How fast do you drive?

fusion · Post by **fusion** » 2006-09-10 11:55pm

Dahak wrote:That reminds me of a show on MTW where some guy said, sitting in a pimped-up Ford, that he loved the "kick" of doing 160km/h with 6000 RPM on a street. It was a WTF? moment for me. 160 and getting a kick out of it??

But I have gone 180mph and I just got my license a few weeks ago.
However, normally 75 mph on the freeway. (Sacrameto)

Metatwaddle · Post by **Metatwaddle** » 2006-09-11 12:26am

I got ticketed while driving home from a party on Friday night. (No, I had not had any drinks.) Apparently I ran a stop sign - I didn't even know it was there; no idea how the hell that happened because I drove the same road last night and even in the dark it was perfectly fucking obvious. Supposedly I was also going "unreasonably fast," even though the officer didn't clock me.

I think I'll be more careful in the future.

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2006-09-11 03:07am

Discombobulated wrote:I got ticketed while driving home from a party on Friday night. (No, I had not had any drinks.) Apparently I ran a stop sign - I didn't even know it was there; no idea how the hell that happened because I drove the same road last night and even in the dark it was perfectly fucking obvious. Supposedly I was also going "unreasonably fast," even though the officer didn't clock me.

I think I'll be more careful in the future.

we have "stealth" stopsigns here in yosemite, they are embedded into barrels sitting outside of the ground, and seem to get moved around a bit...

needless to say the rangers right a lot of tickets....

Thunderfire · Post by **Thunderfire** » 2006-09-11 04:59am

300 kph is the absolute maximum for me and I rarely get the chance to drive a car that fast. Between 130 and 180 kph is the norm on the autobahn. On other roads 10 kph above the speed limit most of the time.

Chris OFarrell · Post by **Chris OFarrell** » 2006-09-11 05:29am

I just about always drive at the speed limit, that goes double in major urban areas. On long highway drives I might drift up by 5-10 KPH on occasion, but not that often at all. I laugh at idiots who scream by 30KPH over the limit and I see 5 minuites later on the side of the road being given a ticket. THat said, I'm careful to stay out of the way of people who want to scream along at stupidly insane speeds.

And suffice to say in school zones (in NSW school zones are active between 8AM-9:30AM and 2:30PM-4PM, under the assumption that there may be a lot of kids around the area during that time) I obey the limits (40KPH, generaly over 2-5 hundred meters) religiously. Mostly because the Government LOVES to raise cash with speed cameras in the area.

Of course if they seriously wanted people to slow down at that time in those areas, they would put up the flashing speed signs which light up during the time periods, which have shown dramatic results in getting cars to slow down.
But they like putting fixed speed cameras up and raking in the cash saing that its a greater deterent, all empherical evidence aside.

phred · Post by **phred** » 2006-09-11 07:14am

i usually do 10-15mph above the speed limit on the highway, about 40 on main city streets and 25 in residential areas. i usually try to beat the safety limits by at least 10 when im alone on the backroads.(theres nothing like driving Highway 1 at 3 in the morning)

Thunderfire · Post by **Thunderfire** » 2006-09-11 12:33pm

weemadando wrote: Indeed, I usually drive 5-10km below the speed limit in city traffic due to the insanity of other drivers and me wanting to be able to stop/maneuvre in time.

5-10km below the city speed limit = road hazard unless the traffic doesn't allow faster driving. Some people will try risky overtaking maneuvers to get past a unneccesary slow moving vehicle.

Turin · Post by **Turin** » 2006-09-11 12:43pm

On the highways I tend to go 5-10 over the posted limit, but in the city I drive pretty slow, maybe 10-15mph in a 30mph zone. The streets here are pretty narrow and a lot are only one lane with parking on each side and lots of stop signs and lights. Idiots fly around doing 30+ and then some kid steps out between parked cars and its all over.

On top of that, the street lights don't make 30mph driving very efficient. I recently crossed the entire downtown district doing a sedate and safe 15mph while the maniac next to me was racing between lights at 30-40mph. We made it to the highway on-ramp at the same time, but I probably used half as much gas. Moron.

Akhlut · Post by **Akhlut** » 2006-09-11 05:44pm

City driving, I tend to hover within five miles of the posted limit. I used to be a lot more egregious about speeding on the highways (fastest I've ever gone is about 110...in a minivan) until I was pulled over sometime last April or May. I almost got a ticket, but luckily got off with a warning. Now I tend to only do about 80 on major interstates and just under 10 over the posted limit on two-lane highways. I'm too damned broke to try to get away with speeding these days.

I also am apparently the only person who even attempts to go 55 in work zones.

Chris OFarrell · Post by **Chris OFarrell** » 2006-09-11 09:09pm

Thunderfire wrote:
weemadando wrote: Indeed, I usually drive 5-10km below the speed limit in city traffic due to the insanity of other drivers and me wanting to be able to stop/maneuvre in time.
5-10km below the city speed limit = road hazard unless the traffic doesn't allow faster driving. Some people will try risky overtaking maneuvers to get past a unneccesary slow moving vehicle.

And that would be their fault then if they screw up and cause a smashy smashy no?

That said, I think hard and fast rules can be too unflexable. You really have to be able to drive not for yourself, but for everyone ELSE on the road. Frankly I just try and stick to the left lanes and follow the rules. If people want to speed along, as long as they stick to the right hand lands and do it carefuly, that's their call.

Of course most of the time I find people who speed well above the speed limit/traffic flow also do stuff like change lanes without indicating, zipping into tiny gaps and forcing everyone to slam on the breaks, they'll happily charge screaming around blind corners and trust on nothing but instincts to keep them safe and everyone dodging out of their way...

aerius · Post by **aerius** » 2006-09-11 10:02pm

Chris OFarrell wrote:Of course most of the time I find people who speed well above the speed limit/traffic flow also do stuff like change lanes without indicating, zipping into tiny gaps and forcing everyone to slam on the breaks, they'll happily charge screaming around blind corners and trust on nothing but instincts to keep them safe and everyone dodging out of their way...

That's for sure. When my current car gets close to getting to the junkpile, I'll probably be quite tempted to let one of these assholes hit me and then let their insurance company rape them for all they're worth. Hell, I might even file lawsuits against them for the hell of it.

Dahak · Post by **Dahak** » 2006-09-12 03:23am

Chris OFarrell wrote:
Thunderfire wrote:
weemadando wrote: Indeed, I usually drive 5-10km below the speed limit in city traffic due to the insanity of other drivers and me wanting to be able to stop/maneuvre in time.
5-10km below the city speed limit = road hazard unless the traffic doesn't allow faster driving. Some people will try risky overtaking maneuvers to get past a unneccesary slow moving vehicle.
And that would be their fault then if they screw up and cause a smashy smashy no?

Well, driving too slow on the left lane of an Autobahn, for instance, can get you a fine for coercion and/or obstruction.
In the city and on country roads, some police officers, especially at night, might stop you if you're obviously slower than the speed limit and ask why you're driving so slow.

Thunderfire · Post by **Thunderfire** » 2006-09-12 09:41am

Chris OFarrell wrote:
And that would be their fault then if they screw up and cause a smashy smashy no?

Driving to slow is against the law here in germany. You are supposed to drive at the speed limit when the traffic situation permits it. The slow driver pays up to 50% of the accidental damage.

D.Turtle · Post by **D.Turtle** » 2006-09-12 05:17pm

I have to say I am truly amazed at some of the comments made here about the situation on the roads in their respective country.

Apparently, despite (maybe because) the no-limit Autobahn, people drive a LOT saner here in Germany. For me it is absolutely exceptional to see really crazy drivers.
I wonder why. One reason might be that more care is given before people get a licence (lots of mandatory driving lessons, etc). Another reason could be the points system (starting at fines of 40€, you get points in a directory - get too many and you lose the licence, and can't get a new one for some time).

Another thing that amazes me is people who are afraid to drive either because of speeds or because of other drivers. I don't know anyone (who lives in Germany) who is afraid of driving on the Autobahn.

Dahak · Post by **Dahak** » 2006-09-12 05:59pm

D.Turtle wrote:I have to say I am truly amazed at some of the comments made here about the situation on the roads in their respective country.

Apparently, despite (maybe because) the no-limit Autobahn, people drive a LOT saner here in Germany. For me it is absolutely exceptional to see really crazy drivers.
I wonder why. One reason might be that more care is given before people get a licence (lots of mandatory driving lessons, etc). Another reason could be the points system (starting at fines of 40€, you get points in a directory - get too many and you lose the licence, and can't get a new one for some time).

Another thing that amazes me is people who are afraid to drive either because of speeds or because of other drivers. I don't know anyone (who lives in Germany) who is afraid of driving on the Autobahn.

Once you leave Germany, the feeling gets...strangely easier. A German Autobahn feels very much different to a UK motorway. But I personally know foreigners who were afraid of driving on the Autobahn. Strangest thing...
And one has to note that the fines are much lower than elsewhere in Europe.

DesertFly · Post by **DesertFly** » 2006-09-12 08:00pm

When I was a driver for Pizza Hut, I tended to drive extremely fast (15-20 mph over the limit). I still feel like the pizza sign I stuck to my car was a sort of "get out of ticket free", since I never got pulled over when I had it on, no matter how outrageously I drove. Once I stopped, though, I started driving more reasonably, and since I got pulled over but not ticketed several times this year for speeding (when I wasn't, actually, the cops just wanted to scare people), I've gotten rather paranoid, to the point where I travel as close to the limit as I possibly can. Occasionally I go a little higher, usually it's 1 or 2 under.

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2006-09-12 08:03pm

Dahak wrote:Well, driving too slow on the left lane of an Autobahn, for instance, can get you a fine for coercion and/or obstruction.
In the city and on country roads, some police officers, especially at night, might stop you if you're obviously slower than the speed limit and ask why you're driving so slow.

You get tickets for driving too slow in AU also. Nothing is more annoying than slow drivers in the inside lane. If people want to take their time, get out of the adults way and out of the 'overtaking' lane, dammit.

drifter god · Post by **drifter god** » 2006-09-12 08:24pm

i hate to say this because its kind of ridiculous, but i have 14 speeding tickets. i have an escort 8500 x50 and avoid many many more potential tickets as well. im not proud of this in any way, im just addicted to speed,

heres the kicker, my licence has never been suspended and my insurance has never gone up. also.. these are all within the past ... 4? years. im 21.

but i have paid close, if not more than $4000 in tickets.

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2006-09-12 08:26pm

It's not ridiculous, it's retarded. Like I said, I technically speed quite a lot, but I've never, ever been busted for speeding because I'm not appreciably faster than everyone else. But hey, you're a menace on the road, bully for you.

drifter god · Post by **drifter god** » 2006-09-12 08:37pm

most people respond that way, and my response always makes me out to be a prick, but i have the money to pay for my tickets and i dont have any problem with getting more. but to defend my self a tad bit, i dont cut people off, i dont cut and dice through traffic, if someones in front of me i just slow down. i only haul ass when i have the road to myself, which is actually quite a bit for me.

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2006-09-12 08:42pm

Well I realise now that you ride a bike, so that sort of thing is expected. At least when you have an accident you'll only flay the flesh from your bones, break your legs and spend months in rehab, instead of killing some random family.

See, I park in loading zones in the city. I don't care about tickets, and you only get one or two a year which cost less than registering the vehicle for business. So I'm down with breaking that particular law, because it can't kill me or anyone else.

Uraniun235 · Post by **Uraniun235** » 2006-09-12 08:44pm

drifter god wrote:i hate to say this because its kind of ridiculous, but i have 14 speeding tickets. i have an escort 8500 x50 and avoid many many more potential tickets as well. im not proud of this in any way, im just addicted to speed,

heres the kicker, my licence has never been suspended and my insurance has never gone up. also.. these are all within the past ... 4? years. im 21.

but i have paid close, if not more than $4000 in tickets.

$4000 in four years? Starting when you were 17? Jesus christ, dude, just how bad do you pop the speed limit?

although honestly if there was something about you that I would mock, it would be your username and the image of do-rif-tu that it brings up

drifter god · Post by **drifter god** » 2006-09-12 08:46pm

that about sums it up pretty much. only i also forked out a grand and a half out for real leathers. so while i may be turned to a bag of broken bones, ill have all my skin.

drifter god · Post by **drifter god** » 2006-09-12 08:47pm

this is me

Fashionable Nerfherder · Post by **Fashionable Nerfherder** » 2006-09-14 10:32pm

Since I now live in the nanny state of Washington near Seattle, I try to keep to the speed limit. A few months back I had to shell out $125 for going about 8 miles over 60 on I-5 while trying to pass a grandpa. Where I grew up no cop in his right mind would ticket you for anything less than 15 over on the highway.

My favorite speeding moment - while driving out to Fort Lewis for an Army assignment several years back I got pulled over for doing almost 100 through Montana. But the trooper was pretty cool after he found out I was in the military, letting me off with the warning that contrary to popular belief Montana does have speed limits.