So, are we driving too slow?

[IamJerryP]

Originally Posted by sknight

I drive 60,000 miles a year as part of my job, I can attest that someone going more than 10MPH below the limit is a great danger especially if they're not in the right lane. Someone is going to misjudge the closing rate, suddenly change lanes to avoid hitting them, then will potentially collide with another car. I see it regularly.
.

If I am driving within the speed limits, minding my business in the right lane, then someone else's inattentiveness, irresponsibility, selflessness, and overall poor driving skills, is not my problem, responsibility, or my fault...
If one is not paying for my vehicle, my insurance, my gas, my traffic tickets, and my insurance, then I do not care what they think about me driving 55-60 in a 70 max area, in the right lane. Basically, they can pound sand.
Now for those clowns that drive slow in the fast lane, they deserve to be run completely off the road, because they are just rude human beings.
I usually tend to drive over the speed limit, except in rain, or other bad weather, in which case I tend to get passed a lot, but I am in the right lane minding my own business

[HUGHP]

Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers

I drive 60 MPH on all 4-lane roads, including interstates, and 55-60 on 2-lane depending on road conditions.

I stay in the right lane except to move left one lane to let traffic merge.

That's what I'm comfortable with and I'm sticking to it!

This

[Capt Steve]

No one is required to drive the maximum posted limit (sadly some here seem to think so ), which by the way is only valid when road and weather conditions permit. Drive the max when it is raining, snowing, icy, foggy, dusty etc., and you can easily find yourself with a well deserved ticket.

I stay in the right lane cruising between 55 to 62, always with the appropriate following distance, headlights on 24/7 and heck, I even use my turn signals (every time). What a concept!

[terry735001]

humm i have not see any one else talk about back roads

we all so drive on alot of back roads where it can go 35 25 45 55 32 mpr in just a few mins

i posted this to all so bring out safety and think about it more on road like that and to look back and see whats coming up behind you ... and see if some thing could play out that you dont like and could slow down or speed up more to give some one more time to get over or pass safely

we all know this and look back but how much do we really thank about it ... did we all feel safe as we where all going so slow .. or like in this video under stand how unsafe it is at lower speeds that this happens more often

[Mike and Cha]

Depending on the State you drive in the max posted speed is the limit for ideal conditions. You can actually get a ticket for speeding when driving below the posted speed in conditions that are not safe, mostly due to weather/traffic congestion/constuction ect. It is all about safety. I agree with some of the prior posts I drive my MH about 60 mph, stay in the right lane most of the time, If I'm in the #1or #2 lane I move to the right if I see traffic coming up behind me.

I really focus on what is ahead of me, not the idiot doing 75-80 on their cellphone behind me swerving around everyone in their path while they talk about whatever. I drive safe, because it is my familys safety, my MH, Insurance, tickets ect that I worry about, and there is nowhere I need to be that fast to jeopardize any of that.

[chboone]

Originally Posted by sknight

I drive 60,000 miles a year as part of my job, I can attest that someone going more than 10MPH below the limit is a great danger especially if they're not in the right lane. "Someone is going to misjudge the closing rate, suddenly change lanes to avoid hitting them, then will potentially collide with another car". I see it regularly.

Their probably the same idiots that merge on to a hyway at 45 mph thats flowing at 65-70 mph and slam on their brakes when they get in front of you.

[dubdub07]

OTR trucks and motorhomes going a little slower do not present the same danger as a smaller vehicle. You see the truck/MH way in advance as do other drivers therefore the risk is mitigated in advance; whereas a smaller car or truck is not seen until one is right upon them. The risk assessment time is reduced and therefore not mitigated as well.

Reference the merging of cars at less then the traffic flow; the name for an on ramp is an acceleration lane, therefore there should not be any braking at all but a concerted effort to drive fast enough for all vehicles entering the road to merge effectively. Inversely, the off ramp is a deceleration lane and therefore one does not speed up when exiting.

[BCooke]

Especially at one on ramp here it is a pull on at 40 so I can floor it. If you move over for them you get stuck slowing traffic as they accelerate at a speed you can not get around them... so... being as my DD is my dually, the only ones I move over for any more is the campers and trucks.

[aboatguy]

I usually just go with the flow. Problem with going with the flow in the RV is the speedometer quits registering at 80mph. Fuel mileage is usually between 11-13 mpg, I asked my dad and that's been his experience too and he's been driving this rig since new, he just uses the tach to figure out how much over 80 he's going!

[Steve N Sal]

WHEW! I don't know about you but I got tired of trying to keep track of the guy on the screen. He was like a windshield wiper. Anyway, on the Interstates I'm at 62. Two lane 55 or posted speed depending on road conditions.

[Pepper2]

Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers

I drive 60 MPH on all 4-lane roads, including interstates, and 55-60 on 2-lane depending on road conditions.

I stay in the right lane except to move left one lane to let traffic merge.

That's what I'm comfortable with and I'm sticking to it!

Same here.

[Lindsay Richards]

I have a friend who drives for a commercial trucking company and drives from Central FL to KY to AZ and back to FL every week (2 man team). His truck has a speed limiter set at 62 mph. He says that this is very common for commercial trucking companies due to fuel economy reasons. He doesn't like it as it makes it very hard to pass with only a one or two mile differential when one of these over takes another one. In our coach, we are at about 60 or 62 on the expressway and much slower on surface streets. I turn off the cruise control in any hilly conditions. Several years ago, we made a trip from Central Florida to Washington state and back. I passed a total of 7 vehicles in the 9200 miles. We are not in a hurry at all. My wife/navigator in the right hand seat makes all major decisions on passing.

[sushidogchip]

Now I drive like a bat out of hell towing my little Aliner at 70+ at times. But that's because I only get to camp twice a year -2 1wk vacations. I never even get a weekend off. My work requires 6-7 days a week for me. So If I'm going to make a 700-1,000 mile day I have little choice.

Now when I retire and full-time it will be quite a different story. I will be on a tight budget, so will be moving monthly and stretching my fuel dollar as much as possible. I plan on be leisurely meandering down back roads at my optimum MPG speed, at off hours/low traffic times, avoiding cities and timing my speed to traffic signal lights to avoid stopping, starting and minimizing braking whenever possible to conserve momentum. I also plan on adding aerodynamic devices to my F-250/TT combo, like air-tabs, and building a custom low drag camper-top to cover my 2, 100 MPG motorbikes (for cruising around town after we arrive) that has foldable tail flaps like you se on some 18 wheeler trailers these days. I will fold them in at around 30 degrees to reduce drag when not towing (say for grocery getting, etc.) and out at 30 degrees when towing to ease the air flow around my TT. I also plan on using them on the rear of my camper too. I'll probably make them out of Coroplast (corrugated plastic sign material) as it's very lightweight, sturdy, weathers well and is cheap and easy to replace when damaged. Hopefully this will allow me to drive a somewhat reasonable speed, say 55 mph so I can flow better with traffic, without sacrificing fuel economy due to drag.

[JFXG]

Originally Posted by aboatguy

I usually just go with the flow. Problem with going with the flow in the RV is the speedometer quits registering at 80mph. Fuel mileage is usually between 11-13 mpg....... ]

Just out of curiosity, what MH are you driving that gets 11-13 mpg at 80?