I have a RANT .

[Buggs67]

IDK about all other states, but the law here is that you drive in the right hand lane unless passing. The right lane (of three) is NOT for entry and exit, it's the slow lane. The middle lane is to pass those slow-pokes. The left lane is to pass the slightly faster folk in the middle lane. Except for "slow vehicle" lanes the middle lane is NOT to hang out for the duration of your trip. Truck drivers HATE people who think that way, because the middle lane is THE ONLY CHANCE they have to pass.

American drivers (mostly) suck. They take offense if you pass them even in passing zones on 2 lane county roads. They hog the left lane and try to run you off the road if you try to pass on the right. They speed up to keep you from passing on the left. I've driven in Ireland, Germany, Austria and Italy as well as Canada. Metro NY and LA drivers are the worst. The closer you get to the heartland the better more courteous the drivers get.

 

[dave1949]

You have got to be kidding. 62-63 on an Interstate? I hope you at least stay in the right lane.

You won't find me in the right lane going 62-63 on an interstate because I'm usually going a long ways, about 935 miles, and 10 mph adds up over that distance. That's why people mis-using the left lanes of an interstate aggravate me.

It's true though, if you travel that 2-3 mph below the speed limit you are safer and less stressed. Of course you should be in the right lane. It's not so slow your vehicle is a hazard, yet people can overtake you in a reasonable time. Cars can enter/merge into the right lane easier than trying to catch-up with 70-75 mph traffic.

If you go through a commercial freight company's driver training, that's what they will teach you. A lot of long-haul trucks are governed at 65-67 mph. Some at 70-72 mph. When you see a truck passing another truck forever @ 65 mph, it's often because they are running against the governor. Some companies will fire drivers for exceeding the speed limit routinely. The truck's speed is recorded on the on-board GPS tracking units and can be uploaded to the company at anytime.

 

[Buggs67]

You won't find me in the right lane going 62-63 on an interstate because I'm usually going a long ways, about 935 miles, and 10 mph adds up over that distance. That's why people mis-using the left lanes of an interstate aggravate me.

It's true though, if you travel that 2-3 mph below the speed limit you are safer and less stressed. Of course you should be in the right lane. It's not so slow your vehicle is a hazard, yet people can overtake you in a reasonable time. Cars can enter/merge into the right lane easier than trying to catch-up with 70-75 mph traffic.

If you go through a commercial freight company's driver training, that's what they will teach you. A lot of long-haul trucks are governed at 65-67 mph. Some at 70-72 mph. When you see a truck passing another truck forever @ 65 mph, it's often because they are running against the governor. Some companies will fire drivers for exceeding the speed limit routinely. The truck's speed is recorded on the on-board GPS tracking units and can be uploaded to the company at anytime.

You did say 2-3 below the limit, that's 62-63. In my motor home I set the cruise at 68-70, sit in the right lane and everyone passes me. Low stress and better mpg.

 

[300UGUY]

IDK about all other states, but the law here is that you drive in the right hand lane unless passing. The right lane (of three) is NOT for entry and exit, it's the slow lane. The middle lane is to pass those slow-pokes. The left lane is to pass the slightly faster folk in the middle lane. Except for "slow vehicle" lanes the middle lane is NOT to hang out for the duration of your trip. Truck drivers HATE people who think that way, because the middle lane is THE ONLY CHANCE they have to pass.

American drivers (mostly) suck. They take offense if you pass them even in passing zones on 2 lane county roads. They hog the left lane and try to run you off the road if you try to pass on the right. They speed up to keep you from passing on the left. I've driven in Ireland, Germany, Austria and Italy as well as Canada. Metro NY and LA drivers are the worst. The closer you get to the heartland the better more courteous the drivers get.

Keep to the right may be the law, but on a lot of urban expressways, they have the right lane designated as "local". And some areas, trucks are limited on speed to 65 or even 55. In rush hour, those speeds can be optimistic!! I used to commute 110 miles per day, almost all xway. I agree a lot of drivers suck, I think it ought to be much more difficult to get and keep a license. My neighbor drove like Mr. McGoo for years, he should never have been on the road, for a least 5 years.

 

[dave1949]

You did say 2-3 below the limit, that's 62-63. In my motor home I set the cruise at 68-70, sit in the right lane and everyone passes me. Low stress and better mpg.

I find that hard to believe on a road with a speed limit of 65 mph. You never pass anyone? You must be one lucky guy.

 

[Bird]

All this talk about speed and speed limits makes it obvious that many of you are not old enough to remember the oil shortage and national speed limit of 55 mph of the 1970s.:laughing:

 

[k0ua]

All this talk about speed and speed limits makes it obvious that many of you are not old enough to remember the oil shortage and national speed limit of 55 mph of the 1970s.:laughing:

I remember it well.

"I can't drive 55!" With apologies to Sammy Hagar

 

[dave1949]

All this talk about speed and speed limits makes it obvious that many of you are not old enough to remember the oil shortage and national speed limit of 55 mph of the 1970s.:laughing:

Yep, the Ohio HWP loved that. Speed limits are creeping up. I have to laugh when I use the US Rt. 20 bypass around Fremont, OH. It used to be 55, even after the national double nickel ended, and they watched it like a hawk. Now it's 65, people drive 70, and they don't patrol it like they used to. Same road, no improvements, more traffic.

We could have some benefits from a 55 mph limit obviously. But as long as the alternatives to driving a personal vehicle on medium to long trips are lacking and/or unattractive, the push will be for higher road speeds is my guess.

Generally I think speed limits and enforcement react to traffic accident and fatality stats? With surround air bags and seat belts, better crush zone frames, better braking and suspensions, etc., I would guess many people are surviving crashes now and with lesser injuries than they would have earlier.

The next big change I think will be more collision avoidance technology. The semi my brother drives has that now, when it's engaged it applies the brakes if the distance from the vehicle ahead is too close. He is not a fan so far, it may need some refinements. Lane crossing warnings, front distance braking, are common options now on cars.

 

[300UGUY]

I have a freind of mine who is working on driverless cars fo GM. He says if they want to, it could be implemented within 10 years. But there is resistance.

 

[Buggs67]

I find that hard to believe on a road with a speed limit of 65 mph. You never pass anyone? You must be one lucky guy.

Well I have to pass some. But most cars on the rural Interstate are doing at least 70.

Around here it's a free-for-all. Left lane people are doing 80, until they come up behind a left-lane-loafer. Sometimes on the NYS Thruway I find I move better in the right lane (of 3). "Keep Right Except to Pass" is forgotten around here. And once you cross the bridges to NYC/LI all rules go out the window. I avoid the Metro area.

 

[aczlan]

Well I have to pass some. But most cars on the rural Interstate are doing at least 70.

Around here it's a free-for-all. Left lane people are doing 80, until they come up behind a left-lane-loafer. Sometimes on the NYS Thruway I find I move better in the right lane (of 3). "Keep Right Except to Pass" is forgotten around here. And once you cross the bridges to NYC/LI all rules go out the window. I avoid the Metro area.

Nothing like doing 75 in a 55 zone (Long Island Expressway) and getting passed like you are standing still by 1/4 of the cars on the road.

Aaron Z

 

[turnkey4099]

All this talk about speed and speed limits makes it obvious that many of you are not old enough to remember the oil shortage and national speed limit of 55 mph of the 1970s.:laughing:

I think that was in the late 60s.

I for sure remember it. Plugging along on coast to coast trips at about 57 on highways designed for 65-70. I appreciated Montana in them days. They ticketed for over 55 but it was only a $5 ticket payable at the side of the road. They used to have "reasonable and proper" limit. i.e., none at all. You could debate with the cop if your speed met the R&P criteria.

Harry K

 

[300UGUY]

I think that was in the late 60s.

I for sure remember it. Plugging along on coast to coast trips at about 57 on highways designed for 65-70. I appreciated Montana in them days. They ticketed for over 55 but it was only a $5 ticket payable at the side of the road. They used to have "reasonable and proper" limit. i.e., none at all. You could debate with the cop if your speed met the R&P criteria.

Nope! Oil shock of 1973, the arabs lost a war with the Isrealis, and cut production. I got laid off for the first time as a result. Also gave us a recession that lasted into 1975.

Harry K

The oil shock of 73, caused by the arabs losing a war with the Isrealis. Caused the recession of 73 - 75. I got laid off the first time in November of 73. I was 18. Ended up moving back home early in 74.....We got the 55 mph limit in early 74?

 

[Bird]

The oil shock of 73, caused by the arabs losing a war with the Isrealis. Caused the recession of 73 - 75. I got laid off the first time in November of 73. I was 18. Ended up moving back home early in 74.....We got the 55 mph limit in early 74?

Texas started it at the end of 1973. I had bought a new 1973 Winnebago Brave (smallest one they made) and it had a 40 gallon fuel tank. A lot of gas stations in our area limited sales to 10 or 15 gallons, so I'd get the limit at one station, drive down the street to the next station, etc. I was a bit concerned about starting for West Virginia in the summer of 1974, but never found any shortage of gas or limits on sales amounts.

But in late March, 1986, I was enroute to Quantico, VA, on my Honda Aspencade and kept the cruise control on about 57 mph most of the way, but in Atlanta, I was afraid I'd get run over if I didn't speed up, so I sped up to between 70 and 75 mph, and at one point an 18-wheeler passed me on one side at the same time a police squad car passed me on the other side.:shocked: They both had to have been doing between 75 and 80.

 

[kevin37b]

I have a freind of mine who is working on driverless cars fo GM. He says if they want to, it could be implemented within 10 years. But there is resistance.

Ithink that program is in effect , however all the major players seem to be on board . Get it ? From what I can tell most cars are driverless ?

 

[Buggs67]

Ithink that program is in effect , however all the major players seem to be on board . Get it ? From what I can tell most cars are driverless ?

Good one.

 

[Brad_Blazer]

Google says 2017. Google unveils first
The implications are hard to fathom.

 

[Bird]

LD1, I saw a lot of those same folks you complain of on I35E yesterday afternoon north of Dallas. It's also 3 lanes each way.

 

[deerseeker001]

good one.

Stop flashing your lights at me - it distracts me from texting!