Depends on time of day you travel it, just like any road.
In Virginia, the posted speed limit is the maximum speed you may legally drive on that road, If you exceed that speed, you are speeding. Driving faster than 20 MPH over the posted speed limit or over 85 MPH no matter what the posted speed limit is and the driver is also guilty of Reckless Driving.
Virginia also has very specific passing laws and you do not get a pass for passing in a no-passing zone just because the vehicle ahead is driving under the speed limit…
However, most agree that you are fairly safe driving up to 5 MPH over the posted speed limit owing to variations in the accuracy of a vehicle’s speedometer. And if you pass a slower vehicle without acting aggressively, you are probably not going to see any colored lights behind you…
However, I remember a long time ago, a friend got a speeding ticket, and he decided to fight it by claiming that his speedometer was inaccurate and he paid to have his speedometer calibrated.
I went with him; I wanted to see if this worked… He provided the judge the receipt and the judge looked at it and said fine, but he receipt does not say how inaccurate your speedometer was. The fine is normally $100 and since you paid $45 for the calibration, the fine will be only $55.00 plus court costs…
Win some, loose some; I then took my friend out for a Pizza…
What I’m talking about is the "culture" surrounding speeding. Not what the law says.
The culture says “go as fast as you want or can, without getting caught”, and never drive below the speed limit, lest ye be viewed as inferior.
This is why I feel discouraged driving outside of NY state. The one and only time I decided to drive from NY to FL I almost got put into jail over a stupid speed limit. And the cop told me that anything over 80mph was a straight ticket to jail. I was going 82mph because I was between two semi trucks and I wanted to get out from there without staying behind.
Try say something positive. It’s not hard. I believe in you.
They exist. If your jurisdiction allows it you can use it. I took Improv Traffic School’s course to renew my defensive driving discount this year. I didn’t think it was funny and it enforced a minimum time, probably a legal requirement for traffic school. The other defensive driving courses didn’t insist on a minimum time, but they aren’t for traffic school.
By the way, that course said you can’t go over the speed limit to pass another vehicle.
I always pull over if I can. Last time I did the guy behind me clipped my left rear end, smashing the light cluster, bending the fender in. He couldn’t wait. It was an empty road in rural NM at 2 AM. He sped off. I should have let him pass me.
I do that. It’s more scenic and relaxing. Lots of places to pull over to take breaks. Small towns. ‘Blue highways’
Well I tried that last year going to Florida. I wanted to go through Alabama and bi pass Atlanta. Couple hundred or so secondary roads coming and going. Nice scenery but wife was not impressed. Bypassed everything this year and flew.
Speaking of which, I guess that these “influencers” won’t be doing any more “influencing”…
https://www.lmtonline.com/news/article/houston-tiktok-baxter-thievin-19020511.php
Is there not a keeping up with the flow of traffic exemption?
I have to admit that I don’t know the answer to that question, Barky.
I intend to continue to drive at the prevailing speed on a roadway (which is almost always 5-12 mph over the posted limit), and I guess that it must be an “okay” practice in view of the reality that I haven’t had an accident for 54 years, and I haven’t gotten a ticket since… I think… the late '90s.
The internet started out as a sort of Wild West, worldwide, and few rules. At this point it’s very hard to put the Genie back in the bottle. The first two problems to overcome: (1) 130M Americans are said to already have the TT software installed on their devices; (2) China may retaliate by banning the use of American technology, may not be able to use Apple phones in China. Not good for Apple profits. Probably best to leave well-enough alone.
So, following a Semi Truck going 80 is too slow for you? Well, i would ask that when you again travel to Florida and if you plan to travel through Virginia, please PM me to let me know so i stay off thr roads…
I did not intend to imply that in Virginia we are a bunch of speed obeynig martinets, I’m just saying what is the law and some of the members seem to believe that the “SPEED LIMIT” is a suggestion…
I’m saying that in Virginia, if you break the law, stand up, and take like a real person, not some blubbering, sniveling, wussy, blaming your speeding on the slow traffic going only the speed limit, or the stopped school bus made you late for work, or you wanted to get throught the light before it turned red…
Was bad timing. This is why it is important to engage in discussion before criticizing what is being said.
See, the two trucks were going much slower than 80mph when I came up behind them. One to the far left and one to the far right. I was in the middle lane.
When driving pass them, I went down a small hill which increased my speed significantly more than I had intended.
When a forum member’s goal is to criticize another rather than to understand a situation, he/she only looking to be cool rather than to be helpful.
I’ve learned, through my 40s at least, that limit means a ceiling, not a recommendation or suggestion.
The United States was founded on the principle, metaphorically of course, of breaking through ceilings and knocking down walls.
So that colonial spirit of giving the English King or Queen the bird, “eff you authority!” still resides in the DNA of multi-generational, and many newly arrived, Americans.
Hence the attitude that prevails until the present, wrong as it may be, even among law enforcement, that posted speed limits are regarded as the minimum, even when the following exists:
The fact that law enforcement even grants leeway: +5mph on local streets, +10mph or so on 2-lane state highways, and +10-15 on limited access and toll highways, betrays their own Yankee disdain and disgust for the technical definition of “limits”(speed or otherwise), and disdain and disgust for their own job of enforcing speed limits!
(ironic that this is post #76 in this discussion, lol!)
I don’t remember seeing a minimum speed limit on a sigh in the Nashville area, at least not for really long time anyway… I have seen speed limit X and under it Truck speed limit X, normally 10 mph lower, but not many/if any, around anymore…
Yellow light and redlights and stop signs are a suggestion to many!
@ChrisTheTireWhisperer ,
Don’t follow me. I drove past there just yesterday afternoon. I-95 northbound CT east of Port Chester NY right?
I regularly drive on hilly interstates with lots of trucks. One thing I’ve learned over the years is not to pass a truck near the crest of a hill but instead to slow down and wait to see how much it speeds up once it starts going downhill.
I can agree with that much leeway, but not with 10-15mph of leeway!
Another Yankee misperception- that I don’t like the country.
I have issues with certain attitudes, for sure. Like the posted speed limit should be the slowest one drives.
And the spelling here? Atrocious! “boarders” for borders?