.

Having said that I have never had a speeding ticket. I was stopped once and it was a comedy of errors. I was driving my husband's car, didn't know where the registration was, my insurance card was expired and the car needed an inspection. I thought I would be fined about $5M -- the cop told me to be more careful next time and did not give me a ticket (and no, I do not look like Paris Hilton so that wasn't the reason...........I think he realized how totally embarrassed and mortified I was by the incident and felt I probably would be a hell of a lot more careful in future).

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: CarolC
Date: 09 Jun 07 - 05:30 PM

Crossposted with Kendall.

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: CarolC
Date: 09 Jun 07 - 05:29 PM

Kendall's right overall, though, because the speed a car is capable of going isn't the reason speed limits are set where they are. On most highways/motorways, there are drivers with a broad range of capabilities, many of whom are incredibly dangerous if they try to drive as fast as the faster drivers would like to go. On roads like the Autobahn, it is understood that you shouldn't be there if you can't handle the absence of a speed limit. But most highways/motorways are not like that (nor should they be, since everyone's tax money pays for the roads - those that are not toll roads, anyway).

You share the road with a lot of people, may of whom simply cannot drive at very high speeds safely, either because of their own abilities, or because they don't have the newest and best cars. And there are people who are experiencing varying amounts of fatigue as well as the people who are driving and shouldn't be. They're there, whether you think they should be or not, and you driving fast increases your chances of getting entangled with them in a very unpleasant way. The speed limit takes all of this into consideration. Speed limits are not irrationally low when all of these things are factored in. As I said before, in my opinion, they are too high.

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: kendall
Date: 09 Jun 07 - 05:24 PM

I have. In fact it was just inspected at a truck dealership.
It stands to reason that 18000 pounds requires a lot more effort than 2000 pounds.
Look, the only thing brakes can do is to stop the wheels from turning, and that applies to ALL vehicles.

How many of those big top heavy Urban assault vehicles do you see tits up in the ditch because the drivers have been lulled into a false sense of safety about their roadworthiness? Sure they will go when regular cars wont, but they don't stop a damn bit quicker, and their center of gravity is much higher making them more dangerous, not less.

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 09 Jun 07 - 05:14 PM

Check your physics, Kendall, and if your motorhome won't stop as well as a car, check the brakes.

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: kendall
Date: 09 Jun 07 - 04:04 PM

It doesn't matter how fast your car is able to go, nor does it matter how good your brakes are. There are certain laws of physics that nothing can overcome. At 60 mph, you are going 88 feet per second, and it is going to require nearly 300 feet to come to a dead stop whether you are in an old Fiat or a new Volvo.
Furthermore, the tires that come on a new car are barely adequate to handle today's (legal) highway speeds.

Then, there's the matter of mechanical failure; on two ocassions, I have had a serious failure. Once the drag link fell off making it impossible to steer. Another time, a tie rod end let go causing the same problem.It was just luck that I was moving very slowly both times.
A friend of mine bought a brand new Buick, drove it 90 mph, came home and the steering linkage fell off in the driveway.

I sometimes drive a 33 foot motor home that weighs 18000 pounds. It will not stop as quickly as a car, so I never drive it faster than 60 mph.Tractor trailers go by me just like they think they can ignore the laws of physics, and I know they are pulling a lot more weight than I.
Then there are those idiots who pull right out in front of me like I wasn't there!

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: Mickey191
Date: 09 Jun 07 - 03:16 PM

Pet Peeves: The idiots who pull out of side streets while your doing 55--these jerks are counting on your brakes to be in great shape. Suppose they're not?

The jerks who are going 50 and then slow down to 5mph then turn on the turn signal when they're into the turn.

YIKES!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 09 Jun 07 - 01:49 PM

I hav e only evr been caught speeding and that was at 37mph on a country road. I had driven through a village below 30mph but as I left on what an open straight road out of the same village there was a flash from within the hedgerow and I was caught on camera. I was given the chioce of 3 points and a fine or pay £50 and attend a speed seminar. This involved being locked in a room with other offenders and subjected to an emotive stream of videos, photos and testimonials from people who had tragically lost friends and family in speed related accidents. The seminar option was only given to anyone within 10mph over the limit and yet all the reports related to drivers doing speeds of up to 120mph or 60mph near a school etc. At the end we were asked had we got a different view of speed now and I had to say 'no' as although I was legally over the speed limit I was still driving responsibly. When I am in a built up area where children are around I rarely go over 20mph but we have noticed reduced speed limits are stretching further and further out of villages and country roads are now often 50mph or 40 mph where they used to be 60mph. In general I keep farely close to the limit. As Geoff is now training to be a driving instructor he has become more aware of his speed and keeps just below the limit wherever we go which seems to upset quite a lot of other drivers!

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: jacqui.c
Date: 09 Jun 07 - 12:20 PM

I try to stick to the posted limits in town, in particular the 15mph in school zones. It's surprising the number of people, including school bus drivers, who seem to ignore that limit.

I must admit to having a bit of a lead foot on the open road but am trying to keep it down to 10mph over the posted limit. I do try to keep a good distance between me and the car in front but agree that it isn't easy as the gap just seems to attract other drivers. I also try to signal in plenty of time, and before I apply the brakes to make a turn. That's a matter of common sense and my safety.

The problem with increasing the speed limits, IMO, is that there are a number of drivers who would see that as an invitation to drive even faster. Having driven a few times at 100mph on a very clear part of the A1 I do think that is really too fast. Not all drivers have sufficient control of their vehicles to make for safe driving at that speed and accidents at that speed are going to be a lot worse than is the case now.

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 09 Jun 07 - 12:10 PM

130 MPH

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: RangerSteve
Date: 09 Jun 07 - 12:02 PM

Now that I'm retired, I drive at the speed limit, or maybe 5 miles over. I have nowhere to go, and if I do, I have enough time to leave early. I live in a Yuppie infested area, and even at 60mph, they pass me by as if I was standing still.

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: Mickey191
Date: 09 Jun 07 - 11:33 AM

My driving habits are to stay within the speed limits, not to hog the passing lane, NEVER tailgate and stay 5 or 6 car lengths behind the nearest car. Where I live there are quite a few hairpin turns on dirt roads. I always beep as I approach those turns-a few times I've gotten a thumbs up from the opposing driver. Which I construe as "your beep made me pull over." Think I've avoided a few fender benders that way. Never gotten a ticket or had an accident.

GMAC driving test site: www.gmacinsurance.com/SafeDriving

They state that Oregon has the best drivers-the worst is Rhode Island. (Although this wks. newspaper said NY has the worst)

20 million - 1/10th of U.S. drivers would fail a MV test. One in five drivers does not know that pedestrians have the right of way--even if the walker is jay walking. DUH??

And a huge percentage will drive if "they feel okay" after having drinks.

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: Bill D
Date: 09 Jun 07 - 10:42 AM

http://www.car-accidents.com/

The faster you go, the shorter time you have to react IF something goes wrong....and the more 'interesting' the results.

Just because you are, or consider yourself to be, a competent driver, it does not follow that everyone else out there is also.

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: saulgoldie
Date: 09 Jun 07 - 10:04 AM

On the highway I stay within a range of the speed limit and the "pack" speed. I do try to stay closer to the speed limit, because technically you can get a ticket for going 1 over. Furthermore, there is often some safety reason for a particular limit. However, if everyone is passing me, I usually bump it up so that I am not holding back traffic, because that is its own safety hazard.

I feel I should remind everyone here, though, that as we go above 55mph (or about 85kph) our fuel consumption increases as the square of the increase in speed. This is physics 101. IOW, you get significantly less mileage driving at 80mph than you do at 55. Also, your chances of stopping to avoid something, or surviving if you fail to avoid it are substantially better if you are driving slower. A car is, indeed, more dangerous than a gun. But given our recent attention to the oil supply, prices, and global warming, we should keep that in mind.

(Having said all that, I will probably test my new Miata--when the seller finally straightens out the title mishigas--to about 80 or 85 if I feel I can avoid a ticket or an accident.)

Saul

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: CarolC
Date: 09 Jun 07 - 10:01 AM

It's also quite dangerous to drive above the speed limit, because you might happen upon a car that is driving (legally) below the speed limit. And if you hit that car while speeding, you are the one who will be judged to be at fault. So it is you who have the responsibility to moderate your speed, not the person who is driving legally between the minimum and maximum allowed speeds.

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 09 Jun 07 - 09:58 AM

Everyone has a right to go below the speed limit as long as they are going above the speed minimum.

True. But, in practice, it's quite dangerous to drive the posted minimum speed on interstate highways unless you're in a highly visible vehicle like a large truck or RV and have emergency flashers on. A passenger car or light truck going 45 MPH on a highway with a 70 MPH speed limit is a rear-end collision waiting to happen. I've been in situations where mechanical problems or heavy loads have made driving at or near the speed limit impossible, and I've rerouted to secondary highways. If I can't drive within 10 MPH of the speed limit on a "superhighway", I'll find a not-so-super-highway where being a slowpoke isn't a problem.

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: CarolC
Date: 09 Jun 07 - 09:52 AM

Most speed limits are irrationally low.

Personally, I tend to find them a bit too high overall. But I have a right to go below the speed limit, and nobody (other than emergency personnel) has a right to go above the speed limit.

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: frogprince
Date: 09 Jun 07 - 09:44 AM

Our nice, bland, old fogeymobile Camry feels just the same at 90 as at 60. I'm glad it has cruise control, as my foot does get too heavy too easily. I usually have it set at 5mph over, and leave the right lane only to pass aging turtles.

Last summer we drove the furthest we have in Canada, from Maine to Nova Scotia and across Canada back to Michigan. We saw signs everywhere emphasizing how seriously we should take the speed limits. Then we stayed overnight in Toronto, and the hotel supplied a newspaper. There was a long scathing editiorial attacking people who
don't drive well over the posted limited, with a little extra dose of vitriol for anyone who would dare drive a kph under.

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 09 Jun 07 - 09:36 AM

Most speed limits are irrationally low. 70 in today's world on motorways is plain stupid. When it came in (just after AC tested their Le Mans car at over 180 on the M1 near Birmingham, empty motorway, 3 am, result, outcry from handicapped) most cars could barely do much better, and there were plenty of Minis etc about that could barely manage at 70.

Nowadays about half new cars will double it, or nearly so. A 15 year old Volvo T5 WILL double it! Handling and braking have all improved beyond measure. I could live with 90 but 100 would be a more sensible motorway limit.

The A228 near me has a 40 limit on it. It has a bad accident record, but exceeding 40 is not the cause. 60 would be a sensible limit (there are virtually no houses on it) and it would alleviate the kamikaze overtakers.

As for Volvos, don't you know how easy it is to tune the "redblock" from the 740s and 940s? try www.brickboard.com.

There is a maniac in Sweden who has allegedly got over 800 bhp out of a redblock (track only). Quite a few roadgoing redblocks are up about 350bhp. My 16 valver is nowhere near that (yet), and indeed I don't really plan to go much over 250 to 300 bhp, not even when I win the pools.

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: Sorcha
Date: 09 Jun 07 - 09:34 AM

Liz, I love 'willy-mobile'! Must remember that one!

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: kendall
Date: 09 Jun 07 - 09:14 AM

Exactly

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: CarolC
Date: 09 Jun 07 - 08:55 AM

The term is speed limit. Everyone has a right to go below the speed limit as long as they are going above the speed minimum. You (figurative you) do not have a right go above the speed limit. You do not have a right to expect others to go above the speed limit. When you go above the speed limit, you are breaking the law.

A five mph (eight or ten if you're using kph?) cushion is reasonable because nobody can stay exactly at the speed limit at all times. Speed limits are there for a reason.

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: kendall
Date: 09 Jun 07 - 08:04 AM

I couldn't help but notice when I first went to the UK the lack of Police cars on the highways. The law seems to depend on cameras! That would make more sense if there were no warning signs!
In my part of the world, the cops have unmarked cars of many different makes and colors so if you are speeding, you never know who is behind you.

One woman from NJ was getting a ticket for sppeding on the Maine Turnpike, and she said to the cop, "Don't you people ever give warnings."? He replied "Yes, we do," Pointing to the speed limit sign, he went on, "There's one now."

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 09 Jun 07 - 07:43 AM

On the highway, I try to maintain a speed where I'm passing about 50% of the cars and the other 50% are passing me. However, 10 MPH above the posted speed limit is as fast as I'll cruise, even if the rest of the drivers on the road seem to have been bitten by the dreaded Gofaster Bug.

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 09 Jun 07 - 04:44 AM

With the traffic on motorways and large open roads - so average 5-15 above the posted limit. Sticking exactly to the limit is only going to get you rammed, flashed and cut up these days. The flashing I don't mind so much but it can distract me from putting on my makeup and dialing my coffee machine.

I must admit to being a lead-foot Lizzie when I'm out and about with the right sort of music and a sunny day.

In built up areas though, I do my best to stick to the speed limit. Especially when some boy racer screams up behind me at twice the limit. I take great delight in sticking to limits just before speed cameras so that irritating gits overtake me and get photographed speeding. One thing I really detest is the way the majority of drivers hurtle along at any speed they want and then slam on the brakes as they see a speed camera loom into view. That style of driving is even more dangerous than speeding in the first place. I've lost count of the times I've had some git in a willy-mobile cut in front of me and slam his brakes on because he didn't see the speed camera from half a mile away like I did.

On the other hand... I have actually been stopped twice now and asked why I was driving so slowly. Once was at 11pm, when pubs still closed then, and I had a new baby in the car and the other was because I was lost and trying to read road signs.

We now have the sort of car that young people associate with the older driver - until I take 'em out at the traffic lights! As Kathy Bates says in 'Fried Green Tomatoes' - "let's face it girls, I'm older'n you and have better insurance!"

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: Bonecruncher
Date: 08 Jun 07 - 11:30 PM

In UK the advice in the Highway Code is to maintain maximum speed according to speed limits and road conditions. I.e. if the national speed limit is 60 then that should be your speed comensurate with road conditions, which obviously includes weather and lesser speed limits.
Unfortunately this, and many of the subtleties of driving (line of drive, with centrifugal and cenripetal forces were mentioned earlier) are rarely taught in the UK because they are not testable in the driving examination. It seems that instructors only teach subjects that will be tested.
Considering that medical practitioners must undergo compulsory Continuing Professional Development (CPM) to ensure that they are safe to practise on the public, should we not have similar for drivers, considering that they are handling a lethal weapon?

Colyn.

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: Rog Peek
Date: 08 Jun 07 - 01:21 PM

I got a speeding ticket in 1969 driving a TR2 through Southall in London. Fine £7.00, and licence endorsed. Not had one since, hope I'm not tempting fate!

Around the same time, a friend of mine got a ticket for doing 40mph in a 30 limit. When the ticket had been issued, he couldn't start his car, so the police officers kindly pushed him to 'bump sart' the car and off he went. A few miles up the road, the same police officers pulled him in for doing 50mph in a 40 limit. Issued him with another ticket and pushed him on his way again. Bizarre! I never forgot it, and I suspect he hasn't either. The other bizarre aspect of it was that he was fined £10.00 for the first offence and £7.00 for the second. You'd have thought it would be round the other way.

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 08 Jun 07 - 01:09 PM

"Only a fool breaks the two-second rule!"

Takes about two seconds to say. Whatever speed you're doing, note the vehicle infront of you pass a fixed mark. If you don't have time to say the above before reaching the fixed mark then you are too close.
Obviously the faster you're going, the further you'll travel in those two seconds, so the greater gap you should be leaving. The two seconds however remains constant!

CHEERS
Nigel

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: JennyO
Date: 08 Jun 07 - 12:06 PM

Aah Richard, but you don't sound like the average Volvo driver, so I'll forgive you. You're not by any chance thinking of getting (shudder) a Toyota Camry, are you?

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 08 Jun 07 - 11:27 AM

I am not going to push my luck by telling you. But my Volvo is quite quick. Ihave now got a "snooper" and try really hard to stick to limits. Sigh. But we sinners are easily tempted. However, I am a stickler for a braking gap and will usually seek to frustrate idiots who overtake on the inside.

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: Midchuck
Date: 08 Jun 07 - 10:31 AM

5 to 10 mph above the limit, for the most part. Since I got my new Impreza, I seem to attract more attention from cops, so I'm trying to be a little more conservative.

If I am being tailgated (on a two-lane - on a four lane I just keep to the right lane), I immediately start sticking strictly to the speed limit, just to annoy the tailgater as much as he's annoying me.

I do think that people on interstates (motorways to you people who missed the boat in the 1600s) who use the middle or the fast lane when the slow lane isn't in use, and they aren't going particularly fast, should be killed, slowly and exquisitely. The highways could handle twice as much traffic as they do without overcrowding if people would just sort themselves out rationally by speed.

Peter

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: Peace
Date: 08 Jun 07 - 10:10 AM

Usually at the speed limit when safe to do so. On occasion much faster. Depends on the necessity.

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: JennyO
Date: 08 Jun 07 - 09:40 AM

Around these parts, the slow car in front was often a Volvo. The last few years I've noticed that it's nearly always a Toyota Camry. Dunno why.

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 08 Jun 07 - 09:34 AM

I didn't learn to drive until I was about 40. About 6 months after I passed my test I was driving on motorways. One day I was driving from Manchester to Leeds on the M62. I got to the Saddleworth Moor area and soon realised that I was going downhill and the speedo had crept up to 90 without me realising it (lack of experience). At that point a BMW, in the right-hand lane, shot past me like a rocket! He must have been doing at least 120. At that point a white van abruptly pulled out in front of him without indicating. How the BMW stopped I'll never know - but a hell of a lot of smoke came off his tyres! I have a feeling that that many people who drive that fast don't have those sort of reactions - and are probably not concentrating hard enough anyway.

Having said that it's the 'deadly creepers' who annoy me - people who drive 10 miles an hour below the speed limit - and often much slower. They seem to think that a motorway is indistinguishable from any other type of road and you can drive on it at any speed you like. My main problem with them is that they tend to block-up junctions - making it harder to enter on to, or to exit from, the motorway than it ought to be.

Oh yes, and why do they always seem to drive Fiats? 'The car in front, impeding my progress, is a Fiat!'

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: Becca72
Date: 08 Jun 07 - 09:15 AM

Good point, Wesley. I wear my seat belt each and every time I get in the car.

Thanks for the mirror advise, Rapaire. I'll have to try that!

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: Wesley S
Date: 08 Jun 07 - 09:13 AM

Speaking od a "safety zone" - the method I use is to spot a stationary object like a telephone pole or traffic sign. Then when the the car ahead of you passes that object you take a slow count to three. There should be three seconds between you and the car ahead of you. Otherwise you don't have time to brake safely if they make a panic stop.

And can I assume everyone wears a safety belt?

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: Rapparee
Date: 08 Jun 07 - 09:10 AM

The Interstate speed limit out here is 75 mph and I usually set the cruise control for 80 or 82. Of course, it's lower on other roads, and I've driven on the River Road in Grand Teton National Park where you, well, let's just say that it's a great drive but unless you have fairly high clearance, four wheel drive (and that's mandatory!), and know how to drive in mud, sand, and walnut-sized gravel up to your hubcaps you shouldn't even think about trying it.

I had some training years back from a pursuit driver for the Ohio State Patrol, even learned on one of the OSP's driving tracks. I also learned off-road driving in the Army ("Keep the *$#!!@!! thing moving, you @#*$%!!"!! Don't stop, don't stop!"), so I'm actually pretty comfortable driving.

I also have my outside mirrors set in that new way that lessens your blind spot. Here's how. It's takes a little bit to get used to it, but it's really excellent. Try it.

Subject: RE: BS: How fast do you drive ?
From: Becca72
Date: 08 Jun 07 - 08:53 AM

I tend to do 5-10 over the limit depending on the conditions. On the highway I will admit I'm usually traveling between 75 and 80...but I use the passing lane only for passing and move my arse back to the right when I'm by someone. I signal way before I actually make the turn or change lanes, I look over my shoulder every time I change lanes and (my latest pet peeve) I never ever ever try to make a righthand turn from the lefthand lane. These jackasses who cut off a line of traffic because they didn't move over soon enough make me crazy.

I have been driving for almost 20 years and have never had a speeding ticket.