How Many MPH Over the Speed Limit?
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dasnake
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Here's a laff....
Early 80s I was doing a run between LA and Diego, clipping 75, down the median was an Amtrak going way faster than me, grabbed a handful to match and top end at 105 mph, i was thinking wow, backed off cuz I didn't think a state patrol would care for my story, whenever I think of fast tracking something that always comes to mind.
Early 80s I was doing a run between LA and Diego, clipping 75, down the median was an Amtrak going way faster than me, grabbed a handful to match and top end at 105 mph, i was thinking wow, backed off cuz I didn't think a state patrol would care for my story, whenever I think of fast tracking something that always comes to mind.
Long, long ago (why does that refrain keep coming up?) I did some arithmetic on how much time you could save at a certain speed over a certain distance. This was of interest because I had a car that would fly and did quite a bit of cross-country flying, sometimes at, umm, significant speeds. Turns out (and I'm not going to redo the calcs), if you are driving, say, 500 miles, and average 10-15 mph over the speed limit, you can save some real time. With a shorter trip almost nothing but insane speed is going to save actual time, while endangering yourself and others. The real key is to never slow down to 0 mph. Pitt stops are what costs time.
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I generally do 5mph over the limit. There was a time in my younger days when I regularly did 100mph or more even on busy roads. I'm a bit smarter (or less courageous) these days. 5 over is usually ignored in Texas.
I've had local cops tell me that anything under 10 over will be ignored, but that isn't always true. A few years back I was cruising at 80 on a freeway with a posted limit of 75. A DPS trooper fell in behind me, followed closely for several minutes, and then lit me up. Told me he clocked me at 2 mph over the limit and wanted to know why I didn't slow down when I saw him behind me. I told him the truth - I saw you there, but I wasn't concerned because I wasn't going that fast. He gave me a verbal warning only.
My last actual speeding ticket was about 25 years ago. I was merging onto the freeway (75) from the frontage road (45). I was stopped by a local cop who said he clocked me at 62 on the frontage road. I argued that I was actually on the ramp and was accelerating up to highway speed. I still believe that was true. He didn't. Wrote me for 62 in a 45. Ticket cost me $212 that I really couldn't afford in those days.
I've had local cops tell me that anything under 10 over will be ignored, but that isn't always true. A few years back I was cruising at 80 on a freeway with a posted limit of 75. A DPS trooper fell in behind me, followed closely for several minutes, and then lit me up. Told me he clocked me at 2 mph over the limit and wanted to know why I didn't slow down when I saw him behind me. I told him the truth - I saw you there, but I wasn't concerned because I wasn't going that fast. He gave me a verbal warning only.
My last actual speeding ticket was about 25 years ago. I was merging onto the freeway (75) from the frontage road (45). I was stopped by a local cop who said he clocked me at 62 on the frontage road. I argued that I was actually on the ramp and was accelerating up to highway speed. I still believe that was true. He didn't. Wrote me for 62 in a 45. Ticket cost me $212 that I really couldn't afford in those days.
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LVSteve
Member
Actually, the cosine of 45° is .707, so it would read 35 mph. To get a 5% error the "off angle" has to be 18°, and at the distance you can see those signs, your off angle is most likely under 10°.
When it comes to speedometer error, European cars are not permitted to under read the speed when fitted with the specified tires. That's why pretty much all German cars, especially BMWs, read faster than you are traveling.
As for me, I work on the "five over is keeping up with traffic, 10 over is speeding" rule when cruising on a multi-lane highway. The exception to that is when I need to break contact with "cuddlers", "formation flyers" or a "knot of indecisive tailgaters". Consequently, I spend most of my time in the right lane.
On two-lane roads I have a habit that I was taught in England that would not endear me to most LE in the US, nor back in the UK with the speed camera scourge that they now suffer. When passing I have the throttle nailed until level with the last vehicle I am passing. This limits my time on the wrong side of the road to a minimum. What speed I am doing at that point is immaterial.
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I'm with you on that one. Nail it until you are past and back into the proper lane of travel.
Squarebutt
Member
I got a few well-deserved speeding tickets when I was young, then nothing but a couple of warnings for being slightly over the limit over the next 25 years.
Driving the interstate across southern Illinois pulling a box trailer behind my F350, I passed under a big cloverleaf intersection and soon got lit up by a state trooper for 62 in a 55, because of the staggered limit that allows 65 for four-wheelers and 55 for trucks and trailers. As I pulled away I could see several more cruisers poised on the ramp, so I guess I paid the state of Illinois $180 for the crime of having out of state plates on revenue day. On the return trip we set the cruise at 54 and held up traffic all the way across the state.
Driving the interstate across southern Illinois pulling a box trailer behind my F350, I passed under a big cloverleaf intersection and soon got lit up by a state trooper for 62 in a 55, because of the staggered limit that allows 65 for four-wheelers and 55 for trucks and trailers. As I pulled away I could see several more cruisers poised on the ramp, so I guess I paid the state of Illinois $180 for the crime of having out of state plates on revenue day. On the return trip we set the cruise at 54 and held up traffic all the way across the state.
5mph over unless I am passing.
On our trip down south this past March, my wife and I observed that the fastest drivers were in cars with either NY or NJ plates. Didn't seem overly bright to us to be zipping through VA, SC, or NC well over the speed limit with out of state plates.
Ironically, when we got back into MA, the very first car we saw stopped by the police had NY plates.
Ironically, when we got back into MA, the very first car we saw stopped by the police had NY plates.
meaneyedcatz
Member
On the interstate I typically do 9 over. In town it's the sped limit.
I drive on two lane highways to/from work. I'm ok with drivers doing 50 in the 55.
But it really irks me when a driver is doing 40 in a 55 and hitting the brakes on every corner. Then when we pass through the small town along the way, it's 50 in a 40 every time!!!
I drive on two lane highways to/from work. I'm ok with drivers doing 50 in the 55.
But it really irks me when a driver is doing 40 in a 55 and hitting the brakes on every corner. Then when we pass through the small town along the way, it's 50 in a 40 every time!!!
The only tickets I received in my younger days were for speeding. I am now at the age that I do not need to be in a hurry to go anywhere. I have a very simple rule about speeding, I try not to exceed the posted limit by any more than ten percent. I must be doing something right, I have not had any citations since 1985!
I will add that my wife's car (2016 Passat) goes into a seeming freewheeling manner while going down a long downhill and it is tough for me to ride the brakes to keep within my ten percent. My 2003 Jetta went 203K miles on the original front brake pads!
I will add that my wife's car (2016 Passat) goes into a seeming freewheeling manner while going down a long downhill and it is tough for me to ride the brakes to keep within my ten percent. My 2003 Jetta went 203K miles on the original front brake pads!
Traffic engineers have long known that the typical driver maintains a speed that is safe and comfortable, regardless of the numbers posted on a speed limit sign. This is why the 55-mph federal National Maximum Speed Limit was such a dismal failure years ago...it didn't conform with the good judgment of most motorists, and few people obeyed it.
Regarding practical speeds...in my experience, anything less than 10 over should be okay, but you never know....
Regarding practical speeds...in my experience, anything less than 10 over should be okay, but you never know....
I don't want to be the last car in the caravan.
hemiram
Member
I tend to drive about 5 MPH over on 40MPH and up roads, but that all goes out the window on several roads in this area. On I75 into Michigan, if you go anywhere close to the speed limit, you're an idiot, and people will tell you so, usually with a finger, because last 2 times I went up to Monroe, the slowest semi was going 75, and most were doing 80+. With the heavy traffic there is, it's kind of scary to be going that fast with a semi right behind you. There is a road I go down in town once in a while, and the limit is 35, which is totally ignored and it's pretty ridiculous anyway, it's 4 lanes with a center turn lane, and once it gets past most of the businesses on it, IMHO, it should be raised to 45 min. The local cops rarely write up anyone going under 50, but if you get one of them in a bad mood, they do.
In 2019, I went on the Ohio Turnpike from Maumee to Port Clinton. I never was below 80, and at one point, my GPS said I was doing 95! I was passing nothing, except semis getting on the pike. It was crazy. I was shocked when an OSP car passed us going the other way, and he never even touched his brakes. I totally expected him to cross over and at least pull some of us over. The scanner had little turnpike traffic on it the whole way there. On the way back, at no time did I break 70, and only got to 70 when an OSP trooper gave me the thumbs up for my car and yelled, "You can do 70, and nobody will care!". It was like the Westbound TP was another road than the Eastbound side was, where cars were still flying.
In 2019, I went on the Ohio Turnpike from Maumee to Port Clinton. I never was below 80, and at one point, my GPS said I was doing 95! I was passing nothing, except semis getting on the pike. It was crazy. I was shocked when an OSP car passed us going the other way, and he never even touched his brakes. I totally expected him to cross over and at least pull some of us over. The scanner had little turnpike traffic on it the whole way there. On the way back, at no time did I break 70, and only got to 70 when an OSP trooper gave me the thumbs up for my car and yelled, "You can do 70, and nobody will care!". It was like the Westbound TP was another road than the Eastbound side was, where cars were still flying.
StrawHat
Member
It has been said the Amish buggies pass me!
Kevin
Kevin
OLDSTER
Member
Speed limit in town; small town like I live in, $50-$75 bucks isn't worth arriving a minute sooner. On the highways the same, even though most interstates give ya 5 mph leeway.
I go with the flow. I stay with the traffic and don't do a bunch of bobbing and weaving trying to move a little bit faster. If everyone is running 80, I'll probably still run 78 or so. So far ... so good. Just remember, there are no $100 tickets. Sincerely. bruce.
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USUALLY, there will be one maybe two drivers in a " pack" of vehicles on the interstate or 4 lane divided state highways that want to go faster. Let them go as used to call them " rabbits", stay with the group or a little to the back of such group, not first or last.
In town it is the posted speed limit for me, always. On the highway, well, it depends. Eight MPH over is almost always what I drive, but sometimes it is not enough to stay out of the herd. I am an attentive and engaged driver. I think operating a motor vehicle is one of the most important things anyone can do. If I am pulled over, very rare, I do not mind paying the state my penalty, I think they deserve their cut. On the other hand, the evil, exploitive, dare I say near usurious behavior that my and all auto insurers will subsequently engage in is almost more than I can handle
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From observations, most likely 80 some % of driver today could not pass the driving test in Germany. Not saying they are better, but vehicles there are for DRIVING not drinking, eating, smoking, using some electronic device or shooting the breeze with passengers, not pay attention to the road and traffic. Best way to observe this is simply watch most entering the interstate from an onramp, nuf sed.
When safe I tend to drive a bit faster than the speed limit. Have been a fast driver all my like, in fact my wife calls me thirty over Dave.
(Thats a family joke) Where I now live other than summer weekends we can move along quite well up here in the mountains. You are more concerned about errant deer than LEOs.
As far a how fast I have driven as I do not know the statute of limitations I will plead the 5th on that. I have owned a few cars that easily can blow past 150 if you have the gonads to push the pedal that far down.
(Thats a family joke) Where I now live other than summer weekends we can move along quite well up here in the mountains. You are more concerned about errant deer than LEOs.As far a how fast I have driven as I do not know the statute of limitations I will plead the 5th on that. I have owned a few cars that easily can blow past 150 if you have the gonads to push the pedal that far down.
VaTom
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As a Va. Resident i can attest to that. State Troopers in Va. are very professional and courteous but don't expect any breaks. Cars with Ohio plates on I-77 in Va. are speeders also a!most to the point of being a hazard to others. Live near I-81. Lots of accidents. When you read about the ones with fatalities it is usually out of staters. No offense to anyone-just sying.
smithra_66
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Yikes. How 'bout just enforce the law?
This sounds like a gun control mentality. No thanks!
On highways, when I believe it is safe to do so, I generally try and maintain a steady speed between 5 and 10 MPH over the posted limit. I also use the left lanes for passing only. Using this as a guide I have not had a citation in 20 + years. In town, with assorted cross streets and traffic I, generally, stay within the posted speed limit.
I do find though the older I get the more cautious I become, when driving, now if I could get the rest of the trash in my life to do the same
I do find though the older I get the more cautious I become, when driving, now if I could get the rest of the trash in my life to do the same
duane_wade
Member
I have a friend who is retired from the state police and a general rule most of them adhered to in regard to running over the limit on the open highway was "if you're doing 8 your great but 9 you're mine" but he said in heavy or congested traffic anything over was the limit was up to the officer's discretion
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When safe I tend to drive a bit faster than the speed limit. Have been a fast driver all my like, in fact my wife calls me thirty over Dave.
As far a how fast I have driven as I do not know the statute of limitations I will plead the 5th on that. I have owned a few cars that easily can blow past 150 if you have the gonads to push the pedal that far down.
The Northway is nuts, it was always fun towing a horse trailer to Painted Pony in Lake Luzerne.
NYS Troopers will rarely write a ticket for 9 over or less. They know most DA's will plea bargain that to failure to obey a traffic control device.
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About 98% of my driving is in Texas. It seems we have more self-important, rude, hyperactive, and potentially dangerous drivers (those that attempt to intimidate by tailgating) than we've ever had. Perhaps it has something to do with today's "want it right now" mentality.
Regardless of how fast you are driving, it's a wise measure to stay in or get in the right lane quickly if you see one of these immature drivers barreling down on you at high speed. No action you take on the road will help these persons mature and become courteous drivers.
Get north of the Lake George exits and the"allowance'' gets better.
I drive that road often, speeders are not tha big of a problem its the person paying more attention to their cell phone/texts.
Our upcoming trip is going to go through the western edge of VA along I-81 until we turn south on I-77. Beautiful road.
