I go just under 10% over the limit. If it’s a 50, I’ll go 4 over. If it’s 75, I’ll go 7 over. I don’t apply this to school zones or parking garages, and I’ll go a little higher if I’m on the interstate or tollway surrounded by faster drivers.
@nikodrant This is EXACTLY what I do.
FWIW, I talk to a lot of law enforcement and they tell me you really have to be having a bad day to get pulled over for less than 15 over the limit (referring to highways only). Gotta say though, with the empty highways since the Coronation started the average speed I’m noticing folks doing is about 20 over.
While we’re at it… left lane on a divided highway is for passing, period. It doesn’t matter what the speed limit is nor how fast you (think you) are going, just use it to pass and get out of the way. When everyone does this traffic flows much more smoothly and safely. Let the cops control people’s speeds.
Final PSA, when merging on to a highway in heavy traffic (flowing very slowly or bumper-to-bumper)… please just drive all the way to the end of the merge lane and you will see that, like a zipper, your car will blend in perfectly to the flow. Don’t feel bad about it, that’s what the lane is there for, use it. Stopping half a mile before the merge lane ends to force your way in to slow traffic causes wasted space ahead of you, forced congestion behind you, and harsher stops to those already on the highway.
When I was very young, my Dad took my brother (maybe 4-5 years old then?) to visit Grandad. They were all going fishing.
Grandad lived a bit over 100 miles away. Dad was apparently running late, and was speeding a bit.
A cop pulled them over. This happened Way Back When, and so the cop made my Dad follow back to the local court then and there.
Dad stood before the judge and tried to claim he had been within the limit.
My very helpful brother piped up. Looking up at my Dad with adoration and wonder, he said, loudly,
“Daddy it was so fun! You did go like a rocket!”
The judge, cop, bailiff, and court reporter all burst out laughing.
My Dad shrugged, laughed, and said he didn’t have much else to add to that.
The judge pronounced Dad guilty, and then waived the fine.
And the judge told my Dad that if he was gonna speed, then he’d better not have given a ride to an excellent witness for the prosecution.
Whatever you want as long as you don’t make an ass of yourself. Don’t cut people off, don’t weave, don’t drive on the shoulder, and don’t ride my ass or I swear I will break check you so hard
/giphy break check
I did the speed limit in my old postal jeep once. Just a thin steel box with plenty of rattling glass, a too loose lap belt, a failing driveshaft, and worn out shocks. It was terrifying.
In my normal car it depends on the county, but it’s almost never more than 15 over with proper following distance.
as a gray haired older man, I can get away with driving faster than I could as a teenager. I’m driving almost the same speed. My father had a Primer gray El Camino with a 325/327 engine in it, no exhaust. He could drive it around without getting pulled over. The Teenagers would not make it out of the neighborhood.
I discovered that my car has a sweet spot of around 65-70 mph for optimal mileage, so I usually set at 65 and go with the flow, not passing unless they’re going crazy slow. It’s amazing how much more relaxing the drive is when you’re just chilling in the slow lane.
Now if I’m driving 4+ hours in the van, with the cranky, hungry, micro-bladder humans in the back, I’m speeding. My sanity demands it.
In NJ, whatever speed you drive is too slow for the jerk in the luxury car who wants to go faster and will either swerve around you or tailgate you till he can pass. I’ve been tailgated doing 80 in the right lane.
@InnocuousFarmer It does actually pass for politeness in Jersey. Rudeness involves flashing your brights, honking, and/or cutting the driver off after swerving out of the lane and back.
Y’all gonna hate me. I’m “that guy” in the big-ass RV in the right lane with the cruise control set to 61 miles per hour.
I’ve discovered that this is the best speed for fuel economy, and every tenth matters when one gets single-digit MPG.
(When I’m driving my 911 on the highway, ummm… I plead the 5th.)
@simssj I hate you when you get into the left lane because a truck is somehow going slower than you in the right lane and then it takes 25 minutes for you and the truck to get apart from each other and back into the right lane.
@willdavi Nah – That wasn’t me. You’re thinking of some other rude geezer who I may also be behind, cursing.
If I ever leave the right lane to pass something, I’m on full turbo. And if I have to break boost for some dickhead who can’t pass whatever… Oh, I’m steamed, just like you are.
Blast from the Past - Montana only had a Night Time Speed limit - seems like in the early 1970’s Mt.changed to Daytime Speed limit. But if you were Caught Then- the Fine was $ Five dollars. So we always paid the $ 5.00 - GranDad Lead.foot…
I was in Georgia like 4 years ago, can’t remember what highway but it was 3 or 4 lanes and I know I was going at least 110-120 (along with everybody else) and there were still people flying past me. It was crazy and fun.
years ago, family fishing trip to rice lake, on the way back, dad’s driving about 90mph(144kph) in a 120kph(74.5mph) zone, in our Ford Aerostar, towing a Boat. EVERYONE passing us like we were standing still…
suddenly, we see a car(an at the time new 2nd Gen “Jellybean” Taurus) sideways ahead of us, coming right at us…
some how at the last second it slid out and around us, coming back into our lane JUST behind the boat. at which point it starts to barrel roll down the highway behind us…
I’ve never seen anything like it since…
I’ve also never been back on that stretch of the 401 since.
So if the speed limit is 70, I set the cruise to 76. So in light traffic I prefer to never touch the speed. When there is a slow car/truck, I pass them at 76. The people that wanna do 85+ come flyin up behind me. Am I wrong to slow them down? I mean they obviously don’t care about gas milage or tickets, right? I do care & don’t wanna burn up gas speeding up to let them get by or breaking like crazy, waiting for them to pass, then going back to 76.
Now as a rule I do not block people (in heavy traffic), I move to let the crazies by. I am not one of them control people. But am I wrong to just go 76 when passing?
@Joedetroit@jst1ofknd You’re also supposed to ensure a safe distance in front of the vehicle that was just passed before merging back to the right lane. This means at least a few car lengths in front of a semi so they can see you. However the ones going 80+ are frequently not patient enough and as soon as there is even 1 car length open, they’re punching through and passing on the right.
I wish more people put less effort into maintaining particular speeds, and more effort into playing nice and staying out of each others’ way. (Especially out of my way.)
If you and the person next to you on the right are both coming up on a semi, for example, accelerate a little so the right person can get behind you without braking (or wait to pass them). That kind of thing. Appropriate gaps behind and in front. Common decency.
Don’t wait until I’m in your blind spot and then accelerate to keep pace with me. What’s wrong with you? You’re just going to slow down again in a few seconds. Do you even know you’re doing that?
Is the same as the car’s that just passed you. (Hope another car follows you at the same speed.) Let them get the ticket.
@phendrick yeah, but you’re the one in back. Try to argue that the radar was tracking someone else.
@katbyter @phendrick those guys that zip past you going way over the limit? We call them “cop mops”.
@katbyter @phendrick @stolicat never heard of “cop mops”. Our phrase is “Bear Bait”.
@hchavers @katbyter @phendrick @stolicat
TIL what “cop mops” & “Bear Bait” are.
I go just under 10% over the limit. If it’s a 50, I’ll go 4 over. If it’s 75, I’ll go 7 over. I don’t apply this to school zones or parking garages, and I’ll go a little higher if I’m on the interstate or tollway surrounded by faster drivers.
@nikodrant This is EXACTLY what I do.
FWIW, I talk to a lot of law enforcement and they tell me you really have to be having a bad day to get pulled over for less than 15 over the limit (referring to highways only). Gotta say though, with the empty highways since the Coronation started the average speed I’m noticing folks doing is about 20 over.
While we’re at it… left lane on a divided highway is for passing, period. It doesn’t matter what the speed limit is nor how fast you (think you) are going, just use it to pass and get out of the way. When everyone does this traffic flows much more smoothly and safely. Let the cops control people’s speeds.
Final PSA, when merging on to a highway in heavy traffic (flowing very slowly or bumper-to-bumper)… please just drive all the way to the end of the merge lane and you will see that, like a zipper, your car will blend in perfectly to the flow. Don’t feel bad about it, that’s what the lane is there for, use it. Stopping half a mile before the merge lane ends to force your way in to slow traffic causes wasted space ahead of you, forced congestion behind you, and harsher stops to those already on the highway.
Thank you for your support.
@jester747 I wish there were more yous on the road
/image it’s the law
Flow of traffic. You’re not impeding traffic nor are you pushing the guy in front of you. This is also the safest speed.
/giphy slow driver
When I was very young, my Dad took my brother (maybe 4-5 years old then?) to visit Grandad. They were all going fishing.
Grandad lived a bit over 100 miles away. Dad was apparently running late, and was speeding a bit.
A cop pulled them over. This happened Way Back When, and so the cop made my Dad follow back to the local court then and there.
Dad stood before the judge and tried to claim he had been within the limit.
My very helpful brother piped up. Looking up at my Dad with adoration and wonder, he said, loudly,
“Daddy it was so fun! You did go like a rocket!”
The judge, cop, bailiff, and court reporter all burst out laughing.
My Dad shrugged, laughed, and said he didn’t have much else to add to that.
The judge pronounced Dad guilty, and then waived the fine.
And the judge told my Dad that if he was gonna speed, then he’d better not have given a ride to an excellent witness for the prosecution.
/giphy rocket
(Edited giphy)
@f00l that giphy is just wrong
@chienfou
Yeah. I almost took it down. But it’s kinda horrible and sickly funny (to me). Couldn’t decide. And the 5 min edit window time ran out.
If it bothers anyone much I’ll get a mod to remove it.
Strong giphy revulsion, anyone?
@f00l not sure why but it made me think of THIS
@chienfou
Oh yuck.
Yeah I should have taken that giphy down.
Hey @RiotDemon @Thumperchick @narfcake @ignorant
Maybe one of you could remove or change the giphy in my childhood story post just above?
@chienfou @f00l @Ignorant @narfcake @Thumperchick mkay.
@f00l @Ignorant @narfcake @RiotDemon @Thumperchick maybe you could clean up the rest of the post so it doesn’t seem so weird that I posted that link…
/giphy pretty please
@f00l @Ignorant @narfcake @RiotDemon @Thumperchick
Aw…I think it’s just fine you like the cotton panties @chienfou. If it makes you feel any better, I saw them too in that gif.
@chienfou @Ignorant @narfcake @RiotDemon @Thumperchick
And with a busted wrist!
Thx!
Whatever you want as long as you don’t make an ass of yourself. Don’t cut people off, don’t weave, don’t drive on the shoulder, and don’t ride my ass or I swear I will break check you so hard
/giphy break check
@IcePopBOD That gif…
Thanks for using the wrong break/brake.
I did the speed limit in my old postal jeep once. Just a thin steel box with plenty of rattling glass, a too loose lap belt, a failing driveshaft, and worn out shocks. It was terrifying.
In my normal car it depends on the county, but it’s almost never more than 15 over with proper following distance.
I’m a slowpoke on surface streets, though.
If you get in front of me, don’t let me catch you.
I thought the meaning of the word “limit” meant the limit of your vehicle.
Nah. Seriously I just try to stay out of the way. If that means going a little faster then so be it. Mainly I try to not be a jerk.
It’s always 70. Unless the speed limit is higher than 70. Or there’s a cop.
as a gray haired older man, I can get away with driving faster than I could as a teenager. I’m driving almost the same speed. My father had a Primer gray El Camino with a 325/327 engine in it, no exhaust. He could drive it around without getting pulled over. The Teenagers would not make it out of the neighborhood.
I discovered that my car has a sweet spot of around 65-70 mph for optimal mileage, so I usually set at 65 and go with the flow, not passing unless they’re going crazy slow. It’s amazing how much more relaxing the drive is when you’re just chilling in the slow lane.
Now if I’m driving 4+ hours in the van, with the cranky, hungry, micro-bladder humans in the back, I’m speeding. My sanity demands it.
In NJ, whatever speed you drive is too slow for the jerk in the luxury car who wants to go faster and will either swerve around you or tailgate you till he can pass. I’ve been tailgated doing 80 in the right lane.
@ahacksaw Did you know? Tailgating is how you politely request the other driver move right.
@InnocuousFarmer It does actually pass for politeness in Jersey. Rudeness involves flashing your brights, honking, and/or cutting the driver off after swerving out of the lane and back.
@ahacksaw @InnocuousFarmer tailgating is some people’s love language
Y’all gonna hate me. I’m “that guy” in the big-ass RV in the right lane with the cruise control set to 61 miles per hour.
I’ve discovered that this is the best speed for fuel economy, and every tenth matters when one gets single-digit MPG.
(When I’m driving my 911 on the highway, ummm… I plead the 5th.)
@simssj No hate here. If you are in the right lane, you are good. Same description in the left lane, I am cursing you.
@DrWorm @simssj Ditto
@simssj I hate you when you get into the left lane because a truck is somehow going slower than you in the right lane and then it takes 25 minutes for you and the truck to get apart from each other and back into the right lane.
@willdavi Nah – That wasn’t me. You’re thinking of some other rude geezer who I may also be behind, cursing.
If I ever leave the right lane to pass something, I’m on full turbo. And if I have to break boost for some dickhead who can’t pass whatever… Oh, I’m steamed, just like you are.
Anything under 85 feels like a crawl.
Blast from the Past - Montana only had a Night Time Speed limit - seems like in the early 1970’s Mt.changed to Daytime Speed limit. But if you were Caught Then- the Fine was $ Five dollars. So we always paid the $ 5.00 - GranDad Lead.foot…
@newby1 I believe the $5 “fine” was also a non-points infraction, right?
I was in Georgia like 4 years ago, can’t remember what highway but it was 3 or 4 lanes and I know I was going at least 110-120 (along with everybody else) and there were still people flying past me. It was crazy and fun.
@star2236 sounds like the 401 through Toronto…
years ago, family fishing trip to rice lake, on the way back, dad’s driving about 90mph(144kph) in a 120kph(74.5mph) zone, in our Ford Aerostar, towing a Boat. EVERYONE passing us like we were standing still…
suddenly, we see a car(an at the time new 2nd Gen “Jellybean” Taurus) sideways ahead of us, coming right at us…
some how at the last second it slid out and around us, coming back into our lane JUST behind the boat. at which point it starts to barrel roll down the highway behind us…
I’ve never seen anything like it since…
I’ve also never been back on that stretch of the 401 since.
@earlyre
Yeah that was definitely the craziest highway I’ve ever been on. To be going that fast and have cars still flying past me was insane.
So if the speed limit is 70, I set the cruise to 76. So in light traffic I prefer to never touch the speed. When there is a slow car/truck, I pass them at 76. The people that wanna do 85+ come flyin up behind me. Am I wrong to slow them down? I mean they obviously don’t care about gas milage or tickets, right? I do care & don’t wanna burn up gas speeding up to let them get by or breaking like crazy, waiting for them to pass, then going back to 76.
Now as a rule I do not block people (in heavy traffic), I move to let the crazies by. I am not one of them control people. But am I wrong to just go 76 when passing?
@Joedetroit
I think just as long as you get out of the left lane as soon as you are done then it’s fine.
@jst1ofknd Of course! Left lane for passing, right lane for travel. I feel exonerated now by meh forums.
@Joedetroit
I here by exonerate you on all counts of highway… whatever we were talking about. I just lost my train of thought…
@Joedetroit @jst1ofknd You’re also supposed to ensure a safe distance in front of the vehicle that was just passed before merging back to the right lane. This means at least a few car lengths in front of a semi so they can see you. However the ones going 80+ are frequently not patient enough and as soon as there is even 1 car length open, they’re punching through and passing on the right.
KuoH
silly me…I just set the cruise at the posted limit, and stay right as much as possible…
of course I also tend to plaster my car with enough stickers to be noticeable… and the current ride’s paint is called “Ruby Red Metallic”
I wish more people put less effort into maintaining particular speeds, and more effort into playing nice and staying out of each others’ way. (Especially out of my way.)
If you and the person next to you on the right are both coming up on a semi, for example, accelerate a little so the right person can get behind you without braking (or wait to pass them). That kind of thing. Appropriate gaps behind and in front. Common decency.
Don’t wait until I’m in your blind spot and then accelerate to keep pace with me. What’s wrong with you? You’re just going to slow down again in a few seconds. Do you even know you’re doing that?