Cruising Speed

[Bookmon]

I'm happy at 60-65, or less. I feel out of control of the RV at faster speeds. We get about 7.5 mpg with our 37' diesel pusher towing a Sebring Convertible on a two wheel dolly.
It's the journey more than the destination.

[sinterior]

I have to chime in here,


I usually cruise 60-62 Mph on the US freeways, and have yet to be fingered or honked at for being slow, and yes that includes Texas!
I don't know where some people are coming from saying, if you don't go 70-75 at least you're a hazard on the road.

IMHO if you drive a MH/toad combo, or any RV combo once or twice a year, and drive 70-75 or over, tell me where, because I'll avoid you!


Professional truckers who drive 100,000 + miles a year are WAY more experienced than 99.9% than we are, and still get into accidents.

[Daveinet]

Originally Posted by sinterior

I have to chime in here,


I usually cruise 60-62 Mph on the US freeways, and have yet to be fingered or honked at for being slow, and yes that includes Texas!
I don't know where some people are coming from saying, if you don't go 70-75 at least you're a hazard on the road.

IMHO if you drive a MH/toad combo, or any RV combo once or twice a year, and drive 70-75 or over, tell me where, because I'll avoid you!

I strongly suggest that if you want to know where people are coming from, then PLEASE do research. Don't just have an opinion because that is what seems right to you.



"Notwithstanding the many studies over the years, in testimony before the Ohio Senate Highways and Transportation Committee on June 10, 2003, Julie Cirillo, Former Assistant Administrator and Chief Safety Officer for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), testified that "up to the present time there has been no evidence to alter Solomon’s original finding that variance from the mean operating speed is a major contributor to accidents"


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomo...omon_Curve.png


So in some ways your statement is fudged enough to fit the curve, but the reality is not based on the speed limit, but rather the average mean speed, which may be faster than the speed limit. That puts you right at the bottom edge of the safety curve. If the traffic is doing 70, and you are doing 60, you are OK, but for anyone doing 55, that's not OK. If the traffic is doing 75 to 80, then 60 is not OK. Those are the hard facts based on multiple research studies. Many states out west have 75 mph speed limits. Several states set the speed limits at whatever the traffic does, to try to reduce the outliers that cause accidents.

[richard5933]

Originally Posted by Daveinet

I strongly suggest that if you want to know where people are coming from, then PLEASE do research. Don't just have an opinion because that is what seems right to you.



"Notwithstanding the many studies over the years, in testimony before the Ohio Senate Highways and Transportation Committee on June 10, 2003, Julie Cirillo, Former Assistant Administrator and Chief Safety Officer for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), testified that "up to the present time there has been no evidence to alter Solomon’s original finding that variance from the mean operating speed is a major contributor to accidents"


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomo...omon_Curve.png


So in some ways your statement is fudged enough to fit the curve, but the reality is not based on the speed limit, but rather the average mean speed, which may be faster than the speed limit. That puts you right at the bottom edge of the safety curve. If the traffic is doing 70, and you are doing 60, you are OK, but for anyone doing 55, that's not OK. If the traffic is doing 75 to 80, then 60 is not OK. Those are the hard facts based on multiple research studies. Many states out west have 75 mph speed limits. Several states set the speed limits at whatever the traffic does, to try to reduce the outliers that cause accidents.

Better contact the road departments and have them update minimum speed on most Interstate Highways then, as it's often only 45mph.

And on mountain passes, you'll often see heavy trucks and many RVs going even slower with the flashers on.

While the statistics may be correct, I take issue with the recommended solution. Rather than feeling pushed toward driving faster to keep up with the speeding traffic, I'd rather see enforcement to help keep speed averages down.

[sinterior]

Originally Posted by Daveinet

I strongly suggest that if you want to know where people are coming from, then PLEASE do research. Don't just have an opinion because that is what seems right to you.



"Notwithstanding the many studies over the years, in testimony before the Ohio Senate Highways and Transportation Committee on June 10, 2003, Julie Cirillo, Former Assistant Administrator and Chief Safety Officer for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), testified that "up to the present time there has been no evidence to alter Solomon’s original finding that variance from the mean operating speed is a major contributor to accidents"


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomo...omon_Curve.png


So in some ways your statement is fudged enough to fit the curve, but the reality is not based on the speed limit, but rather the average mean speed, which may be faster than the speed limit. That puts you right at the bottom edge of the safety curve. If the traffic is doing 70, and you are doing 60, you are OK, but for anyone doing 55, that's not OK. If the traffic is doing 75 to 80, then 60 is not OK. Those are the hard facts based on multiple research studies. Many states out west have 75 mph speed limits. Several states set the speed limits at whatever the traffic does, to try to reduce the outliers that cause accidents.

Sir,
We are all entitled to our opinions, I'm merely stating my own.
I have driven the West coast states every year for the last 15, they all have truck and/or any vehicle towing a trailer speed limits of 55-60 MPH.

[sinterior]

Originally Posted by richard5933

Better contact the road departments and have them update minimum speed on most Interstate Highways then, as it's often only 45mph.

And on mountain passes, you'll often see heavy trucks and many RVs going even slower with the flashers on.

While the statistics may be correct, I take issue with the recommended solution. Rather than feeling pushed toward driving faster to keep up with the speeding traffic, I'd rather see enforcement to help keep speed averages down.

I agree with you, thanks.

[twinboat]

. If the traffic is doing 70, and you are doing 60, you are OK, but for anyone doing 55, that's not OK. If the traffic is doing 75 to 80, then 60 is not OK. Those are the hard facts based on multiple research studies. Many states out west have 75 mph speed limits. Several states set the speed limits at whatever the traffic does, to try to reduce the outliers that cause accidents.

I have some spare time occasionally.

Not sure who posted about the above multiple studies, but I'd be interested in reading some of them.

Can you post links the them ?

[Waiter21]

I generally hang around 60-65, However, I don't want to get rear ended by someone doing 85, while I'm poking along at 60.. If the traffic is flowing at 80-85, I'll generally bump my speed up to 70-75 so as not to create a traffic hazard.. (I'm thinking I-10 between Tuscon and Phoenix as an example)

[richard5933]

Originally Posted by twinboat

. If the traffic is doing 70, and you are doing 60, you are OK, but for anyone doing 55, that's not OK. If the traffic is doing 75 to 80, then 60 is not OK. Those are the hard facts based on multiple research studies. Many states out west have 75 mph speed limits. Several states set the speed limits at whatever the traffic does, to try to reduce the outliers that cause accidents.

I have some spare time occasionally.

Not sure who posted about the above multiple studies, but I'd be interested in reading some of them.

Can you post links the them ?

These studies are somewhat of a red herring in this conversation. They discuss overall accident rates relative to speed limit and speed of traffic flow. But, this conversation is not about overall traffic - it's about RVs, which are a totally different animal as compared to other types of vehicles.

Discussing these studies without also discussing studies showing increases/decreases in accidents in RVs as speed increases is misleading and doesn't present a full picture. My belief is that the increase in accidents with RVs due to higher speeds will be much larger than any increase in accidents due to being rear-ended due to slower speeds. And, the high-speed accidents would also be much more serious.

If what you're saying is followed by everyone, then many RVs would simply not be able to travel to many parts of the country using the Interstate system - whether it be due to handling limitations, tire limitations, or some other safety limitations.

It's clear that the road engineers and law makers don't agree with the premise that its not okay to go 55 or 60 on the Interstate (any Interstate). We traveled through South Dakota and Wyoming last summer. Many stretches had speed limits of 75-80. However, the posted minimum speed was 45-50, depending on the road. I'm assuming they have access to these studies, yet they still post these minimum speeds.

[grindstone01]

NEVER, NEVER, drive at a faster speed than what you are comfortable driving. That's just plain common sense. If your comfortable driving speed is less than the legal min posted speed, then find another route.
The speed limit means that is the max speed you can legally go. Unless there is a posted min speed, any lower speed is allowed. If another vehicle hits you, that's their fault, they are to blame!!

[Walt Graham]

I have seen a few posts noting that you should drive at the same speed as others with your MH or 5th wheel. So in affect if most are doing 85 mph you should be doing at east75 mph or 80. Obviously most people don't understand that most Interstates have a posted minimum speed and in Florida it's 60 mph raised from 55 a year ago. So if you make the call to do 85 you will just love the dollar amount on your speeding ticket... worse if you blow a tire and lay the coach over your insurance company could file for you being the cause due to speed.... not hard to prove by a state cop that will investigate the wreckage.

[twinboat]

Originally Posted by Walt Graham

I have seen a few posts noting that you should drive at the same speed as others with your MH or 5th wheel. So in affect if most are doing 85 mph you should be doing at east75 mph or 80. Obviously most people don't understand that most Interstates have a posted minimum speed and in Florida it's 60 mph raised from 55 a year ago. So if you make the call to do 85 you will just love the dollar amount on your speeding ticket... worse if you blow a tire and lay the coach over your insurance company could file for you being the cause due to speed.... not hard to prove by a state cop that will investigate the wreckage.

What highway in FL. has a 60 MPH MINIMUM speed limit ?

[bumpus4]

My tires are marked "Max speed 65MPH". I do not exceed that.

[PAtrailtrim]

Originally Posted by bumpus4

My tires are marked "Max speed 65MPH". I do not exceed that.

And from grindstone1:

“NEVER, NEVER, drive at a faster speed than what you are comfortable driving. That's just plain common sense”.

Use you best judgement and know the limitations of you equipment. At the end of the day all that matters is you and your family get there safely.