maximum speed on motorway?
Discussion
Earthdweller said:
Absolutely this in the old days
Plus anything coming up fast behind, slow down and move over
Anything with zenons .. ditto
Senator/Omega/Volvo coming up behind or going slow in lane 1 .., especially if two up
But ultimately never be the quickest
I’m guessing that while we all mean in mph for driving in the 90s, you’re referencing the decade you drive in. Plus anything coming up fast behind, slow down and move over
Anything with zenons .. ditto
Senator/Omega/Volvo coming up behind or going slow in lane 1 .., especially if two up
But ultimately never be the quickest
I tend to travel everywhere at 60mph. Find it's the most relaxing way to drive as I rarely have to overtake anyone and I get to listen to my music for longer.
Only time I'll knock it up to 70mph is when I'm forced into the middle lane overtaking a hgv or allowing joining traffic to merge.
Only time I'll knock it up to 70mph is when I'm forced into the middle lane overtaking a hgv or allowing joining traffic to merge.
macushla said:
I’m guessing that while we all mean in mph for driving in the 90s, you’re referencing the decade you drive in.
Yes, you could drive in the 90's in the 90's whilst smoking, whilst on the phone, whilst eating (but minding the crumbs) a Ginsters sausage roll. Nobody batted an eyelid.moffat said:
Speedo inaccuracy... is everyone driving 25 year old cars?
Maybe I've been lucky (or unlucky) but none of my last 3-4 cars have had an inaccuracy greater than about 1-2mph (up to 80ish). I think at 80mph on my speedo it's likely that I'm doing 78mph, and that's proven by GPS indicated
Yup. Most speedometers are pretty accurate nowadays. They over-read by about 1-2 mph to allow for recommended optional tyre sizes. However, the regulations (UNECE reg 39) have not changed in respect of the ‘minus 0 to plus 10% plus 4kph’ since gear driven speedometer cables, some of which are still on the road. Maybe I've been lucky (or unlucky) but none of my last 3-4 cars have had an inaccuracy greater than about 1-2mph (up to 80ish). I think at 80mph on my speedo it's likely that I'm doing 78mph, and that's proven by GPS indicated
miken2k8 said:
So iv'e always done minimum 90 max 98 on motorway but seem to speed past most other traffic. Not after a lecture about speeding i take that risk on my head but i feel the slower you go the more steering and throttle input. Not many go at this speed would like to see if i'm in a minority on a motoring forum?
Do I understand that you're risking your licence (absolutely your choice) in order to microscopically minimise the amount of physical effort you have to make to steer & control speed? Do we enthusiasts really imagine we are that clever or sensitive comparable to 'professional' drivers on the track?
When I'm in the UK I tend to stay around 85 on the motorway (where it's possible!) and I'm driving on foreign plates! I wouldn't be comfortable doing a lot more in a UK-registered car purely from the level of camera-based policing.
My most frequent journeys are Folkestone-Oxford and Folkestone-Bath. I don't see a lot of cars going past me on the stretch from the coast (M20-M26-M25). Traffic on the M4 seems reasonably slow as well, I guess as a result of active policing. The M40 between the M25 and Oxford is the only bit where I'll stretch the car's legs a bit more (and where I regularly get passed by cars which must be into 3 figures). I imagine this reflects the relative lack of policing on that stretch of motorway.
A long time ago when I was young and in love, I travelled nearly every weekend from Bath up to Newcastle on Tyne. I went from a clean licence to 9 points in as many months, as I'd jump in the car as early as possible on a Friday, leave it as late as possible on the Sunday night/Monday morning, and hammer it all the way.
Once I'd got to 9 points it was Driving Miss Daisy. I discovered that the difference between driving hard (and all the stress) and a leisurely trip came out at about 15 or 20 minutes over the whole distance, and I arrived much less stressed.
My most frequent journeys are Folkestone-Oxford and Folkestone-Bath. I don't see a lot of cars going past me on the stretch from the coast (M20-M26-M25). Traffic on the M4 seems reasonably slow as well, I guess as a result of active policing. The M40 between the M25 and Oxford is the only bit where I'll stretch the car's legs a bit more (and where I regularly get passed by cars which must be into 3 figures). I imagine this reflects the relative lack of policing on that stretch of motorway.
A long time ago when I was young and in love, I travelled nearly every weekend from Bath up to Newcastle on Tyne. I went from a clean licence to 9 points in as many months, as I'd jump in the car as early as possible on a Friday, leave it as late as possible on the Sunday night/Monday morning, and hammer it all the way.
Once I'd got to 9 points it was Driving Miss Daisy. I discovered that the difference between driving hard (and all the stress) and a leisurely trip came out at about 15 or 20 minutes over the whole distance, and I arrived much less stressed.
Edited by sunbeam alpine on Wednesday 23 January 16:39
This is taking my thread of the week so far. Some truly magnificent replies.
I drive a Honda and anything above 80 its approaching 5000rpm so I tend to cruise between 70-80 these days. Motorway driving is boring anyway.
Not sure about all these people driving at 52mph for a 'relaxing' drive though, if I want to relax I watch youtube in my pants with a brew, not do a lap of the M25
I drive a Honda and anything above 80 its approaching 5000rpm so I tend to cruise between 70-80 these days. Motorway driving is boring anyway.
Not sure about all these people driving at 52mph for a 'relaxing' drive though, if I want to relax I watch youtube in my pants with a brew, not do a lap of the M25
I have a 2 litre diesel Skoda, which being part of the Volkswagen group, obviously lies about its emissions output. Therefore I have to go faster than normal to account for this. Add in the "repmobile" status of the vehicle which means I have to get everywhere immediately because I am very important and I must be at the other end of the M4 before my next client relationship engagement appointment, I'll be going around 1-2mph faster than the car in front until they eventually move over. One time I got caught behind a police car and had to do 120 just to keep up with them and the bloke in front and still they wouldn't move over!!! Both the police car and I were rapidly flashing our lights to signal to this inconsiderate soul that we needed him to get past but he just kept going for miles on end.
Of course when conditions dictate I'll drop right down and drive at a sensible limit of probably 85-90 and hold up anyone who is attempting to overtake me, offering my services as some kind of road guardian, to prevent them driving at an maniacal high speed when the road conditions don't allow it. Sometimes that will be because of inclement weather, sometimes that will be because I'm more relaxed, but if I am relaxed, they should be as well.
Of course when conditions dictate I'll drop right down and drive at a sensible limit of probably 85-90 and hold up anyone who is attempting to overtake me, offering my services as some kind of road guardian, to prevent them driving at an maniacal high speed when the road conditions don't allow it. Sometimes that will be because of inclement weather, sometimes that will be because I'm more relaxed, but if I am relaxed, they should be as well.
Speed Badger said:
I usually travel at around 67mph. I once did a regular late night journey halfway round the M25 and into Surrey, usually hardly any traffic. I tried an experiment; One time I did the journey at mostly an average speed of around 65mph, another journey at 85mph. It saved me about 4 minutes or so. Kinda felt its pointless ever since to risk my life and others for 4 minutes.
That's a maths fail.Half way around the M25 is 60 miles. Ish.
At 65 it will take you a shade over 55 mins. At 85 it will take a shade over 42 mins. That's 13 mins saved over 60 miles.
I can see the logic of the OP. You get there quicker.
A mate of mine one evening did Blackpool to North London in 135 mins. His attitude was get caught at 99 you won't get a ban. True. They now drive on a motorway at 60 steady. Uses less fuel but more importantly he says you are less stressed. Driving at silly speeds requires majority concentration, you get tired quicker and suffer stress.
That was a few years ago.
Nowadays you can't really speed due to lane hoggers. You also have the issues of cameras. Quite often I'll be in lane 1 doing 60 and am overtaken by some flying machines. 5 miles up the road I catch them up.
Perhaps it's just an age thing
I'm genuinely puzzled by all these replies from people who claim to drive at 60-70 mph because "it's relaxing". Where are these mythical "relaxing" motorways located because I've never found any. 60-70mph is the worst speed because you're stuck in the middle of all the lemmings that have no awareness and can't keep a constant speed to save their lives. Person in front starts to slow down so you go for the overtake, then they speed up a bit so you either have to speed up yourself to save yourself from looking like a nob making no progress or ease off and drop back in behind, where 10 seconds later they're easing off again. If you do manage to overtake them and resume the speed you're doing, 30 seconds later they're overtaking you and then pull in front and start slowing down again. How the juddering f
k is that nonsense in any way, shape or form "relaxing"? 
What is relaxing is to do 90 when able so that none of the above clowns are under your feet and it's rare to have anyone come up behind you wanting to go faster. The only caveat is that in addition to keeping tabs on what everyone else is doing you also need to keep your eyes peeled for plod, marked and unmarked, vans parked on bridges and looking to see which gantries have speed cameras on them. I'm sure some will argue that is the exact opposite of 'relaxing' but it comes as second nature if you like to press on and you don't even have to think about it. Sure, the time differential is negligible and it's going to cost more in fuel but I'm happy to pay that price just to keep well away from all the 60-70mph clusterfk of idiots that can't drive for toffee.
k is that nonsense in any way, shape or form "relaxing"? What is relaxing is to do 90 when able so that none of the above clowns are under your feet and it's rare to have anyone come up behind you wanting to go faster. The only caveat is that in addition to keeping tabs on what everyone else is doing you also need to keep your eyes peeled for plod, marked and unmarked, vans parked on bridges and looking to see which gantries have speed cameras on them. I'm sure some will argue that is the exact opposite of 'relaxing' but it comes as second nature if you like to press on and you don't even have to think about it. Sure, the time differential is negligible and it's going to cost more in fuel but I'm happy to pay that price just to keep well away from all the 60-70mph clusterf
k of idiots that can't drive for toffee.Electronicpants said:
Terminator X said:
devnull said:
well it be onto this.
For a relative newbie how do you know this 
TX.
"well it be on to this" was posted within my time here ,so quite possible to be within devnull time here too.....
Sheepshanks said:
Speed Badger said:
I usually travel at around 67mph. I once did a regular late night journey halfway round the M25 and into Surrey, usually hardly any traffic. I tried an experiment; One time I did the journey at mostly an average speed of around 65mph, another journey at 85mph. It saved me about 4 minutes or so. Kinda felt its pointless ever since to risk my life and others for 4 minutes.
It's safer to go faster as it reduces your time exposed to danger (TED).When I used to live in the UK, I'd generally sit at 80, with very occasional stretches at 130+ when I knew there was no traffic or cameras. When I come back to the UK now, I go a lot slower as the hassle of having to fly back again to attend court etc would be a nightmare. In France, I used to sit at 100-120, wouldn't do that anymore either now as they can send the tickets home with the new EU laws.
Where I live now in Mexico, I do whatever I want, as the fines are very low and they can't take my license. Road quality and general hazards normally mean you can't go much over 80 anyway, although there are a couple of stretches where 150 is possible.
Where I live now in Mexico, I do whatever I want, as the fines are very low and they can't take my license. Road quality and general hazards normally mean you can't go much over 80 anyway, although there are a couple of stretches where 150 is possible.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff