Interstates safer than "Blue Highways?"TRIP UPDATE

[GizmosMom]

We are now retired and I have our summer trip to Colorado planned. We share the driving.

I want to travel the back roads and blue highways. I want to take our time. The Interstates make me nervous and they are boring.

DH wants to travel the Interstates as much as possible because he feels they are safer. He doesn't like to have to slow down and stop for traffic lights in small towns when he drives. Feels that blue highways are more prone to head-on collisions.

What do you think?

[2lazy4U]

The term blue highway wasn't invented by Least Heat Moon - it's an old term and also the name of an international tourist route from Norway via Sweden and Finland to Russia. I grew up hearing the term in W. Colorado as a kid in the 50's and 60's.

As for the OP, I would much prefer the rural highways, as you get glimpses of Old America.

[Old-Biscuit]

doxiemom11 wrote:
We travel the secondary roads as much as possible. We hate competing with the semis and idiots on the interstate. No matter what speed you choose to drive you always feel like you are being pushed to go faster. It is not relaxing. Being retired means slowing down. Half the fun of a trip is taking your time and being able to stop when you see something you want to check out further. What is the hurry?

During our 7 yrs of Full Time travel we also used secondary/back roads as much as possible.

Hate Interstates.....hurry, hurry, rush, rush, folks cutting in/out, whipping across lanes at last moment, traffic jams, stop/go.

Rather just cruise along at 55 and enjoy the scenery.

Small towns.....just an excuse to stop and get an Ice Cream cone at the local Dairy Queen

[BB_TX]

We generally take the most expedient route to reach our destination(s). And that typically involves both. But interstates by nature of the limited access points, no direct traffic crossovers, generally wide medians, and often retaining walls or cable systems separating the opposing traffic are much safer. Same for other similar major highways that may not have interstate designation. Narrow undivided two lane highways, while much more scenic, will be worse.

Certainly pros and cons of each. Personal choice.

[tpi]

All statistics I've seen point to interstates being much safer. Limited access, generally divided highways. But it hasn't stopped me at all from taking scenic roads when I want to. You can try to tip the balance in favor of safety on any road: Probably morning is best if you're not staring right into the sun. When the drunks are out, you be in.

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

The 'safer' route is the one which the person driving feels safer with.

Perception is reality, and seldom changed.

I'll drive most interstates, and also am not adverse to driving US highways, or state highways.

Each leg, each day's drive is based on how I feel at the time.

Some times I'll drive I-35 through Austin, and some times I'll take US-281 which is 30 miles west, or US-77 to the east.

I avoid I-10 between Fort Stockton and Junction TX, vastly preferring US-90.

Where the interstate traffic, trucks, regularly run above 75 mph I'm not comfortable at my standard 62 mph. Especially if the run has a lot of grades. I prefer to let the rig climb at a slower pace. It can be a 25-35% cut in fuel mileage trying to stay 'safe' on interstates in hilly country.

Unless your rig is driven at very high speeds with a fuel range of four hours or more - the average speed is going to be about 50-55 mph on an interstate or on the US highways. (This is over several days driving.) There is almost no time advantage to taking interstates - except in very heavily populated areas. I didn't drive across Connecticut on local roads / US highways often. But I will in Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Mississippi and states west of those. I also like US highways in central Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, etc.

This assumes you are able to travel at your own pace. We all know people with limited vacation time, or who have to be somewhere by a certain date - who drive 8 or 10 hours a day. I don't have to do that, and won't do it.

But, to get back around to my initial point.

There is a saying about choosing rigs and floorplans "Get one the wife likes" because she has to deal with it more than he does most of the time.

The same applies to choosing routes "Take the one the driver feels most comfortable driving".

[padredw]

Well, we are just back from Colorado to our home in NE Texas.

In fact we've made that journey many, many times.

Here is a good mix of US highways and Interstates: We go up to Paris, TX to pick up US 82 to Wichita Falls, then US 287 to Amarillo. Forget the numbers but US highways to Dumas and Dalhart and on to Raton, NM.

At Raton we join I-25 which takes us north into Colorado. No good alternative US highways and an excellent route. Depending on where are headed in Colorado we use US and state highways. Just to give an example, Colorado 69 from Walsenburg to junction with US 50 to Salida, Buena Vista, Leadville. OR continue on US 50 to Gunnison.

So the best route, in my opinion, is a mix of state, US, and Interstate highways, not based on designation but on destination.

[korbe]

If we are not in a hurry to get from point "A" to point "B" we definitely make the trip (route) part of the journey. So many places to enjoy while looking out the moving vehicle window (where the scenery isn't necessarily worth stopping for). 🙂

Out west we have what is called "scenic routes" and I don't believe any of those routes are interstates. 😉

[paulj]

The formal highway distinctions are:

- Interstate Hwy system (numbers start with I)
- Federal hwys (numbers start with US)
- State hwys
- local and county

Interstates meet standards on number of lanes (at least 2 per direction), divided, limited access (interchanges), lane width, grade, etc.

Some of the other highways are built to the same standards, especially ones that connect important cities. Some are divided, but still allow surface access. Others are 4 lanes, without dividers. But most are 2 lane with occasional passing lanes.

On print maps colors help distinguish the build standards of the highways. On digital maps it may be harder to distinguish, though with enough zooming you can see all these details on Google Maps.

The distinction between Interstate and 'blue highways' is a bit crude. It may be useful in some areas, but less so others. Across west Texas and flat eastern Colorado it may not matter much which you take - all are flat, straight and lightly traveled. But in the Colorado mountains there are big differences in highways, and numbers are only the start. Crossing the mountains on I70 is very different crossing them on a US550. US50 and US160 are a bit more like I70.

[doxiemom11]

We travel the secondary roads as much as possible. We hate competing with the semis and idiots on the interstate. No matter what speed you choose to drive you always feel like you are being pushed to go faster. It is not relaxing. Being retired means slowing down. Half the fun of a trip is taking your time and being able to stop when you see something you want to check out further. What is the hurry?

[dewey02]

dewey02 wrote:
There are Blue Star Highways in several states.
They are a tribute to veterans.

And not to forget the "red" roads. The Red Arrow Highway which commemorates the 32nd Infantry Division, also known as The Red Arrow Division, which, while composed mainly of men from Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan, brought fame and glory to these states during World Wars I and II by their sacrifice, devotion and bravery.

[Bumpyroad]

GizmosMom wrote:

DH wants to travel the Interstates as much as possible because he feels they are safer. He doesn't like to have to slow down and stop for traffic lights in small towns when he drives. Feels that blue highways are more prone to head-on collisions.

What do you think?

not only head ons but the blue roads also have cross traffic. once again DH is correct. as far as boring, the scenery is the same as you are going thru the same bunch of real estate. unless you like slowing down for towns every 20 miles.
the bear II hit it out of the park.
bumpy

[GizmosMom]

Thanks, everyone! Looks like we still have some "discussing" to do!!! I do appreciate all of your insights.

[dewey02]

There are Blue Star Highways in several states.
They are a tribute to veterans.

[the_bear_II]

In my opinion the interstates are much safer. I've had more close calls on secondary roads. Cars pulling out from driveways or side roads, passing farm equipment, people who aren't sure where they are going stopping or turning suddenly...etc.

Yes the interstates can be boring but most of them follow or replaced what was once a heavily traveled secondary road.

If I have the time I would often travel secondary roads to see the sights but I would be a lot more alert than if I was on the interstate plus I would stay at or below the speed limit for a safety cushion.

[kohldad]

Only times I get on the interstate west of the Mississippi is when I need to make some serious time. Once I retire, the only interstate my rig will see are those within 350 miles of my house which will be traveled often.

While the interstates may be safer, the odds of having an accident on any road is relatively small. However the stress of riding on the interstate is usually a lot higher and when I retire, I'll be more worried about the stress.

Another thing not mentioned in the stats above is that a lot of the accidents happen in towns and cities where folks are a lot more crowded. Out in the open country where there is a lot less traffic there will be a lot less accidents and safe.

Lastly, you have to consider speed as part of the risk factor. The higher the speed the higher the risk. So you again further offset the risk because instead of driving 65 with others whizzing by you at 80, you will only being doing 55 or 60.

I think when you boil all the numbers down, driving down a country road at 55 mph is as safe if not safer than whizzing down the interstate at 65.