What’s A Safe Highway Speed?

I need more cowbell!

 

Ok, I just looked it up, and I seriously remember driving past the one in Alabama on 65 and thinking "holy fuck!" That was the biggest gas station I've ever seen, by a large margin!

And, suddenly I just had a scene from Pee-wee's Big Adventure pop into my head.

 

Right lane fairgrounds, then swing left lane until you pass Miller Park (as I will always call it), then quickly to the right lane before traffic comes at you from the left, then back to the left lane, and then at the split go where you need to go.

Works 80% percent of the time, all the time.

 

In these parts, Kwik Trip is the place to go for your bathroom and/or donut needs.

 

I'm sure I've mentioned this before and if it's not apparent, I'm definitely an arrogant asshole when it comes to driving.

I also don't feel it's that difficult though if you pay attention and that's the key. I've had my wife stop mid- sentence on more than one occasion and say "you're not listening" while I'm driving.

I tell her "yep, I'm busy keeping us safe" (even though I'm probably speeding). It takes a lot of concentration to look as far ahead as possible, watch what is going on beside you, and also keep an eye on what's coming up behind you. On top of that, predict what people's driving behavior is going to produce based on what you observe. I'm not a psychologist but driving behavior becomes predictable with experience.

It's also a lot easier when you know what to expect. Some of that is knowing the traffic patterns.

Distracted driving, whether it's carrying on a conversation in the car, talking on your hands-free device, or watching a video on the gigantic home theater screen they now put into vehicles, is going to cause more issues than anything in my opinion. Disclaimer: I'm also an idiot sometimes so don't listen to me

 

You'd be amazed at how much you can predict when you pay attention. Such as but not limited to:

• When in cities, seeing the pedestrian crosswalk counting down and telling you when your light is about to change from red to green
• When the traffic across from you has a turn lane, the extra lights for green and yellow arrows, and there are cars in that lane, they are most likely going to get a green arrow to allow them to turn before you get the green light to go straight
• When traffic across from you gets the green arrow, between 5-8 seconds after the last car crosses the white line, your light will change green

Many times my foot is off the brake before the light turns green because I've been paying attention. Unfortunately most people seem to be looking at their phone before they've come to a complete stop at their red light and are completely oblivious to what is going on around them

 

They just pulled a guy over on the highway, drunk. Then another guy came swerving down the road, drunk. Got two at one time.lol

 

All these “breweries” are popping up. I went to one this weekend, there were like fifty cars there some band. I thought to myself how do they get home they all drive?

 

I'll make it a point to stop at one on my way to Florida in a few months.

I will second what @bassist said, also. Kwik Trip generally runs a damn good operation. Food is hit and miss, but some is pretty good. Plenty of options for junk food and healthy stuff. Usually the lines move quickly and bathrooms are clean. Highly recommend if you pass through Wisconsin and need a pit stop.

Totally agree. I have gotten distracted at times, but I generally try to keep my eyes down the road, looking for hazards.

A year or so ago, a member here posted a dash cam video of an accident someone got into. Watching the video, I'm yelling in my head "brake, brake, brake, that guy's gonna do something stupid!!!"

And, sure enough, the other driver does something stupid and the guy with the dash cam hits them. Now, it was clearly the other driver's fault. But, I think it was 100% avoidable.

Again, I'm certainly not perfect. But, it's interesting watching a video like that and wondering when the driver is going to react. I tend to watch other drivers and I always expect people to do stupid things. And, I believe this has saved my ass a few times.

 

I’m sure it is…but Kwik Trip did use to sell two steaks for $5.

Sort of scary, really…

 

They always get me with those 2-for $xxx deals on candy. Bastards!

 

They sell a lot of everything, but certainly gas and car washes.

Heck, they’ll sometimes build two of them across the street from each other!

 

In Texas Buc-ee's isn't just a gas station, it's a way of life and a destination get-a-way for some. True story, the first time I stopped at a Buc-ee's I spent FIVE hours there, and bought $300 worth of stuff. They sell really delicious food at that place.

The really funny thing, I only pulled in for a quick fill up and to get "Back on the road" right away. Well, that didn't work out.

P.S. I love that they have full length doors on the stalls in the bathroom.

 

What grinds my gears are car companies that design cars in ways that intentionally complicate operation of basic functions, so as to create a default state of distracted driving. Then turn around and use the “dangerous crisis” in distracted driving safety stats to justify a vision of “safer” world of “self-driving” driving cars. Self-driving cars which they will heroically develop for the betterment of humanity, of course.

 

take my limited around 90mph and it actually feels pretty good at that speed. But as others have mentioned it seems to develop a fuel leak at that speed as it just gobbles the fuel.

 

Wow.

For a while I thought I had stumbled into the "Grinds My Gears" thread.

I always enjoyed George Carlin's perspective on speed. Something like: 'Anyone ahead of you, driving slower than you, is an idiot! Anyone behind you, driving faster than you, is a maniac!'

 

Just got to watch out for people off their meds or reviving from a drunk the previous weekend.

 

On the way home today, I get on the spur, about 2 to 3 mile “highway” section that takes folks to the highway with 2 exits between where it starts, 30 mph, and gets to a tool booth, think ez pass is marked 25. The speed limit is 60, I’m up to about 62 or so just starting to let off the pedal after getting up to speed. As I approached the the first exit, someone is getting on, obviously going slower than me, I go to move into the left lane to allow them to merge, when I see I’m my mirror, some ass hat cranking in the left lane.

My choices, pull in front off them and maybe get hit, at least piss them off as the will have to slow down, even if I punch it.
Or jam on my brakes as to not hit the person who just merged and wait for speedy to fly past.

 

LOL, I must have taken a wrong turn at the home page and posted this in the wrong thread.

I didn’t mean to suggest this thread turned into the “grind my gears” thread. But I guess my mistake shows maybe it already did

 

Option B is the courteous thing. But, you shouldn't really have to slam on the brakes, though. If the merging vehicle was going that slow, did you have room to get in front of them?

Part of what sucks is that a lot of people merge too slow. I know some ramps don't really give you a chance to reach freeway speed, but I also think some people just don't know how to enter the freeway.

I try to look ahead and be prepared for merging traffic, whether it's letting off the gas to let them in, or giving it a little extra to get in front of them. Sometimes both options suck, and you just have to do whatever seems safer. That's a shitty situation and it happens all the time.

 

I learned from a fire crew who works Donner Summit that the left blinker is also useful when you're parked on the shoulder with a mechanical problem. People will merge left to give you room more often than if you use your emergency lights. Even when you're on a fricken fire engine, lol.

 

LOL....... I can second your comments!!

 

Yeah ….at times I wish I hadn’t started the post but it did validate my thoughts on my up coming trip. Then I saw that it seemed therapeutic for a bunch of folks to explain their driving style so I just let it go. … Also, there has been some really good info dropped in throughout the conversation.

 

On my recent road trip, it seemed like many more construction zones through much of the country have signs saying "use both lanes to the merge point". It sometimes, but not always, prevents behavior you describe. If it becomes more standard, maybe things will improve.

 

Along with the above mentioned signs, I have seen signs at the merge point reading "Merge here. Take your turn." It actually seems to work pretty well.

 

When people will actually do it, it’s great.

on the way home today, had a vehicle cut into my lane, force me into the break down lane. I layed on the horn as I went by, and they honked back and told me I was number one. In no way shape or form did I NOT have the right a way, but they seemed to think I was wrong.

in our current society there is way too many all about “ME” folks who are oblivious to the rest of the world.

 

Did they just merge or would you be moving over to allow them to merge? There is a huge difference.

If they have not merged and you would be moving over to allow them to merge, you stay where you are and maintain speed, it is their responsibility to merge, not yours. That means they need to adjust their speed. You have recognized that it may not be safe for you to move over.

If they have already merged and are now in front of you, you hit your brakes. You know someone is approaching in the other lane and as you mentioned "maybe get hit", they are probably too close for you to move over safely.

LMAO, I forgot you're in Maine where the guy getting on the ramp thinks they have the right of way. Had a Prius driver flip me off because he had to slow down and get behind me because I did not move over (there was a semi beside me, not sure how he missed that). Anyway, if you're on the highway, you are under no obligation to either move over or adjust your speed to allow someone coming up the on ramp to get onto the highway...that is their responsibility. (I do move over when I can but I'm not speeding up or slowing down for you if I can't move over). If I am on the on ramp, I'm adjusting my speed, assuming you won't be able to move over...

 

Last weekend I got back from a 5000 mile road trip (NJ to CO & NM and back), and I thought a lot about speed limits, capabilities, and habits along the way. I felt like the 4R was fine at 70-75 in most places, but it couldn't hold 75 in big hill and mountains without big RPM. On the flat, 75-80 was OK. However, my hands still hurt from gripping the wheel on I-70 between Denver and Loveland and some other areas with curves at speed, especially on the downhills. I'm pretty sure CO posts higher speeds on turns than most states, and the body roll was unnerving. I had to really dial it back compared to how I would drive a sedan. I've been on that stretch countless times, but doing in a 4R was a new experience.

 

they had merged already, just didn’t get on the gas. Had they got up to speed a little quicker, it would have been a nonissue. Honestly, I just wished people would be a little considerate of others. My blood pressure shouldn’t go up insanely just for a 12 minute drive.

 

Yup, it's called the zipper merge. Well proven to move traffic along way faster, like by 40%. Problem is the human ego and people thinking they should have merged earlier.