Comments on: Surprise! Americans drive the speed limit — unless they’re on I-15 http://www.elliott.org/blog/surprise-americans-drive-the-speed-limit-unless-theyre-on-i-15/ Consumer advocate Christopher Elliott's site. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: bop nam http://www.elliott.org/blog/surprise-americans-drive-the-speed-limit-unless-theyre-on-i-15/comment-page-1/#comment-83956 bop nam Mon, 24 Oct 2011 07:26:00 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=10543#comment-83956 Last week I talked about how fast is fast enough, and that one of the easiest ways to save fuel was by simply going slower. Well rejoice! Apparently all of America heeded my advice, and American drivers, on average, drive below the posted speed limit. Last week I talked about how fast is fast enough,
and that one of the easiest ways to save fuel was by simply going
slower. Well rejoice! Apparently all of America heeded my advice, and
American drivers, on average, drive below the posted speed limit.

]]> By: Tom http://www.elliott.org/blog/surprise-americans-drive-the-speed-limit-unless-theyre-on-i-15/comment-page-1/#comment-62946 Tom Mon, 07 Feb 2011 13:50:49 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=10543#comment-62946 Explain again why they have interstate highways in Hawaii. Explain again why they have interstate highways in Hawaii.

]]> By: Carlo http://www.elliott.org/blog/surprise-americans-drive-the-speed-limit-unless-theyre-on-i-15/comment-page-1/#comment-61629 Carlo Sat, 22 Jan 2011 19:22:22 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=10543#comment-61629 I wonder how this compares to data from ca. 1995 - just before the national speed limit was repealed. I remember the big argument back then was "if people drive 70 now, when the speed limit is 55, how fast will they drive when the speed limit is 70?" In my experience, it appears the answer is 72. Someone earlier said something about setting a speed limit properly and that formula actually comes from studies that show people drive at speeds that are comfortable and safe. People inherently know how fast to drive under normal conditions. Of course, there are always individual idiots, more of them than we like to see, as well as special circumstances like weather conditions, but the general observation is true. I too find it odd that Texas didn't make the list, given that stretch of I-10 in West Texas that has a speed limit of 80. But maybe it's because so much of Texas' population (and interestates) is concentrated along the I-35 corridor. I will say, however, that it's that area of the state that has far more than it's share of idiots who drive not only much faster than the speed limit, but also much faster than the flow of general traffic. I wonder how this compares to data from ca. 1995 – just before the national speed limit was repealed. I remember the big argument back then was “if people drive 70 now, when the speed limit is 55, how fast will they drive when the speed limit is 70?” In my experience, it appears the answer is 72.

Someone earlier said something about setting a speed limit properly and that formula actually comes from studies that show people drive at speeds that are comfortable and safe. People inherently know how fast to drive under normal conditions. Of course, there are always individual idiots, more of them than we like to see, as well as special circumstances like weather conditions, but the general observation is true.

I too find it odd that Texas didn’t make the list, given that stretch of I-10 in West Texas that has a speed limit of 80. But maybe it’s because so much of Texas’ population (and interestates) is concentrated along the I-35 corridor. I will say, however, that it’s that area of the state that has far more than it’s share of idiots who drive not only much faster than the speed limit, but also much faster than the flow of general traffic.

]]> By: Mekhong Kurt, Bangkok, Thailand http://www.elliott.org/blog/surprise-americans-drive-the-speed-limit-unless-theyre-on-i-15/comment-page-1/#comment-40846 Mekhong Kurt, Bangkok, Thailand Thu, 27 May 2010 04:18:46 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=10543#comment-40846 y_p_w -- I smiled in recognition, as I've lived in Bangkok for days shy of 16 years, always in the area along Sukhumvit between Soi Asoke and Soi Thonglor. I've had some "exciting" moments in taxis and buses, and on motorcycle taxis, over the years, THAT'S for sure! y_p_w — I smiled in recognition, as I’ve lived in Bangkok for days shy of 16 years, always in the area along Sukhumvit between Soi Asoke and Soi Thonglor. I’ve had some “exciting” moments in taxis and buses, and on motorcycle taxis, over the years, THAT’S for sure!

]]> By: If New Mexico were to introduce 80 mph speed limits... - (NM) - Page 2 - City-Data Forum http://www.elliott.org/blog/surprise-americans-drive-the-speed-limit-unless-theyre-on-i-15/comment-page-1/#comment-39909 If New Mexico were to introduce 80 mph speed limits... - (NM) - Page 2 - City-Data Forum Wed, 19 May 2010 14:15:01 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=10543#comment-39909 [...] how many drivers push it to 90 mph? Best leave it alone. Steve Yours is a common misconception. Surprise! Americans drive the speed limit — unless they’re on I-15 Safe at Any Speed – Higher Driving Speed Limits Do Not Result in More Accidents | [...] [...] how many drivers push it to 90 mph? Best leave it alone. Steve Yours is a common misconception. Surprise! Americans drive the speed limit — unless they’re on I-15 Safe at Any Speed – Higher Driving Speed Limits Do Not Result in More Accidents | [...]

]]> By: Brad http://www.elliott.org/blog/surprise-americans-drive-the-speed-limit-unless-theyre-on-i-15/comment-page-1/#comment-31574 Brad Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:42:38 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=10543#comment-31574 This article's conclusion isn't backed up by the data it cites. If a speed limit is set correctly (rather than to raise revenue), it will be at no less than the 85th percentile speed, rounded up to the nearest legal speed limit (increments of 5 mph or 10 km/h). A speed limit that corresponds to the average speed of travel, assuming we're talking about the median and not the mean, is the 50th percentile. (If the cited average is the mean, then the speed limit would be set even more ridiculously than that number would indicate.) This article’s conclusion isn’t backed up by the data it cites. If a speed limit is set correctly (rather than to raise revenue), it will be at no less than the 85th percentile speed, rounded up to the nearest legal speed limit (increments of 5 mph or 10 km/h). A speed limit that corresponds to the average speed of travel, assuming we’re talking about the median and not the mean, is the 50th percentile. (If the cited average is the mean, then the speed limit would be set even more ridiculously than that number would indicate.)

]]> By: Caitlin http://www.elliott.org/blog/surprise-americans-drive-the-speed-limit-unless-theyre-on-i-15/comment-page-1/#comment-31471 Caitlin Mon, 25 Jan 2010 07:47:24 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=10543#comment-31471 The attitude to speeding does seem to be very different in the US to in my native Australia. Numerous government driving campaigns have targeted drink driving ("if you drink and drive, you're a bloody idiot"), speeding, and stopping to rest after long periods of driving ("stop, revive, survive"). The campaigns are very graphic and the speeding ads in particular liken people who speed with men who have small penis complexes (I'm not kidding - this is a government campaign). See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2nvAFOk7x0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75GuzsGzoP0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbaTy2RYhe0 These are all recent ads but the no-holds-barred graphic ads have been going for at least 20 years (since I was a kid). And they're damn effective. Australia has a population of 20 million and it makes the news when the national road toll makes double figures for the year. The attitude to speeding does seem to be very different in the US to in my native Australia. Numerous government driving campaigns have targeted drink driving (“if you drink and drive, you’re a bloody idiot”), speeding, and stopping to rest after long periods of driving (“stop, revive, survive”). The campaigns are very graphic and the speeding ads in particular liken people who speed with men who have small penis complexes (I’m not kidding – this is a government campaign).

See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2nvAFOk7x0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75GuzsGzoP0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbaTy2RYhe0

These are all recent ads but the no-holds-barred graphic ads have been going for at least 20 years (since I was a kid). And they’re damn effective. Australia has a population of 20 million and it makes the news when the national road toll makes double figures for the year.

]]> By: Philip http://www.elliott.org/blog/surprise-americans-drive-the-speed-limit-unless-theyre-on-i-15/comment-page-1/#comment-31401 Philip Sat, 23 Jan 2010 15:24:10 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=10543#comment-31401 Thanks, Joe, for your link to the number of fatalities showing a decrease of crash deaths at 2000 lower ('94 to '08). Should I be gratified that 'only' 32,000 people died? I hope one of them, Joe, was not a family member or friend of yours. I know I am being facetious, but you seem to take a jaundiced view of people dying on the roads. When the national speed limit was 55mph, the number of fatalities decreased dramatically. Speed kills, Joe. SPEED KILLS !! Thanks, Joe, for your link to the number of fatalities showing a decrease of crash deaths at 2000 lower (’94 to ’08). Should I be gratified that ‘only’ 32,000 people died? I hope one of them, Joe, was not a family member or friend of yours.
I know I am being facetious, but you seem to take a jaundiced view of people
dying on the roads. When the national speed limit was 55mph, the number of fatalities decreased dramatically.
Speed kills, Joe. SPEED KILLS !!

]]> By: Kevin Fields http://www.elliott.org/blog/surprise-americans-drive-the-speed-limit-unless-theyre-on-i-15/comment-page-1/#comment-31382 Kevin Fields Sat, 23 Jan 2010 02:48:58 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=10543#comment-31382 I'm not surprised that the average is around the posted speed limit. Since gas prices went sky-high a few years ago a lot of drivers - especially commercial drivers - have slowed their speed in order to optimize fuel efficiency . And as the semi trucks stick to 55 MPH (some of them w/ governors in their engines) I tailgate right behind them, picking up their slipstream and gaining an extra 5 MPG myself. :-) I’m not surprised that the average is around the posted speed limit. Since gas prices went sky-high a few years ago a lot of drivers – especially commercial drivers – have slowed their speed in order to optimize fuel efficiency . And as the semi trucks stick to 55 MPH (some of them w/ governors in their engines) I tailgate right behind them, picking up their slipstream and gaining an extra 5 MPG myself. :-)

]]> By: Kevin Carter http://www.elliott.org/blog/surprise-americans-drive-the-speed-limit-unless-theyre-on-i-15/comment-page-1/#comment-31368 Kevin Carter Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:14:50 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=10543#comment-31368 I am writing on behalf of TomTom and Tele Atlas. I would like to stress the point that we collect GPS data anonymously, and only on an opt-in basis. We don’t track individuals. Rather, collective data helps us steer people clear of traffic hot spots and recommend the most efficient routes. I am writing on behalf of TomTom and Tele Atlas. I would like to stress the point that we collect GPS data anonymously, and only on an opt-in basis. We don’t track individuals. Rather, collective data helps us steer people clear of traffic hot spots and recommend the most efficient routes.

]]> By: David Farnham http://www.elliott.org/blog/surprise-americans-drive-the-speed-limit-unless-theyre-on-i-15/comment-page-1/#comment-31362 David Farnham Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:29:51 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=10543#comment-31362 These people obviously haven't friven I-5 between LA and San Diego, where even loaded trucks routinely do 80+. These people obviously haven’t friven I-5 between LA and San Diego, where even loaded trucks routinely do 80+.

]]> By: DN http://www.elliott.org/blog/surprise-americans-drive-the-speed-limit-unless-theyre-on-i-15/comment-page-1/#comment-31360 DN Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:49:02 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=10543#comment-31360 Hawaii's freeway speed limit is 50 - 55mph, and the one that's at 50 hasn't changed in over 3 decades. It is one of the few states that does have a minimum speed limit posted right underneath the maximum speed limit (40mph) that I'm aware of. Hawaii’s freeway speed limit is 50 – 55mph, and the one that’s at 50 hasn’t changed in over 3 decades. It is one of the few states that does have a minimum speed limit posted right underneath the maximum speed limit (40mph) that I’m aware of.

]]> By: Joe http://www.elliott.org/blog/surprise-americans-drive-the-speed-limit-unless-theyre-on-i-15/comment-page-1/#comment-31359 Joe Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:43:30 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=10543#comment-31359 @Philip, any fatality increase is only because of total population. See http://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/Main/index.aspx; the per capita fatality rate has consistently declined every year since 1997 even as freeway speed limits have increased. Caitlin's driving instructor was correct. Numerous reputable studies show differences in speed between vehicles, rather than actual speed, to be one of the key contributing factors to accidents. Just google "speed variance." You might consider which motorist is driving more safely: The one traveling the posted speed limit who forces those around him to slam their brakes, switch lanes, etc., or the person who drives 10 mph faster but doesn't force anyone else to alter their normal driving behavior. @Philip, any fatality increase is only because of total population. See http://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/Main/index.aspx; the per capita fatality rate has consistently declined every year since 1997 even as freeway speed limits have increased.

Caitlin’s driving instructor was correct. Numerous reputable studies show differences in speed between vehicles, rather than actual speed, to be one of the key contributing factors to accidents. Just google “speed variance.” You might consider which motorist is driving more safely: The one traveling the posted speed limit who forces those around him to slam their brakes, switch lanes, etc., or the person who drives 10 mph faster but doesn’t force anyone else to alter their normal driving behavior.

]]> By: Jasper http://www.elliott.org/blog/surprise-americans-drive-the-speed-limit-unless-theyre-on-i-15/comment-page-1/#comment-31353 Jasper Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:03:14 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=10543#comment-31353 In this kind of measurements the "average" doesn't mean that much. You would have to look at the distribution of the speeds. I bet that you'd see a slight peak around speed limit -10 and one around +10. On the other hand, I will admit that most of the speeding I see is around large cities (DC, NY, Chicago, LA). I guess that folks are happy to drive fast for the few hours a day it's possible. I have also noted that the further you get from big cities, the more people stick to the speed limits. On the other hand, speed limits tend to be higher in rural stretches than around cities. FYI: Yesterday around 11am the mixing bowl in DC/NOVA (I-95/I-495) was stuck in both directions. BTW: Delaware's exception does not surprise me. DE does not have much interstate to start with, and then they put a nice toll booth in the middle of it. Pretty much the same goes for HI and RI. In this kind of measurements the “average” doesn’t mean that much. You would have to look at the distribution of the speeds. I bet that you’d see a slight peak around speed limit -10 and one around +10.

On the other hand, I will admit that most of the speeding I see is around large cities (DC, NY, Chicago, LA). I guess that folks are happy to drive fast for the few hours a day it’s possible. I have also noted that the further you get from big cities, the more people stick to the speed limits. On the other hand, speed limits tend to be higher in rural stretches than around cities.

FYI: Yesterday around 11am the mixing bowl in DC/NOVA (I-95/I-495) was stuck in both directions.

BTW: Delaware’s exception does not surprise me. DE does not have much interstate to start with, and then they put a nice toll booth in the middle of it. Pretty much the same goes for HI and RI.

]]> By: Philip http://www.elliott.org/blog/surprise-americans-drive-the-speed-limit-unless-theyre-on-i-15/comment-page-1/#comment-31344 Philip Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:47:09 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=10543#comment-31344 I am distressed that all the comments above do not even mention the economy factor. I drive to class twice a week, fifteen miles. I set my cruise control at the speed limit of 55mph; 90% of cars whiz past me. Many dangerously cutting in front of me. My car is rated at 21mpg; I have gotten up to 29mpg. Also note that when the speed limit was 55mph, the number of deaths were far lower than now. The number of car deaths and maiming, does not seem to be significant in comparison to getting somewhere fifteen minutes earlier; and what do you do with the fifteen minutes you 'save?' People bitch and moan about the price of gas. Driving slower saves gas and forces the oil producing nations to dramatically drop the price of oil. And the life you save can be your own or a loved family member or friend; or other innocent driver. Everyone needs to be responsible!! I am distressed that all the comments above do not even mention the economy factor. I drive to class twice a week, fifteen miles. I set my cruise control at the speed limit of 55mph; 90% of cars whiz past me. Many dangerously cutting in front of me. My car is rated at 21mpg; I have gotten up to 29mpg. Also note that when the speed limit was 55mph, the number of deaths were far lower than now.
The number of car deaths and maiming, does not seem to be significant in comparison to getting somewhere fifteen minutes earlier; and what do you do with the fifteen minutes you ‘save?’ People bitch and moan about the price of gas. Driving slower saves gas and forces the oil producing nations to dramatically drop the price of oil. And the life you save can be your own or a loved family member or friend; or other innocent driver. Everyone needs to be responsible!!

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