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Is 80MPH to fast too drive on a freeway?

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heh...driving less than 80MPH on the highways here (or the backroads, if you know the road), is asking for an accident (unless it's raining, and then everyone just gets plain stupid).
 
Originally posted by: booradley
The most efficient point for a car is a shade above idle in top gear. On a mainstream car, this is certainly below 60mph, espicially with the wealth of 4 speed automatics in America.
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The only car I've ever driven where 60mph was in top gear was a Geo Metro. In fact, my old Bonneville would be in FIRST gear at 60.

 
Originally posted by: bobsmith1492
Heck no... I do ~64; better fuel mileage.

EDIT: Oh, and to the huge "debate" above: the law is there to be obeyed. If you don't have to obey the speed limit... then why not drive through stop signs... then why not drive through red lights... it's there for our own good, and does best if we all obey it.
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Red lights and stop signs are usually safety related. Speed limits are about revenue enhancement, 100% of the time, never about safety.

By "speed limit" I refer to the "legal speed" posted on the white signs. The yellow signs telling you a slower safe speed for curves or inclines are about safety, and it is not actually illegal to go above the speed on the yellow signs, just dangerous. And proving the legal speed limit to be totally about $$$, I have actually seen a white speed limit 55 sign on the same curve that has a yellow sign saying to slow to 70 for the turn.
 
I'm guessing here, I don't feel like looking up the facts, but danger is probably exponentially related to speed, particularly when you exceed the design criteria for the highway, the conditions, and the equipment being operated.

By driving 80mph, at night, on most US highways, with most vehicles, you are probably exceeding the design specifications for the highway and the vehicle, and the odds of a fatal accident are much higher than they would be driving 60.

I would guess 4 to 10 times greater.


some design specs I'm basing this on
highway
barrier and median design, lane width, curve radii, road surface, road maintenance, signeage and pole design, berm/curb design.

vehicle
seat design, seat belt design, lighting, crumple zones, tire rating, braking distance, rollover protection, fuel tank design, occupant protection(helmet, gloves, flame resistant clothing), secondary collision impact(dash padding,etc), airbags.
 
Well let me give my 2 cents. On I-75 in South Florida you drive 70 and you get passed...hell at times you drive 80 and you get passed. Well my girlfriend was at my sisters house during our last hurricane. After the hurricane i wanted to see her so I went to do so. We were still getting light bands of ran so I watched the news and waited for a band of rain to clear. Once it did i was off. I took the major high way b/c i wanted to get there before it started to rain again. Well I drive a pick up truck and at 70mph i hit standing water. I fish tailed 5 times before spinning out and ending up on the median. After that i was driving 40mph to get to her. So to answer your question....if have good conditions then its fine. If not and its rainy and crap....don't do it.
 
Originally posted by: glugglug
Originally posted by: bobsmith1492
Heck no... I do ~64; better fuel mileage.

EDIT: Oh, and to the huge "debate" above: the law is there to be obeyed. If you don't have to obey the speed limit... then why not drive through stop signs... then why not drive through red lights... it's there for our own good, and does best if we all obey it.
Click to expand...

Red lights and stop signs are usually safety related. Speed limits are about revenue enhancement, 100% of the time, never about safety.

By "speed limit" I refer to the "legal speed" posted on the white signs. The yellow signs telling you a slower safe speed for curves or inclines are about safety, and it is not actually illegal to go above the speed on the yellow signs, just dangerous. And proving the legal speed limit to be totally about $$$, I have actually seen a white speed limit 55 sign on the same curve that has a yellow sign saying to slow to 70 for the turn.
Click to expand...


speed limits are about safety... not necessarily yours... but usually for the car sitting at the T waiting to turn onto or cross over yours. Its called sight distance, from the time he sees you, how long does it take for you to get to him? If its too fast, he wont have time to make the pullout, without getting tboned
.
Rather than spouting moronic false info, why dont you go learn something about traffic engineering.
 
There are many things to consider when contemplating high speed on the freeway. Too many to list here, but I personally feel fine traveling at 100mph on the open road. I might also add that I spent 10 years in Germany and I own a BMW. So, when you're cruising along in the fast lane doing your Sable at 80mph and you see a BMW, MB, or Porsche in your rearview mirror...move over!
 
After reading through nearly this entire thread, so many of us have gotten off track, which is normal I suppose.
The number one question is: Is 80 mph too fast to drive on the freeway?
My number one opinion is: No!
Fact is, I wish all the interstates would have no speed limits. But, I'm talking about the open road - on the interstates where entrances and exits are well established. All other roads and highways - towns, housing areas, schools - should have speed limits.
As for the OP, stick to the speed limits! 6 months experience is nothing. I've been driving for well over thirty years and have seen far too many teenagers get themselves killed simply because they think they are invincible and going fast is cool.
 
Originally posted by: newParadigm
Road condition were completley dry, it was 10PM, so almost no traffic, and i was off in the Boonies.

Ladyfriend says its dangerous i say its not, u decide...

Originally posted by: Cuda1447
If you know hwo to drive, and have a reliable car... then I think its fine.
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I drive an 2002 Mercury Sable, i've had my Liscence 6months...
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I remember when I had my license about that long and I thought it was cool to drive fast... I got up to 100 and flipped my saturn end over end when a tire peeled.

Is it perfectly safe? Yes. Perfectly safe to do with that amount of inexperience? No.
 
Originally posted by: newParadigm
Road condition were completley dry, it was 10PM, so almost no traffic, and i was off in the Boonies.

Ladyfriend says its dangerous i say its not, u decide...

Originally posted by: Cuda1447
If you know hwo to drive, and have a reliable car... then I think its fine.
Click to expand...

I drive an 2002 Mercury Sable, i've had my Liscence 6months...
Click to expand...



if you want laid... the lady is always right. if not.... she's still always right.
 
I commute daily at 90-120mph. Going to class in the morning is like driving a short leg in the dakkar rally through traffic.

One time a cop tried to pull me over, but i launched my car to the side of the road and stopped so fast he flew by me. It was the end of the breakdown lane so he couldnt stop up ahead either. I was lol'ing about it for the rest of the day.
 
I hit 115mph entering the loop around town yesterday. It was either get out ahead of the wall of cars or come to a complete stop and die trying to merge into 65+mph traffic. 🙁
 
Originally posted by: PaperclipGod
I commute daily at 90-120mph. Going to class in the morning is like driving a short leg in the dakkar rally through traffic.

One time a cop tried to pull me over, but i launched my car to the side of the road and stopped so fast he flew by me. It was the end of the breakdown lane so he couldnt stop up ahead either. I was lol'ing about it for the rest of the day.
Click to expand...


lmk when that ticket comes in the mail so I can laugh at you.
 
Originally posted by: newParadigm
Road condition were completley dry, it was 10PM, so almost no traffic, and i was off in the Boonies.

Ladyfriend says its dangerous i say its not, u decide...

Originally posted by: Cuda1447
If you know hwo to drive, and have a reliable car... then I think its fine.
Click to expand...

I drive an 2002 Mercury Sable, i've had my Liscence 6months...
Click to expand...

Meh, a lot of 16 year olds do stupid things when they get their license, 80 is speeding, so don't whine about a ticket when you get one, but I don't think that it's unsafe provided you aren't weaving in and out of traffic, and your car is in good condition. It also depends on experience. I mean if its your first time on the Interstate speeding probably isn't the safest thing to do.
 
Originally posted by: SithSolo1
I hit 115mph entering the loop around town yesterday. It was either get out ahead of the wall of cars or come to a complete stop and die trying to merge into 65+mph traffic. 🙁
Click to expand...

Oh, so you're one of these guys we see on "COPS"...
 
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