Why Speed?

I run on cruise control on 99 between Bakersfield and Fresno usually between 9pm and 11pm. Keep it set at 63-65 mph and I'm nearly always in the right lane. CHP will leave you alone if you keep it below 65. Believe me, I get passed by plenty of troopers! Usually make the trip in about 1hr and 45 mins. Gives me time to take my legal 10 hr break in Fresburg. I never have any problem with people entering the freeway; California drivers normally step on it when they enter. Only problem I have with the trip is with ####### Midwestern truckers who don't know the "rules" of California driving. I think folks who don't know what they're talking about should best remain silent...
rx 24 years without a speeding violation in ANY state.

 

Okay Gio, are you familiar with the concept of momentum? No, being as you're from the flatlands I didn't think so. Picture the Westernmost 100 miles or so of I-70 in Utah. Ever drove it? With 80 grand? No? Well it's a series of up and down grades and the momentum gained from lettin' her rip up to maybe 80-82 mph downhill will carry you most of the way up the next hill before you hafta downshift back into direct to top the next hill. Really, guys like you really chap my hide. You're probably the one who passes me right at the crest of the hill because you're hauling half a load and then wonders why I come flying back past you about a quarter mile down the hill.
Incidentally, every trip I usually see one truck turned over at the bottom of a grade somewhere and at least a couple pulled over with smoke billowing off of the brakes; just about all of 'em have midwestern tags. Maybe some training is in order before being dispatched into the hills?
rx

 

First off, most company trucks on the road now days will not do 75. Most police will allow you 5 mph over the limit. It fits in with the range of error. Something that can not be measured by the human eye and brain accurately. Even radar can be off by that much easily.

My truck runs 66 mph. I try to do that everywhere possible, except in construction zones.

Trucks that run 75 mph do not bother me near as much as trucks that run 65 mph...everywhere they go, including construction and school zones.

I met a Swift driver purchasing a radar detector for just that purpose...So he would not have to slow for construction.....scarey enough for you yet???

THE MOST dangerous trucks I have witnessed on the road...pulling dumb@$$ manuevers at extreme speeds...Swift, Werner, JB Hunt...none of which will run 75 mph

 

If your depending on a bird dog or a cb to keep from paying out alot of dollars to the local barney fife, you better start saving money now for the tickets your going to pay. They are using lidar now here in cali and you dont get a warning. Its low power narrow beam radar with a laser site. All your bird dog is going to tell you is to pull over. As far as your trainer leaving it stuck to the windshield going thru coops, hes a idiot. They will fine you and in some states take it from you as well. Last is if you pay attention, normally about the time the guy going the other ways tells you hammer down its clear to the line, surprise theres is a bear in the comedian no one else saw, oe a least ignored.

As a new driver at least start off somewhere close to the speed limit till you atleast know how to drive.

 

I'm with you Fozzy. I have never gotten a ticket yet. Sure I've done my share of speeding back in the old days but for many years while hauling gasoline is was the speed limit all the way. I've also hauled heavy loads up to 110,000lbs from OH to UT and I would hear drivers say there's that bulldozer again because they would fly by me then stop. I would put in my hours then rest.

And I'm sorry Rex but your California reasoning doesn't wash and it's just an excuse. I drove for ARCO before I retired and you should know we drive all over California. All of our drivers know that you keep you record clean then you get the better jobs plus it's highly unlikely that you'll be driving for many years. However, if you do make the distance you'd make more with a clean record than one full of tickets.

 

I'm on the highway each and every day running laser or radar,got both in the car assigned to me. Even run VASCAR (time/distance) speed computer. If I'm doing speed enforcement I give the guys 13 mph before I start writing tickets. Most of the time I'm giving 15 mph. I think that is more than fair enough. Faster than that you are just begging to get a coupon.

 

I will run thew max speed of my truck 62/63mph everywhere except in construction zones OR heavy traffic. I have heard the reasoning of keeping up with the flow to speed, but I know this bigrig with 7-80,000lbs takes alot farther to stop than those 4 wheelers. Also, by Murphys law if you are keeping at the rate of traffic, and believe you have a good enough opening for emergency breaking, some 4 wheeler is going to dart into your window at the last minute and that isn't going to be a pretty sight. Now in the event of CA, OH, and other states with the split speed I will usually run 60. I feel this is fast enough to keep me from losing alot of time, slow enough for me to keep my books pretty legal, and also slow enough that the bears will let me slide since there are other trucks roaring past me. That's just my $.02 though.

 

75mph is the legal speed in many states. A better question is why do four wheelers fail to yield the right-of-way so much?

 

With forest bears I don't have to be fast, I just have to be faster than you. With highway bears I don't have to be slow, just slower than you. They're usually looking for the biggest and easiest catch. What's easier to prove in court...12 over or 3 over?

 

In the 70mph and more states, I find no reason I need to speed. If 3 or 4 over is speeding, well, I guess I speed a little in the 65mph states. The 55 mph states? Well, that's another matter entirely. I try to keep it under 65 in those states, but I usually still end up at 67/68. Why? You may think this sounds strange but, the 55 mph ride for hours on end, in Illinois for example, is sleep inducing. 2 hours into a 55 mph ride and I'm seriously, well past, ready for a nap where I can otherwise run for hours on end at 65+.