Actual driving speeds

westend wrote:

pitch wrote:
Why is it so hard to get a succinct answer to a simple question?

I am in unfamiliar territory. I wish to go some place in the region. I am not on an interstate.
At what general speed will other traffic I encounter be traveling?

I just thought this may be a fun informative thread, and every one of you has been confronted with the quandary if you have ever gotten off the interstates.

You asked for "local speeds", not defined as non-Interstate. The only "fantasy" about driving faster than a 55 mph posted limit is in between your ears.

Hi There Pitch.

Well, we all could just all sit here and B.S. about how fast most of us are driving.

Yes, there are a lot of RV'ers who love to drive as fast as they can get awawy with, without getting caught, that is.

I have had every kind of RV's there is, from Travel Trailers, to 5th Wheel Trailers, to Class C's and Class A's. I won't even get into the past 50 years of Driving almost every type of Commericial Rig there is, and including every type of loads you can think of.

I still have a "Stopless Driving Record. I haven't even has so much as a Parking Ticket. I drive 55 MPH and sometimes a bit less. I will say this, California, Highway Patrol sure does love to give Tickes to RV'ers or anyone else who drives over the 55 MPH Speed Limit Towing, Period I know there are othe RV'ers out there that drive as I do, as I have been behind quite a few of them over the years. Get a few Tickets, and you will learn to be a believer of Driving the Speed Limit also.

Ever notice all of the RV'ers who claim to never speed, but keep having Flat Tires or Blow-Outs. My DW and I both have "Spotless Driving Records, and boy, does it ever show on how much we pay for a year of insurance. Good Luck. Happy Travels. Dan & Jill & our two small "Yorkie Kids"

Silly question really. All answers are subjective and arbitrary. You'll get different answers, from different people, for different reasons, taking into account many variables. One person said it best, whatever the posted limit is should be the maximum speed driven and advocated. Anything else could possibly subject you to enforcement actions. I don't dispute the fact that few drivers actually adhere to the posted signs, and I'll concede that driving the limit will get you passed by most traffic, but a speed limit is a speed limit and anything else could potentially expose you to law enforcement, particularly in unfamiliar areas where enforcement could be "to the letter of the law", i.e., speed trap towns like Waldo Florida, as an example. Ultimately people are going to drive what they are comfortable with. Some will adhere to the numbers stated above, others will keep up with the flow of traffic, and others will abide by the speed limits. In the end, only following the speed limit will keep you out of trouble.

This of course is just my opinion only. It's worth what you paid for it.

Safe travels.

pitch wrote:
Why is it so hard to get a succinct answer to a simple question?

How's this? ...Go with the flow!


I'm always prepared to adjust to whatchamightcall "conditions on the ground". Even in unfamiliar territory, I find that traffic explains itself pretty well when one becomes part of it.

Hi pitch,

I found a "sweet spot" at 78 kph. (49 mph). That's where I get the best economy--and that's the speed I drive on highways. Two caveats, weather conditions have to support going that fast, and there needs to be no posted lower speed limit.

5 miles over the posted speed is my limit. No matter what it is. When towing. 60 to 65.

We drive, with the flow of the traffic. that is the only logical and safe way to drive.
Roads open and clear may drive a little faster. Won't generally go over 10 over though. Sometimes you run across a lot of people cutting you off, regardless, of lane, even at 5 over or 10 over.
We stay clear of Semis especially being on a corner. Their shenanigans cause a lot of wrecks and backed up traffic and heated up brakes and tempers.
Safe and prudent speed is the way to go.

the posted speed..

unless you are talking 40 years ago. 10 over what the car in front is going.

55/58 i'm in no rush get best mpg at 2500 rpm's

pitch wrote:
...I am in unfamiliar territory. I wish to go some place in the region. I am not on an interstate.
At what general speed will other traffic I encounter be traveling?...

The speed I drive will also partly depend on the terrain and roads I am driving on in "unfamiliar territory". If the road is steep up and down, blind curves, etc. and I have NEVER driven on it, you can bet I will not be going fast - maybe 45 mph, even if the speed limit higher. If I have been on it enough to memorize where I need to slow down due to sharp curves, then I'll be driving the speed limit.

If it is a flat wide open you-can-see-for-miles type road like those often found in the Midwest/west, then I just might exceed the speed limit by a few MPH's.

If I am in a residential area, no matter the terrain or how often I have driven the road, then I ALWAYS do the speed limit. Even if that means dropping from 60 mph to 20 mph for a mile or two. This often severely PO's the people behind me, but I'd much rather drive slow and be prepared for traffic turning out of side streets/driveways.

If it is a busy multi-lane road, I try to go with the flow of traffic within reason. I do not like being the speed bump going the speed limit when everyone else is doing 15-25 mph higher.

I drive the MH @ 58 - 61 MPH. Sometime more when going downhill, sometime less when cresting a hill.