For the last few years, I've kind of been proud of my clean record of no incidents, no moving violations, no parking tickets (except one at my high school and I have a good reason for that because someone stole my space).

But everytime I ask how long it takes people to drive long distances (like DC to NY, or "long trips"), I feel that everyone else is getting to/from places with less travel time. My friend from Duke gets home in 3,5 hours, folks get from Harrisburg, PA all the way past Winchester, VA in less than 2 hours, and so on. In comparision, it takes me 4 hrs and 2,5 hours respectively.

While safety remains my #1 priority and its unlikely that my driving habits will change, I wonder if I'm just driving a tad too conservatively. So what are your driving speeds like?

Here's mine, by "default":

Local roads: 60km/h (37mph)
Urban freeway, north of VA: 110km/h (68mph)
Urban freeway, VA and pts. south: 120 km/h (74mph)
Extra-urban: 130km/h (81mph)

*all the above subject to road, traffic, weather, visibility, traffic flow, and vehicle load conditions.

Depends on the flow of traffic. I reset my b/c, and only made one stop during todays road trip, it says 69.6mph, which includes raw data from 0mph (in a huge traffic mess for one guy picking up cones in PA) to really fast through NJ and PA. Also keep in mind, my car has about a 4MPH error (10km/h iirc)

My usual: Limit + 20%-30%, interstate 85ish is preferred Boston is 2 hours, CT 4, NY 5, DC 10... 30 over means jail, so thats a definate no-no

Um, whatever the speed limit is on the road I am on.....
Except for urban highways, I will go 65-70 when traffic is at that speed.

Rural WI or IL highways? 90 works when I'm in the middle of nowhere. Then it is slowed to 80ish.

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T
2008 BMW 135i Convertible
2007 BMW X5 3.0si
2007 BMW X3 3.0si
2003 BMW X5 3.0i (retired)

I usually follow the "5 over" rule everywhere. It's generally not enough to get you a ticket and that extra 5 mph seems to better fit the roads I travel on most. But if the rest of traffic is flowing faster or slower I'll usually pace myself with them.

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'05 X3 3.0i Alpine White/Gray Leather/Alum. Trim
Sport/Steptronic/Servotronic/Panoramic
Prem. Sound/Staggered 18" Style 114 Y-Spokes

i generally will not go more than 30 over no matter what, but I usually travel at about 10-15 over

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2006 BMW X5 4.8is Lemans Blue/Beige/Dark Maple
-Nav, Comfort Seats, Heated Steering Wheel,
Rear Airbags, AUX Input

You need to first remember, everyone calculates their trip differently.

When I used to go from Columbus Ohio to New York, I would time my trip from door to door. It was always a contest to beat my last time.

But I also always prepared for the drive. The day before I would fill up the tank, air in the tires, snacks for the drive.
- I could make it 625 miles with only one brief stop to fuel up.
And often I would leave late at night (9pm-10pm) to avoid all traffic and would drive through the early, early morning.

Then there are other people who calculate their drive from city to city rather than door to door. Do you stop at the Waffle House for breakfast? Does your shotgun need bathroom breaks every hour? Did you get gas up the night before?

The quantity of time it takes to get from A to B has less to do with your speed in my opinion and has much more to do with your planning. Going faster of course helps to compound the results but if you want to make great time:

-Leave when there is no traffic and arrive when there is no traffic.
-Have your snacks in a bag in the car
-Take your bathroom break when you need to fill up.
-Fill up the night before you leave (and air in the tires and windshield wiper fluid)
- Skip the meal at the Waffle House, it will just give you belly aches anyway.
- If you HAVE to take an unscheduled pee break, use a road side rest stop instead of a gas station 1 mile off the interstate.
- Secure your bags, gear, before you leave.
- Don't travel with friends who have to stop at every souvenir shop so they can get a new lighter.
- Don't travel with friends who smoke if you don't let them smoke in the car.
- Get sandwiches and even keep a little cooler in the car for drinks and food. If you are traveling with a friend, you can even go gourmet and bring cheeses and salami's and crackers.. etc.

etc.

btw, I'm older now and getting to my destination as quick as possible is no longer my goal. Instead of leaving late at night, I prefer to leave early in the morning so I can enjoy the scenery along the ride. I stop for meals. I will take a longer route if the drive is more interesting.. I guess our priorities change as we age.

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"When two people agree on everything, one of them is not necessary" - Arliss

I think what city you're driving in matters too. In Chicago, everyone pretty much goes 10, usually 15mph over the freeway speedlimit.

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that's very true, in FLA everyone has a lead foot, you can be in triple digit range and there is still someone passing you

Go with the flow in the left (speed) lane and try to stay in the right (slow) as much as possible without appearing reckless. Don't stick out and you won't get stuck.