How fast do you drive?

[ShawnD1]

I love driving, so I often go for a nice drive around town in the evening when I have nothing better to do. What I've started to notice is that people drive at seemingly random speeds. I can understand rush hour driving being weird because there are so many cars on the road, but I'm driving around when there's almost no traffic and people still drive at totally random speeds.

Example that happened today:
I was on the freeway where the speed limit is 80k (50mph).
I always go 5 over, so I was going 85k (53mph).
I'm going a little bit faster than most other cars, so I'm passing them.
Up ahead is a construction zone where the speed limit drops to 50k (31mph) followed by numerous signs that state "speed fines double in a construction zone".
I obey the sign and drop to 55k (34mph).
All the cars I passed before are now passing me, and they're passing me pretty fast.
About half way through the construction zone I see 2 flashes - the photo radar van that is there literally every time I'm on this road nailed 2 of the people in front of me who are going way over the speed limit.
Now that they've already been dinged, they slow down to 50k (31mph).
Then the construction zone ends and the speed limit is 80k (50mph).
I speed up to 85k again (53mph).
I passed every person that passed me in the construction zone because they are now going slower than the speed limit.


I just don't understand. How are people determining how fast to go? I thought it was pretty standard to base your speed on what the speed limit is. I drive 5km/h over posted, some people go 10 over, some people are closer to 20 over, and some people just go whatever the hell speed they want.

Probably the worst case of this problem in my city is on the Trans-Canada Highway that passes through the city going east-west. Through most of the city, the speed limit is 70k (44mph) and most people go a lot closer to 80k (50mph). People driving on that part of the road are very consistent. Near the west end of the city, the speed limit changes to 90k (56mph). I speed up to 95 but nobody else does. I'm going way faster than everyone but I'm only going the speed limit. wtf?? Then at the very edge of the city it changes to 110k (68mph) and suddenly everyone decides to go 120k (75mph).

Seriously, wtf is this? Why are people going totally random speeds? They speed through this section, then they go way under the speed limit, then they go over the speed limit. It makes no god damn sense.

So that's my story about how my city drives and how I drive. How do you drive?

 

[Colt45]

>55

 

[ahenkel]

I generally drive 5-10 miles an hour over. Rule exceptions would be the road into town from my place the speed limit is 45 but I do 60-80 (its a country road I've been driving forever on) and school zones I drive the 20 when lights are flashing got pinched a couple times doing 30 through 'em so I'm a tad paranoid, and unfortunately the two main roads in town go through the middle, and grade school.

 

[ShawnD1]

Rule exceptions would be the road into town from my place the speed limit is 45 but I do 60-80

Jesus. Around here, cops love camping where the highway ends, and I don't blame them. For one job I had, the road to work was a highway where the speed limit is ~62mph but there was about a 1 mile stretch of road passing through Bon Accord where the speed drops to ~37mph. Every single day, the cops would be sitting there. People wouldn't slow down and they would get ass raped with a huge speeding ticket. The fine for going that much over the speed limit in Alberta is $264.00 and 4 Demerits. After 15 demerits, your license is suspended for 30 days and your insurance will go up to about $10,000 per year just for the minimum insurance required by law. I'm not joking. My brother had this happen to him and he couldn't drive for 2 years due to the insurance.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

I drive the speed of traffic, up to ~15 mph in excess of the speed limit.

 

[qazwsxokmijn]

In a 50kph zone I travel anywhere between 50-60. In a 100kph zone I stay at or somewhere below 110. But if I want to get to where I want a bit faster for whatever reason, and there's no cop in sight, I do 120. Not often though, and only if the motorway is pretty empty.

 

[2Xtreme21]

I drive roughly the speed of traffic, often a bit faster. OP, what you described is so common though. People are morons behind the wheel.

There's a section of the highway I travel to work and back that goes from 65mph suddenly to 40mph through a "business district" for about a mile, then back up to 65. Cops love to camp on that section of the highway and I see at least one car pulled over every week. It still baffles me why people don't slow down there. Exactly as you described, I'll be passing cars at 70ish, hit the brakes down to 45mph when the limit changes, and there's people blowing by me. Then when it turns back to 65, I'm passing them again because NOW they decide to go 40.

I just don't think anyone cares enough to read signs, to be honest.

 

[meltdown75]

usually 5-10 km/h above the speed limit depending on the traffic and the type of road i am driving on. my car isn't fast anyway, i am just trying to get where i need to and conserve gas, and have a comfortable ride with some tunes.

 

[SlitheryDee]

I drive the speed limit or 5 over. I don't like driving. I like arriving.

 

[meltdown75]

"you know how fast we can drive"

random snippet from a white zombie tune

 

[waffleironhead]

It doesnt matter what speed I am driving one thing remains true. Anyone who drives faster than me is a maniac, anyone who drives slower is an idiot.

 

[BoomerD]

Generally, I drive the speed limit + 5-10 mph.

"Going with the flow" won't get you out of a ticket if the cop chooses to stop you, so the trick, if you want to drive faster than the posted limit, is to stay at a speed that will keep you on the "ignore list."

Here in Kahleeforneeya, the speed limit can't be reduced by more than 10 mph in a mile. That means, if the posted limit is 65, (most freeways and highways) and you come to a small town, 65->55->45->35...then back to 65 once you leave the town limits. The intent is to stop the typical speed traps where there is a quick reduction in the speed limit...BUT, since people often ignore the changes in limit...the cops still park at the 35 point and write tons of tickets for those who fail to slow down.

"I can't drive 55!"
Sammy Haggar.

 

[spaceman]

like grampa

 

[amdhunter]

As fast as traffic allows.

 

[Kirby]

over 9000!!!!

 

[Itchrelief]

Now that I have to drive through rush hour, I've basically just thrown up my hands and given up. I park behind a semi and go 50-55 if the path is clear, 60-65 if the truck driver is feeling adventurous, creep along if it's backed up.

On a clear day I'll do 5mph over the limit. Generally in the 3rd lane so I don't have to bother with switching between the 2nd and 3rd. I won't move over to the 4th lane (merging lane) if I'm doing 65-70 and someone is on my ass, though. Pass me on the left, I've left 2 lanes for you to do it in. If that makes me an ass, then so be it. It's not like there's anyone in the 1st or 2nd, anyhow.

 

[amdhunter]

Now that I have to drive through rush hour, I've basically just thrown up my hands and given up. I park behind a semi and go 50-55 if the path is clear, 60-65 if the truck driver is feeling adventurous, creep along if it's backed up.

On a clear day I'll do 5mph over the limit. Generally in the 3rd lane so I don't have to bother with switching between the 2nd and 3rd. I won't move over to the 4th lane (merging lane) if I'm doing 65-70 and someone is on my ass, though. Pass me on the left, I've left 2 lanes for you to do it in. If that makes me an ass, then so be it. It's not like there's anyone in the 1st or 2nd, anyhow.

ass. ^_^

 

[Dirigible]

Most people just don't pay attention.

 

[Hail The Brain Slug]

My speedometer doesn't work, so I drive however fast everyone else is driving.

When there's no one else, I take a guess.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Slightly slower than those around me that are speeding.

 

[Analog]

0 < my speed < 90

 

[moshquerade]

i usually don't go over 10 mph over the speed limit on the highway unless traffic pushes me too.

 

[gaidensensei]

If you don't want to get a stupid tax-collection ticket like I did.

If you're ever on the highway and an officer switches into your lane behind you and looks like he wants to get ahead of you by giving tailgating messages, don't farking speed up. You have to act like an asshole and be a dumbass for once, drive at the speed limit or lower.

 

[AstroManLuca]

On my way to work, the speed limit is 55 almost the whole way, except for half a mile at the beginning where it's 45 and 2 miles at the end where it's 70. I've noticed people will follow the 55 limit pretty closely, but they start speeding up well before it changes to 70. Well, some people at least. A lot of people still go 55 even after it changes to 70. I try to follow the speed limit (roughly, usually I go 5-10 over) when it actually changes, not just somewhere within a few miles of where it changes. Then again, I almost never see speed traps so probably a lot of people figure they won't get caught.

 

[cherrytwist]

I drive as fast as traffic allows unless I know of a particular stretch of highway known for cops. Haven't had a speeding ticket or accident in ~13 years with this method. The one I did get was right at a speed limit change (55 to 45) in a small, rural town. By the time I saw the sign I saw the lights :\