How much over the speed limit do you drive?

[TippyThomas]

Highways I go about 9 over and no more than 3 to 5 over on any other roads. That's if I'm driving the car. If I'm driving the RV I pretty much am at the speed limit or a bit below.

 

[sam_gordon]

We have adaptive cruise control on our Toyota. I am torn about how it operates. It starts slowing a lot sooner than I would like, I find myself stepping the gas to close the gap to six car lengths. It is set on six car lengths, and it seems it slows you down much further ahead than it needs to to maintain a six car length distance.
We use Google maps and it displays what the speed limit is supposed to be, but here in California they often set up construction zones for the day or half day with temporary lower speed limits. Google says 70, and sometimes the work zone speed limit is as low as 45 so you really have to pay attention.

So use the setting that gives you the distance you want. If the "6 car length" setting is closer to 10 cars, try the 4.

Interesting fact - your speedo in your car is not 100% accurate. For a pin-point reading, rely on your SatNav or GPS.

Actually, my speedometer is usually pretty close (like maybe 1-2 mph difference) when compared to GPS or simple math (distance driven/time).

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

So use the setting that gives you the distance you want. If the "6 car length" setting is closer to 10 cars, try the 4.


Actually, my speedometer is usually pretty close (like maybe 1-2 mph difference) when compared to GPS or simple math (distance driven/time).

I find that in our cars, over the last few years, belonging to us and our family, usually overstate the speed by, on average, 2mph - 3mph. So yeah. So, not a huge difference. My brother just relies on his SatNav.

 

[tvguy]

So use the setting that gives you the distance you want. If the "6 car length" setting is closer to 10 cars, try the 4.

It is at the max distance. My issue isn't the distance. It is how soon it starts slowing down before that distance to maintain the preset distance. No adjustment for that.

 

[sam_gordon]

I find that in our cars, over the last few years, belonging to us and our family, usually overstate the speed by, on average, 2mph - 3mph. So yeah. So, not a huge difference. My brother just relies on his SatNav.

If anything, yes, the cars might overstate the speed, which I'd prefer than under reporting.

I generally go 6-9 mph over regardless of the road, traffic and situation allowing.

There is one road outside my neighborhood that has NO speed limit sign. I'll hit 60+ on the straight portion.

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

I'm certain this is a thing in the USA as well, but here in the UK we have a "rule of the road" that states that it is an offence (I believe) to unnecessarily hinder traffic. So driving at 20mph on a motorway without due cause is a big no-no, not just travelling too fast. Obviously driving too fast is probably more dangerous, but if you're pondering your life choices in the fast lane, that could be hazardous too.

 

[MillauFr]

I don't get why the United States is so soft on enforcing speed limits. Why not just install speed enforcement cameras like they use in Oregon. Keeps speeds way down.

 

[kdonnel]

We use Google maps and it displays what the speed limit is supposed to be, but here in California they often set up construction zones for the day or half day with temporary lower speed limits. Google says 70, and sometimes the work zone speed limit is as low as 45 so you really have to pay attention.

My car also uses a camera to see the temporary speed limit signs and adjusts accordingly.

Works well, though sometimes it will see a sign on an adjacent road and incorrectly adjust. But that is rare.

 

[Smugpugmug]

I don't get why the United States is so soft on enforcing speed limits. Why not just install speed enforcement cameras like they use in Oregon. Keeps speeds way down.

Maryland is full of these and they do nothing to stop the problem. People here drive like they're playing Grand Theft Auto.

 

[kdonnel]

There is one road outside my neighborhood that has NO speed limit sign. I'll hit 60+ on the straight portion.

Generally if there is no posted speed limit the defaults for the municipality applies.

For Georgia those defaults would be:

30 miles per hour in any urban or residential district.

35 miles per hour on an unpaved county road.

70 miles per hour on a rural interstate.

65 miles per hour on an urban interstate or on a multi-lane divided highway.

55 miles per hour in all other areas.

 

[leebee]

Depends on where I am and what the speed limit is. Here in town, out near campus, etc., the cops are pretty diligent. They stopped me for going 32 in a 25 zone. Do you know how hard it is to go 25, downhill? On the highway, the speed limit is anywhere from 60-75mph. I try to keep it within 5-10 mph of the speed limit, just in case I get stopped. I only have been ticketed once, and he knocked down the speed a bit because I was "trapped" in the left lane of the highway, guy behind me was riding my bumper at almost 80mph, and nobody would let me pull into the lane to my right- until the cops showed up, that is.

 

[Robber Baron]

Harry Potter star Emma Watson just had her driver's license suspended for multiple speeding tickets. The last one, for going 8 miles an hour over the speed limit. Granted, it was a 30 mph zone.

Played golf with a state trooper and I asked him what speed would get me pulled over.

He said, "8 you're fine, 9's on the line, 10 you're mine"

 

[leebee]

Double post... not sure why!

 

[sam_gordon]

Generally if there is no posted speed limit the defaults for the municipality applies.

For Georgia those defaults would be:

30 miles per hour in any urban or residential district.

35 miles per hour on an unpaved county road.

70 miles per hour on a rural interstate.

65 miles per hour on an urban interstate or on a multi-lane divided highway.

55 miles per hour in all other areas.

I'm sure there's some default, I just haven't looked it up in the 20+ years we've been in the neighborhood. The straight stretch is only about 1.5 miles.

 

[kdonnel]

I'm sure there's some default, I just haven't looked it up in the 20+ years we've been in the neighborhood. The straight stretch is only about 1.5 miles.

Catch a cop on a bad day and that 60 MPH could be a super speeder that costs thousands in fines and legal fees and a loss of license.

 

[NannyBeBe]

My dear daddy was a volunteer with the police department for 18 years. He drilled into my head over and over, Speed kills. I rarely drive over the speed limit.

 

[MillauFr]

Maryland is full of these and they do nothing to stop the problem. People here drive like they're playing Grand Theft Auto.

So people just continue to rack up speeding tickets and pay the fines?

 

[tvguy]

Played golf with a state trooper and I asked him what speed would get me pulled over.

He said, "8 you're fine, 9's on the line, 10 you're mine"

I did a ride along years ago with the California Highway Patrol. They really know how how drivers behave. We were behind a car in the middle lane of the freeway. The speed limit was 55, the car ahead of us was doing 65. Officer said "you watch, I bet he moves over to the fast lane and speeds up to at least 70 in the next 30 seconds. If he does, he's getting pulled over. If not, he's not. As soon as the officer said that, the guy changed lanes and sped up to 75, and he got pulled over. Mind you, we were in a black and white marked patrol car with one of the old huge light bars on the roof 3 car lengths behind this guy and he did not see us.

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

Do you have speed cameras? They're EVERYWHERE here. Either speed traps that take your picture if you travel too fast or AVERAGE speed cameras on lengths of motorways, which record your average speeds over a lengthy bit of road - so you can't just reduce your speed for a camera. You need to stay slow!

 

[monsterkitty]

I will only do 5 mph tops on main roads. Side streets I do the speed limit. Highway I will go with the flow of traffic in the middle lane, so 10-15 over.

My two nephews were driving themselves and friends to their club soccer game. Both were 17. One nephew was ahead of his brother and going 37 in a 30mph area. The other was going 33 in the 30-mph zone. He was pulled over by the officer that had the same radar gun on his brother and given a speeding ticket. There is more to the story but that belongs on the CT board. Needless to say the judge was not happy, and the ticket was thrown out.