Some interesting facts about speeding!

[SoonerBoy18]

Haha... Today I was actually really late for a test and went to 90 heading over to OCCC ;P. . . Were you in the the thunderstorm or trying to outrun it?

I was in the thunderstorm lol but since it was my first week of driving, I rushed to get home cause I was running low on gas lol

[RadicalModerate]

I found the part about how much "time is saved" by driving various distances at various speeds very interesting. I used to drive "Broadway" between Waterloo Rd. and Hgwy. 33 on my way to work. I seem to recall that the speed limit was 45. I used to drive it at around 49mph. There is almost no good place to pass where you can really check for oncoming traffic (lots of little hills, etc.) but people--late and in a hurry--would pass me all the time. I once tried to calculate how many minutes they would save by driving 60 or 70 between those two points and it was a very small number. Especially when you consider that if you have a head-on collision you probably won't get there at all--or will be even later than you might have been if you got pulled over.

BTW: The fastest I think I've ever driven in a car was in a nearly-new TransAm (105) . . . on far S. Choctaw Road (what a friggin' idiot I was.) On a motorcycle (BMW R75/5): 95 (Boulder-Denver Turnpike, then the handlebar-mounted faring set up a speed wobble and I had to back off). On long trips (like 13 hrs.) I set the cruise control at 5 mph over (75 to 80).

[BoulderSooner]

This is why I think excessive speeders need to have stricter punishments.

Overtaking For Beginners - Video

This doesn't happen every time obviously, but when you are going 100+ mph, you may think you have control of your vehicle, but you really don't. Driving at these speeds requires special training. What happens if you blow a tire going that fast? What happens if you hit a pot hole going 100+ mph? What happens if somebody mergers in front of you? Most likely in any of those scenarios, the average driver will lose control of their car and kill themselves and/or somebody else.

The fact of the matter is, the time saved by going the fast is minimal over short to moderate distances.

so what your saying is that Germans get "special training" to drive 100+ on highways?? having driven all over europe including germany 100 is really not much different than 75-90 and going 105 you will still get passed by cars going 120+

[Servicetech571]

I cannot, for the life of me, imagine what Ford from 1972 was capable of 185 mph!

I can't think of any TIRES that could handle those speeds without blowing out. Certianly nothing sold to be used on public roads could handle 185.

[ShiroiHikari]

I think the fastest I've ever gone was 90. I've only ever had old vehicles to drive so I would never dare to go any faster than that. Plus I don't like the idea of becoming a splatter on the pavement. Also I've had a lot of tires blow out on me on the interstate so I've become paranoid about it. It's scary enough at 70 MPH. I don't even want to think about what would happen at 90+...

[MustangGT]

Also I've had a lot of tires blow out on me on the interstate so I've become paranoid about it. It's scary enough at 70 MPH. I don't even want to think about what would happen at 90+...

I have seen it on the autobahn at 135+. Depending upon the vehicle it looks worse than it really is. It was a BMW that rolled and flipped several times and landed upon its roof. The driver crawled out and was only scratched from the flying glass. Out on the rural interstates I routinely cruise at 85+.

[Plutonic Panda]

Here's a good article. It is really frustrating when people block the passing lane. Drivers Rejoice: Maryland Woman Ticketed For Obstructing Left Lane

[MustangGT]

Here's a good article. It is really frustrating when people block the passing lane. Drivers Rejoice: Maryland Woman Ticketed For Obstructing Left Lane

Good for the officer. I get sick and tired of left lane parkers that have no clue what that thin pedal underneath their right foot is for.

[rezman]

Here's a good one that deals with a left lane bandit. YouTube

[Plutonic Panda]

good for the officer. I get sick and tired of left lane parkers that have no clue what that thin pedal underneath their right foot is for.

like!!!!

[Plutonic Panda]

Here's a good one that deals with a left lane bandit. YouTube

That's nice, but the police officer should've gave his ass a ticket lol..

[ljbab728]

I always hug the right lane on the freeways unless I have to exit to the left. Then I get in the left lane about 2 miles before so I don't have to make any dangerous last minute maneuvers. I don't drive slow but I don't excede the speed limit. If that means someone has to pass me on the right, that's fine. I'm not going to break the law to make someone else happy.

[Plutonic Panda]

^^^ I have no issue with people who do that. It's when other get in the lane and hog it, sometimes intentionally, going slower and/or matching the other car just to block you. That's irritating.

[ljbab728]

^^^ I have no issue with people who do that. It's when other get in the lane and hog it, sometimes intentionally, going slower and/or matching the other car just to block you. That's irritating.

I understand that, but I still get people who act very upset when I do that before exiting to the left and race around me to the right very quickly.

[rezman]

I understand that, but I still get people who act very upset when I do that before exiting to the left and race around me to the right very quickly.

I've always felt left lane exits and entrances were products of poor design and shouldn't exist.

[BoulderSooner]

I understand that, but I still get people who act very upset when I do that before exiting to the left and race around me to the right very quickly.

2 miles early is a little excessive ..

[catch22]

I plan my lane positions based on distance. 1 mile out, I'm in the proper lane. 2 miles out I'm at least 1 lane from the exit lane (so lane 2). 3 miles out, I'm 2 lanes from the exit lane (lane 3, etc.)

[ShiroiHikari]

Left exits suck, and we seem to have a lot of them around here. In my experience, people are A-holes and won't let you over there even if you have your signal on, then you end up having to do 90 just to force your way over there, or miss the exit and have to turn around somewhere. As long as you aren't doing less than the speed limit, I don't see the problem with getting over to the left a little early.

[RadicalModerate]

Left exits suck, and we seem to have a lot of them around here. In my experience, people are A-holes and won't let you over there even if you have your signal on, then you end up having to do 90 just to force your way over there, or miss the exit and have to turn around somewhere. As long as you aren't doing less than the speed limit, I don't see the problem with getting over to the left a little early.

(i agree, totally, yet) . .

Obviously you have never navigated a personal vehicle, in traffic, in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.
Neither You nor Catch 22. =)

(nor through KC ,DesMoines, nor Dallas--y LA????!!!! yikes-- . . . and lived to tell about it. =)

Driving: Do It Defensively. There are too many "Others" out there to count.

[Plutonic Panda]

I've always felt left lane exits and entrances were products of poor design and shouldn't exist.

THIS!!!! lol I think it was also due to being cheap. It would seem cheaper to build a fly-over from the left side than the right. Dallas has been doing it right.

[Plutonic Panda]

I personally don't have a problem with people who are exiting the highway the left lane doing about 5 under, however if it gets to be 10-15 under, I will sometimes gun it and pass them. I try not to do more than 20 OVER anyways when I'm in the fast lane.

[RadicalModerate]

I personally don't have a problem with people who are exiting the highway the left lane doing about 5 under, however if it gets to be 10-15 under, I will sometimes gun it and pass them. I try not to do more than 20 OVER anyways when I'm in the fast lane.

You de man, man. But watch out for The Man. =)
(and never, ever sit at a left turn signal on a "mobile device" for more than two seconds after it turns green.)

Sorry, off topic: That comment involves "Slowing" . . . not "speeding" . . . my apologies.

[ljbab728]

2 miles early is a little excessive ..

NO. It's not. Especially if traffic is heavy. People who wait to make lane changes in heavy traffic are what causes traffic jams.

[RadicalModerate]

NO. It's not. Especially if traffic is heavy. People who wait to make lane changes in heavy traffic are what causes traffic jams.

Like, for two or more whole minutes (at sixty mph or less) you roll in the exit lane?
I would hope that you are doing at least SL+2 prior to breaking for the exit curve.

[ljbab728]

Like, for two or more whole minutes (at sixty mph or less) you roll in the exit lane?
I would hope that you are doing at least SL+2 prior to breaking for the exit curve.

I"m sure you have a point there but I have no idea what it is.