There are now a number of threads a few but noticable number of people have endorced speeding as the responsible thing to do, and that's disturbing. First of all, it's breaking the law. While some situations allow speeding if that is the pack speed, it's still a breakdown of law enforcement that need to be remedied by an officer in a pacing vehicle to address the excess. I can't see going 20mph over the stated speed limit as ever being justified, barring a true life-threatening emergency. I can also understand some speeding in HOV lanes, or uncongested rural highways.

If someone is going at or just under the posted speed limit in the rightmost lane and allows tailgaters to pass, there should not be drivers from behind intimidating or using the right shoulder on the right to pass.

I'm convinced that speeding tends to happen in heavier traffic. I can understand that it' probably a urban area with people legitimately time-pressured, but many are just too proud to get passed. Myself and others have confessed to going slower when driving alone or in light traffic. Put it bluntly, many find speeding pleasurable or a power trip.

Another point is safety. Going well under the speed limit is hazardous - I'm in agreement. When the flow is going over 75mph it's less safe:

• less reaction time
• longer braking time
• harder to steer around a potential collision
• easier for that moment of distraction or unpredictable driver to cause a collision
• greater exponential impact when collisions happen
• more vehicles involved in collisions
• no guarantee other vehicles are in good working order or the drivers predictable

The last point is fuel economy, along with general wear-and-tear. No need to repeat the exponential increase in fuel consumption and wear with speed. Hybrid vehicles are an improvement over previous vehicles, but they can be negated by drivers with a lead foot. I'm disappointed that many journalists and a few members seem to think they can get good fuel economy yet drive agressively in a hybrid. I have a modest request for them: don't blame the hybrid for your actions.

 

Well said Chuck. I couldn't said it better myself. I will admit though, I still sometimes speed on VERY VERY RARE occasions.

Still, I wish there was more police enforcement in my area. I did however see someone pulled over at 6:00am this morning. A Honda Civic no less (EX 4dr).

Yesterday my father and I drove his Avalanche and bet him I could raise his MPG minimum 2mpg over the 100 mile stretch we were going to drive (went to Harbor Freight, woohoo tools!). Still amazes me how people regularly blast by at 20-40 mph over the posted limit. We even went through a construction zone complete with the thingies that tell you what your speed is and what the posted speed is. I would almost think these people are trying to go and see how much over the posted limit they can go. I even saw 75mph when the posted limit was 45mph. Normally they have State Troopers in the median, they didn't yesterday.

Lastly, you mention 75mph. Understood you are talking wide open 6 lane freeway, right?

 

Yes, I'm trying to define it clearly.

The first two or so years I had my Insight, I'd drive at normal or a little over the speed limit. At least every other evening, I'd let someone that was going 80+ get to me and pass them. Sometimes it would turn into a race. If only I had pictures of them frowning etc., but you already know this was a recreational speeder....My mpg during that period could have been low 60s, even 65mpg, but the races brought it down to 55-56mpg. Three or four of them a week can bring it down....

The best solution of course is law enforcement just crack down, which they have done on the Bush Tollway in Dallas. More racing is still another reason pack speeds should be slowed by pacing patrolmen.

Hybrid drivers may be in a situation like Preacher's Kids. They get teased by the bad boys if they are on explementary behavior - condemned if they respond to the bad boys. Some people have made up their minds about hybrid drivers no matter how fast or slow they drive.

 

I do all of my of driving in greater Boston area and all posted freeway speeds are 55mph. Even in heavy traffic the pack speeds are in excess of 65-75mph, madness. I just stay in the two right lanes when possible and go about 60-65 with only the semi's up my tailpipe, they always go around with no problem. In light traffic, most people just go about 60-65 with the occasional 75-90+mph yahoo. Saw one guy going ludicris speed in left lane then try and take an exit ramp clipping several cars sending them all into a spin....good thing I was a ways back or I would have been part of his parade. Most people just get caught up in the "pack" and are not conscious of how fast they are going cuz most don't know how to read that funny meter on the dash.....and most have never studied the laws of physics..

 

I agree with most of your points made above, about speeding.
However, speeding is a relative term, and I'm not sure speed limits are always set with respect to safety concerns. I think in some areas fairly high speeds could be safely maintained. Safe speed depends on road and conditions, but also on type and stability of cars, and ability of drivers. I think there are several important considerations here:
Quote: 'Going well under the speed limit is hazardous'.
I would disagree. Say the limit is 75 and everyone drives 55, that would not necessarily be hazardous. Driving substantially slower than the flow of traffic is hazardous. However, that is not an excuse for those pushing the limits. In areas where traffic is notoriously 10-20 mph above the limit (as it often is on Houston freeways), I drive maybe 5-10 above the limit, to avoid being a road hazard, while contributing least to elevating 'mean' speeds.
For me, another consideration though is FE. I find that a far more compelling reason to drive at a reasonable speed, no matter what the limit.

 

MGBGT,

Yes, I think we mostly agree.

My initial post on this thread conceeded going over the limit a bit in urban traffic (I think). I see a difference between 5-10 over and 10-20 or even more.

I can't find a definition to fit all situations of flagarantly speeding, but you know it when you see it. There are people that apparently want to make the speed limit signs meanless.

Last night I noticed for the first time a speed limit on the I635 to I35E ramp - northbound. It's because so many big rigs tip over. There was a general sign and another with a picuture of a tipping big rig. A lot of the traffic jams are created by speeders that crash.

 

You really can't put a specific number on safety. If you want to improve road safety, it starts with making it a LOT harder to get a driver's license. If you had to complete a 40-hour training class, complete with demonstration of accident avoidance skills, tire blowout simulation training, skidpad classes to show vehicle control, skid control and correction using specially equipped driver's school vehicles (Skip Barbour and Bondurant have these) that can simulate all kinds of various handling maladies and traction defficiencies, then we'd be getting somewhere.

Sure, getting your driver's license might end up being a $2000 affair instead of $20, but ultimately everyone is better off. Do you think the families of the 43,500 Americans killed last year would pay $2000 to have their loved ones back? Do you think the half MILLION injured bad enough to require medical treatment ended up spending over $2000 in medical expenses? Of course, everyone would love it if everybody cared, and nobody died. It starts with a comprehensive licensing program that shifts the focus away from arbitrary government-set rules and on the individual for being a responsible and skilled driver at all times.

 

Let's not forget that 2/3 of all fatalities involve someone under the influence of drugs or alcohol. How do you prevent that? Lock out ignition systems based on breathlyzer testing etc. tougher laws... No amount of driver ed will prevent that drunk 16yr old from jumping into a car and wasting a life. Let's not forget the elderly as well. They cause a great deal of highway carnage. Everyday I read or hear about someone driving through a building claiming the accelerator got stuck???? My dad almost drove through his house when his foot got stuck between the gas and brake pedal. Luckily I was not standing in front of his car when it happened.....Yeeeesh. Elderly should have to get road tested yearly after a certain age. Case of the 92 yr old women who drove into a drainage ditch, car burned and she spent the night in freezing temps...in hospital ICU, then says she can't wait to get back behind the wheel......madness....

 

AZCivic, I agree with a German-style driver's license program, and did a last weekend. Ralph_dog, I also see your point on substance abuser and other that simply have a bad attitude - law needs to kick these offenders a lot harder.

Oftentimes in the old Wild, Wild West, the ultimate penality was to take away one's guns. We Americans depend on cars the same way, so lets put the fear of losing one's licence.

 

I agree, and also believe that DWI/DUI is the biggest problem out there.
I think permissible alcohol levels should be lower, a first infraction by a small amount (of alcohol) should result in a fine, and a first infraction by a large amount, or any secondary infraction should result in a license suspended by at least 6 months. Then you can get it back after taking special ed classed for DUI. A third infraction, and you surrender your license forever, no chance to get it back.
Thats what I would recommend.