Why do Americans drive so fast?

[JETZcorp]

I honestly don't mind how people blitz all the straights. Except for the occasional true-idiot, most of them slide around me without much bother. I do wish people would speed the hell up around corners, though. On my commute home, there's a big downhill with a turn at the bottom, in a 50 zone (on a freeway! Portland is weird). Anyway, this turn is nothing. The CRX with its El Cheapo tires must be good for at least 90 around this thing and the Dakota might be able to consider challenging a buck. Almost everyone drops anchor and goes through at ~35, before putting the hammer down for a drag race to 59.9 again. How many dollars worth of gas and brake pads has this corner-phobia burned through? I don't ask that people go Tokyo Drift on this thing, but there seriously ain't a car built that won't take this thing at 55 with TONS of wiggle room.

[Occasionally6]

Originally Posted by EL3CTR1CSHEEPZ

I will say I was shocked when I moved out to Japan. Growing up in the states and learning everything I know about driving in a country where everyone has an addiction to speed I was blown away by how slow everyone drives in Japan. Over here, the highways are 100 km/h and the Japanese are happy to drive 80. Cracks me up.

Even funnier considering Toyota, Honda and Subaru's continued dedication to very small, very fast cars.

Smaller island, shorter distances, different culture?

Originally Posted by rfdesigner

Here in the UK, our speed limit is 70.. but the police are known for giving you 10%+2mph so that's 79mph, real world.

Derek

One really difficult thing is to drive in different states (to your own) and be unsure of how tightly the limit is enforced. Are the people exceeding the posted limit risking a fine or is that the 'de facto' limit that you can get away with travelling at?

There are noticeably different driving cultures within any country not just across international borders. It's interesting to observe if you look for it.

[wdb]

Originally Posted by JETZcorp

I do wish people would speed the hell up around corners, though. [ . . . ] Almost everyone drops anchor and goes through at ~35, before putting the hammer down for a drag race to 59.9 again.

And I'll bet that while they're going around the turn they're hanging onto the wheel for dear life, and their heads are tilted over so much that you'd think they were doing the the Casino turn at Monaco during the Gran Prix. It's funny as hell to watch, when it isn't driving me bonkers.

[wdb]

I had a weird realization regarding my highway speeds the other week.

Part of my commute is on the PA Turnpike. Part of that stretch is very, very busy during rush hour, which is when I'm there. 3 lanes in each direction, zoom zoom. Cars are thick as thieves and moving fast. I find myself rolling along at the speed of the traffic around me.

A bit further down that stretch, almost all of the cars have taken one of the exits, and the traffic thins out considerably. I find myself actually *slowing down* at that point. Weird.

[rfdesigner]

Originally Posted by Occasionally6

There are noticeably different driving cultures within any country not just across international borders. It's interesting to observe if you look for it.

In the UK our number plates begin with a 2 letter code indicating where the vehicle was first registered (since 2001). H: Hampshire, Y: Yorkshire etc.

Also when people are learning they have to display an 'L' plate.

This means all cars registered in London have number plates beginning with a letter 'L'

or as I call them, 'L' plates.. which fits with the average standard of driving (noticably over agressive compared with non-Londoners.. on average)

[Frank Lee]

Originally Posted by Occasionally6

One really difficult thing is to drive in different states (to your own) and be unsure of how tightly the limit is enforced. Are the people exceeding the posted limit risking a fine or is that the 'de facto' limit that you can get away with travelling at?

It's not difficult in the least. Go the posted maximum limit, or that minus 1, and done. No worries about where the traps are, no worries about fines, no nothing but a relaxing trip to your destination.

I really don't see how something so simple has become so complicated in many people's minds.

[doviatt]

A speedometer thread got me thinking about this but it is relevant to this thread.
I've never owned a truck. They are plentiful around here, drive very fast, and usually jacked up, huge tires, etc. How much does the speedometer change with those big tires? I know they are told about the speedo change with the tire upgrade but do they register this idea? I have a theory they still drive at max limit according to their speedometer and think they are in compliance. If the majority of vehicles are like this I can see how habits can reinforce this new faster average.

[justme1969]

Ive been through much of western Canada not sure from where you hail but they drive as fast as much of the USA generally speaking because we have LA. Houston, Alanta to name a few special casesthere are many more.
I was on a trip and the great northern folk in peachland scared me rolling over a inch of fresh snow like it was an indy track and whats with snowmobiles on the Hiway coulda swore it was a constable. That thing was moving twice the speed of the fastest cars and it wasnt the only one around.

[MPGranger]

So a buddy of mine has a 2001 Ranger RWD, manual with the V6 in it. I went the FE route, he decided to make it look like it goes off road all the time; but it doesn't due to lack of 4x4. He got bigger wheels and even large all terrain wheels. Not only is his speedo way off, but his ODO has been reading way off as well. He has been running this set up for several years. His Truck is a lot younger on paper than it actually is!

[101Volts]

Originally Posted by Fat Charlie

101Volts- And if you look at your tires periodically (monitoring your tire pressure is good for this), replace them when needed and don't overload the vehicle, you're more likely to hit that huge lottery jackpot than have a blowout. Your acquaintance with the 20 mph blowout probably had to go pretty far out of his way to make it happen.

Thanks, It probably was long out-of-check; I don't think the car was maintained very well (If at all in its last years) and eventually it got to the point where it was left on while grocery shopping because it was difficult to start, It was like the "Rusty Chevrolet" Song but with the lyrics changed to mechanical problems - "Oh, Maintenance woes - The starter froze, A tailpipe just fell off... A tire blew, The alternater's removed and now I start to pray... We keep it on when we're shopping and the fuel economy keeps dropping!"

I think I've gotten far-enough off topic...