Does anyone really drive 55 MPH on interstates?

[belfert]

Does anyone here really drive 55 MPH on an interstate?  Out west the speed limit is 75 MPH so doing 55 MPH would mean a 20 to 25 MPH difference between you and the faster vehicles.  I usually drive 65 MPH in the bus, but I did drop to 60 MPH on my way back from Florida. 

I'm wondering if it would be safe to drive 55 MPH on an interstate?  They say traffic is usually safest when everyone is going about the same speed. 

This past weekend in my car I almost rear ended a car that was going 50 to 55 MPH on a four lane divided highway with 65 MPH limit.  I was cruising along about 67 MPH and suddenly a pickup truck ahead of me swerved into the left lane.  As soon as he switched lanes I saw a car traveling much slower than me and I had to slam on the brakes to slow down.  I couldn't see the slow car due to the pickup truck blocking my view.  I'm not sure why the pickup hadn't slowed down or switched lanes earlier.

[jackhartjr]

I run 70 when it is safe.  I hate these trucking companies that run 62 or so!  Then there is the Com-Car group running 60!
Jack

[Seville]

I don't think so. I recently drove cross country and beacause I had over heating issues my average speed was 55.
I felt like a sitting duck! It was not fun and it did not feel safe!!
Even the trucks that transport mobile homes were passing me up!
In addition to being scary, it was also embarrasing!

[Highway Yacht]

I've heard many times that a slower moving car or truck on an Interstate was far more dangerous than a speeding car or truck.

Jimmy

[John316]

LOL, we don't touch 55 unless we have to. Otherwise it is hammer down, and roll the max possible.

[Cary and Don]

We just drove through Arizona to Texas.  It was in the truck.  It was a shock to drive 80mph.  After getting used to it,  everybody was driving 80 and the trucks were doing 70,  it really seemed safer than California.  There just wasn't anybody driving slow and causing traffic blockages.

Don and Cary
1973 Eagle 05
GMC 4107
Neoplan An340

[artvonne]

  While the interstates say minimum speed 45, I think the minimum should be 60. If you cant drive that fast choose an alternate route.

  edit; I should say on level roads, obviously steep grades are a different matter.

[Highway Yacht]

LOL, we don't touch 55 unless we have to. Otherwise it is hammer down, and roll the max possible.

John
Hammer Down and roll the max possible??? In your coach, I'd guess thats about 95MPH give or take a MPH.

Jimmy

[artvonne]

Hammer Down and roll the max possible??? In your coach, I'd guess thats about 95MPH give or take a MPH.

Jimmy

  I saw a 4106 once with a speeding ticked taped to the cieling above the driver. 92 mph.

[TomC]

In 2008 when the fuel prices were high like they are now I drove from L.A. to Nashville and back keeping it at 62 mph.  Rarely was passed by a truck and the cars were going just a bit faster.  When in California, I run at 58mph since that is 1850rpm.  Then out of Cal, I step it up to 65mph at 2100rpm. 
My truck is geared differently-with 3.55 and 11R-24.5, I can do 65mph all day at 1830rpm, or step it up to 75mph at 2112rpm.  Good Luck, TomC

[Iceni John]

With fuel at $4.65 I join the trucks in the right lane doing between 55 and 60 MPH, because I get about 1 MPG better than at 67 MPH.   The last time I went out on I-15 I noticed that most of the slower trucks were owner-operators, and the trucks passing me were more often corporate-owned.   I guess who's paying the fuel bills is the difference here.

Another reason I'm happy going slower is braking distances  -  my bus doesn't have ABS, so I prefer giving myself more room for whatever happens (and on the crowded freeways here there's always something happening to keep my attention).   Other drivers seem to be OK with a big yellow bus going slower than them  -  I sometimes get a thumbs-up from them when they pass me!   Also, the CHP frowns on what appear to be school buses doing more than about 60, and with the State of CA's present fiscal woes I don't want to give them any excuse to give me a speeding ticket.

John

[Barn Owl]

With fuel at $4.65 I join the trucks in the right lane doing between 55 and 60 MPH, because I get about 1 MPG better than at 67 MPH.   The last time I went out on I-15 I noticed that most of the slower trucks were owner-operators, and the trucks passing me were more often corporate-owned.   I guess who's paying the fuel bills is the difference here.

John said it better than I could.

[boxcarOkie]

During the past 12 months, I have slowly been conditioning myself to drive "slower" in order to conserve fuel (money).  We now do 65mph in just about everything and it is paying off.  At first it was not an easy thing to do, but like everything else in life, you get used to it.

55 sucks .....

BCO

[Depewtee]

" I Can't Drive 55!"

"I Can't Drive 55" - Smokey and the Bandit


Brian S.

[Depewtee]

"Eastbound and Down"

East Bound and Down

Brian S.