Optimal speed for economical m'way driving?

tinkerbell84

Tell me about it!

180 miles each way. I don't do it every day

ihatecharges

Some quite bewildering comments on this thread, those that want to go as fast as they can and some dangerously slow.

My 2 pence worth...........

Most of my mileage is motorway and what ever speed you do is not right IMHO. If you cruise at 80mph then someone will always want to go faster than you and tailgate you.

If you cruise at 65mph then if you venture out of the inside lane then you get tailgated again so you cannot win.

Most accidents (IMO) are caused when drivers are going too fast have to brake as NORMAL drivers are going about there normal driving around 70mph (the speed limit!) resulting in a line of cars braking causing panic and slowing down the whole motorway!

I drive around 65mph and speed up and slow down as needed to avoid these idiots and not hold anyone up, even though I upset a TT driver for doing 70mph whilst overtaking other cars tonight merely because I was in his way!!

I now find I'm driving more to avoid idiots and dodgy situations than for economy but still getting 48mpg from a 2.0 litre petrol so no complaints from me.

tomstickland

My take on it is that if I choose to exceed the legal limit then I won't get annoyed if I have to follow someone travelling at 70mph, providing that they don't moronically stick in the outside lane because there's something else for them to overtake about 2 miles ahead. Likewise, if I choose to travel at 70mph I'll generally stick in the clearest left hand lane, but won't feel bad if I use the outside lane to get past things travelling slower than 70. I might speed up a bit if it makes it easier for something else to fit past me, or if I need to be a bit "cheeky" pulling out.

laalaa

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers! wrote: »

Oh look, the old emotive argument. Won't somebody think of the children!!!

Im sure you wouldnt be saying that if it was your child.

laalaa

tomstickland wrote: »

My take on it is that if I choose to exceed the legal limit then I won't get annoyed if I have to follow someone travelling at 70mph, providing that they don't moronically stick in the outside lane because there's something else for them to overtake about 2 miles ahead. Likewise, if I choose to travel at 70mph I'll generally stick in the clearest left hand lane, but won't feel bad if I use the outside lane to get past things travelling slower than 70. I might speed up a bit if it makes it easier for something else to fit past me, or if I need to be a bit "cheeky" pulling out.

I just wanted to say, that although I really am anti speeding. I dont mind your views as much tomstickland. I get more annoyed at people who speed, and get annoyed with me cos I choose to stick to speed limit. I stick to the most left hand lane, I dont middle lane hog.

Pew Pew Pew Lasers, since I dont know what Im talking about, would you care tell me what qualifies you?

tinkerbell84

laalaa wrote: »

Im sure you wouldnt be saying that if it was your child.

Children shouldn't be on motorways!

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

laalaa wrote: »

Im sure you wouldnt be saying that if it was your child.

If it were my child I would be in no position to make any kind of rational argument, and therefore my views would be quite invalid.

We need unbiased rational intelligent people making laws, not screaming bereaved parents without the first idea about road safety.

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

laalaa wrote: »

I just wanted to say, that although I really am anti speeding. I dont mind your views as much tomstickland. I get more annoyed at people who speed, and get annoyed with me cos I choose to stick to speed limit. I stick to the most left hand lane, I dont middle lane hog.

Pew Pew Pew Lasers, since I dont know what Im talking about, would you care tell me what qualifies you?

A great many years doing a great many miles not just in this country, but regularly in Europe. Also completion of an IAM course and passing their test, and skidpan experience, and 20 years of cycling. Add to that a reasonable knowledge of how vehicles work and how to do basic servicing on them. Also an avid interest in motoring, buying magazines, reading numerous websites daily. Also owning a couple of sports cars, and having driven a very wide range of vehicles.

I'd say that qualifies me to know a little of what I'm talking about.

cyclonebri1

therivierakid wrote: »

Does anyone know what it is, assuming you want to actually get somewhere in a reasonable time without having artics bearing down on you all the time?

Well rivierakid, where have you put the lid for the wormcan?

I think you are doing the best thing by not revisiting this polar dispute.

If there was a correct answer surely it would be in place by now?

It is'nt so it probably follows that there isn't one?

However my own view is that variable speed limits is the only sensible way to go, (all effective drivers have this inbuilt but many obviously don't as they drive to fast for prevailing conditions.)

There will I'm sure be such systems in place on all motorways and main trunks within a few years as there is so much technology being installed on the networks.

And probably all irrelevant in a few years anyway as some form of tacho/chip will find its way gradually into all cars, shutting down the car and locking in the occupants;) . yes tongue in cheek but don't dismiss it.

In the mean time all drivers need to learn a little more tolerance because niether side is ever going to win over the other

greenman7

I came across this on whatcar.com I think it is quite relevant for optimal speeds for m'way driving.
Fuel economy: making every gallon count - Motorway driving

06 June 2008

It's a bit of a pain that economy nosedives as we go faster, since motorways are intended to get us to our destinations quickly.

A steady cruise is also the most efficient way to drive. However, pootling along at 30mph would be a drag and probably not very safe.

You might find yourself in trouble with the law, too. In January, a 58-year-old woman was banned from driving for a week after being caught driving at just 10mph along the M32.

Still, the motorway is where the biggest savings are to be made. Realistically, in good weather and traffic conditions, drivers do over 60mph. It's how much faster you go that matters to your pocket.

Take a small family car like the Nissan Qashqai. At 60mph you'll be doing 39mpg, yet at 90mph you'll be doing about half that.

Yes, you'll get where you're going a bit quicker, but you'll be throwing away an extra 11p every mile. That's £10 on a 90-mile journey. Do that a couple of times a week and it could set you back an extra £1000 a year.

It's not only money you'd save. The UK Energy Research Centre estimates that proper enforcement of the 70mph limit would slash CO2 emissions by 3.7 million tonnes.

Lowering the limit to 60mph would cut CO2 by a further 3.5 million tonnes. That's the equivalent of taking three million Ford Focuses off the road.