Good for you. Most, in my experience, read slightly high.
Cont: Electric Vehicles II
- Thread starter acbytesla
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I drove big old trucks with the Ford V8 engines. US freeways have a minimum and maximum limit, I went about 60 mph max because I got the best range out of a tank of fuel. Big displacement running lower rpm wasn't all that bad done right. Drafting big box trucks helped a lot too. Crossed a lot of the plains states like that.
Years later I was still playing big gear, low rpm when the car allowed.
My son just found out about a jeep like vehicle with a no computer <2L 4 cyl diesel and a standard trans. Not fast, not powerful but exactly the type of car I like best.
Given a parts support network long term it's great.
Chinese support for thier EV models isn't great where I am. The cars are sold in town now but showrooms only, no shops.
That's a big deal for a car with complicated electronics. I need to be able to fix stuff myself in this area.
Years later I was still playing big gear, low rpm when the car allowed.
My son just found out about a jeep like vehicle with a no computer <2L 4 cyl diesel and a standard trans. Not fast, not powerful but exactly the type of car I like best.
Given a parts support network long term it's great.
Chinese support for thier EV models isn't great where I am. The cars are sold in town now but showrooms only, no shops.
That's a big deal for a car with complicated electronics. I need to be able to fix stuff myself in this area.
malbui
Beauf
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Rolfe
Adult human female
It's something forum members warn newbies about as regards the MG4. Don't assume you have some wiggle room, because you don't.
bruto
Penultimate Amazing
Most of the cars I've driven over many years read about four US miles an hour fast, which seems to have been a kind of standard for analog speedometers to allow for error, wear, and tire choice. Not so my wife's Honda with a digital speedo. It's dead on. No cable friction, spring relaxation, etc. Here. Most speed limits allow about 5 mph leeway, and if you're used to a known error you might add that in. Do that in that Honda = ticket!
acbytesla
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On the highways in the US, it is very easy to check. Interstates and most State highways have mile markers every mile. Every car I have ever had is very close.if you're using the right size tire and wheels. Using oversized wheels and tires is a good way to get a speeding ticket.
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bruto
Penultimate Amazing
Yes, mile markers are very handy, with ten best for accuracy, since there's a bit of variation in readng speed. I've seldom had a car that was accurate, though, except when running a reasonable oversized tire, when it was generally right on.
These days gps is also very good for checking.
I should also mention that, especially in pre-digital days speedo and odo readings did not always match. If the bias is built into the drive end (gearing from the transmission output) they might but mechanical resistance or spring error inthe speedo is not transmitted to the odo.
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Dabop
Master Poster
10mph is 16kph so on a 100 road your '10 over' is out of the first 'speeding category' and well into the second!!!!
Even '5mph over' (8kph over) is at the very top end of the first category speeding-- and almost into the second category...
Cat 1- up to 10kph (6.8mph) over
Cat 2 11kph up to 20kph over (6.8mph up to 12.4mph over)
then you get into the big money ones.... 20kph up to 30kph over (12.4mph up to 18.6mph over)
30kph up to 40kph (18.6mph up to 24.8mph)
Then into the 'lose your licence (and car) on the spot....
More than 40kph/24.8mph over....
eg from https://roadsense.org.au/speeding-fines-qld/
Oh, and in Australia- they do NOT need to 'pull you over' for speeding (and usually wont for minor speeding offences)- instead you will get a 'ticket in the mail' (usually most people will get it by email instead lol) which is sent to the person the vehicle is registered to- oh and if it wasn't you driving then you are required to nominate that person who was driving- or else the registered owner cops the points and fine instead....
That's assuming it came from the police cars onboard speed/rego cameras, and not a roadside camera (ie fixed or mobile speed camera, redlight/speed camera at traffic lights, average speed cameras (two or more cameras that dont record your instantaneous speed, but the average speed between two points) or vehicle trip time monitoring cameras...
The days of a copcar sitting by the side of the road with a 'hairdrier' have long past....
Dabop
Master Poster
That's with the old mechanical speedos- at best their accuracy was rather dubious (they were allowed +10% from new here- after 40 years anyone's guess how accurate they are lol)- but many modern speedos are 'dead on'- some even cross check from the onboard GPS to the speedo to check for other factors that affect accuracy (tyre wear and inflation levels can make a noticeable difference to the speedo reading- and thats even assuming they are the same roiling diameter as the factory originals (not always a safe bet...)
If your car is newer than 2000- its not always a safe bet you CAN 'add on a few'- best bet rather than relying on 'mile markers' (which may not reflect actual SPEED errors at all) is check your speedo against a GPS (phone or inbuilt...)
The speedo can read incorrect speed even if the odometer is showing the correct 'mileage turnovers' on it- if the speedo's spring or magnet is weak due to age in a mechanical speedo, it can be out by a considerable margin even if the odometer is showing 'spot on' by mile marker testing...
acbytesla
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You can get a ticket for going one mile over in the US. And every jurisdiction has different laws and penalties. There are towns that develop reputations for speed traps and writing tickets is a city industry. Especially if you're from out of town. But on most of these Interstate Highways in the US virtually everyone drives as much as 10 over. I will drive 5 over in them. But 10 is pushing it.
I'm much more concerned about getting a ticket for going 30 in a 25MPH zone in some small town than I am for going 75 in a 70. You also don't want to speed in a construction or school zones. They not only don't offer the same leeway, Double penalties apply in them.
I don't understand all this talk about making roads more dangerous by intentionally driving too fast.
Personally, I usually drive about 10 km slower than the speed limit, except when there are cars behind me, and overtaking me would be too dangerous. Then I go by the fastest permitted speed in order not to slow the traffic.
Personally, I usually drive about 10 km slower than the speed limit, except when there are cars behind me, and overtaking me would be too dangerous. Then I go by the fastest permitted speed in order not to slow the traffic.
Dabop
Master Poster
Same here (except its 1kph over lol) although rarely enforced, it IS possible to get a fine for it.... (usually if you pissed a copper off it will be a 'tack on' where they would normally ignore it ...)
Cameras on the other hand have no ability to decide yeah or nay- so best not to speed at all- cause you never know where they are....
(thats one of the reasons that I prefer cameras- at least they have to have actual photographic evidence as well as a calibrated speed reader- it puts those old 'speed trap' places out of business fast lol)
Speed cameras are permanent fixtures in many school 'speed signs' these days and most roadworks around here have one at least set up at them whenever they are manned and working....
Even many backstreets these days have the 'your speed is' signs- they either display your actual speed (good for checking your speedo) or a smiley face/frowny face....
arthwollipot
Observer of Phenomena, Pronouns: he/him
My very first speeding fine was for going 7kph over the limit.
Roger Ramjets
Philosopher
The local Nissan Dealer here now sells BYD EVs. Last time I got my Leaf 'serviced' they had two BYD's on the hoists. I overheard a phone conversation where the mechanic was explaining the delays they were having getting spare parts for them. I think I will keep my 14 year old Leaf (which has never had anything break on it in the 7 years I've had it), even though the dealer refuses to do any work on the HV battery.
Roger Ramjets
Philosopher
Same here. My Leaf's speedo reads ~5kph fast and I don't mind at all. The open road speed limit is 100kph, but many rural roads are 80kph and that's plenty fast enough for me. I just noticed today that a 30kph sign has appeared in the middle of town next to a school. Doesn't bother me because I wouldn't be going faster in that area anyway, but it's interesting because the current government campaigned on having such speed limits removed. According to them having to slow down to avoid hitting pedestrians was hurting the economy.
As others have said, in the USA each state sets the speeding penalties.
In Nevada, you get fined $20 per mph over the speed limit. More than 30 mph over the limit is a misdemeanor and could get you 6 months in jail (very unlikely).
You get 1 point per ticket for every 10 mph over the limit, 12 points in a year results in a six month suspension.
It is very unlikely you will get a speeding ticket (or any ticket for that matter) in Nevada unless you do something particularly egregious, as the police forces are severely understaffed. The State Police patrol the federal interstate highways (mostly Route 15). In the 600 square mile Las Vegas Valley, we currently have about 50 state troopers (total, not per shift). The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Force has a total of 3,300 officers serving the 700,000 residents and 110,000 daily visitors.
I was once following a state trooper at 65 mph through the 55 mph never ending construction zone on Route 15 near the Strip. A car passed us going so fast it shook the car (had to be doing well over 100). Sure enough, the Statie immediately took chase. A few miles up the road we saw the two having a pleasant chat on the side of the road.
20 states in the USA allow speed cameras while 10 states explicitly prohibit them.
Most speed cameras are limited to construction zones and school zones, and signs are usually posted warning that the speed limits are enforced by camera.
I am not aware of any interstate freeway in the USA that has speed cameras outside of construction zones.
22 states allow red light cameras and 9 explicitly prohibit them. The intersections with cameras typically have warning signs.
Some members of the Nevada state legislature have been trying for years to allow the use of red light cameras. This year's camera bill never made it out of committee.
arthwollipot
Observer of Phenomena, Pronouns: he/him
In the USA if you can race the police to the state lines they can't pursue you.
Apparently.
Not true. The police can chase you across state lines. In the new state, the chase will be joined by the local police.
When you are finally caught, the local police will arrest you for any charges that occurred in their state and/or hold you for extradition to the original state.
Dabop
Master Poster
Fixed, mobile and 'average speed' cameras are VERY common in Australia- in driving down from my place to my mums place, about 4-5 hours trip- went through three 'average speed' cameras, at least a dozen fixed speed cameras, probably several dozen red light/speed/mobile phone use cameras- practically every red light intersection has the 'triple use' cameras on them these days...
I don't know if you are aware of the various subtypes of cameras in use..
Actually went through these actual cameras (theres about half a dozen spread out over several hundred km... it scans for your rego plates and sends it into the central computer- if you pass through any of the next cameras at less than the minimum time- you get a fine in the mail...
Fixed speed cameras are known and kinda pointless imho- all the speeders slow down for them and promptly speed up again- which is why its not uncommon these days to see a mobile speed camera set up a bit further down the road lol
Driven through this one hundreds of times lol
Then you have the 'multipurpose' cameras at intersections- here they are all being networked- acting not only as 'red light runner' cameras, but point to point speed cameras aka average speed cameras and many are now mobile phone use detection cameras as well.... ($577 fine, 4 demerit points...)
Mobile Phone Detection Cameras - Road Sense Australia
Learn how mobile phone detection cameras work. Process, penalties and FAQs explained in this clear guide from Road Sense Australia.
roadsense.org.au
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