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Old 12-04-2007, 04:54 AM   #1
Default What speed do you drive?
melsb
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I use to be a speed demon but something happened when my daughter was born and I slowed down. Now days, that I'm driving with TWO kids in the car, I seem to have slowed down even more! And let's not discuss the fact that now days, I check the weather report before leaving the house! I use to drive in ALL weather conditions! Not anymore.

Anyway, I usually go about 60 mph on our highways. Helps me avoid deer and other wildlife on the road. And as it turns out I am saving a bit of gas! I just ran across this article on the net that discusses driving speeds vs. gas usage.

Best Gas Mileage, Fuel Economy – Drive 55 Miles Per Hour - thedailygreen.com

On the highway, try not to exceed a speed of 55 miles per hour. Not only are you less likely to get into an accident, but the faster you drive, the more fuel your vehicle consumes per mile. That means more money and more greenhouse gases.

At 65 mph you're burning 10% more fuel than at 55, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. At 70 you lose 17% of your fuel economy, and at 75 it’s 25%. The numbers get worse from there.

Even though you may thrive off living in the fast lane, if the national speed limit were reset to 55, it would save 1 billion barrels of oil per year -- more than the U.S. imports from the Persian Gulf.

The reason is simple physics. As your engine heats up at high speeds, it burns gas faster. Plus all that increasing resistance from the air and road drag you down.
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Old 12-04-2007, 06:53 AM   #2
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My husband makes fun of me because I avoid the highway. I rarely go outside of town and drive 35 most of the time. When I do get on the big road I drive about 70. The speed limit is 65. I get blown off the road.

Before I had children and was at the office, I rocked my Jeep Wrangler around the curves and drove 80 on the highway commuting. Not a good plan.
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Old 12-04-2007, 07:07 AM   #3
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I usually always go 5 over the limit. I don't know why.
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Old 12-04-2007, 07:16 AM   #4
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I drive the speed limit exactly, or less when conditions warrant it. I do not hog the fast lane, and often am passed. If on a secondary road, I hug the shoulder if someone is behind me so they may pass.

Winter is the best around here. Though I have 4WD, I drive slower than posted on bad roads. I also charge $20 to pull cars out of the ditch :D

My friends call me Grandma Driver, but I haven't had a ticket in 6 years, and no accidents for 5 years. I don't plan on having any soon either!
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Old 12-04-2007, 04:30 PM   #5
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In town I always go the speed limit. On the highways I always go 5 over the speed limit. I have never had an accident and in my 28 years of having a driver's license have only had one ticket.
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Old 12-04-2007, 10:48 PM   #6
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I go 5 miles over the speed limit too. I lock it in cruise control at that speed. The local police chief is a friend of the family & one time he told me that the cops around here aren't to stop anyone for going 5 over due to possible differences in speedometers. Since then, I go 5 over! I try to remind myself that gas mileage is worse over, but I can't stand to go slow....I'm trying to get better!!
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Old 12-04-2007, 11:17 PM   #7
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I also go 5 over the speed limit, I've had cops tell me that the real speeding issue is once you're 9 over. Sometimes, I feel like only driving 65, but I never drive below the speed limit on the freeway (unless weather interferes of course). One of my pet peeves is when a slow driver is in the fast lane. I totally respect slow drivers, but it puts all of us in danger when someone is causing the fast drivers to slam on the brakes in the fast lane.

I am actually more cautious on normal roads around town. the worst accident I had was on a residential street, where an older man had sun in his eyes and turned left directly in front of me. I ran right into the side of his car, thank goodness I was only driving 25 mph! Now I always drive with my headlights on and I am SUPER careful driving around town. People can be scatter brained or more likely to be distracted when they are not focusing on driving a high speed.

When we drive to see dh's family (420 miles away), I set the cruise control and it really helps with gas mileage.
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Old 12-08-2007, 01:55 PM   #8
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5-10 mph over the speed limit on the highway. On side roads I stick to the limit for the most part. however, with the snow I am always a turtle!
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Old 01-05-2008, 08:57 PM   #9
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Alway the speed limit. I got stopped and recieved a warning for going 5 over. Well that was enough to make me be more careful, don't want to pay more for insurance.
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