Originally Posted by
davem4
Now I wanted clarification on the speed limits, Say we have 55, is this a hard limit or does enforcement only start if say you are doing 65? (i noticed the drink driving laws are very lax).
Reason being my last trip to chicago, I was told by family there to "drive as the traffic drives" which was about 70 on the highway there. Saw the Highway Sheriff a few times and they seemed non phased.
I don't wan't to be "that guy" sitting on 55 with an angry trail of cars behind me.
Yes, please don't be that guy. Speed limits on freeways in those areas will be at least 65, and up to 75-80 on the road to Vegas, depending on the routing. Staying with the speed of traffic is a great idea and the same advice I give--you're much safer if everyone does NOT have to constantly go around you and you're NOT sandwiched between two heavy trailers (the only other vehicles which will be doing 55). If you drive too slow--even if at the limit--they might pull you over on suspicion of drunk driving (clearly you're going slow because you have to close one eye to see straight, right?
)
Also, I believe in California if you're on a single lane road and there are 5 or more cars behind you, you must pull over to let them pass. Even if you're already going the limit. In practice this applies mostly to county roads, not the interstates you'll be driving on
Technically the posted limit is the
limit, but the state police along lonely stretches of road are looking for the guys doing +40, maybe +25 on a slow day. For +5/+10 they won't get out of their car. Can they cite you for it? Absolutely. But you'd have to make them WANT to do it
I have previously topped out at 140 mph on the I-5 to San Diego and somewhere close to that on the I-15 to Vegas. THAT is the kind of speeding ticket they would wanna write
