Is Every Speed Limit Too Low?

[Ideologue]

I routinely drive a 15 year old Camry above 80 on the Interstate.  I try to keep it around 80, but I tend to lose track of absolute speed unless I have other drivers to compare to.  (Sometimes I'll find myself dropping to 65. )

I've never, ever felt comfortable driving over 100 for any stretch of time, though, even on a straightaway and even with sports cars.  It's the sound of the engine, I think, which impresses upon me the fact that any accident is likely to be fatal (which is true even at 65 or 70, but it's not so obvious and immediate).

[celedhring]

10 years ago a friend of mine bought a Citroën and souped it up for racing, installing an engine that was way too overpowered for a compact car. He showed it to me and we rode it as he pushed it to the limit in an abandoned industrial area. When he got to 160 Km/h the car was vibrating so much that the doors burst open. I was terrified 

[mongers]

10 years ago a friend of mine bought a Citroën and souped it up for racing, installing an engine that was way too overpowered for a compact car. He showed it to me and we rode it as he pushed it to the limit in an abandoned industrial area. When he got to 160 Km/h the car was vibrating so much that the doors burst open. I was terrified 

The nearest I came to that experience as doing over a ton in a Lancia Beta. 

[DGuller]

I imagine it's very different by state.  In NJ, the max speed limit is 65, which is a joke.  In states where it's 75, I would not be doing 85-90.

We know you're a bit...cautious.

[Zanza]

I've only driven a car once that I felt comfortable pushing above 80 mph, so I'm fine with 65 & 70 limits.  The one time was my freshman year in college and it was my JAP friend's Beemer, and I wasn't a very good driver.  Almost spun it out.

I've driven 155 mph (most cars are electronically limited at that speed) and it takes a lot of concentration from the driver. I wouldn't do that in any car, but I drove in a Merc S class, which is made for that kind of speed and still feels perfectly fine at it too. I've driven other cars at 120+ mph too. You get used to it.

[Brazen]

While visiting America I asked a friend how anyone ever gets anywhere when its all so far apart and the speed limit is so low. He said "We just start off earlier..."

[derspiess]

I've only driven a car once that I felt comfortable pushing above 80 mph, so I'm fine with 65 & 70 limits.  The one time was my freshman year in college and it was my JAP friend's Beemer, and I wasn't a very good driver.  Almost spun it out.

Genetics? 

As long as traffic is light, I feel very comfortable going 90 or close to 100 in most cars I've owned.  When I was a young, very stupid 18 year old I had my brother's Supra pegged at 135mph on I-64 between Huntington and Barboursville.  That did make me uncomfortable (also made my girlfriend cry) but oh man that rush.

[Baron von Schtinkenbutt]

My Buick Park Avenue started shuddering at 80.  My Acura CL will do 100 without thinking about it.  My Passat TDI will probably do 100 smoothly, but you start feeling the limits of the 140hp engine at 80.  The Korean hamsters in my Hyundai Santa Fe would probably have a heart attack at 100.

[alfred russel]

Cruisin' across the country as I am, I generally figure about 5 over is my safe cruise speed.  I'll jump as high as 10 to pass all the big rigs and other slow pokes.

Same here, which is annoying. There are spots where you can probably safely go a zillion, when the road is straight and no one is around. But those are in bumblefuck, no where, and it seems the cops in those parts have nothing better to do than set up speed traps.

[derspiess]

Same here, which is annoying. There are spots where you can probably safely go a zillion, when the road is straight and no one is around. But those are in bumblefuck, no where, and it seems the cops in those parts have nothing better to do than set up speed traps.

I love those quaint little towns in NY state I used to drive through to get to my parents house.  If the speed limit said 20, you drove 20 or learned the hard way.  I was a little dubious until I realized the locals were driving that speed.  They must have gotten over half their revenue by ticketing out of towners.

[Berkut]

Same here, which is annoying. There are spots where you can probably safely go a zillion, when the road is straight and no one is around. But those are in bumblefuck, no where, and it seems the cops in those parts have nothing better to do than set up speed traps.

I love those quaint little towns in NY state I used to drive through to get to my parents house.  If the speed limit said 20, you drove 20 or learned the hard way.  I was a little dubious until I realized the locals were driving that speed.  They must have gotten over half their revenue by ticketing out of towners.

Oh yeah. And the little towns are everywhere.

[DGuller]

I've only driven a car once that I felt comfortable pushing above 80 mph, so I'm fine with 65 & 70 limits.  The one time was my freshman year in college and it was my JAP friend's Beemer, and I wasn't a very good driver.  Almost spun it out.

I've driven 155 mph (most cars are electronically limited at that speed) and it takes a lot of concentration from the driver. I wouldn't do that in any car, but I drove in a Merc S class, which is made for that kind of speed and still feels perfectly fine at it too. I've driven other cars at 120+ mph too. You get used to it.

[Zanza]

Freie Fahrt für freie Bürger!

"Free driving for free citizens"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SctKa44xlY&noredirect=1

[Iormlund]

I've never, ever felt comfortable driving over 100 for any stretch of time, though, even on a straightaway and even with sports cars.  It's the sound of the engine, I think, which impresses upon me the fact that any accident is likely to be fatal (which is true even at 65 or 70, but it's not so obvious and immediate).

There's a very big difference between 65 and 100 because a) kinetic energy is proportional to the speed squared b) you have less time to react and thus are able to shed less energy by braking and finally c) the chassis of a car can only absorb a fixed amount of energy.

[Barrister]

I just got a file today - I'm prosecuting a guy for the criminal offence of dangerous driving and child endangerment for going 170 km/h on a busy freeway when the limit is 100km/h.