Do you obey the speed limit on highways? (speed trap, drivers, speeding)

[squirrels]

I was wondering who around here strictly obeys the speed limits. When I'm in heavy traffic I go exactly the speed limit if possible, but if I'm on a big road with sparse traffic I go as fast as I feel safe going, which usually equates to 85-90 or so on a 70mph road. If it's a long straight road with practically no traffic in sight I think a great way to amuse myself on long trips is to see how fast I can go before I have to slow down for curves (thanks to the endlessly long uncurving roads I've gotten up to 106 between Chicago and Indianapolis, which is great for my little hatchback).

I don't drive dangerously, if I'm moving fast I don't even change lanes if there's a car within 100 meters of me. I just like going fast when the opportunity presents itself. I've never gotten a speeding ticket before in my life so I must be making the right choices as for where I speed and where I don't.

So what about you all? Do you feel comfortable speeding on a highway?

[chiroptera]

Strictly? Nope.

I do always in residential neighborhoods and most commercial corridors, but on the freeway or rural highways, if I think it's safe to exceed the speed limit and I feel like doing so, I sure will.

It's fair to say I have become a more sedate driver now that I'm, uh, older.

[PullMyFinger]

On freeways I try to go with the flow of traffic, even if the speed is over the limit significantly. On a Sunday morning when there is little to no traffic I will stay within 5 mph of the limit.

On residential streets and in work zones I drive exactly the speed limit.

[FlyMIA]

In residential neighborhoods I usually don't go more then 3 over.
More commercial areas 5-8 over

Highways: depends on weather and traffic. Busy periods where it's not slow traffic I'm usually going to the speed limit or keeping up with traffic. So 5-10 over is the norm. Of course to times traffic makes the speed down to 10mph to 40mph.

Now at night, on lighted dry highways with little traffic it's usually about 20 over so between 70-80. Not too fast, certainly nothing dangerous with little traffic in good weather. I've even past speed traps going that speed and the officers never flinched. Down here there are bigger fish to catch.

On roads with 70mph limits its usually 15 over.

[TexasHorseLady]

I tend to go the limit or at most four to five miles over, using my cruise control. I'm usually, at that speed, going with the flow of traffic, except for the occasional speed demon, because most of the traffic around here knows that there ARE cops in the area regularly, and also the speed limit is 75 and the cops are much less likely to give you slack if you're speeding a lot over that because there's no excuse for it. I regularly see the speed demons pulled over, which means the rest of us can breathe easier for multiple reasons.

[manderly6]

Locally at or below. On the highway almost never unless I'm restricted by other traffic.

[sskink]

I-80 through PA is mostly built to a tolerance of 90mph+. The posted speed limit for much of it is 55. The only "urban" area is at the easternmost point. It would be ridiculous to adhere to the posted limits. Most drivers are 75-80 when there's low to moderate traffic. I'm right there with them.

[trlhiker]

I never go more than 5 mph over on highways. On residential, I keep it at the speed limit. Those of you who enjoy going 10, 20, 30+ over the limit, just remember, all it takes is 1 second of inattentiveness or something beyond your control and you either seriously injure yourself or worse, kill or seriously injure someone else. Ask yourself if it would still be worth it then?

[DubbleT]

I usually don't go much over 5 plus, I spend too much time in VA to get into the habit of speeding. They aren't too understanding about stuff like that!

[cats234]

I stay with the flow on highways which means around 80 mph in a 65