How fast do you drive on the motorway?

[Zoe]

They're the ones who employ the dangerous, last minute overtaking manoeuvres, show absolutely no respect for other road users, and hog the middle and fast lanes because they think they're above the law.

This is why the A9 is so dangerous. When you get to the end of the dual carriageway sections they know there is a long section of single carriageway ahead and so are try to overake before the end of the dual carriageway but in some cases the dual carriageway runs out before they have completed the overtake. That is very dangerous.

 

[Striker]

Anybody who needs speed limits to tell them whether they're driving at a safe speed shouldn't be on the road. These are the worse kind of drivers. Somebody who blindly sticks to the speed limit and doesn't take the onus on themselves to decide what's safe. The zombies who stick to 70 mph on an empty motorway are the same people who do 60 on a country lane in freezing fog. Idiots.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Do you have any evidence for that Striker, or is it yet more rhetoric?

 

[OxtedL]

Can we try not to be harsh to Striker please, it's not fun...

Speed limits are limits. Full stop. Certainly not targets, although those who travel significantly under them are dangerous too.

 

[90019]

Can we try not to be harsh to Striker please, it's not fun...

You weren't here before he got banned did you?

Speed limits are limits. Full stop. Certainly not targets, although those who travel significantly under them are dangerous too.

I really don't like those people who say "they're limits not targets" and use it to justify going really slow. They tend to be some of the worst drivers as well.

 

[GearJammer]

Anybody who needs speed limits to tell them whether they're driving at a safe speed shouldn't be on the road. These are the worse kind of drivers. Somebody who blindly sticks to the speed limit and doesn't take the onus on themselves to decide what's safe. The zombies who stick to 70 mph on an empty motorway are the same people who do 60 on a country lane in freezing fog. Idiots.

I'd pretty much agree with that.

What makes me chuckle is that some people seem to think you are a good driver if you stick to the limits, yet if you stray just 1mph over the limit you automatically become a dangerous driver!

I live and work on the roads Monday to Friday EVERY week, week in week out, theres no such thing as a bad road, its the people that use them that are dangerous, by not driving appropriately by either going to fast or to slow, being to cautious or just reckless and not thinking...... i've seen them all!

I could type an essay on this topic but really can't be bothered, you all carry on debateing/argueing over it in the self belief that your ALL good drivers

 

[Flamingo]

With fuel prices the way they are I usually sit at around 55-60 on the way to work (stick behind a lorry or something) and 70 on the way home.

I do the opposite!

The poll should have had an option of below 70mph to give a truer reading, IMHO. I'll usually sit at 65, and let all the German cars past me in the other lanes.

 

[me123]

Anybody who needs speed limits to tell them whether they're driving at a safe speed shouldn't be on the road. These are the worse kind of drivers. Somebody who blindly sticks to the speed limit and doesn't take the onus on themselves to decide what's safe. The zombies who stick to 70 mph on an empty motorway are the same people who do 60 on a country lane in freezing fog. Idiots.

I do agree with you that the people who see speed limits as targets can be very dangerous drivers. There's nothing more stupid than seeing someone go along a motorway at 70mph oblivious to the fact that the traffic ahead is building up and that there are warnings of congestion ahead. In particular, I've noticed some fairly dangerous driving in heavy rain; often from HGV drivers who don't appreciate that the smaller vehicles on the road are unable to see when they're being passed by a convoy of HGVs at 60mph.

Regardless of what you think a safe speed is, a limit is legally enforceable. Even if you think it's safe to go along a motorway at 117mph, if the speed limit is 70mph (or even lower, as it is in some cases) then you should not exceed that.

Frankly, I think the people who stick to speed limits are much less of a danger than those who just ignore them. At least the people who stick to the speed limits tend not to go down a road at more than twice the legal limit with no regard for anyone else (a scenario which is all too common on the roads today).

 

[OxtedL]

OK, "limits not targets" is a cliche... Essentially...most of us have grandparents/terrified relatives who drive, so try not to judge them.

However, whilst a little bit of freedom is probably safer, limits are there for a reason. Perhaps you haven't seen some of the "driving awareness" talks in schools nowadays... They are very, very bleak. Video after video about excessive speed. Then alcohol. Then drugs. Then seatbelts...

Striker was banned about the same time as I got here IIRC. I try not to judge people. Bit silly really, hiding behind an internet forum.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

I don't like this thread. It appears to be someone's attempt to justify their blatant disregard for life - sorry, but speed kills.

I fully agree with that!!!

Speed is one of the contributory factors to accidents, resultant delays, injuries and fatalities. The pain, damage, loss and bereavements never justify those brief minutes of confidence travelling without incident at speed. Simply managing to complete journeys day after day without incident doesn't make it safe. Doesn't stop the blood-loss, the disfigurement, the pain, the cost, the officer time nor the fatalities, and just the deaths are measured in thousands each and every year (UK).

The poll is meaningless. The speed I drive at depends on a variety of factors, one of which is the class of vehicle, and some of those will never be approaching any of the speeds listed in the poll.

Not everyone goes at least 70. I regularly just sit in lane one at 60 when I'm not in a hurry.

That's good for me too, and for many others on the road.

 

[GearJammer]

In particular, I've noticed some fairly dangerous driving in heavy rain; often from HGV drivers who don't appreciate that the smaller vehicles on the road are unable to see when they're being passed by a convoy of HGVs at 60mph.

Well thats ok, it makes up for the drivers of small vehicles not appreciating how much room and time it takes for an HGV to overtake other vehicles or manuover.
It makes me laugh when everyone wants to get past and overtake the trucks on are roads but as soon as it rains and the cars slow down they think the trucks have to slow down and sit behind them and not overtake, so whats the score there? You can overtake but we can't.

 

[Striker]

Can we try not to be harsh to Striker please, it's not fun....

Thank you for your support. Sometimes I think people would pick an argument with me if I said "cakes are nice, puppies are cute."

Do you have any evidence for that Striker, or is it yet more rhetoric?

What evidence are you looking for exactly? Are you saying that somebody who blindly follows the speed limit without considering the ACTUAL environment, even if that means driving well below the speed limit, is perfectly safe? I see drivers like these day in day out. Speed limits are there to protect the majority from the moronic minority.

 

[OxtedL]

Before this breaks into all out war, I think that all drivers do something that may be considered dangerous/pathetic. I tend to be a bit nervous on the A25 for example. Well, certainly a little twitchy. Worse than motorways...

 

[Eclipse]

Wow, just stumbled across this thread and have had quite a laugh!

It's time for some righteous indignation people......

I travel on the motorway as fast as the traffic and weather allows me. If it is clear, I will drive at an average of 100 - 110mph (indicated + slowing down for any potential risks ahead), if busy I don't accelerate between lane hoggers and just stay at whatever the speed of the traffic is.

I always drive exactly to the conditions, if there is nothing, it is clear and dry, I have been known to get up to 140mph in my saab. I once got up to 155mph on the autobahns in a merc E class and 160mph on the Nuerburgring Nordschleife. (btw the picture is my friend crashing the S2000, not me!)

So now you've all choked on your tea, let me just say that I am a very experienced driver and have been professionally trained. I DO NOT drive as fast as I can all the time, it is only very rare that I push the car to see what it is capable of and to clear out the valves and turbo.

Love and Peace to all

Firstly, I completely agree with what j0hn0 has said. It's important to drive to the conditions, so if there's other road users about, or the road is wet.. whatever, then don't go mad. BUT, like on the german autobahn, when the conditions are good then driving a bit faster is fine.

How is driving at 100+ on an EMPTY, DRY road going to endanger other's lives?!

IMO, lane hoggers are the biggest problem on our motorways, and people who don't plan ahead, who will come up behind someone and suddenly try to pull out instead of trying to find a convenient space to pull into before having to slow down/pull out quickly.

I recently rode back from a mates house in portsmouth on the m27 at 2.30am, (dry, empty motorway, endangering NO-ONE) 120mph all the way, I only saw 1 other car in 40 miles. Now apart from "OMG you broke the lawz!!!"... can anyone give me a sensible reason why I should have sat at 70 in those circumstances?

One other thing, driving at higher speeds if the conditions are suitable, helps to keep you more alert. Driving long distances at 70 on an empty motorway WILL make you tired very quickly.

 

[EM2]

The zombies who stick to 70 mph on an empty motorway are the same people who do 60 on a country lane in freezing fog. Idiots.

This I agree with, kinda
Just because there is a speed limit, that does not mean it's safe to drive at that speed all the time, which is where a lot of people go wrong.
It's inappropriate speed that is the problem.
120mph, on an empty, dry, straight motorway, while being illegal, endangers no-one except the driver themselves.
65mph, on a busy, wet, A-road in the fog, while being legal, endangers everyone on the road.

 

[Eclipse]

Yep, I 100% agree with you EM2 and Striker. When people sit at bang on 70 the whole time they don't think to judge what speed is safe.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

What's wrong with driving to the conditions but not over 70?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I recently rode back from a mates house in portsmouth on the m27 at 2.30am, (dry, empty motorway, endangering NO-ONE) 120mph all the way, I only saw 1 other car in 40 miles. Now apart from "OMG you broke the lawz!!!"... can anyone give me a sensible reason why I should have sat at 70 in those circumstances?

Don't be ridiculous. Your licence should have been ripped up for that. Let's consider the facts then? Late at night, there'll be the tiredness factor, poor visibility etc etc. It's stupid and irresponsible.

 

[Tomnick]

I don't see the problem with creeping up to 80mph or so where it's safe to do so - generally a fair bit of other traffic will be doing so anyway. It might not be legal, but it's not widely (or ever?) enforced - doesn't that tell its own story? As others have said, it's not a magic number above which things become incredibly dangerous, and I'd rather be concentrating on the road than closely watching my speedo to make sure it doesn't creep the slightest bit above 70mph (yes, it shouldn't be difficult to maintain an approximately steady speed, but you try maintaining 70mph exactly on a hilly motorway without staring at the speedo whilst continually adapting to changing conditions ahead..)

That's about as far as I'd go, but I don't go into a fit of rage if someone flies past me at 110mph on an otherwise empty three-lane motorway - after all, I'd like to think that they'd be paying close attention to any potential hazards (i.e. any need for me to cross two lanes to end up directly in front of them!) and that I'll observe their presence before changing lanes (twice!) to obstruct their progress. Obviously someone trying to do that speed by weaving between traffic on a congested motorway wouldn't be safe by any means, and our fast driver on an empty motorway might not be paying any attention to the road - but that's bad driving, not just the speed alone.

For what it's worth, I generally sit at (indicated) 70mph to 75mph. The few minutes saved don't justify the extra cost of driving at 80mph or above.

 

[Eclipse]

What's wrong with driving to the conditions but not over 70?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Don't be ridiculous. Your licence should have been ripped up for that. Let's consider the facts then? Late at night, there'll be the tiredness factor, poor visibility etc etc. It's stupid and irresponsible.

Trust me, there is no tiredness factor when you're on a bike going that fast, it's quite exhilarating i'll assure you! And as for visibility, I don't understand why you think it'd be bad. I have 20/20 vision, and I find driving at night easier because any vehicles are basically lit up. You of course have to watch out for animals that might wander out, but you have all 3 lanes to avoid them.

This is the kind of post i was expecting.. just because I was breaking the speed limit, why is that dangerous and irrisponsible? I keep my bike maintained, checked tyre pressures before i left, all lights work, breaks are better than the vast majority of cars on the road.

 

[Zoe]

Trust me, there is no tiredness factor when you're on a bike going that fast, it's quite exhilarating i'll assure you!

If you want the experience, take your bike to a track. Do not put others at risk just to get the experience of speed. This is what tracks are for, not highways.

 

[HST Power]

Track days are such good fun, blasting round a racing circuit at 120mph! I'm thinking of heading to Germany and trying out the famous Nürburgring. I would also like the opportunity of giving my Passat a thrashing on the Auto-Bahn!

 

[Minilad]

I find it strange you have a Think Bike advert which says it is to promote biker awareness but ride at such high speeds.
I would suggest that a lot of accidents involving bikes are because of other road users not being aware of the proximity of a bike, not something that would be made easier when approaching at over 100mph I wouldn't think.

 

[starrymarkb]

Track days are such good fun, blasting round a racing circuit at 120mph! I'm thinking of heading to Germany and trying out the famous Nürburgring. I would also like the opportunity of giving my Passat a thrashing on the Auto-Bahn!

Make sure to pick a quiet bit with few trucks, they do pull out without warning!

 

[HST Power]

Make sure to pick a quiet bit with few trucks, they do pull out without warning!

I've heard similar stories, and Jeremy Clarkson complained about that as well when they did the Auto-Bahn run on TG.

 

[TGV]

I have driven on the Auto-bahns in Germany and despite the extra speed they feel as safe as any UK motorway when everything is flowing normally.

However I will add that if you have a blowout (not a simple puncture - I mean a bit of shrapnel tearing and instantly deflating your tyre), at 70mph, you will stand a chance at controlling it and recovering to the shoulder without too many problems. I know - it's happened to me and it wakes you up I can tell you. B8ggered up the steering track rod in the process because of the extreme vibration and eccentric loading of the front wheel. Now, if I imagine that same blowout at 130mph on the Auto-Bahn (as I did - in the same car), and it happening on a curve. In the wet. It is a BMW (rear drive) and I know that despite having some competitive driving experience myself, I would have been screwed. Sideways into the armco/trees/trucks. It snapped so fast, there's no way I would have caught it.

You can't legislate for some spotty 18 year old getting his Dad's BMW/Merc/etc... and thinking 100mph is safe in a 70 zone, or a little old lady that can't see over the wheel because if I'm honest, I'm not sure it is safe for 95% of motorists to be doing much over 70mph, and you can't have graded speed limits for drivers of different abilities - you have to take into account everyone.

 

[HST Power]

I have driven on the Auto-bahns in Germany and despite the extra speed they feel as safe as any UK motorway when everything is flowing normally.

I'd love a limitless A1(M), but I don't think it would work here. Though I do think that the speed limits could be raised a little, and I'd particularly like to see separate lanes built for HGV's (nothing against the truck drivers, I'm a bit of a lorry enthusiast truth be told, I'm just thinking of traffic flow)

 

[Aictos]

I think it depends on the traffic conditions, no sense in going at 70mph when it's safer to slow down to 60mph.

Only idiots risk their lives on the road.

 

[GB]

I really can't believe there are people driving at 120+ mph and think its ok:roll:

At those sorts of speeds your thinking time and braking time is substantially increased and if something were to come out in front of you you would have no chance....even on a bike. At night at those speeds you will be driving faster than your headlights can cope and again will have little chance to avoid any sort of incident.

And remember, just becuase YOU havent seen a hazzard it doesnt mean there isnt one lurking in front of you somewhere.

Bikers and drivers that travel at such speeds, pull wheelies, undertake, tailgate or otherwise treat public roads as their own race tracks without a care for anyone else are pricks of the highest order and I don't care how harsh that sounds. I pitty your family when they get a knock at the door from a traffic officer and a familiy liaison officer.

 

[HST Power]

Only idiots risk their lives on the road.

Try telling that to the idiots! :roll:

 

[90019]

I really can't believe there are people driving at 120+ mph and think its ok:roll:

Interestingly, still no answer to my question.

Two identical cars, one doing 80mph, the second doing 120mph. Both perform an emergency stop at the same time.
What speed is the second car travelling by the time the first one has stopped?

To clarify - identical cars, identical conditions. No real variables, though in reality they wouldn't make too much difference to the figures.