How Fast Do You Drive

[Steverino]

Count me in the 65ish club. Going faster won't really save much time, but will cost more gas and increase risk while being less comfortable. I might get a bit above that briefly (to wrap up a pass, or on a downhill with an uphill coming right up), but I really don't mind keeping right and letting the world fly by. I'm on vacation after all.

[grindstone01]

I started driving during the 70's oil embargo and the 55 national speed limits. My sweet spot is 60 mph, whether hauling the fifth wheel or driving my motorcycle. Driving any faster is just too stressful!

[chuckftboy]

I always liked 68 mph with my past motorhomes but they were a bit smaller and 10,000 lbs. lighter. Now I find 65 to be my comfort zone on interstate highways. Generally I cruse with the truckers and most of them run around 65 anyway.

[Unicorn Driver]

I will 60-65 depending on the wind. I prefer 60 but if pushed for time 65 is what I will do.

[Ray,IN]

Originally Posted by AA4TG

65 sounds about perfect to me. By doing 65 in a 70 mph zone, you aren't going to hold up traffic and you can relax watching the rest pull away. You'll not get tickets, worry about radar, or have traffic very close to your front. Lots of the time, if traffic is light, I will even slow down to 60. I am a retired deputy sheriff and have had my share of speed. Now it's time to relax.

May I add to your list of plus's? Driving 63/65 allows use of cruise control most of the time, without having to brake for a slower driver. It also allows more reaction time to unexpected events.

[RunningHard]

63-65 for me 80% of time. Sometimes in places like Montana I will run 70–72. 🕶

[danhannah]

Originally Posted by Crasher

I'm another 63-65 mph traveler. If the speed limit is 65 or 80, I stay in my comfort zone. My tires are rated for 81 mph, but they will never see that speed as long as I'm driving. Maintaining the speed limit is not mandatory, it's the maximum legal limit. Anything below that is legal unless otherwise posted.

Not true in Washington State. Here, you can be ticketed if you drive slower than 15 mph below the posted speed limit.

[OldDoggy]

I try to stay in the 2500 to 2600 rpm range with my 2004 v10 Hurricane. This translates to 60 to 65 mph for 8 to 10 mpg depending on wind and grade on the Xway. The whole idea of having your house with you is “ain’t no hurry”.

Just Another Old Doggy, Don

[Cloud Dancer]

I'm a very good operator/driver of very fast vehicles (I have been doing it since the late 50's). My long-wheelbase, short rear overhang, IFS Spartan chassis 40 ft Dutch Star,...handles well at 80 mph. Therefore, I set the cruise control at 65 mph, because I understand the science of the forces at work. In particular, I understand how the centrifugal force which constantly tries to delaminate my tires exponentially increase as the vehicle speed increases. For me, dealing with a front tire blowout at 65 mph is no big deal. The longer I live, the longer I want to live.

[vettenuts]

I generally run 60 on the highway but will let it slide up to 65 on some downhill runs. It gets us where we need to go and I feel handling a blowout is better done at slower speeds. I get passed by a lot of coaches, some really fly by, but the couple who had a front tire blowout and went into the meridian and rolled always plays in my mind (it’s on YouTube). They were going quite fast when this occurred.

We also enjoy drying off the highways when we can as we get to see more of the countryside and you never know what neat stops you might find like farm stands, etc.

[Crasher]

Originally Posted by danhannah

Not true in Washington State. Here, you can be ticketed if you drive slower than 15 mph below the posted speed limit.

Is that posted along the highway? If it is not a posted limit, how can it be enforced. Does Washington have an 80 mph speed limit? If it does, I'll just avoid going there.

That Washington law is intended for two lane roads and the minimum must be posted:

(2) Whenever the secretary of transportation or local authorities within their respective jurisdictions determine on the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation that slow speeds on any part of a highway unreasonably impede the normal movement of traffic, the secretary or such local authority may determine and declare a minimum speed limit thereat which shall be effective when appropriate signs giving notice thereof are erected. No person shall drive a vehicle slower than such minimum speed limit except when necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law.

[LarryJB]

I have not read every post here, so if this has already been said I apologize for the redundancy. I also, drive in the 62-65 range on the interstate. One advantage to this speed is that I can get in the outside lane, set the cruise at that speed and drive for hours without having to take it off cruise. Any faster than that and I have to hit the brakes for slower traffic, mostly big rigs that probably have governors. This provides a much more enjoyable driving experience. I also avoid driving at night.

[Bahamaniac]

I usually drive 66 or 67 on the interstates. 35 foot on the F53 chassis.

[richard5933]

Originally Posted by danhannah

Not true in Washington State. Here, you can be ticketed if you drive slower than 15 mph below the posted speed limit.

Most interstate roads have a minimum of 45 or 50. I've seen lower minimum speed posted on occasion, but can't remember seeing a higher one. Not saying there aren't any, just that if there are it's not common.