How fast are you comfortable driving?
I find myself driving about 5 over the speed limit on the highway.
I don't drive over the posted limit in housing areas or construction (though in construction I do flow with the traffic).
I also slow down for weather or rough roads.
I don't see a reason to drive 10 under like some folks do (and I'm not talking about very senior citizens).
How about you?
by
mtm2
asked 4 months ago
For me most depends on the environment. If I'm very familiar with my surroundings and know the road and area well I tend to drive a bit faster. When I'm in a new area, I usually drive slower just to better understand my surroundings.
On a wide-open interstate? I'd be comfortable driving 80+ MPH, but I usually keep it around 73-75 MPH (Wisconsin's interstate speed limit is 65). I've found that Wisconsin State Troopers generally don't bother pulling anyone over unless they are going more than 10 MPH over the limit on the interstate in clear weather conditions. On rural highways, I try to limit myself to 65 MPH in 55 MPH zones, slower if I know the road is curvy or otherwise dangerous. In a city or residential area, I stick close to the speed limit unless traffic is flowing faster, and always stick to the limit in construction areas.
I go the average speed limit or +5 on the streets.
For the freeway, if the speed limit is 65, I got about 73.
And then of course I go slower depending on traffic, weather, etc.
I'm pretty much with you.
On the highway, I stick to the speed limit. Cruise control's a wonderful thing and cops are attracted to yellow sports cars like moths to a flame. On back roads, when it starts to get "bendy", I tend to go a little faster. Okay, okay...a lot faster. I like corners and my car was built for them, so I oblige the engineers and ignore the brakes.
I love driving fast. I always obey the speed limits in any occupied area, whether or not it's the city limits. I'm careful when there's a lot of curves (in mountainous territory, deer can test your reflexes in a heartbeat). If there's a long, smooth stretch, and I'm the only one for miles, I may "slightly" exceed the speed limit.
A deliberately limiting factor is that I do not own a car that will do over 85 or so (my current car is a 2002 Chevy Cavalier). I have owned cars in the past that would go, oh, significantly faster than that. I know that my 1963 Chrysler New Yorker would do at least 130, since I pegged the speedometer at its top range, which was 120 (in 1975 or 1976, a VERY long time ago). It seems wiser for me to not own a car that will do that. I was lucky. That would have been an extremely unpleasant ticket.
I don't know any place you can safely do those speeds nowadays (other than a race track). I don't think most modern cars are built for it, either.
@shrdlu: I used to have a Cavalier. I can attest to the fact that they will go 110 before the limiter kicks in. Also, if you drive it at 110 for 5 hours straight, it will melt the motor. Literally.
I feel comfortable on the highway at 80. I'll do 90 on an empty road but I usually cruise 70 to 75 when the speed limit is 65.
The police haven't stopped me going that speed (70-75) and I have passed their radar.
One time I was going so fast I looked at the speedometer and saw I was driving 88 miles per hour, next thing I knew I was in another time zone, like a went back in time.....
Would depend on conditions, traffic, and what I was driving... I try to keep it around 70 for fuel economy reasons but if traffic and time constraints require it I go faster...
@shrdlu: You need Track Time!! It is fun...
You can also try Autocross, not as fast but just as fun...
Typically I'll go 5 - 10 mph over the limit. If it's an area where I know the cops have nowhere to sit, then it might be a different story. ;)
I love to go in my MINI cooper but only on the freeway. I never go 80 in a parking lot or residential streets. But I never go 88!
Generally I stick to the flow of traffic, some days it's quicker, some days it's slower.
I will also add that I'm more aggressive with the throttle on my bike vs my car.
On a highway with no traffic, I begin to feel "uncomfortable" over ~110. Though I've had it up to ~145 before. If you're asking when do I feel uncomfortable that I might get stopped by the cops, anything 12+ over the limit. I generally do ~10 over.
In the city, it's a different story. Even though I know the area well and traffic is light, I still only do maybe 5 over. And in housing developments, I'm frequently under the limit.
I know I speed more than I should. I've got my share of tickets too. I think it's human nature or something. As you can see from the responses, everyone speeds at least some.
Speed limit or 5+.
My '96 Jeep Cherokee's speedometer only went to 85 MPH, I would get a little nervous when the steering wheel started to shimmy at what I would guess was about 95ish... that's about where the discomfort began.
@atomicorange: When I lived in Utah, we'd go out on the salt flats and do dumb stuff. The governor on an XJ is set at 112. It's not the smoothest governor by any means, and it's a tad disconcerting when your engine completely stops producing power at that speed. I thought I'd blown something.
I used to transport cars for a living, so I had a colourful driving record- tickets in 928s, 930s, Panteras, Vettes, Ferraris, you name it. In the olden days, I drag raced and later built engines for my son's car. Yes, on a track. Mostly.
Speed is relative.
freeway? Speed limit +8 if I want to avoid law enforcement (usually 73), 90mph if there is no traffic and I'm feeling adventurous. Hit 100 once....
I know a few cops, and they all told me that 8mph over the freeway limit mis where they start considering pulling you over, +10mph is about 75% chance of a ticket. Surface streets +5 and you're safe from ticketing, +8 and you're probably going to get pulled over. So far it's held true (20+ years)
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