Drivers -- how fast are you willing to risk?

[kaytieeldr]

way to make assumptions. . .how delightfully ironic of you.

Here's the thing, people that don't use cruise, either because they opt not, or don't have the option in their car, are still doing the exact same things that distract drivers while their mind should be on the road. They are talking to their passengers or on their phone, or possibly texting, fiddling with the radio, drinking or eating, and doing any number of multi-tasking things that distract them from putting 100% of thier mental capacities on the job at hand, which is controlling the 2000+ pound pile of steel that is hurtling down the highway. At least people with cruise control set have one less thing to worry about.

Now, I'm sure that you will respond by denying that you do anything other than keep your hands at 10 and 2, and devote 100% of your mind to driving the car. Congratulations, you're the 1 person in the WORLD that does this. However, for the other 300+ million people in the United States and the several billion in the rest of the world, NOBODY else does that, if you say they do, they are lying.

The next time you see someone driving down the road with their speed varying anywhere within a 15 mile per hour range while they are talking on their phone and you call them a lunatic as you put as much distance between them and yourself, think for a moment, if they had cruise control, at least one of the multiple things they are doing dangerously could be easily alleviated.

Advance alert/preemptive strike (based on mattdragon's reason for editing: the quoted post, obviously directed at me, contains absolutely to me

You're right. For a variety of reasons, I am that one driver. Except that I'm not; there are more of me than you seem to think. We're in the care to drive, to get from one place to another. We don't eschew technology, we don't go silent into that good night, we don't suffer from hunger or thirst.

We don't fluctuate in a fifteen mph range because we're distracted by some piece of technology or food spill...but we can concentrate on driving defensively and safely around those who do because we're, well, concentrating on driving. We don't have to remember it's not safe to use cruise control on a slippery road or in a heavy rain. We don't multi-task - not because we can't, but because as indicated, we're responsible for over a ton of machinery, and the people in and around it.

 

[EMHDad]

when i use it, 6-10over

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I typically set the cruise 2-3 MPH over unless I'm out West where the limit is 75 or more. My wife won't use cruise & her speed fluctuates DRASTICALLY, as does our fuel mileage and the way our stomachs feel when she drives I try to do as much of the driving as possible

 

[YellowXterra]

5 or 10 over driving

5 to 10 under when towing the camper.

 

[torinsmom]

Regarding bolded part, I think you mistake me with someone else.

From same site you quoted,

In some areas, such as the U.S. states of Colorado and Kentucky, vehicles in the left lane are required to yield to faster traffic only if the speed limit is above 65 miles per hour. And still in other areas like Alaska, North Carolina, and Ohio, there is no law requiring slower traffic to move over for faster traffic

Also, not on every highway left lane is passing one. I drive every day and there is a spot cops hide every single day. And they do pull cars from left lane.

You are absolutely right! I did confuse you with another poster. Thanks for being so kind about it. I'm sorry I wasn't more careful

 

[larryz]

Now, I'm sure that you will respond by denying that you do anything other than keep your hands at 10 and 2, and devote 100% of your mind to driving the car.

Actually, and I was surprised to learn this, they're now teaching new drivers to hold the wheel at 8 and 4. An advantage of having to pay for DS's driver training...

Why?

Think steering-column-mounted airbag going off in your face with your hands up high versus your hands down low.

Apparently, it causes less damage to your elbows and forearms if your hands are down low.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Thanks Marshel!! It's quite clear that the faster you go, the more gas you waste--

Unfortunately, driving at a speed that will give best gas mileage will get you run right off the road--

 

[Day-Day]

By driving faster, I can save two hours off of my trip for just a few extra dollars in gas; that is a bargain (x the number of people in the car). People spend hundreds of dollars a day to stay in a monorail resort just so they can save a few minutes of travel time...

Also, by driving faster, the trip time is reduced which means I'm burning less fuel...

 

[chartle]

Actually, and I was surprised to learn this, they're now teaching new drivers to hold the wheel at 8 and 4. An advantage of having to pay for DS's driver training...

Why?

Think steering-column-mounted airbag going off in your face with your hands up high versus your hands down low.

Apparently, it causes less damage to your elbows and forearms if your hands are down low.

Also watch where you put your thumbs. Mythbusters did a story on it.

http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/m...tation/airbag-detonation-blow-thumbs-off.html

Though I thought I remember the thumbs being blown off.

 

[perdidochas]

Another thread got me started thinking about this...

So I wonder how close to the speed limit YOU feel you can go without compromising safety and/or your wallet... After all, you want to get to WDW alive, and with enough money to buy those Mickey Ice Cream Bars!!!

If I don't hit your speed range in the poll, please feel free to spell it out in the posts (but be sure the statute of limitations has run out, or that you're not personally identifiable)...

Assume, also, for the purposes of this exercise, that you're just a couple of hours from WDW and you're trying to make it to your 1 PM ADR at HBD.

Going more than 5 mph under the speed limit on the interstate, IMHO, is dangerous. If you choose to foolishly drive way under the speed limit on an interstate, please stay in the right lane. I try to go from the speed limit to about 9 over. Depends on what is more important. If gas mileage is more important, I drive 72 on the interstate (70 mph limit). I get almost the mileage I do at 55, but noticeably faster. If time is more important, I drive about 78 on the interstate. Hits me in the wallet, but time is money. I stay under 10 over, as urban legend has it, most police officers give you 10 over the speed limit.

 

[perdidochas]

I refuse to drive dangerously fast no matter what lane I'm in- in RI the speed limit is 55 in most areas. In the fast lane the fastest I go is 70 mph. Never had a speeding ticket. If the lead foot behind me doesnt like it, they can pass me out. But, I'll be laughing like crazy when I see them get pulled over..

Then please think about the safety of traffic as a whole. Going slow in the left hand lane is dangerous. In Europe, you can get ticketed for that, as it can be a major problem.

 

[perdidochas]

No, I won't stay out of the left lane. Sorry. I can see someone who is doing way under the speed limit in those lanes being a bad thing, but if I am doing the speed limit or slightly above there is nothing wrong with that. After all, you aren't going to pay my speeding ticket if I get one.

Please have consideration for others- your life or anyone else's shouldnt be in danger because you want to drive dangerously.

You are the one who is driving dangerously. Slower traffic should stay right. You should only be in the left hand lane when you are passing somebody. If you're not passing, stay in the right hand lane.

 

[KellyNY]

You are absolutely right! I did confuse you with another poster. Thanks for being so kind about it. I'm sorry I wasn't more careful

No problem, mistakes happen.

 

[perdidochas]

Why, if I already well above limit but still in no ticket zone, why should I move. I will not. And I will not move faster. I do not move slow, I am already almost 10 miles over limit, so if they want to fly, they can go around me.

General safe driving rule, if you're not passing somebody, get out of the left lane. The left lane is for passing.

 

[perdidochas]

What do you mean to pass? Fast lane does not equal 15-20 miles above limit.

Passing means changing lanes to get around slower vehicles. If you are not in the process of getting around slower vehicles, you should not be in the left lane. In other words, if the right lane is clear, you shouldn't be in the left lane.

 

[perdidochas]

Wrong, not on all highways left lane is for passing only, not at all states you have to move.

If you're trying to drive safely, your best bet is not to stay in the left lane, regardless of whether you have a "right" to be in the left lane. Being a stubborn slow driver in the left hand lane, causing the stubborn fast drivers to want to pass you in the right does nothing to aid traffic safety. I've seen more near misses following a slow driver in the left lane, due to the people passing on the right than almost any other driving situation on the interstate. Please be courteous and stay out of the left lane unless actively passing another vehicle. It's safer for ALL of us on the roads.

 

[perdidochas]

Many times the right-hand lane is much rougher than the left-hand. In this case I will cruise in the left lane and move over when approached from the rear.

I agree. I often do that as well. The key is that you (and I) move to the right when faster traffic comes from the rear. My pet peeve is when the faster traffic goes to the right lane before I do.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

If you're trying to drive safely, your best bet is not to stay in the left lane, regardless of whether you have a "right" to be in the left lane. Being a stubborn slow driver in the left hand lane, causing the stubborn fast drivers to want to pass you in the right does nothing to aid traffic safety. I've seen more near misses following a slow driver in the left lane, due to the people passing on the right than almost any other driving situation on the interstate. Please be courteous and stay out of the left lane unless actively passing another vehicle. It's safer for ALL of us on the roads.

Yup. In Missouri it is by law considered "road rage" to camp in the left lane refusing to allow faster traffic to pass & if convicted is a pretty steep fine (although the tailgaters are typically more likely to actually be charged).

I do agree that if you're going at or slightly above the speed limit and are making good progress passing slower traffic (not pacing them at the same speed or a fraction of a MPH faster), you have no obligation to pull over for someone who's wanting to go 90 MPH & is stuck behind you. However, once you've made your pass, pull over & let them by. There is zero reason to ever camp out in the left lane in light traffic.

 

[cm8]

Another thread got me started thinking about this...

So I wonder how close to the speed limit YOU feel you can go without compromising safety and/or your wallet... After all, you want to get to WDW alive, and with enough money to buy those Mickey Ice Cream Bars!!!

If I don't hit your speed range in the poll, please feel free to spell it out in the posts (but be sure the statute of limitations has run out, or that you're not personally identifiable)...

Assume, also, for the purposes of this exercise, that you're just a couple of hours from WDW and you're trying to make it to your 1 PM ADR at HBD.

I voted speed limit. I am a speeder and when I enter into foreign territory, it's cruise control or bust. Getting a ticket on vacation would suck.

 

[Tara8595]

I'm in the 9mph over camp. My 2 speeding tickets I've gotten in my life were both at 12mph over. Since doing +9, no tickets.

Now at night - I'm lucky to keep up to the posted limit - cruise helps me actually to keep up at night when I just tend to get really pokey - not for any other reason I think than that I just can't tell how fast I'm going (unless constantly looking at speedometer)... I guess I have a feather foot.

My pet-peeve.... people who feign passing another driver in the left lane and just drive parallel - blocking everyone behind them. That really irks me. Occassionally I get one of those whack-jobs when I'm in the right lane and I will either hyperdrive or slow to a crawl to get that person from being beside me. I don't want to 'hold hands' with another car while I'm driving, thanks.