While towing into and back out of California in July I noticed there were a bunch of signs saying the speed limit was 55 mph for any vehicle towing something. Does that limit get strictly enforced or is it merely a suggestion that the police generally ignore unless you're obviously being unsafe? Initially I tried to keep it around 60 but by the time we were leaving the state I was pushing more like 70 on the freeway. Just wondering if I got lucky not getting caught or it isn't enforced much.

I have never known a speed limit sign being a "suggestion". I think 5 mph leeway is common and maybe 8-9; usually 10 or more means trouble. At 70 pulling a trailer you are passing the 18 wheelers and just asking for a ticket IMHO.

I don't know its history of being enforced, but I like it. I don't have to be cursed at for going too slow. I do see weekend warriors blowing by me at 80, can't recall seeing one getting a ticket.

Lauren wrote:I have never known a speed limit sign being a "suggestion". I think 5 mph leeway is common and maybe 8-9; usually 10 or more means trouble. At 70 pulling a trailer you are passing the 18 wheelers and just asking for a ticket IMHO.Consistently passing too many 18 wheelers in a row will increase the probability of getting pulled over by a Ca. Bear. In my experience, running 63-65 is ok except when passing 18 wheelers then I may temporarily hit 70 but then back off after passing. I would never drive without my Valentine Radar on, especially at night. My radar will pick up Bears/radar in all 4 directions front/back, left/right. 1 speeding ticket will buy you a Valentine radar unit:)

It's likely that your TT tires are only rated to 65Mph. Why do you need to go faster than that?

California Towing Speed Limit | Good Sam Community

lbrjet
Explorer
Sep 14, 2016
I have been (and still am) traveling around CA for a couple of months now and have not noticed drivers are any worse than other places. Haven't been to the LA area though.
996Pilot
Explorer
Sep 14, 2016
jmtandem wrote:

Go drive in Atlanta, Dallas, Boston, Chicago, New York or even Seattle. You might revise your thoughts about California drivers being really worse than the rest of the country.

Just drive ANYWHERE around Boston and surrounding areas - enough said!
996Pilot
Explorer
Sep 14, 2016
msmith1199 wrote:
If you drive much in Southern California you'll see people don't use their turn signals to change lanes. It's not that their being rude, but if you turn your signal on, that is a message to the guy in that lane who is behind you to speed up and not let you change lanes. So you wait until you have enough room, and then just go. Drivers in the Northern part of the state are nice and mild as compared to Los Angeles drivers. And neither are has bad as New York City drivers.

I beg to differ with you on your SoCal vs. NorCal comparison. I think it's more accurate to say "If you drive much in ANY heavily populated area of California ...."

I did the commute to/through Silicon Valley for 20 years and turn signals were just a suggestion for the driver behind and in the next lane to "close the gap" and not let you in - routine!! SoCal is not much different except everyone is trying to drive much faster and it seems it's all about ME, ME, ME.

The bone head maneuver that gripes me the most lately is when a car gets to a four-way stop -- then just goes. Some people interpret the four-way as "OK - I've stopped - now I can go". No regard for whether it's their turn to go or not - they just go. Impatient, self absorbed, ME-ME-ME!!!!!

I will now step off of my soapbox - thank you :)
hotpepperkid
Explorer
Sep 09, 2016
lane hog wrote:
Ten years of driving between SAN/LAX and TUS, running at 60-62 mph never gets noticed when towing.

What's a little muddier is whether or not motorhomes follow the car or truck limits. They're not a truck, and it seems like buses have no problems at 70+...

Doesn't matter to me as 62 is the sweet spot for my transmission and gas mileage...

Only if they are towing something like a toad
lane_hog
Explorer II
Sep 08, 2016
Ten years of driving between SAN/LAX and TUS, running at 60-62 mph never gets noticed when towing.

What's a little muddier is whether or not motorhomes follow the car or truck limits. They're not a truck, and it seems like buses have no problems at 70+...

Doesn't matter to me as 62 is the sweet spot for my transmission and gas mileage...
D_E_Bishop
Explorer
Sep 07, 2016
It was suggested that I post this here even though I posted it as a separate thread.

Last week in "Roads and Routes" was a thread about California Speed Limits and here is what the guys in the California Highway Patrol Office told me.

I made a comment regarding lane usage and today I found out it was not 100% correct.

Starting with the speed limit for all vehicles towing, it is 55MPH. All of the signs in CA are being changed to say “All Vehicles Towing” and an accompanying sign says, “Vehicles with THREE or more axles” the speed limit is 55 MPH.

Now slightly more complicated is the definition of the lane for Semi’s, and vehicles towing. Actually it is quite simple, semi’s and vehicles towing are restricted to the right hand lane except to pass another vehicle and then they must return to the right hand lane as soon as it is safe to do so. It does not matter how many lanes there are. Another exception is when there is a directional change in the lanes such as, an off ramp on the left side of the highway or if the highway for example splits into a Northerly direction and a Southerly direction. Even if you are towing and must move over to the left into the fast lane, your speed is still not to exceed 55 MPH.

Signs that are stating a legal restriction will have white backgrounds with black letters or numbers, signs that are for safety such a suggested speed for a curve are yellow background and black letters, symbols and numbers. White with Black are laws and yellow with black are suggestions. Driving at 5 MPH over a suggested 35 MPH curve is ticket able as being unsafe depending on the vehicle, load and condition. Oh yeah, and the opinion of the CHP officer who stops you.

The 5 MPH grace is more of a legal thing than the discretion of the officer. In court cases shown that the accuracy for two identical vehicle’s speedometers can be several MPH out of sync with one another and the law enforcement agencies must be able to show that the accuracy of their speedometers has been checked within a reasonable amount of time and the officer knows of any corrections that may be needed. So it is pretty much accepted that 5 MPH is an acceptable to the courts as a realistic grace on the speed limit.

smkettner sent me a link which validates my original statement in the post in the Roads and Routes forum that the far right and the lane immediately to the left of the right hand lane of a four lane road can be used by the vehicles limited to 55MPH. The CHP Officer was wrong.

I was wrong in stating that the same use applied to three lane roads. Thank you smk.
D_E_Bishop
Explorer
Sep 03, 2016
msmith1199 wrote:
D.E.Bishop wrote:
jmtandem wrote:
Drivers that are towing are not restricted to the right lane except when passing.

California Vehicle Code 21655b

"You must tow in the designated tow lane usually the right lane except for passing"

"USUALLY"!!!

The word "Usually" does not appear in the law. This quote looks like it is from the DMV website and it says "usually" because there are some exceptions. The actual law says "shall" unless one of the exceptions applies. Here is some actual text from the law:

My comment, "USUALLY" was in reference to a statement in QUOTES. That means to me that it is verbatim, not edited. And I guess that the law allowing any vehicle towing or with three or more axles to use the #3 and 4 lanes is an exception as is the part of the MVC that allows vehicles towing or with three or more axles to use the #2 or 3 lane.

In my opinion there are more exceptions that times the law is strictly applied and I think though not a legal excuse it is impossible to keep up with all the Nanny Laws in this state.

" those vehicles shall be driven in the right-hand lane for traffic or as close as practicable to the right edge or curb. If, however, a specific lane or lanes have not been designated on a divided highway having four or more clearly marked lanes for traffic in one direction, any of those vehicles may also be driven in the lane to the immediate left of that right-hand lane, unless otherwise prohibited under this code. When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction, the driver shall use either the designated lane, the lane to the immediate left of the right-hand lane, or the right-hand lane for traffic as permitted under this code."
msmith1199
Explorer II
Sep 03, 2016
hotpepperkid wrote:
msmith1199 wrote:
If you drive much in Southern California you'll see people don't use their turn signals to change lanes. It's not that their being rude, but if you turn your signal on, that is a message to the guy in that lane who is behind you to speed up and not let you change lanes. So you wait until you have enough room, and then just go. Drivers in the Northern part of the state are nice and mild as compared to Los Angeles drivers. And neither are has bad as New York City drivers.

Yep and the other thing they don't know how to merge onto freeways. That is my lane not yours. Either use the gas peddle to brake to either get in front of me or behind because Im not moving over to accomadate you

You would make a great Los Angeles driver, would fit right in. I on the other hand, do try and allow people to merge onto the freeway, even if I have to change lanes.
hotpepperkid
Explorer
Sep 03, 2016
msmith1199 wrote:
If you drive much in Southern California you'll see people don't use their turn signals to change lanes. It's not that their being rude, but if you turn your signal on, that is a message to the guy in that lane who is behind you to speed up and not let you change lanes. So you wait until you have enough room, and then just go. Drivers in the Northern part of the state are nice and mild as compared to Los Angeles drivers. And neither are has bad as New York City drivers.

Yep and the other thing they don't know how to merge onto freeways. That is my lane not yours. Either use the gas peddle to brake to either get in front of me or behind because Im not moving over to accomadate you
hotpepperkid
Explorer
Sep 03, 2016
I lived in CA and towed TT and 5er's for 30 years and never got stopped towing, had gotten tickets just driving solo. I have been passed by the CHP while doing nearly 70. I have had them pull along side of me and honk and flash 55 with his hand and go on by I give them a thumbs up and slow down until he disappears from sight. My normal speed CA or any where else is 65-68. I never vacationed in CA because of the speed limit, always headed East.

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