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What is the legal speed limit in a Seattle arterial?

Why do people drive way over the speed limit on the interstate but way below the speed limit on a 2 lane road?

  • On the highway, I usually drive the posted speed limit or sometimes a little under in bad weather. On the interstate, the majority of drivers drive 10-15 mph over the posted speed limit and very few drive within the speed limit as if they think "speed limit" means "minimum". I stay to the right and watch everyone zip past. On a small rural two lane highway(one lane in each direction) drivers tend to drive much slower. Most drivers drive right at the limit, but quite a few drivers prefer to drive 15-20 mph below the posted speed limit. I have been behind a slow driver doing 40mph in a 60mph zone but when we both turned onto the interstate, the slow driver sped off probably doing 80mph in a 70mph zone. Why do people drive that way? Doesn't the speed limit mean the same on both types of roads? BTW, I usually give myself more time when I drive on a two lane highway.

  • Answer:

    Good question! I prefer to do about five mph faster than the posted limit on two-lane roads and about ten to fifteen mph over the limit on the interstate. My personal reason is - I drive as fast as I think the law will allow. Just from personal experience, I believe you get a bigger tolerance on the interstate. I have passed state troopers with their radar guns aimed right at me, at speeds well in excess of the posted limit. For example, I drive eighty to eighty-five mph in a seventy mph zone with little to no worries. Plus, getting pulled over on the interstate is almost like getting struck by lightning or winning the lottery. The odds are against it. The police just have to many speeders to choose from. Its my personal opinion that they are looking for the ninety mph plus drivers and leaving us little petty eighty-five mph drivers alone. Now, on a two-lane road the rules are a little different. Usually, on the smaller roads, you have the city, town, or community police that are just itching for some action and some revenue. Which means if you are doing thirty-six mph in a thirty mph zone, you are going to be ticketed or cited. It is another personal opinion of mine that even on the smaller roads, you can usually get away with five mph over the posted limit, but not one mph more. My motto when it comes to speed limits is, "Confident, not wreckless". Driving a couple of mph over the limit lets the officers know that you are confident, legal, and are in no fear of them. Oh well, there's my lenghty, very opinionated view of an answer to your question. Have a wonderful day. By the way, I live in the Atlanta area. These observations may not hold true everywhere.

Ryan D at Yahoo! Answers Visit the source

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Drivers perceive the four lane as safer so they drive faster. Here there are four lane divided highways with 60 mph and two lane roads with a speed limit of 70 mph. So it feels safer to drive 70 in the 60 than drive 70 in the 70 so I drive at 60-65 on the two lane roads.

Robert

Either they know the cops are around on the 2 lane road and are concerned(ones that go right at the speed limit) or they are IDIOTS. I tend to believe they are idiots. I tend to go around the speed limit, to 5 over, on any roads.

sgoldperson

Im guessing its dangerous to speed on a 2 lane road where there is traffic coming at u .

bear cub

Most people drive at a speed they feel comfortable driving regardless of what the speed limit it. People (me included) feel safer going faster on the interstate than a narrow 2 lane road. People tend to drive slower on 2 lane roads that they don't drive down often. But for the interstate, it doesn't matter if they been on that interstate or not; most interstates are designed the same way and don't have sharp curves, so therefore people can drive 80-90 mph without a problem. But for a 2 lane road, it's easier to go slower because you have to watch out for animals and stuff. Basically, I feel safe driving fast on the interstate, but for a 2 lane road, it's common sense to me to go slower regardless of the speed limit. The speed limits on some 2 lane roads might seem too high for some drivers, especially not locals.

eric

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