[Martin L]

To our esteemed MINI2ers in the US I have a question to pose to you after my recent trip to California....

What is the US attitude to exceeding the speed limit????
I found it very odd to be perfectly honest while driving out there.

What I found was on the interstates and fast roads most people stuck to the speed limit or just above (around the 70mph mark) but when it came to going through towns and built up areas a majority of drivers would still drive about 40-45mph exceeding the speed limit by a fair amount

In the UK it's the other way around. In towns and residential areas people tend to stick to the limits and on open roads we tend to exceed the limits where it's safer.

I found this driving style quite disturbing and at times very frustrating. When I would come to towns I would drop down to the 35 or at times 25 limits and cars would rush past me and when back out on the open road I'd drive much faster and then have to overtake them again

...and what's with this lack of slower drivers should stick to the right lanes????
Undertaking IMHO is very dangerous and what's with people cruising along all at the same speed blocking all the lanes

Can I please get some pointers to US driving for my next trip so I can at least understand other road users a tad better

Please note that this is NOT a rant, just a confused European driver who after many sucessive holidays of driving in the US has still not quite figured it out yet

[KenL]

"Undertaking" is allowed in the US. Makes sense to me as over here all the 60mph middle-laners can cause long tail-backs.

In the UK (up here anyway) most people seem to drive close to 40 in a 30 zone unless it's a small residential street.

[Goonery]

Don't mention speeding anywhere or I will kill you

[Meani]

I think it's because there's more cops out on the highways than on the residential streets. I like the system in Switzerland (and some others) the best...they have speed cameras in areas where they want you to slow down...it works because you know it's there...but like in the uk, people tend to drive at the speed limit in towns IF they can get up to speed..

L

[Goonery]

Quote: Originally Posted by Meani

I think it's because there's more cops out on the highways than on the residential streets. I like the system in Switzerland (and some others) the best...they have speed cameras in areas where they want you to slow down...it works because you know it's there...but like in the uk, people tend to drive at the speed limit in towns IF they can get up to speed..

L

Don't get I going on them yellow boxes too, I am dangerous tonight

[AprilWhine]

Martin, I think one reason is because it's easier for the police to patrol the freeway. It's very difficult without camera to enforce speed limits in urban areas.

[Shamster]

Quote: Originally Posted by KenL

"Undertaking" is allowed in the US. Makes sense to me as over here all the 60mph middle-laners can cause long tail-backs.

In the UK (up here anyway) most people seem to drive close to 40 in a 30 zone unless it's a small residential street.

AFAIK undertaking is not legal though. It just tends to be ignored more by the police than in the UK. I had to sit a US driving test a few years back as I lived there for a short while and remember even then they said keep right except when overtaking.

[Martin L]

April, TBH I didn't see hardly any CHiPs on my travels

Either I missed them or I didn't notice the whirley birds spotting me from above

As far as I'm aware undertaking isn't legal in the US either, although as Sham says it's not enforced

[Willy]

What AW said, as far a police patrolling the highways.

My advice for driving in the US?

That would be to dream up the most stupid driving antics ever and pretty much expect in to happen. Defensive driving in a survival mechanism of driving in the US

[ruthie]

I agree with you Martin. And, Sherry is right. The highways are patroled more. I think the right lane for slower drivers is a good thing - as I tend to be a slower driver (on the highway anyway). Best to keep the slower drivers out of the way of the faster ones.

Where I live the speed limits are strictly enforced in the small towns and plenty of patrols. But, on the back roads which are rural we speed along on the twists and turns - though we are used to it so manage it quite well.

But, I think you may find it varies from state to state as the landscape can be quite different. So, don't expect it to be the same as your experience in California. Tbh, I found the CA drivers to be really fast on the highways - far exceeding 70 mph, especially in the San Diego area.

You know my experience in the UK on your motorways (because you were one of the drivers) - was so shocked that most were driving at speeds of 90 mph or more. Took some getting used to for me. But, it's not all that bad if you are with a good driver. Was actually quite relaxed in the car with you and Sham too.

[stryder]

From driving around the US, where the same type of road (ie at least 2 lanes in each direction) can have speed limits from 50mph to 75mph, it really seems to come down to what most people are comfortable with. People seem to feel comfortable driving 60-70. so they do that. Regardless of the speed limit. In states like Michigan where the speed limit is 70, most drivers actually do that. If you drive through a city zone (on a 4 lane freeway type thing) that's 50 limited, if there's little traffic, people will still go 60-70.

There are exceptions, but that's my experience. The other factor - almost anywhere you can exceed the speed limit by about 10 mph (usually more like 9) and not really get a ticket. Police tend to start ticketing at 10 over. They don't take into account the % increase - so people go 40 in a 30 and 75 in a 65.

[ruthie]

Quote: Originally Posted by stryder

From driving around the US, where the same type of road (ie at least 2 lanes in each direction) can have speed limits from 50mph to 75mph, it really seems to come down to what most people are comfortable with. People seem to feel comfortable driving 60-70. so they do that. Regardless of the speed limit. In states like Michigan where the speed limit is 70, most drivers actually do that. If you drive through a city zone (on a 4 lane freeway type thing) that's 50 limited, if there's little traffic, people will still go 60-70.

There are exceptions, but that's my experience. The other factor - almost anywhere you can exceed the speed limit by about 10 mph (usually more like 9) and not really get a ticket. Police tend to start ticketing at 10 over. They don't take into account the % increase - so people go 40 in a 30 and 75 in a 65.

You drive 10mph over the limit in the little town next to me and they HUNT YOU DOWN.

Are there really speed limits of 75mph in the US? Where? I never knew that.

[Martin L]

Quote: Originally Posted by ruthie

You drive 10mph over the limit in the little town next to me and they HUNT YOU DOWN.

Are there really speed limits of 75mph in the US? Where? I never knew that.

I've come across 75mph limits before on my US travels, not sure if it's Nevada or somewhere along the West Coast??? Oregon or Washington maybe

[Johnny225]

NOw you know that us U.S. driversa are backewards in driving

[ruthie]

Quote: Originally Posted by Johnny225

NOw you know that us U.S. driversa are backewards in driving

Yeah, Martin. Were you driving on the right or the left?

[Martin L]

Quote: Originally Posted by ruthie

Yeah, Martin. Were you driving on the right or the left?

I do admit to turning right out of the car hire place down the wrong way. Go about ten yards down the road then realised why cars were coming straight at me
Only made the mistake once though
My excuse was I'd just come off an eleven hour flight

I know Arizona, and New Mexico have 75 mph zones. Texas and Michigan have 70's

-Andrew

[moorlockx]

The hardest thing I know of about US driving is the wide variety of drivers out there. In any 65 mph zone you'll find people doing anywhere from 50 to 80, in whatever lane their hearts are content with. Most won't yield to a faster car, and some will even do stupid things like slow down or slam on their brakes when you express a desire for them to move over. It's no wonder there are so many instances of road rage in this country!

It's not great for sight-seeing, but I try to do most of my traveling during the night hours. Traffic's lighter and all the Farmer John's and Aunt Emma's are home in bed.

[AmRov]

Quote: Originally Posted by Martin L

...and what's with this lack of slower drivers should stick to the right lanes????
Undertaking IMHO is very dangerous and what's with people cruising along all at the same speed blocking all the lanes

LOL! Sorry, but I had to be amused. These are pet peeves of mine as well.

I live in Texas, and driving habits vary so widely just in this state (even just in Austin) as to defy generalization. As a habitual speeder myself, I am frustrated daily by anemic drivers. BUT, I know "where" I can speed and get away with it (NOT in my immediate community, which is heavily patrolled). So I am also quite amused by "noobs" who shoot through the notorious speed traps. I just move over, smile, and let them smoke out the cops. And then I sail past them later!

Sounds like I need to come to England -- although I don't know if I could ever get the "hang" of driving on the "other" side of the road!

Question: What is "undertaking"?

[ruthie]

Quote: Originally Posted by moorlockx

The hardest thing I know of about US driving is the wide variety of drivers out there. In any 65 mph zone you'll find people doing anywhere from 50 to 80, in whatever lane their hearts are content with. Most won't yield to a faster car, and some will even do stupid things like slow down or slam on their brakes when you express a desire for them to move over. It's no wonder there are so many instances of road rage in this country!

It's not great for sight-seeing, but I try to do most of my traveling during the night hours. Traffic's lighter and all the Farmer John's and Aunt Emma's are home in bed.

<------- Aunt Emma.

No, really. I know what you mean. People are driving at all different speeds and even in the "slow" lane you get people driving 50 and you want to . I usually drive about 65 on the highway.

Road rage is caused by overdosage of caffiene, and all the other dang stressors of life imo.