European Speed limits?

[Thatman]

lol, this topic reminded me about a speeding incident that recently happened, I cant remember this exactly but it was something like this. Some dude was driving near a park and a cop pulled him over for speeding doing like 45 in a 30(mph) well a week or so later he was refusing to pay because somehow he found out that the City had posted a sign for 30mph and the state actually has it set to 45 but obviously its lower there because of the park. I think its still up in the air if he gets to go scott free though.

 

[Famine]

In europe you turn you left turn signal on to signal somebody to move over, correct?

No. You turn your left signal on to signal that you're going left.

 

[Blake]

What? It’s legal to undertake in the US? Retarded…

I do it all the time but it shouldn’t be legal, destroys the flow of traffic if people don’t stick to the lanes they should be in (usually the reason I undertake is because someone is sitting in the fast lane at some retarded speed slowing everyone down).

No. You turn your left signal on to signal that you're going left.

On the autobahn it is convention if you’re in the left (fast) lane and you want to guy in-front the let you past you put your left blinker on.

 

[GT Pro]

Speed limits are exceptionally overrated. I'd love to see some German autobahn toll statistics and then compare them to the speed-restricted freeways here in Australia and see if there is much difference.

 

[Blake]

I’d also like to factor in driver education. Which is pathetic in Australia. I’m lead to believe the German system is rather better.

 

[Max_DC]

Speed limits are exceptionally overrated. I'd love to see some German autobahn toll statistics and then compare them to the speed-restricted freeways here in Australia and see if there is much difference.

It depends...at rush hour there are of course no advantages, same in parts of Germany with a lot of traffic throughout the day, but I really wouldn't want a speed limit. The Autobahn I use to get to university every day is always free.
Ok, unfortunately I can't drive at full speed all the time because gas costs a fortune here and my STi isn't really a fuel efficient car. But never the less it is great from time to time to enter the Autobahn, accelerate until the speedo hits 260 km/h, turn on the left turnlight and just floor it for 30 km... that's just awesome, I don't care it the average driver gets faster from A to B with or without speedlimit as long as I can floor my 300 horses legally when I am in the mood...
A friend of mine drives a Audi S4 and he enjoys saving time. 120 km in less than 30 min ? No problem...

 

[Famine]

On the autobahn it is convention if you’re in the left (fast) lane and you want to guy in-front the let you past you put your left blinker on.

The Autobahn != All of Europe.

 

[Freddie]

Never seen the left-blink-rule used on scandinavian motorways. I've seen flashing highbeams, though, when someone (like me) forgot to keep to the right.

As for Norway:
Residential Zones: 30 km/h
Town/City: 50km/h
Open Road: 80km/h
Motorway: 90km/h/100km/h
Roadworks: 30, 50 and 70 km/h - Usually with flouroscent green signs instead of regular white ones.
Plus all the different ones littered around on the roads: 20-70 km/h, plus "Speed limit ceases", which means town- or open-road limits active.

Also, undertaking is allowed when the situation calls for it, such as merging or dividing traffic. Undertaking simply because of "a slow bastard in front" is not.

 

[kikie]

(all speeds in kilometers per hour)


Belgium
Motorway: 100/120
Open road: 70/90/100
Town: 30/50

100?

 

[Diego440]

Is it true you're allowed to overtake on the right (or rather: undertake) on the motorway/highway in the US?

You can overtake on the right in Spain... technically.

If the speed limit is 120kph, and you're going in the middle lane at 100 (for instance) and a guy in the fast lane is going 80, you're allowed to pass him, even if you're in the middle lane. However, you have to be in said lane... you can't change to the middle lane to overtake them.

Speed limits here are dumb. All-around the city the limit is 40kph, in the highway it ranges from 80 to 120 kph.

However, wherever the limit in the highway is 80, you're allowed to go up to 100 when overtaking a car, and on the left (fast) lane only. When the limit is 100, you're allowed to go up to 120 for the same reason. However, if the limit is 120, you're not allowed to exceed that speed for whichever reason.

In the end, this is Spain and everyone goes as fast as they please until they either crash or see a cop car.

In europe you turn you left turn signal on to signal somebody to move over, correct?

What Famine said.

Around here they sometimes use the left turn signal to indicate they are stopping. Instead of using the emergency lights like the rest of the world. It works wonders when you're in the highway and traffic comes to a stop and the douchebag in front of you puts his turn signal to the left... only to brake and stop.

When giving way to someone, it's common to flash your highbeams at them. Like if you're approaching a car that's waiting for you to go bo by so he can exit a street or something, it's common to flash the high beams to let them know they can go.

Back home, flashing the highbeams meant "Don't move, I'm coming, get out of the way", so you can imagine how fun it was when I did it to someone who was coming out of a stop sign and he just merged in front of me.

 

[Keef]

Miami seems to like to pass on the right, I recall that being an issue when I was down there the last few times. On the last trip when I had the Town Car I got the hang of it, and by the end of the day, I fit in just find with the old New York Jew in the DTS next to me...

Passing on the right? I try not to, but sometimes I just say screw it.

I've been known to be nearly past someone on the right, and say "Oh...hang on a sec," slow down and get behind them in the passing lane again, ride their ass until they get out of the passing lane, then proceed to pass them and go on my merry way in the middle lane as I was before.

I did that on my way to Detroit. Yes, I blatantly went out of my way to correct someone's crappy driving habits. I had to be obvious to them but at least the retard got the message.

 

[YSSMAN]

I will occasionally just get up on people's asses, make obscene gestures at them through their back window, and hope that they are smart enough to change lanes. Otherwise, I will pass on the right if need be. If they're stupid enough to be doing 10 MPH under in the left lane, I reserve the right to go on about my business.

 

[Dave A]

I pass on the right all the time .

But on the topic of undertaking I very rareyl undertake on a motorway. Thugh most of the motorway traffic here (barring in a jam ofcourse) is going over the sped limit by a good 10mph anyway.

 

[Craig HP]

Over here in England:

Town Road: 30mph
Country Lane: 20mph
A-Road: 40mph
Motorway Standard A-Road: 70mph
Motorway: 70mph

I think thats correct!

 

[Famine]

Over here in England:

Town Road: 30mph
Country Lane: 20mph
A-Road: 40mph
Motorway Standard A-Road: 70mph
Motorway: 70mph

I think thats correct!

That's a negative...

United Kingdom National Speed Limits:
Residential/Urban single carriageway - 30mph (unless otherwise posted)
Residential/Semi Urban single carriageway - 40mph (unless otherwise posted)
Residential/Extra Urban single carriageway - 60mph (unless otherwise posted)
Dual Carriageway (lanes separated by dividing barrier) - 70mph (unless otherwise posted)

Speed limits can also be posted at 20mph and 50mph, but the National Speed Limits for the types of roads mentioned above are as mentioned above if there is no sign otherwise.

 

[xXSilencerXx]

I will occasionally just get up on people's asses, make obscene gestures at them through their back window, and hope that they are smart enough to change lanes. Otherwise, I will pass on the right if need be. If they're stupid enough to be doing 10 MPH under in the left lane, I reserve the right to go on about my business.

Same, I usually just ride them till they get out of the way. If there is a gap I'll take it though, everytime. I have no problem passing on the right, don't see what the big deal is.

 

[Pupik]

In the end, this is Spain and everyone goes as fast as they please until they either crash or see a cop car.

That's what I did when in Spain: I quit flooring it at 150 km/h, and I was only passing about half the traffic at that speed.

America went to 55mph for virtually all highways in 1974, it was raised to 65mph (at an individual state's discretion) in 1987 (I remember reading the newspaper article in 7th-grade current events that day...never mind I couldn't drive yet), and finally each state could pick its maximum limits around late-1996.

Florida jumped to 65mph for most limited-access highways (interstates and toll roads) and a few stretches of open-road, 4-lane dual thoroughfares by 1987, and finally in early 1997, the state maximized highways to 70mph, open 4-lane highways to 65, and two-lane road maximums were now 60mph, where they pretty much are to this day.

Mind you, most speed limits where I live, in the urban and suburban areas, has actually dropped in a lot of locations, even after adding more and wider lanes, longer turn pockets, and smoother surfaces. The increase in traffic lights and overall density of traffic has burdened some roadways to the point where signs aren't really needed; all you're going to do is stay at that speed for about 30 seconds or so until you have to brake or stop again.

What is more annoying is when the speed limit bobs up and down every mile or two. For example, on one 10-mile stretch of 4-lane roadway I use frequently: 45 - 40 - 45 - 40 - 35 - 45 - 35...Just annoying.

Simply put, make it 50 around the suburbs, 35 in gridlocked situations, 25 in residential neighborhoods, 20 in school zones, and 90 mph on left-lanes of the highways; 75-65 on all the rest: Save tax money on all the unnecessary signs and stop making us panic over victimless crimes.

South Florida has terrible driving ethics compared to he rest of the state: Pass where ever you like, signals mean nothing, make a left turn into whatever lane you want, make right turns on red without stopping, hold up every one else because you're too chicken to even follow the laws, make a left turn 3 seconds after the light turns red, stay in the left-lane at 10mph under the limit with you blinker on for two miles...patience is the key, or you'll go mad. I stopped cursing at the others over 10 years ago, you live longer.