fall in motorway speeds, or my imagination?
Discussion
My round trip distance to work is about 90 miles, and almost all of this is on the motorway. Just as an experiment I made a note of the MPG returned when travelling at my usual 80 MPH (indicated).
The results to work averaged 49 MPG and return 44 MPG. I then tried a couple of days at 60 MPH (indicated). The results were now 62 MPG and 55 MPG. Surprisingly, the journey time isn't much longer. A few minutes. I didn't realise that any time made up at the higher speed can be wiped out waiting at a junction or at traffic lights!.
So, for every 4 journeys made I effectively get a journey free, which is quite a saving in fuel and money - nearly £50 a month infact.
With regard to the title of the thread, I don't notice too many people overtaking me either, so maybe this is a new trend.
This does require a different style of driving (generally more relaxed and chilled to be honest). I always keep in the inside lane and never indulge in elephant racing with lorries - always stay behind them until you can gently overtake without holding anyone else up.
My social driving remains mostly the same, though I do drive much more smoothly now, and only boot it on the odd occasion. Getting old maybe! :-)
The results to work averaged 49 MPG and return 44 MPG. I then tried a couple of days at 60 MPH (indicated). The results were now 62 MPG and 55 MPG. Surprisingly, the journey time isn't much longer. A few minutes. I didn't realise that any time made up at the higher speed can be wiped out waiting at a junction or at traffic lights!.
So, for every 4 journeys made I effectively get a journey free, which is quite a saving in fuel and money - nearly £50 a month infact.
With regard to the title of the thread, I don't notice too many people overtaking me either, so maybe this is a new trend.
This does require a different style of driving (generally more relaxed and chilled to be honest). I always keep in the inside lane and never indulge in elephant racing with lorries - always stay behind them until you can gently overtake without holding anyone else up.
My social driving remains mostly the same, though I do drive much more smoothly now, and only boot it on the odd occasion. Getting old maybe! :-)
bryan35 said:
My round trip distance to work is about 90 miles, and almost all of this is on the motorway. Just as an experiment I made a note of the MPG returned when travelling at my usual 80 MPH (indicated).
The results to work averaged 49 MPG and return 44 MPG. I then tried a couple of days at 60 MPH (indicated). The results were now 62 MPG and 55 MPG. Surprisingly, the journey time isn't much longer. A few minutes. I didn't realise that any time made up at the higher speed can be wiped out waiting at a junction or at traffic lights!.
So, for every 4 journeys made I effectively get a journey free, which is quite a saving in fuel and money - nearly £50 a month infact.
With regard to the title of the thread, I don't notice too many people overtaking me either, so maybe this is a new trend.
This does require a different style of driving (generally more relaxed and chilled to be honest). I always keep in the inside lane and never indulge in elephant racing with lorries - always stay behind them until you can gently overtake without holding anyone else up.
My social driving remains mostly the same, though I do drive much more smoothly now, and only boot it on the odd occasion. Getting old maybe! :-)
You've noticed what others have known for years.The results to work averaged 49 MPG and return 44 MPG. I then tried a couple of days at 60 MPH (indicated). The results were now 62 MPG and 55 MPG. Surprisingly, the journey time isn't much longer. A few minutes. I didn't realise that any time made up at the higher speed can be wiped out waiting at a junction or at traffic lights!.
So, for every 4 journeys made I effectively get a journey free, which is quite a saving in fuel and money - nearly £50 a month infact.
With regard to the title of the thread, I don't notice too many people overtaking me either, so maybe this is a new trend.
This does require a different style of driving (generally more relaxed and chilled to be honest). I always keep in the inside lane and never indulge in elephant racing with lorries - always stay behind them until you can gently overtake without holding anyone else up.
My social driving remains mostly the same, though I do drive much more smoothly now, and only boot it on the odd occasion. Getting old maybe! :-)
vonhosen said:
You've noticed what others have known for years.
Always do this in the UK as I'm never in any kind of rush to get anywhere. The trick to driving like this is to ensure you don't impede anyone else's perceived progress ie brisk overtakes when necessary, good lane discipline and observation.
Speeds have been falling on my motorway commute ever since the fuel prices started to increase sharply Q4 2010.
The only problem is there is now more bunching on the motorway with most traffic doing 70 to 75mph.
Another annoying thing is when I use cruise control and people overtake with 1mph difference like the truck drivers do, and then slow down in front of me, so I need to overtake them to mantain my cruise control set speed.
The only problem is there is now more bunching on the motorway with most traffic doing 70 to 75mph.
Another annoying thing is when I use cruise control and people overtake with 1mph difference like the truck drivers do, and then slow down in front of me, so I need to overtake them to mantain my cruise control set speed.
Meh. What's the point?
You will prob lose far far more in servicing, depreciation, insurance, tax, parking costs and mots.
If it bothers you that much then get a 1.0 car or a 125 bike to do the milage on.
I find it bizarre that people would spend far more money than they really need on a car, just so on the odd occasion they can go a bit faster, but never do because they can't afford the fuel. Then spend all their time in the car being bored senseless
You will prob lose far far more in servicing, depreciation, insurance, tax, parking costs and mots.
If it bothers you that much then get a 1.0 car or a 125 bike to do the milage on.
I find it bizarre that people would spend far more money than they really need on a car, just so on the odd occasion they can go a bit faster, but never do because they can't afford the fuel. Then spend all their time in the car being bored senseless
bryan35 said:
My round trip distance to work is about 90 miles, and almost all of this is on the motorway. Just as an experiment I made a note of the MPG returned when travelling at my usual 80 MPH (indicated).
The results to work averaged 49 MPG and return 44 MPG. I then tried a couple of days at 60 MPH (indicated). The results were now 62 MPG and 55 MPG. Surprisingly, the journey time isn't much longer. A few minutes. I didn't realise that any time made up at the higher speed can be wiped out waiting at a junction or at traffic lights!.
So, for every 4 journeys made I effectively get a journey free, which is quite a saving in fuel and money - nearly £50 a month infact.
With regard to the title of the thread, I don't notice too many people overtaking me either, so maybe this is a new trend.
This does require a different style of driving (generally more relaxed and chilled to be honest). I always keep in the inside lane and never indulge in elephant racing with lorries - always stay behind them until you can gently overtake without holding anyone else up.
Motorway speeds will also fall with increasing traffic and, if you find that you are not losing much time by doing 60 rather than 80, it suggests to me that your driving style may have been increasing your fuel consumption. You may have been flooring it on the few occasions you could, and then sharply dropping anchor when somebody else gets in the way. That sort of thing will increase consumption far more than, say, maintaining a constant 60 rather then 80, because the "effort" is involved in getting to your cruising speed in the first place, and wherever possible avoiding wasting the fuel you've already used by excessive braking.The results to work averaged 49 MPG and return 44 MPG. I then tried a couple of days at 60 MPH (indicated). The results were now 62 MPG and 55 MPG. Surprisingly, the journey time isn't much longer. A few minutes. I didn't realise that any time made up at the higher speed can be wiped out waiting at a junction or at traffic lights!.
So, for every 4 journeys made I effectively get a journey free, which is quite a saving in fuel and money - nearly £50 a month infact.
With regard to the title of the thread, I don't notice too many people overtaking me either, so maybe this is a new trend.
This does require a different style of driving (generally more relaxed and chilled to be honest). I always keep in the inside lane and never indulge in elephant racing with lorries - always stay behind them until you can gently overtake without holding anyone else up.
To the poster who brought in the matter of repair bills, depreciation etc, we all have our own ideas on what constitutes the sort of car we want to drive. If your sole concern is fuel cost then you'll buy something that does 80+ to the gallon. Seeing as most cars do far less than this, it follows that fuel costs may not be the sole consideration
IIRC, above 65mph the wind resistance becomes the greatest factor in fuel consumption, and increases exponentially above this.
Which I think explains why a 1.2 Corsa with 80bph can manage 100mph, but you need a 1000bhp Veyron to go 250mph (and not the 200bph which multiplication would suggest).
KK
Which I think explains why a 1.2 Corsa with 80bph can manage 100mph, but you need a 1000bhp Veyron to go 250mph (and not the 200bph which multiplication would suggest).
KK
Larry Dickman said:
EU_Foreigner said:
If only they discovered the left lane so I could still get by them ...
Yes, & also realise that if they are already doing 10mph below the speed limit there is no need to brake for speed cameras. 
Those with fuel cards won't be slowing down, as they aren't paying for the fuel....
I spent around 40-50 miles last week re-overtaking the same van time after time. He would pass me at about 1mph-2mph faster only to pull infront and slow down, especially on uphill stretches. Then he would overtake 20 mins later and slow back down again.
Makes me look like the cock because someone can't remain at the same speed.!!
shuvitupya said:
Another annoying thing is when I use cruise control and people overtake with 1mph difference like the truck drivers do, and then slow down in front of me, so I need to overtake them to mantain my cruise control set speed.
I've noticed this and I'm starting to get sick of it. As I have cruise control set, my speed remains the same when going up and down hills, unlike others around me.I spent around 40-50 miles last week re-overtaking the same van time after time. He would pass me at about 1mph-2mph faster only to pull infront and slow down, especially on uphill stretches. Then he would overtake 20 mins later and slow back down again.
Makes me look like the cock because someone can't remain at the same speed.!!
Knock_knock said:
IIRC, above 65mph the wind resistance becomes the greatest factor in fuel consumption, and increases exponentially above this.
Which I think explains why a 1.2 Corsa with 80bph can manage 100mph, but you need a 1000bhp Veyron to go 250mph (and not the 200bph which multiplication would suggest).
KK
Add 200bhp to a Veyron and it'll only do an extra 14 mphWhich I think explains why a 1.2 Corsa with 80bph can manage 100mph, but you need a 1000bhp Veyron to go 250mph (and not the 200bph which multiplication would suggest).
KK
I noticed it too.
People in lane 3 now sit, for once, at the actual speed limit and cause the people that drive in pre Q4 2010 mode, to bunch up and dangerously undertake and tailgate. More so now. People now pay more attention to their speedometer and trip computer than ever before IMO.
Government has slowed traffic but also created another source of intrest to take drivers eyes from the road ahead.
People in lane 3 now sit, for once, at the actual speed limit and cause the people that drive in pre Q4 2010 mode, to bunch up and dangerously undertake and tailgate. More so now. People now pay more attention to their speedometer and trip computer than ever before IMO.
Government has slowed traffic but also created another source of intrest to take drivers eyes from the road ahead.
XDA said:
Those with fuel cards won't be slowing down, as they aren't paying for the fuel....
I spent around 40-50 miles last week re-overtaking the same van time after time. He would pass me at about 1mph-2mph faster only to pull infront and slow down, especially on uphill stretches. Then he would overtake 20 mins later and slow back down again.
Makes me look like the cock because someone can't remain at the same speed.!!
Some people are quite bad at maintaining a constant speed. Had one tonight in a car in lane 2 who overtook, then slowed down below my speed once past me. Lane 2 was clear as far as the eye could see!shuvitupya said:
Another annoying thing is when I use cruise control and people overtake with 1mph difference like the truck drivers do, and then slow down in front of me, so I need to overtake them to mantain my cruise control set speed.
I've noticed this and I'm starting to get sick of it. As I have cruise control set, my speed remains the same when going up and down hills, unlike others around me.I spent around 40-50 miles last week re-overtaking the same van time after time. He would pass me at about 1mph-2mph faster only to pull infront and slow down, especially on uphill stretches. Then he would overtake 20 mins later and slow back down again.
Makes me look like the cock because someone can't remain at the same speed.!!
Seems I have to accomodate for other drivers' stupidity more when I'm going slower on the motorway. Still managed an impressive MPG tonight!
bryan35 said:
I didn't realise that any time made up at the higher speed can be wiped out waiting at a junction or at traffic lights!
Err... or time at slower speed can be exacerbated by waiting at a junction or at traffic lights.I'm driving faster than ever. Spending more time in lane 1 than I used to though.
Funkateer said:
Some people are quite bad at maintaining a constant speed. Had one tonight in a car in lane 2 who overtook, then slowed down below my speed once past me. Lane 2 was clear as far as the eye could see!
Seems I have to accomodate for other drivers' stupidity more when I'm going slower on the motorway. Still managed an impressive MPG tonight!
I added cruise control to one of my cars, and I know that it holds +/- 1 mph, even on decent hills.Seems I have to accomodate for other drivers' stupidity more when I'm going slower on the motorway. Still managed an impressive MPG tonight!
On one 20 mile stretch I was passed then repassed the same car 7 times, I was cruising at 60 and her speed seemed to vary between 45 and 80.
This was on a virtually empty road, so traffic wasn't the issue!
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