Typical Interstate Speeds

[cb1111]

Have you ever filed a claim with them? My neighbor backed into my car and they were terrible to deal with. I'd rather pay marginally more for state farm.

We have. My wife was rear-ended by another USAA member and it was completely pain free. We also had a fire sprinkler head crack and flood our finished basement about 10 years ago and that was as pleasant as something like this can get.

I've had a couple of Geico claims (both car and house) and it was as pleasant as going to the dentist.

 

[Charlotte.:R]

We have. My wife was rear-ended by another USAA member and it was completely pain free. We also had a fire sprinkler head crack and flood our finished basement about 10 years ago and that was as pleasant as something like this can get.

I've had a couple of Geico claims (both car and house) and it was as pleasant as going to the dentist.

My USAA claim was the opposite. They repeatedly tried to assign fault to me--Did I try to avoid the collision? Was I using an electronic device at the time of impact? etc. My car was parked in a visitor parking space and a neighbor backed into it lol. They also insisted on using used parts so I had to pay the difference for a new hood/fender.

 

[wasbaggedonce]

Why would your rates go down once you've paid off your car? Unless your credit is so bad, that paying off a debt will significantly improve your score, there should be no difference. In addition, insurance companies only review accounts periodically on a fixed schedule every couple of years.

My rates went down when I paid off my car..about $5 lower per month.

 

[echelonphoto]

This is just to satisfy my curiosity: a little survey. Does anyone else have the following issue?

I have an issue with driving fast on the highway. It's a combination of substantial lack of patience and boredom. My father had the same issue, so I believe this is a genetic disposition. (However, I note that a lot of other drivers also seem to cruise at fast speeds these days.) On familiar interstates where there is a clear line sight and no speed traps, I often travel at about 90 MPH. In unfamiliar areas, I travel 14 MPH over the speed limit. On my last road trip, I was traveling at 90 to 95 MPH frequently to cover more ground in less time.

Regarding my last trip: On I-20 in South Carolina, I was traveling very fast as 90 to 95 MPH on open highway. On I-40 in Tennessee I was traveling about 90 MPH once I got out of the mountains. On I-26 in South Carolina, I was traveling at about 85 MPH largely inhibited by traffic.

I take some pride in knowing when it is safe to speed and where the speed traps will be using only my eyes. My speed is rarely constant local to my area of the country because of the rolling hills. Cresting a hill is more dangerous so I slow down at those points. When I feel patient, I often set cruise control at the highest speed that is safe by my definition. Just so that folks do not assume that I am a total jerk, I respect construction zones, keep lots of space between my car and the next, and slow down to pass so that the speed differential is not dangerous for the slower moving vehicles. At higher speeds, I become like a hawk, extremely vigilant of dangers.

I was born in Germany and have been back there many times. I always rent a performance type car, BMW, megane, Gti, The freedom on the autobahn is breathtaking. The average speed in some areas is 100mph. I have personally done stints there at 138 mph...pretty much top speed of the rental car (would love to have my corvette or porsche there). Anyhow, in NJ and pennsylvania, where I live, the average interstate speed is now 80 mph...if you stay in the left lane and follow traffic, you must do about 80. I have had shorter stints at 90+ and even hit 115 quite easily in my gti. I love the way this car drives at those speeds...that's the german engineering and attitude.. Its a shame US drivers are so undertrained, because you run into many situtations where people are going too slow in the left lane and they stay there indefinitely, backing up faster traffic behind them and causing very unsafe situations. On the autobahn, if you do this, you will be run off the road...keep right , pass left is the religion. I was in a situation once during a heavy rain, still driving about 100 and I couldnt get over to the middle lane because of traffic and was being tailgated by a driver that approached me at about 140...finally got over to my relief. Anyhow, driver training needs to be upgraded in this country...this is what makes fast driving safe.

 

[wasbaggedonce]

I was born in Germany and have been back there many times. I always rent a performance type car, BMW, megane, Gti, The freedom on the autobahn is breathtaking. The average speed in some areas is 100mph. I have personally done stints there at 138 mph...pretty much top speed of the rental car (would love to have my corvette or porsche there). Anyhow, in NJ and pennsylvania, where I live, the average interstate speed is now 80 mph...if you stay in the left lane and follow traffic, you must do about 80. I have had shorter stints at 90+ and even hit 115 quite easily in my gti. I love the way this car drives at those speeds...that's the german engineering and attitude.. Its a shame US drivers are so undertrained, because you run into many situtations where people are going too slow in the left lane and they stay there indefinitely, backing up faster traffic behind them and causing very unsafe situations. On the autobahn, if you do this, you will be run off the road...keep right , pass left is the religion. I was in a situation once during a heavy rain, still driving about 100 and I couldnt get over to the middle lane because of traffic and was being tailgated by a driver that approached me at about 140...finally got over to my relief. Anyhow, driver training needs to be upgraded in this country...this is what makes fast driving safe.

I think every driver in PA is a left lane driver. The best is when you come up on someone in the left lane and they move over for you (to the empty right lane), then you pass and see them get back into the left lane for no reason. I don't like passing on the right, but PA drivers make it damn near impossible.

 

[cb1111]

I was born in Germany and have been back there many times. I always rent a performance type car, BMW, megane, Gti, The freedom on the autobahn is breathtaking. The average speed in some areas is 100mph. I have personally done stints there at 138 mph...pretty much top speed of the rental car (would love to have my corvette or porsche there). Anyhow, in NJ and pennsylvania, where I live, the average interstate speed is now 80 mph...if you stay in the left lane and follow traffic, you must do about 80. I have had shorter stints at 90+ and even hit 115 quite easily in my gti. I love the way this car drives at those speeds...that's the german engineering and attitude.. Its a shame US drivers are so undertrained, because you run into many situtations where people are going too slow in the left lane and they stay there indefinitely, backing up faster traffic behind them and causing very unsafe situations. On the autobahn, if you do this, you will be run off the road...keep right , pass left is the religion. I was in a situation once during a heavy rain, still driving about 100 and I couldnt get over to the middle lane because of traffic and was being tailgated by a driver that approached me at about 140...finally got over to my relief. Anyhow, driver training needs to be upgraded in this country...this is what makes fast driving safe.

Amen

 

[shovelhd]

Unplug that thing right now.

Replace it with a JB4

 

[Chogokin]

I was born in Germany and have been back there many times. I always rent a performance type car, BMW, megane, Gti, The freedom on the autobahn is breathtaking. The average speed in some areas is 100mph. I have personally done stints there at 138 mph...pretty much top speed of the rental car (would love to have my corvette or porsche there). Anyhow, in NJ and pennsylvania, where I live, the average interstate speed is now 80 mph...if you stay in the left lane and follow traffic, you must do about 80. I have had shorter stints at 90+ and even hit 115 quite easily in my gti. I love the way this car drives at those speeds...that's the german engineering and attitude.. Its a shame US drivers are so undertrained, because you run into many situtations where people are going too slow in the left lane and they stay there indefinitely, backing up faster traffic behind them and causing very unsafe situations. On the autobahn, if you do this, you will be run off the road...keep right , pass left is the religion. I was in a situation once during a heavy rain, still driving about 100 and I couldnt get over to the middle lane because of traffic and was being tailgated by a driver that approached me at about 140...finally got over to my relief. Anyhow, driver training needs to be upgraded in this country...this is what makes fast driving safe.

I went to Germany in the early 2000's for the Essen auto show. Driving on the Autobahn is a completely different experience than driving on a highway here in the US. I remember being in the left lane and having a car come up behind us. He got in the right lane...slowed down...then got back behind me. I moved over and let him pass. I later found out that there is no passing in the right lane. I was doing around 100 in the rental diesel Passat.

 

[cb1111]

I went to Germany in the early 2000's for the Essen auto show. Driving on the Autobahn is a completely different experience than driving on a highway here in the US. I remember being in the right lane and having a car come up behind us. He got in the left lane...slowed down...then got back behind me. I moved over and let him pass. I later found out that there is no passing in the left lane. I was doing around 100 in the rental diesel Passat.

Huh?

 

[Ridebjj]

Huh?

Yea, it stumped me too.

 

[Chogokin]

Huh?

My bad...I meant no passing in the right lane. I reversed my thoughts. I edited my post.

We also spent a lot of time getting lost in northern Germany.

 

[RuffledJersey]

USAA is hands down the best insurance company ever. GEICO might be a hair cheaper but much harder to work with.

We’ve had very good experiences with Amica. I checked USAA for an auto quote when I got my Golf and they were almost 20% more than Amica (and that was before I factored in the 20% dividend I get back every year).

I think every driver in PA is a left lane driver. The best is when you come up on someone in the left lane and they move over for you (to the empty right lane), then you pass and see them get back into the left lane for no reason. I don't like passing on the right, but PA drivers make it damn near impossible.

I grew up in North Jersey and I always thought that “Keep Right Except to Pass” was the state motto since it was posted frequently on every highway. After living in the DC area and now in the Philly area, I’ve found that the most frequent and blatant violators of this common sense policy are MD drivers who like to leisurely linger in the left lane.

(Though the most “infamous” practitioner of this behavior was a John Nestor from Northern Virginia leading to the obscure term “Nestoring.”)

 

[cb1111]

My bad...I meant no passing in the right lane. I reversed my thoughts. I edited my post.

We also spent a lot of time getting lost in northern Germany.

Figured as much. Passing on the right is a 100 Euro fine and one point. There are a few exceptions - the most notable being in a traffic jam when the right lane is moving faster than the left

 

[MKSeven]

I was born in Germany and have been back there many times. I always rent a performance type car, BMW, megane, Gti, The freedom on the autobahn is breathtaking. The average speed in some areas is 100mph. I have personally done stints there at 138 mph...pretty much top speed of the rental car (would love to have my corvette or porsche there). Anyhow, in NJ and pennsylvania, where I live, the average interstate speed is now 80 mph...if you stay in the left lane and follow traffic, you must do about 80. I have had shorter stints at 90+ and even hit 115 quite easily in my gti. I love the way this car drives at those speeds...that's the german engineering and attitude.. Its a shame US drivers are so undertrained, because you run into many situtations where people are going too slow in the left lane and they stay there indefinitely, backing up faster traffic behind them and causing very unsafe situations. On the autobahn, if you do this, you will be run off the road...keep right , pass left is the religion. I was in a situation once during a heavy rain, still driving about 100 and I couldnt get over to the middle lane because of traffic and was being tailgated by a driver that approached me at about 140...finally got over to my relief. Anyhow, driver training needs to be upgraded in this country...this is what makes fast driving safe.

It also doesn't help that our speed limits are useless in some areas. But you're definitely right about drivers ed, it's definitely way too easy to pass out here. I would love to make driving tests much harder and more strict. If I was in charge of NDOT anyways.

 

[cb1111]

My USAA claim was the opposite. They repeatedly tried to assign fault to me--Did I try to avoid the collision? Was I using an electronic device at the time of impact? etc. My car was parked in a visitor parking space and a neighbor backed into it lol. They also insisted on using used parts so I had to pay the difference for a new hood/fender.

Almost ever insurance company will try to use aftermarket or used parts if they are available. Unfortunately, the bodyshop I use can never the correct aftermarket or used parts, so the insurance company pays for new.