How do you relate to Speed Limits? Prius owners are often stereotyped as slow drivers, so I'm wondering for typical highway type roads what may apply to you? 1. Typically drive well over the posted speed limit (+5 and faster). 2. Typically drive just over the posted speed limit (+0 to +5mph). 3. Typically drive right at the posted speed limit. 4. Typically drive just under the posted speed limit (-0 to -5 mph). 5. Typically drive well under the posted speed limit (-5 and slower).
I typically drive at the same speed as prevailing traffic, which is about 10 mph over the speed limit in Sacramento County. It is difficult to drive the speed limit without becoming an obstacle.
I drive my Prius at the same speeds as the non-hybrid -- PSL in traffic, about 2 mph under on empty roads. Unlike some other areas of the country, this does not draw an unreasonable level of road rage. In the non-hybrid when gas was over $4+, I set an upper limit of 60 on the Interstate. For $3.50, 65 mph. The hybrid hasn't yet seen those prices.
In Los Angeles, the average speed in the fast lane is 80. Don't be a Lane Hog and move out of the way if someone is coming up faster than you are. If you're in the HOV lane and you see the regular lanes moving faster than you are, please move out and let those who are in a hurry go. You are creating a dangerous situation by forcing those faster cars to weave around you. If you are a strict speed limit enforcer, stay in the slow lane and enjoy. We cana ll share the road and drive safely.
45 posted at 49 55 posted at 61 65 posted at 69 70 posted at 71 I feel a serious decrease in mileage over 70 ish.
I left out that when I do speed on the interstate at speeds between 75 and 85 in SC I still average around 48 MPG even with the AC on.
In my youth, in another area of the country that lacked multi-lane roads and where average traffic stuck to the speed limit, we did notice something. Whenever a car came up from behind at high speed, and gave us a prostate exam, odds were that it had California plates. Many of them were unable to leave their aggressive LA driving style behind when they left LA. It was not quite a bad in Seattle. But a newspaper columnist who moved here, had to move back to LA. Besides the weather, she couldn't slow down her driving style to match the locals. Her speeding-ticket-per-month habit was making insurance unaffordable. That 'problem' has partially dissipated, as aggressive transplants and relaxed enforcement have trained many locals to do the same.
The bulk of my driving is in suburban areas. So maintaining 0 - 5 above the posted speed limit is pretty much expected.
On highway - generally go speed of traffic (which is usually around 70), whether the speed limit is 65 or 55. If I'm the only one on the highway, I do 70 if the speed limit is 65 or 60 if it's 55. On city streets I generally go below the speed limit only because I never can drive far enough without coming to a red light or stop sign to get up to any decent speed. On the rare occasions when I make a green light (hey, it happened once or twice!), I go the speed limit.
I'm sorry for all the transplants with bad driving behavior but not everyone from California is like that. It is more prevalent in the Los Angeles area. I just got back from a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner in Laguna Beach. While driving north on the 405 and in the HOV lane I came upon a Lane Hog doing 63mph. We were soon joined by another car who came up fast from behind that tailgated us while we waited patiently for the ingress/egress area to come by. We then passed the Lane Hog and re-entered the HOV lane. Meanwhile the tailgater passed both of us and re-entered ahead crossing double yellow lines. I sped up to 80 but he went way faster than we did. Such is what its like here and more often than not I have been tailgated by a Prius and moved over to let them by.
I have been aware that not all areas of California are that bad, and that not all the aggressive out-of-state cars are from California. LA just seemed to be the worst of that state, and is closer than any other similarly aggressive regions of the country. When HOV lanes were added to my commute route, the police made it clear that they were not extra-fast lanes. The slower-traffic-stay-right law does not apply to the HOV lanes, so as long we are traveling at PSL, we have no obligation to move right for faster traffic. They do suggest moving right for one reason -- to prevent road rage incidents. And be assured that if I must move over, I am calling in plate numbers for the road rage patrols. When these lanes were added, we had a brief standoff between those who wanted to travel fast, and those of us who stuck close to PSL, just like the transit buses. After about 3 weeks, the speeders mostly gave up. PSL folks far outnumbered them, and none of the speeding bullies had the gonads to challenge the transit buses the way that had challenged us little guys. They then stuck mostly to the same 'fast lane' that the SOVs used. I haven't been carpooling for seven years now, so don't know how much the standard pattern has changed.
Driving just under the speed limit has been my practice long before we got our first Prius. It has to do with being able to enjoy the trip and not be fatigued by angst and worry. Often I can find slower traffic to be my 'pace car' and I just follow them down the road listening to my tunes or thinking my own thoughts. After all, it isn't a race. Bob Wilson
I generally do not speed... on the highways. I can... and often have wheels that can do three to four times the posted speeds, but I try to keep it on the track... Well, when I used to go to the track that is... these last couple of years, I haven't been in any competitions at all... sorta depressing, but, that's life right now... My next project car will be for comfort as well as get-up-and-go... after I get the Vette rolling again that is. So to the OP... nope... last speeding ticket was in 83... 38mph in a 35 zone... citycop on a motorbike with radar... but that car looked like it was going fast when it was sitting still... and the cop didn't believe it was licensed because of the roll cage and flames painted on the front I guess.
I'd ask you if the tailgater was in a green Prius but I was home all day on Thanksgiving and I don't cross the double yellows - ever! (I live in Laguna Niguel)... :laser: Some morning commuters need to be shot out of the HOV lane with lasers... it can be downright awful and worse on weekends. Di QUOTE=SPEEDEAMON;1009892]I'm sorry for all the transplants with bad driving behavior but not everyone from California is like that. It is more prevalent in the Los Angeles area. I just got back from a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner in Laguna Beach. While driving north on the 405 and in the HOV lane I came upon a Lane Hog doing 63mph. We were soon joined by another car who came up fast from behind that tailgated us while we waited patiently for the ingress/egress area to come by. We then passed the Lane Hog and re-entered the HOV lane. Meanwhile the tailgater passed both of us and re-entered ahead crossing double yellow lines. I sped up to 80 but he went way faster than we did. Such is what its like here and more often than not I have been tailgated by a Prius and moved over to let them by.[/QUOTE]
My Prius can exceed the speed limit by 4 to 6 times the limit under some situations. When going past roadworks with a 25 or 40 km/h speed limit.
