Optimal speed for economical m'way driving?

tomstickland

Conor wrote: »

It's not even a few quid on petrol you're saving and depending on your driving style, any savings from going slower could be cancelled out by the way you drive.

Not if you do both.
ie: change the way you drive and drive more slowly.
Fuel consumption is related to the amount of work that's being done, and that increases steeply with speed.

tomstickland

In the early hours though....

Idiophreak

michaels wrote: »

Does nobody value their time more than a few quid saved on petrol?

Not all the time, to be fair...

Doing 100odd miles on a sunday - nothing to really rush back for. Some decent music on the stereo...If I drop from 95 to 70 I probably save myself the cost of a pint or two over the journey...and don't really lose out on anything...

Edit: And I think 70's the most economical speed to drive at, really - it's slow enough to keep the guzzling down, but fast enough not to cause traffic jams which, in themselves, are bad for economy...

tomstickland

Yes, I find 70 a good balance between actually getting somewhere, not thrashing the car, having some stimulation, not causing a nuisance and being fuel efficient.

mum2one

Idiophreak wrote: »

Not all the time, to be fair...

Doing 100odd miles on a sunday - nothing to really rush back for. Some decent music on the stereo...If I drop from 95 to 70 I probably save myself the cost of a pint or two over the journey...and don't really lose out on anything... - mmmmmmmm your licence if you get caught, or a wack of penalty points, increase ur insurance premiums

Put urself at higher risk of an accident, yes you may be a careful driver, and think its the other people on the road who are liable to have an accident not me.

Edit: And I think 70's the most economical speed to drive at, really - it's slow enough to keep the guzzling down, but fast enough not to cause traffic jams which, in themselves, are bad for economy...

You may think I am opinionated and going off track, but people who brag about speeding is unbelievable, I have a clean licence, been driving nearly 20 years, and Im on crutches, haveing spent nearly 6 months in a wheelchair, some days I have to have a mobility scooter. My life is a dam site harder.


Do you know what I would have given to off been able to put my daughter to bed when she was a baby in her cot, to be able to bend down and lift her out, without haveing to get someone to do it for me... a damm lot


The reason

Some idiot decided to hit the escalaltor to fast, we'd just set off from a set of traffic lights, which you go into a bend, Im 1st in the q, hes 2nd, his snap decision,to go fast has left me permanetly disabled, thats at 20 miles an hr! if it had been a motorway accident and the driver was doing 100, i doubt i would be here to tell the tale or the other driver, we'd of been in body bags.

Speed limits are there for a reason. so next time anyone thinks its quiet late at ngt i'll hit 100 on speedo, plz think again, u might not value ur life, but other people value theres.

vikingaero

It really depends on the car and the gearing. Most people think that 56mph is the best speed because that's one of the typical speeds (90kmh) at which cars and trucks are tested and limited.

Driving 50-60mph does give the best ratio of speed, economy and not holding people up. I drove on country roads to my solicitor the other week - about 45 miles away. I never really travelled much above 40mph because of lorries (who are limited to this speed) and I got about 55mpg from the instant readout.

Most of the time I drive 70-80 on the motorway. Only if I'm not in a hurry do I cruise at 60 and listen to some music.

cyclonebri1

Idiophreak wrote: »

Not all the time, to be fair...

Doing 100odd miles on a sunday - nothing to really rush back for. Some decent music on the stereo...If I drop from 95 to 70 I probably save myself the cost of a pint or two over the journey...and don't really lose out on anything...

Edit: And I think 70's the most economical speed to drive at, really - it's slow enough to keep the guzzling down, but fast enough not to cause traffic jams which, in themselves, are bad for economy...

And possibly the cost of a ticket and the risk of an accident.

I do regular motorway trips of about 25 miles each way 4 times or so a week. It's the section of the MI in Notts thats being widened to 4 lanes over about 10 miles. Thers a 50 limit with average speed cameras in place, not due to be removed untill 2010:eek:
The difference in FC from what was normal ie 85ish under suitable conditions, to what you get at 50mph is approaching 15-20% on the whole journey. Probably equal to the rise in fuel cost over the last few months??

One question tho, using this route on aregular basis 99% of vehicles are driving at around a true 50mph, but theres always one that given the chance is off at 70 or so. Do they get away with it?

LandyAndy

mum2one wrote: »

Some idiot decided to hit the escalaltor to fast, we'd just set off from a set of traffic lights, which you go into a bend, Im 1st in the q, hes 2nd, his snap decision,to go fast has left me permanetly disabled, thats at 20 miles an hr! if it had been a motorway accident and the driver was doing 100, i doubt i would be here to tell the tale or the other driver, we'd of been in body bags.
.

How many times did I read that before I realised you meant accelerator and not escalator.

AdrianHi

Safety first which means not driving so slow you create congestion on the road which wastes fuel for everyone. 56mph on the motorway is not really acceptable, you should really go for a minimum of 60mph on the inside lane so you are going with the flow with the lorries where you can then keep that speed constant and avoid accelerating and decelerating. That will generally be safest and most economical.

sarah_elton

I agree - 56 on a motorway inside lane and you will have the lorries trying to overtake you in the middle lane, and taking several miles to do it. Either drop to 50 so they can get past quickly or up it to 60-62 so they're not tempted to try it.