Freeway Driving: The Need For Speed

[Shy]

[size=1]Southern California is known for two things:

[b]1.[/b] Hollywood and movie stars
[b]2. [/b] Driving fast.

Sadly, I have fallen victim to another stereotype. After getting my new car I discovered the joy of reaching high speeds, and a good deal of my driving time is spent on the freeways. This is intentional, because when there isn't much traffic the freeways is the perfect place to drive. Also, EVERYONE drives over the speed limit here. Even when I am going 80 mph I get passed up by nearly every car on the road. There is something exciting about driving fast, and I can't really explain it. Now I fully understand why some people obsess with cars.

Anyway, how do you drive on the freeway? How do *average* people drive, and what is the fastest you have ever gone on a public road?

-Shy

Note: This thread does not promote reckless driving, it merely glamorizes it.[/size]

[Semjaza]

It's hard to not speed. If one person does then others do... I know if people speed up, I tend to as well without realizing it. I'm simply trying to keep up and not looking at the speedometer.

I don't know what you mean by public road... On most side streets and main streets I tend to not do more than 10 MPH over the limit if even that (the average limit here is 35). I don't want to hit some random kid that runs into the street or whatever else. Chicago has a lot of people that know that if you hit them, you'll be the one who gets in trouble... regardless of how it happened.

On highways, I average 10 to 20 over the limit, which is generally 55 or 65. Most other people do as well. I'd say the fastest I've personally gone on the highway/freeway is about 125 MPH. My car at this current time doesn't go over that heh.

[Manic Webb]

Usually, I go with the flow of traffic. I think I read in the California DMV guide-thingy "Never drive faster or slower than is safe for current conditions." And if "current conditions" means that everyone else on the freeway is driving between 70 and 90mph, then by golly, I do my best not to be a hazard to other drivers. :)

The speed limit is usually 65mph on the freeway, and I average somewhere around 70-75mph on most days. The fastest I've ever driven was 90mph, and that was on a clear semi-empty highway.

The fastest I've ever driven on a public road was 65mph on a 45mph street. After I noticed how fast I was going, I quickly slowed down to 50mph. I usually go about 45mph on a 35mph street.

And now to leave you with some words of wisdom from a very wise man...

"Have you ever noticed anybody going slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?"
-- George Carlin

Wise man, wise guy, whatever. :rolleyes:

[Sara]

[size=1]I have driven on the freeway...twice.

I'm still really uncomfortable driving, and I worry about the mental stability of the man who decided I passed my road test.[/size]

[Corey]

I've never driven on the freeway. But once I do, I don't expect that I'll speed. I dont' want to jack up my parents insurance any more than necessary.

[Transtic Nerve]

I'm ALWAYS the paser on the highway. I hate being passed. I dunno why, probably cause I HATE driving and I just wanna get to where I'm going spending the least amount of time in my car, even though it looks really good and everything. Everytime I'm on the highway, or road for that matter, I'm usually driving faster than everyone. Not only because my car CAN go faster than most everyone else and I can't stand people who buy sports cars and drive them slow, but also liek I said above.

Highways rock, except when there's a backup. Then it just sucks.

[Guest cloricus]

Well having only just received my learners I'm more pron to staying within the speed limit. (HA: The penalties for speeding without a licence here are less than the ones for speeding with a learners!) So I'm happy with 80 to 100; when I drive a bit more 110 on highway will be fine. (Yes that's legal in qld.)
Though speeding is just something I don't want to do, mainly because of the accidents I've heard about from where my mother lives. It?s a part on the main highway where everyone decides it?s safe to go over the limit, and the death count goes from there.
(About two or three people a week/fortnight and they are very bad crashes.)

All speeds are in km/h, for those backwards Americans on here.

-eps-

[Baron Samedi]

you americans are talking about going 10 or 20 mph over the limit. that is like 20 - 40 km. we get booked for going 5 or 10 kmh over the limit. 125mph- thats like 200+ kmh. you people are LOONIES!!!!! *runs off screaming* i am not an adult and can not get my license for another--- 2yrs 9 months *crosses off day on calender* but you people are seemingly crazy. im sure speed is fun and exhilirating and all but i hope never to meet you on the road...sheesh

[Kinetic]

I am not allowed to drive legally yet, but I still drive home from school all the time. I love the power you get when you are behind the steering wheel. I still need to work on turning though because my turns are too sharp, but I have very good control of the car.

Anyway, about the freeway, my family always goes the speed limit and gets passed up and it drives me crazy. I want them to go as fast as everyone else and get to our destination point faster. When I grow up I will always go the speed of everyone else but I probably won't drive, "ludicrously" as you put it in the poll :)

[Queen Asuka]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Transtic Nerve [/i]
[B]I'm ALWAYS the paser on the highway. I hate being passed. [/B][/QUOTE]

[color=hotpink][size=1]I HATE when people pass me, too! But not on the highway. I hate it when they pass me on a regular road or something when I'm already going over the speed limit.

I just started driving. BUT, I do not go more than 10mph over because:

1. My friend Tabby used to drive 85 in the 45 and it scared me to death. She finally got a ticket and lost her liscence for a year.

2. Anna, our own dear Anna, used to be a speed demon and we were in a wreck. Luckily all I got out of it was a REALLY BIG nasty bruise.

Therefore, I don't want to endanger the lives of others, so I try to drive carefully.

I hate driving on the interstate and I've only done it a few times. I guess it's something that has to grow on you.[/color][/size]

[treton_noir]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Queen Asuka [/i]
[B][color=hotpink][size=1]
I just started driving. BUT, I do not go more than 10mph over because:

1. My friend Tabby used to drive 85 in the 45 and it scared me to death. She finally got a ticket and lost her liscence for a year.

2. Anna, our own dear Anna, used to be a speed demon and we were in a wreck. Luckily all I got out of it was a REALLY BIG nasty bruise.[/color][/size] [/B][/QUOTE]

3: She scares hell out of ryan when she drives fast.



i dont ususally go [i]that[/i] fast. i usually stay near the posted limit. i've realized that driving really fast doesnt help you save much time, so i dont really think its worth the increased risk.

...and i couldnt afford a ticket. >_>

[RicoTranzrig]

[COLOR=darkblue]I rarely use the freeway unless it's for long distance like the mall or some good place. I average around 60-80 MPH with a tendency to stay on a lane that's not filled up so I can take it easy.

The fastest I've gone was when I got really mad when some driver almost swiped me into a semi trying to cut me off without warning. Well, he cut me several times trying to play around. So I floored it and ended up at around 140MPH to get away from him and find an exit to cool off. But I wouldn't do that again, of course.

I don't like my local freeways.[/COLOR]

[Lady Macaiodh]

[color=darkblue][size=1]I used to be one of those "ludicrously fast" drivers, once upon a time, but no longer, because:

1) I've been in so many wrecks where I was a passenger that I realize that most people on the road are non-driving bastards and not to be trusted.

2) So many of my friends have gotten DUIs and have been in pointless accidents.

3) I'm not in that big of a hurry anymore.[/color][/size]

[BabyGirl]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Shy [/i]
[B][size=1]Southern California is known for two things:

[b]2. [/b] Driving fast.
[/size] [/B][/QUOTE]

[color=deeppink]:therock: How did you guys get THAT stereotype? California's freeways have some of the slowest drivers in the country. I know this because I come from Michigan where the average speed on the freeway is 80 MPH and NO ONE goes under 65 [i]ever[/i]. I drove to California cross-country, and everyone drives faster everywhere else but California.

I guess I also have a mild problem with California's drivers because they drive slow and get upset at other drivers easily. I've had some really nasty encounters with people with road rage out here, even when I have done nothing wrong. I think they all hate me, though, because not only do I still have a Michigan plate, but I drive really, really fast.

In Michigan we have a curtousy policy in which the left lane is reserved strictly for people who are driving faster than you. It's called the Fast Lane. When you're in the far left lane and someone faster than you comes up behind, then you get your behind over to the right. In California, that doesn't seem to exist. Furthermore, there are signs posted to remind people that slower traffic has to keep right, but no one seems to regard that.

Therefore, I constantly weave in and out of the lanes because everyone drives too slow and I have to swerve around them. Granted, I AM driving too fast out here, but I learned to drive in a state that drives REALLY REALLY FAST! :D And I'm super safe about driving, I'm good at judging distance and speed of other cars. I don't drive recklessly, I drive safely fast.

Anyway, I have major complaints about the California drivers, but it wouldn't be nice of me to keep going on about it. I don't really want to insult those of you who drive in California, but being from another state has made me a fresh viewer to how people drive out here. Believe me, everyone that I know who isn't from California feels the same way as I.

I can't wait to get home for three weeks and drive with Michigan people again...ahh, that will be nice.[/color]

[GrimmFang]

I used to have a fear of driving but after a year of driving on the Park Way to get to my trade school I think it's fun. Now I usually go faster than just about every car on the road of course I keep one eye out for cops though.

[XeEmO]

I don't usually speed unless everyone else is speeding. I guess I just try to keep up with everyone else. Speeding just isn't my thing...

[Fall]

I don't drive yet, though when I do, I would like to atleast try a car fot it's top speed.

Dad drops me off to school every morning, and he speeds like a bat out of hell around the place. 140km in a 95km/hr zone just past where we live.. even though I love the fun of it, he's going to get caught up with a nifty fine one day.

[weatherlight]

heh well my parents don't trust me with their cars alone yet...so I can't really speed with them right next to me screaming if I go like 5 miles over the speed limit.

[Mitch]

[size=1][font=century gothic][color=gray] I drive slow when I'm in certain moods; and when I'm mad, or bitter, or anything else, I drive fast. Very fast.

I still really hate driving, and am very uncomfortable with it. I've only driven on freeways once or twice, too. I have enough trouble driving already; I'm a very timid person to things like this that put many things in danger and need upmost attention. I guess sometimes I'm a good driver, and sometimes I'm not.

I've missed like two dozen wrecks by luck already, so I guess I have some grace.[/size][/font][/color]