How fast do you drive on the Interstate?

[Psyclone]

I generally lock in the cruise control at 4 or 5 over. I'm seldom in a hurry, but when I am, I usually don't use the cruise control. Last year I was testing E85 mileage, as well as standard mid-grade ethanol, regular non ethanol and premium. My mileage for ethanol blend was 10% less than regular. E85 was 20% less than regular. The premium tank got lower mileage than the Ethanol blend, so I don't trust the results of that test. Anyway, as I continued testing and reporting the results on message boards, I got told how speed affects mileage. So I tested at a slower speed and was surprised how mileage would go up. I never noticed that before. It does have the effect that I tend to drive at more moderate speeds.

 

[RING4CY]

I generally lock in the cruise control at 4 or 5 over. I'm seldom in a hurry, but when I am, I usually don't use the cruise control. Last year I was testing E85 mileage, as well as standard mid-grade ethanol, regular non ethanol and premium. My mileage for ethanol blend was 10% less than regular. E85 was 20% less than regular. The premium tank got lower mileage than the Ethanol blend, so I don't trust the results of that test. Anyway, as I continued testing and reporting the results on message boards, I got told how speed affects mileage. So I tested at a slower speed and was surprised how mileage would go up. I never noticed that before. It does have the effect that I tend to drive at more moderate speeds.

I discussed this my freshman year of college when I had to give a persuasive in a 100-level English class. The speech was on why people should drive the speed limit. I discovered in my researching that the best mileage per gallon was obtained in most cars when traveling at a constant rate (ie, having the cruise control on) between 40 and 60 mph. Gas mileage begins to decrease in cars when traveling faster than 60 mph, and continues to decrease for every 5 mph over 60 a car travels.

Gave this speech around the time gas hit $3 a gallon for the first time.

 

[tm3308]

I discussed this my freshman year of college when I had to give a persuasive in a 100-level English class. The speech was on why people should drive the speed limit. I discovered in my researching that the best mileage per gallon was obtained in most cars when traveling at a constant rate (ie, having the cruise control on) between 40 and 60 mph. Gas mileage begins to decrease in cars when traveling faster than 60 mph, and continues to decrease for every 5 mph over 60 a car travels.

Gave this speech around the time gas hit $3 a gallon for the first time.

Tell us more about this magical time when gas DIDN'T cost $3 or more. I'm sure it's a lovely fairy tale.

 

[RING4CY]

Tell us more about this magical time when gas DIDN'T cost $3 or more. I'm sure it's a lovely fairy tale.

Gas averaged $1.12/gallon when I turned 16 in 2001.

 

[Wesley]

There was 35 cent ethyl gas last century.

 

[chuckd4735]

Tell us more about this magical time when gas DIDN'T cost $3 or more. I'm sure it's a lovely fairy tale.

First gallon of gas I ever bought was 82 cents. I'm 31.

 

[cyrocksmypants]

First gallon of gas I ever bought was 82 cents. I'm 31.

Nobody believes me when I say I'm old enough to have paid under a dollar a gallon. I too, am 31.

 

[GTO]

I once was driving from Nevada to Des Moines and hit blizzard conditions on I-35. Everyone was on the left lane going 35mph because the right lane was partially covered when this a$$hole comes up behind me probably going 55mph and starts tailgating me REAL close. I ended up risking going to the right lane for a few seconds so he could get off me.
As soon as he passed me I got back on the left and saw him tailgate the next driver really close again. Before you know it, that driver had to brake due to the car in front of them swerving. A-hole tailgater slammed on his brakes to avoid collision, spun out of control, almost hit me, and ended up in the ditch. Can't say I felt bad. You should always keep a safe distance, even if you're impatient about the driver in front of you.

 

[GTO]

OK, I won't condone tailgating, but hanging next to a car with a very small speed differential is poor driving. It depends on your speed, but in that situation, if you're going 61 MPH, f*** you. If you're going 65 or more, the person behind can wait. That's the thing that I've learned to hate about midwest drivers, it seems they're in 2 camps...either they don't use their cruise control and they vary their speed according to a random number generator, or they use their cruise control, and they won't ever effing vary from that speed, no matter what's going on. Passing a construction site, sorry, cruise is set at 61. Passing someone going 60...sorry, cruise is set at 61.

I agree with you on the small speed differential. I'm referring more to when I'm going 70-75 and passing a couple of cars going 65.

 

[cyrocksmypants]

I once was driving from Nevada to Des Moines and hit blizzard conditions on I-35. Everyone was on the left lane going 35mph because the right lane was partially covered when this a$$hole comes up behind me probably going 55mph and starts tailgating me REAL close. I ended up risking going to the right lane for a few seconds so he could get off me.
As soon as he passed me I got back on the left and saw him tailgate the next driver really close again. Before you know it, that driver had to brake due to the car in front of them swerving. A-hole tailgater slammed on his brakes to avoid collision, spun out of control, almost hit me, and ended up in the ditch. Can't say I felt bad. You should always keep a safe distance, even if you're impatient about the driver in front of you.

Snow conditions are the only acceptable excuse I'll allow for not getting angry about driving in the left lane. Do what you've got to to not die. People behind you can deal with it. If they're in such a hurry in crappy conditions, they can risk the other lane.

 

[RING4CY]

Nobody believes me when I say I'm old enough to have paid under a dollar a gallon. I too, am 31.

I don't know exactly when, but I remember some time in my childhood my dad being excited that gas was "down to" 79 cents a gallon. From $.79 cents to $3.45 in about 20 years.

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

I remember in high school (70s) we would pool our pocket change and cruise all night for about $2.00

 

[KnappShack]

I don't know exactly when, but I remember some time in my childhood my dad being excited that gas was "down to" 79 cents a gallon. From $.79 cents to $3.45 in about 20 years.

In the Clinton era I remember paying right at a buck a gallon to fill my Old Dirty Pathfinder. It was over $4/gallon before the great state of California made me take it off the road.

People in Iowa drive slow and in the wrong lane. I-80 is one if the most frustrating drives

 

[azepp]

I don't know exactly when, but I remember some time in my childhood my dad being excited that gas was "down to" 79 cents a gallon. From $.79 cents to $3.45 in about 20 years.

It was a lot less than 20 years. When I was in Ames for school there was a gas station on East Lincoln Way that was consistently cheaper than the other stations and I remember buying it a $0.75/gallon. That was probably in '99.

 

[roundball]

OK, I won't condone tailgating, but hanging next to a car with a very small speed differential is poor driving. It depends on your speed, but in that situation, if you're going 61 MPH, f*** you. If you're going 65 or more, the person behind can wait. That's the thing that I've learned to hate about midwest drivers, it seems they're in 2 camps...either they don't use their cruise control and they vary their speed according to a random number generator, or they use their cruise control, and they won't ever effing vary from that speed, no matter what's going on. Passing a construction site, sorry, cruise is set at 61. Passing someone going 60...sorry, cruise is set at 61.

And what is the deal with airline food???

Really though, yours is my exact philosophy on cruise control.

 

[dmclone]

On a side note, if you think this is going to get better with cars that drive themselves, don't believe the hype. Until every car on the road is controlled by a non-human, it will be a cluster f.

My car has laser cruise control along with lane departure interruption. So in reality I could probably drive 5 or so miles without touching the steering wheel. If I get too close to the left side of the lane it will apply the right side brakes and move me back over. If I have the cruise control on it will follow the car in front of me all the way to a complete stop and then at that point it will beep at me and turn off. It does this because it can't recognize people walking through a cross walk.

This all sounds great but in reality I just turn it off. It bases the distance behind the car in front of you based on speed, which makes sense. However even on the most unsafe mode it leaves probably 3 car lengths at 70+mph. This sounds fine but it's just enough for people to pull in front of you, which forces the system to jam on the brakes. It also gives the person camping in the left lane no pressure to move over. The only place I've found that it's pretty handy is on rural 2 lane roads. The lane departure warning is nice but I turn off the intervention. I do like that you can turn off/on what systems you want to use.

 

[00clone]

In the Clinton era I remember paying right at a buck a gallon to fill my Old Dirty Pathfinder. It was over $4/gallon before the great state of California made me take it off the road.

People in Iowa drive slow and in the wrong lane. I-80 is one if the most frustrating drives

No joke...I went on a business trip to California, and I had about 3 minutes city driving before jumping on the 5. Prior to that, a little Chicago/Minneapolis stuff, but mostly Iowa. I was scared, but after a week, I said I would rather drive in California traffic than Iowa non-traffic with idiots not paying attention, or not used to being on the road with other drivers.

 

[NickTheGreat]

I set my cruise at about 4 or 5 over the speed limits on the interstates. Not quite so much in town (not cruise control either)

MY pet peeve is when my cruise is on, I'll pass somebody going who is going 70 on I80. Then he'll pass me going 80. Then I'll catch back up to him, all the while I've been going 74 :realmad:

 

[SaraV]

I set my cruise at about 4 or 5 over the speed limits on the interstates. Not quite so much in town (not cruise control either)

MY pet peeve is when my cruise is on, I'll pass somebody going who is going 70 on I80. Then he'll pass me going 80. Then I'll catch back up to him, all the while I've been going 74 :realmad:

This....this....a 1000x this.

In a 65 mph...I go about 72. In 70 mph...between 72-74. In 75 mph, about 77. These are the speeds I'm comfortable at where I feel I'm in control of the car, and it isn't in control of me.

PS - The above is in non-adverse conditions. Dry road, clear visibility.

 

[00clone]

Another lost art...merging. Thought of this thread when I recently got on the interstate. Check the lanes as you're coming down the ramp and space yourself to hit an empty spot, don't blast down the ramp assuming there's an open spot. I did that, so second point, be at your intended speed when you get to the merge section, don't assume everyone will slow down or get over while you take your sweet time getting up to speed. I did that, so point 3, re-evaluate the traffic around you...I saw there was a car in the second lane (3 lane section) when I was coming down the ramp, so I'm good. I come off the ramp at 70, that car ends up just in my blind spot going 70 right along with me. I checked in front and behind, there were cars ahead, but quite a gap behind, so I actually slowed down to 65 until I spaced well between that other car and one that was behind, rather that just hum along with the other car in my blind spot going the same speed forever.