Paceometer

sars

sars

Awesome
 East Yorkshire
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As someone who has commuted from Howden to Bristol for work over the last 20 years, I have instinctively recognised this interesting phenomenon. When I'm driving to work I tend to drive at about 66-69 mph actual speed on the motorway, so around less than 70 mph indicated speed and it usually takes me 4 hours at 214 miles. I usually stop to powder my nose on the M1, just before hitting the horrible A42/M42. After 10 minutes I rejoin the motorway and then start to recognise lorries that I've already overtaken and sometimes it takes a while to catch them up.

So, the reason why is the paceometer, as your speed increases there is a diminishing return between how much you have to go faster to save a small amount of time. At 30 mph, you cover the same distance in half the time if you are doing 60 mph, simple and everyone know this. At 70 mph if I increase by 10 mph to 80 mph I would save a total of 23 minutes if I didn't have to slowdown or stop, so in the real world driving it is actual considerably less than 23 minutes, from my experience it would be less than 15 minutes saved.

Key Speedometer (MPH) to Minutes per 10 Miles Conversions:
  • 10 mph = 60 minutes
  • 15 mph = 40 minutes
  • 20 mph = 30 minutes
  • 30 mph = 20 minutes
  • 40 mph = 15 minutes
  • 50 mph = 12 minutes
  • 60 mph = 10 minutes
  • 75 mph = 8 minutes
  • 100 mph = 6 minutes
  • 120 mph = 5 minutes
This is why the Autobahn is fantastic :thumbsup: and why it's just not worthwhile speeding on our motorways
 
It's pretty much impossible to break the speed limit on a major road in Devon and Cornwall without risking a ticket. Happily no commute since retirement, so I drive mostly on B and C roads. Also almost impossible to break the speed limit without risking a crash. But so much more fun. :driving:

Back when I commuted from Gosport to Crawley, I would occasionally ring the neck out of the car. A 1.8 company Cavalier.😇 No speed cameras back then. Didn't save much time at all. But it made the drive far more interesting.
 
sars said:
and why it's just not worthwhile speeding on our motorways
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I always, always speed on motorways and dual carriageways. Purely because it is easier (and IMO safer) than driving at the same speed as almost everyone else. Not interested whether I save any time, or not.
If I drive generally at a constant 80-85mph, the vast majority of vehicles are travelling slower but not by much. So the vast majority of traffic is in front of me and I catch them up and overtake them. IMO it is far safer and easier to have all the traffic in front than coming from behind.

Whenever I go to Stansted to pick someone up, I am mostly too early. So I drive the last 20 miles ish of the M11 at around 55-60mph. It is much more difficult than doing 80, as everything is coming from behind and HGVs are only going a tiny bit slower. Made worse by the amount of traffic coming from behind that seem to have no regard, or thought, as to the relative speed of everyone else. If you are going faster than them you don't have to worry so much, as you are 'in control'. You are not in control if the traffic is coming from behind; they are.....which I don't like.

I don't speed on single carriageways, as the above doesn't apply, is vastly more dangerous and gets you nowhere.
 
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Those numbers in your post make interesting reading. :thumbsup:

Since I got 3 points for 86mph on the M6 last year I am much more careful now, although this morning on a very quiet M40 that has no cameras I was doing over 80 (wherever possible). 80-90 was always my default Motorway speed in pre-camera days, even if those 80s and 90s cars were far less capable than what I have now. :(
 
I did a similar drive for work quite a few times last year. On one occasion I managed to average 70mpg (diesel Yeti) on the way there and 70mph on the way back, which felt nicely symmetrical. I think the return trip took a couple of hours less...

I remember recently being told at a speed awareness course that there was no point driving at 80 on a motorway because you'll only save a few minutes. I took this to mean that I should have been doing more like 120, but perhaps I misinterpreted?
 
I stick to 78mph now as the threshold seems to be 70 limit +10% + 2mph!

It has worked OK with the cameras on the M3, M4 and M25. :)
 
I drive for best economy on my commute, only 25 miles each way on busy A roads, I don't really save much money over the distance but it gives me another thing to concentrate on during the mundane journey, and its almost impossible to drive faster than 50mph due to heavy traffic.
 
Mr Tidy said:
I stick to 78mph now as the threshold seems to be 70 limit +10% + 2mph!
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Reading a few comments on YouTube videos recently threw up several people being done for "43 in a 40" etc suggesting that, off motorway, various forces have done away with this, which I find worrying as I always play to the 10+2 margin.

Through the 50 mph SPECS averaging cameras I'll set the cruise to an indicated 55 and usually pass the inside lane at a fair clip.

One thing that's annoying is that I know that there's no need to scream along as it doesn't really save anything but I get hugely irritated stuck behind people that can't control their speed and never get within spitting distance of the limit. It feels like walking along with my shoe laces tied together.
 
smorris_12 said:
I get hugely irritated stuck behind people that can't control their speed and never get within spitting distance of the limit. It feels like walking along with my shoe laces tied together.
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Couldn't agree more. Have some hills on the interstate around me and it's crazy seeing people go from 70mph to 50mph while with cruise control I'm still pinned at 80. It's literally just the push of a button/stalk but people refuse to use it.
 
Not looking forward to driving to Skye and back in June. The M6 is a total drudge now. I am looking forward to climbing those mountains though. :love:
 
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