How Fast Is The Speed of Traffic?

[shayslay]

What I'm wondering is what the speed of the "flow" in your area. Like in a 55MPH speed limit highway, how much faster do cars usually go? (I'm assuming they're faster...) How much do you deviate from the limit? And is it differences in speed of traffic that is more dangerous than speed itself?

[TBR]

Maybe 5 mph over the speed limit.  

[dazzleman]

Good questions.

I think that speed differential and lack of lane discipline is more dangerous than speed itself, within certain parameters.  As an example, I think the person who changes into the left lane on a highway at 50 mph is more dangerous than the person who drives 80 mph in that left lane under the right conditions.

On the highways near me, traffic generally flows at 70-75 mph despite the 55 mph speed limit.  On the highway, I generally drive anywhere from 15-30 mph over the speed limit, assuming that conditions permit me to do it safely.  Since the speed limits near me don't go above 55 mph, that means 70-85 mph.  I don't go any faster on roads where the speed limit is 65 or 70 mph, so in that case, I go 0-20 mph over the speed limit.

[footoflead]

usally 70 to 80 on the major highways...5 to 20 over on the small highways...usally most people do about 60-65 on the 55 stretch...and about 10 over on the 45 stretch...which is way to slow for the road..(even though its considered within city limits...

[shayslay]

For me, I go 5-10 over on surface streets and at least 15 over on highways. that's around what traffic goes as well so it doesn't create a huge difference in speeds.

[giant_mtb]

Our fastest speed limit here in the U.P. is 55...so most people will usually do 60.  They really need to change the speed limits up here; we have miles and miles of straight and open road but they won't change the limit to anything higher than 55.    

[Raza]

Depends on the road.  Most residentials go about 40, 35s are 50, 45s are about 55.  The particular road where I go my ticket is a 4 lane 35, and if you go 60 you'll get passed.

[BMWDave]

I've been on massive highways where I am going 70 in a 65 zone and guys in Porsche turbos are zooming by in the left lane at 100+.  Most people though go about 75 in a 65 zone.

[El Barto]

In the 55 zones traffic is normally moving between 65-70 mph.  In the 65 zone on I87 traffic is normally going 75-80.  On the 65 mph RT. 7 traffic is normally moving... 65 mph, that road connects I787 which has a 55 mph limit with the strech of I87 that has a 55 limit, so most people just assume that RT. 7 has a 55 limit.   :angry:

[93JC]

Playground Zones/School Zones:
Speed Limit: 30km/h
Usual Speed taken by traffic: 25-50km/h
It depends a lot on where the zone is and the time of day. Isolated playground zones are liberally ignored after 6pm, even though the speed limit is in effect until an hour after sunset. School zones are usually ignored between 8:00am and 8:30, as many people easily get the times confused (school zones are in effect from 0800h-1700h, playgrounds are from 0830-anhouraftersunset), and many year-round school zones are ignored.
My usual speed: 25-35km/h (and boy does it piss people off)

Residential Areas and other ancilliary one- and two-way streets:
Speed Limit: 40-50km/h
Usual Speed taken by traffic: 25-60km/h
Most people do well under 50 in residential neighbourhoods. Relatively major roads (anything with a centre yellow line) are usually 50-60km/h.
My usual speed: 25-60km/h (and it's not rare that I get douchebags tailgaiting me)

Major thoroughfares:
Speed Limit: 50-80km/h
Usual Speed taken by traffic: 60-130km/h
My usual speed: 55-100km/h (usually I do 5-10km/h over the limit, whatever it happens to be)

Highways:
Speed Limit: 80-110km/h
Usual Speed taken by traffic: 60-140+ km/h
My usual speed: 90-130km/h

[Raghavan]

75 in a 65 usually.

[SargeMonkey]

In a 25 locals do 35, I do 30.
In a 30 they do 35, I do 30.
In a 35 they do 50, I do 40.
In a 55 they do 45, I do 50.
In a 60 they do 55, I do 70.
Cops go from 30 to 80.

[giant_mtb]

In a 25 locals do 35, I do 30.
In a 30 they do 35, I do 30.
In a 35 they do 50, I do 40.
In a 55 they do 45, I do 50.
In a 60 they do 55, I do 70.
Cops go from 30 to 80.

Why do people go slower than the posted speed limit?  :blink:  

[R33 GT-R]

because they are morons

[TurboDan]

Well, all NYC highways are limited at 50MPH, so because they're so artificially low, everyone greatly exceeds the limit.  When there's no traffic, I average between 75-85, and during later hours at night I'll average 80-90.

Note that in all of the situations, there are a great number of people passing me.  It ain't THAT fast.  If I had a C6 Corvette and a V1, I'd probably go faster under optimal conditions.  Unfortunately, the people passing me are usually in oversized SUVs that couldn't handle anything in a high-speed emergency at all.  Ugh.

[BMWDave]

because they are morons

Its also very dangerous to go so slow.

[GMPenguin]

25s are about 20, () 35s are about 35, 55s are about 60 and 65s are about 75.  I can't think of any 45s around here, except like 50 feet between the change from 35 to 55.

[SargeMonkey]

Its because they are inbreed retards, but I am from portland, so I don't count, but I am sticky.  

[thewizard16]

I did a lot of interstate driving going back and forth from Ohio to here, and the flow seemed to be about 7-10 mph over whatever the posted speed limit is. In major cities, it drops to 55, so the flow is about 15-20 mph over the limit. Locally, it's normally 5-7 mph over the posted limit.  

[NomisR]

Over here, during non-rush hour high traffic and no lane camping, you'll find people typically driving 75-85 in a 65mph zone.  However, when you get a lane camper, traffic will typically slow down to 65 mph because they're holding up traffic.  What's worse is if you get a lane camper that brakes on slight corners on the freeway, it'll slow traffic down to 35mph or even stops due to the ripple effects.  Basically, lane campers causes traffic jams.  It's what's causing rush hour traffic.

[James Young]

In most places in the west, the posted limit is 75 mph.  Drivers pretty consistently run 85-90 mph.  The 95th percentile between Evanston and Cheyenne in Wyoming is probably 90 mph.  I run about 90 and was once passed by a blue-haired granny in a Lincoln Town Car who was running about 105