Speeding on the M3/motorways.

TimeToShine

Is it just me or are one in two cars on this motorway in particular doing 130km/h at the very least with a few hitting 150+. I'm guilty myself the odd time but some of it is crazy. Drive the M50 quite regularly as well and rarely see anyone break the 100km/h limit. I wouldn't mind flying home if I could but I'd rather not get caught and nailed for penalty points + a days wages. I'd be cruising along at ~125km/h and there would be tens of cars flying by me in the fast lane not a bother on them.

What do we all think of flying at 140km/h on these roads? Dangerous or grand as long as you don't get caught? Would any of you be at it on a nice stretch of empty motorway or is it an avoid at all costs thing?

The majority of Irish motorways have a design speed of 160km/h. Just sayin'.

obezyana

140 on a motorway is ok. It's what the limit should be.

rotun

Weather permitting, I normally drive to my own ability, not the generic limit put on the lowest common denominator..

120kph on a motor way is set to keep half blind oap's and kids just passed their test safe.

obezyana

Sitec wrote: »

To be fair I think it's just common sense. The M50 is usually very busy so it makes sense to have the 100kph limit.

I know what you mean about speeding though, I was driving past Carlow last weekend and someone flew past me. I was doing 130kph but they must have been doing 180+.

Jayus what kind of car was he in?

Dartz

I've gone stomp....Beep...Beep....Beep once or twice joining the M3.

If it's an empty enough road, the only person I'm going to hurt is myself. Nobody'll give a ****, they'll just call me an idiot.

TimeToShine

Sitec wrote: »

To be fair I think it's just common sense. The M50 is usually very busy so it makes sense to have the 100kph limit.

I know what you mean about speeding though, I was driving past Carlow last weekend and someone flew past me. I was doing 130kph but they must have been doing 180+.

I agree, my only worry is getting done for points + fine. On Wednesday there was a fella in a black M3 e46 and He was hitting 170-180 easily, absolutely flew by me.

CianRyan

Don't need an impressive car to drive fast.
My fathers car is known to cruise quite quickly, I'd say some people must question how the **** it reaches those speeds.

Obviously I'm not bouncing off the limiter on the busy M50, it's about common sense.

Sobanek

I stick to the speed limit on the M50, sometimes even below, but I've been known for doing 100mph on the M8 - it's practically empty so the only person that I'll hurt is myself if something goes wrong

toastedpickles

140mph on the m6 once, nothing around, and i didn't even realise i was going that quick until my friend said everything was whizzing by Haven't gone that fast since, and probably won't again

The Royal Scam

I practically drive 140 to 160kph most of the time and drop down to 130 ish when I pass a junction or any sneaky garda hiding spots which I know where a lot of them are.
I drive 80k a year and have no points , my system work for me. N roads are a different kettle of fish altogether

quadrifoglio verde

Nothing you can do about op than let them pass and keep out of their way. If they want to drive in excess of the speed then let them. I don't see anything wrong with speeding on an empty road at night, at the end of the day the only one you're going to damage is yourself.

visual

the speed limits where original set when a typical car was barely capable of reaching those speeds.

if something cab be done about the middle lane hogs driving at 80kph then I don't see any issue increasing the speed to 140kph om motorways

wotswattage

Deleted User wrote: »

The majority of Irish motorways have a design speed of 160km/h. Just sayin'.

Is this actually true or just an urban myth??

It regularly comes up in motorway speed limit discussions but I've never seen it written or declared anywhere...

My take on speeders: no problem just do so with a bit of cop on and beware that other road users are capable of anything!!

Blazer

wotswattage wrote: »

Is this actually true or just an urban myth??

It regularly comes up in motorway speed limit discussions but I've never seen it written or declared anywhere...

My take on speeders: no problem just do so with a bit of cop on and beware that other road users are capable of anything!!

I'd believe it...I once came down from Dublin to Limerick at 220kph (i know people are going to hammer me over this) when the motorway was clear and only slowed to 120kph when I met traffic. At that speed though you don't want any shítboxes or chinese tyres on your car.
So in theory I say yes the motorway is designed for at least 160kph but in reality it's down to the condition of cars that are travelling on it.

ironclaw

Its really not worth speeding in this country. Your saving no time as you cannot maintain your average speed for long enough. A blast at 160/180 will be quickly chewed up by being forced back to 120 or below. The longest run in the country (I think) is Dublin to Cork at 254km (160 miles) or so. The saving is negligible versus the fine and associated risk in my opinion.

Contrast that to America where we were recently doing 4 to 500 miles per day. The time difference between the average speed limit of 75 mph and our actual of 100mph would be 6hrs 40mins versus 5hrs. Thats actually worth doing, if you want to save time. Compared to Dublin - Cork at 120km/h and 160km/h, thats 2hrs 6mins versus 1hr 34mins, bearing in mind an average speed of 160km/h in daylight would be nigh impossible to miantain in Ireland.

Blazer

True..travelling at that speed might knock 20 mins off your journey but it's incredibly dangerous and not worth it. Nowadays I just put the cruise control on at 120kph and try not to fall asleep at the sheer boredom of travelling on the motorway.

CiniO

TimeToShine wrote: »

Is it just me or are one in two cars on this motorway in particular doing 130km/h at the very least with a few hitting 150+. I'm guilty myself the odd time but some of it is crazy. Drive the M50 quite regularly as well and rarely see anyone break the 100km/h limit. I wouldn't mind flying home if I could but I'd rather not get caught and nailed for penalty points + a days wages. I'd be cruising along at ~125km/h and there would be tens of cars flying by me in the fast lane not a bother on them.

By driving at 125km/h you are breaking the speed limit and are liable to fine and points the same way as someone doing 200km/h. Just saying.

What do we all think of flying at 140km/h on these roads? Dangerous or grand as long as you don't get caught? Would any of you be at it on a nice stretch of empty motorway or is it an avoid at all costs thing?

Grand as long as you don't get caught.
With low to moderate traffic I wouldn't really go above 140km/h.
In high traffic I'd stick to speed limit.
But at middle of the night, when between Dublin and Galway you meet maybe 5 trucks and 3 cars on whole way alltogether, I'd have no trouble doing 200km/h. Only hoping I won't get caught.

ironclaw

I always find it quietly funny when you see those nervously doing 125 / 130, when in fact when we check against the calibrated speedos and other kit in the car, they are doing 118 / 119 in reality. If your going to speed, at least know what your true speed is.

projectgtr

I've gone off the clocks so 200kph + and felt perfectly safe, albeit I was on the German autobahn. Here I'd potter about around 140 on a clear dry motorway. Personally like others said I try drive to the conditions rather to a speed limit, the only one I tend to keep to religiously is the m50 , I'd rarely tip past 100 not because of the road, because people just can't understand how to use mulitlane motorways , the amount of near misses I see daily its scary.

OldmanMondeo

Too many people saying the only one you can hurt is yourself if speeding on a road. If you are in an accident and badly hurt or killed, what about family you leave behind? Also, how can you be sure the road is 100% empty?

I do agree that some speed limits are a joke and if people want to speed, unless your a Guard, then let them by.

Jesus.

On the other side of things, what do people think about someone doing just 60 on a 75mph Motorway? My car is pretty slow and if I want to drive comfortably, its around 60 or 65 for me a lot of the time. I don't see much problem with it as Trucks only go around that speed. However on some roads, particularly the stretch from the M50 to Ashbourne on the Derry road, I do find its a bit slow so I crank it up a bit.

What do you think?

Jesus.

ironclaw wrote: »

Contrast that to America where we were recently doing 4 to 500 miles per day. The time difference between the average speed limit of 75 mph and our actual of 100mph.....an average speed of 160km/h in daylight would be nigh impossible to miantain in Ireland.

An average speed of 100 would indeed be impossible in Ireland but how'd you manage it in the States? They have highway troopers all over the place.

Were you on the Cannonball Run or something?

quadrifoglio verde

Jesus. wrote: »

On the other side of things, what do people think about someone doing just 60 on a 75mph Motorway? My car is pretty slow and if I want to drive comfortably, its around 60 or 65 for me a lot of the time. I don't see much problem with it as Trucks only go around that speed. However on some roads, particularly the stretch from the M50 to Ashbourne on the Derry road, I do find its a bit slow so I crank it up a bit.

What do you think?

So long as your in the driving lane I don't mind. If your in the overtaking lane (there's two on the m50) cop the fup on

Jesus.

quadrifoglio verde wrote: »

So long as your in the driving lane I don't mind. If your in the overtaking lane (there's two on the m50) cop the fup on

Funnily enough, when I stick to my humble 60 on the M50, the amount of times I end up undertaking those in lane two is ridiculous - and that's off-peak when traffic is moving (or should be) at a good pace.

But undertaking is another argument

Mint Sauce

ironclaw wrote: »

I always find it quietly funny when you see those nervously doing 125 / 130, when in fact when we check against the calibrated speedos and other kit in the car, they are doing 118 / 119 in reality. If your going to speed, at least know what your true speed is.

Define nervously? I drive quite happily in the left lane at 120kph as per the GPS, overtake when need to, return to my lane, and slow if the traffic builds up. etc etc etc.

Car is probably capable of 140-150, only I dont really want to go that fast, the revs shot up, and I dont want to get caught by a sneaky traffic corp car.

The nervous drivers are either those hugging the hard shoulder at 90-100kph, or those looking all around them at 120 thinking they are in the fast lane.

Blazer

Blazer wrote: »

I'd believe it...I once came down from Dublin to Limerick at 220kph (i know people are going to hammer me over this) when the motorway was clear and only slowed to 120kph when I met traffic. At that speed though you don't want any shítboxes or chinese tyres on your car.
So in theory I say yes the motorway is designed for at least 160kph but in reality it's down to the condition of cars that are travelling on it.

The design speed is for the ****heaps funny enough. It errs on the side of poor brakes and basically bicycle tyres. :P

The other funny thing is that any cars I've been in with GPS showed that the speedo saying 130 means 120 in reality.

blingrhino

Driving to work this morning at 130km on the M1 near Castlebellingham and an english audi s8 (4 pipes ) passed me as if i was stopped ,had to be 200km plus-its definely a regular occurrance with northern drivers on the M1.

ironclaw

Jesus. wrote: »

An average speed of 100 would indeed be impossible in Ireland but how'd you manage it in the States? They have highway troopers all over the place.

Were you on the Cannonball Run or something?

Yeap.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=91024251&postcount=5282

I went from Manhattan to San Diego to San Francisco, and never once met a speed check point. That said, and its a ethos all the drivers share, don't be a tool. When its raining, you slow down. When its busy, you slow down. When you are near pedestrians, you damn well slow down. Don't endanger others. If you want to kill yourself, go ahead but don't bring anyone with you. Above all, at no times is it ever a race.

Jesus.

That's right, I seen those pictures but couldn't remember who posted them. That's class mate. Well done.

What Motor did you do it in? Was that your 5 Series in the picture?

More luck to you guys but having driven in the States a few times, I'm amazed you can get from coast to coast without getting a Smokey on your ass. I couldn't go 30 miles without coming across one!

Is there an understanding between the Cops and the Run or is it a case of putting the foot down when they give chase?

dudara

On the motorways, I will put cruise control somewhere around 128 km/hr and drive steadily at that speed, conditions allowing. At that pace, I'm generally overtaking 90% of vehicles with about 10% overtaking me. I do stick to speed limits in towns, R-roads & L-roads. I might go a little over on N-roads, conditions depending.

I like going a little fast - but not crazily so. I've done my share of fast driving on the autobahn, and while it's fun, it's also quite mentally tiring. Doing anything over 140 km/hr on a busy Irish motorway is a risky business, given how the average Irish driver really isn't all that aware.

Dartz

OldmanMondeo wrote: »

If you are in an accident and badly hurt or killed, what about family you leave behind?

If I'm dead, I'll be too dead to care.

Eitherway, they'll merrily call me a ****ing idiot and move on. They won't give a **** either.

sunnysoutheast

dudara wrote: »

On the motorways, I will put cruise control somewhere around 128 km/hr and drive steadily at that speed, conditions allowing. At that pace, I'm generally overtaking 90% of vehicles with about 10% overtaking me. I do stick to speed limits in towns, R-roads & L-roads. I might go a little over on N-roads, conditions depending.

I like going a little fast - but not crazily so. I've done my share of fast driving on the autobahn, and while it's fun, it's also quite mentally tiring. Doing anything over 140 km/hr on a busy Irish motorway is a risky business, given how the average Irish driver really isn't all that aware.

Me too. Set the cruise to just over 130 whenever it's quiet. Drive very defensively whenever there is traffic as decision making by I'd say 90% of Irish drivers is essentially random, plus you need to clear your six from the usual tailgating idiots.

I've done a fair bit on the autobahns too, fair to say that any accident you see there will be a big one!

dgt

Yep the M3 I find myself sitting in the inside bang on the 120 and I get overtaken hand over fist, no one seems to keep to the limit

That's on some mornings now

_Kaiser_

The M3 is pretty quiet alright. Once you pass Navan it's virtually deserted.

Ditto the M8. Even at busy times the volumes are low. You can drive for 5 mins without coming across another car.

Me I drive to the conditions. I don't overly concern myself about the arbitrary (often nonsensical) speed limit - but that equally means that in bad weather/heavy traffic/lots of peds around, I will probably be below the limit as well.

The only thing I will say however is that you really need a decent car under you if you're going to be "speeding". Little 1.4/1.6 hatchbacks doing 160 is probably not a good idea. It also seems to be mostly young wans in such cars that I see zooming down the outside lanes these days.

_Kaiser_

Jesus. wrote: »

On the other side of things, what do people think about someone doing just 60 on a 75mph Motorway? My car is pretty slow and if I want to drive comfortably, its around 60 or 65 for me a lot of the time. I don't see much problem with it as Trucks only go around that speed. However on some roads, particularly the stretch from the M50 to Ashbourne on the Derry road, I do find its a bit slow so I crank it up a bit.

What do you think?

quadrifoglio verde wrote: »

So long as your in the driving lane I don't mind. If your in the overtaking lane (there's two on the m50) cop the fup on

I'd actually disagree myself as the knock-on effect is more cars switching lanes and causing problems in the outer lanes, as well as problems merging/leaving due to bunching in the left lane.

100-120 km/h isn't that fast on our standard of motorway and most cars should handle it easily. If you don't feel safe or comfortable doing those speeds (when safe to do so of course!) then you should stick to the secondary routes IMO.

Jesus.

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

I'd actually disagree myself as the knock-on effect is more cars switching lanes and causing problems in the outer lanes, as well as problems merging/leaving due to bunching in the left lane.100-120 km/h isn't that fast on our standard of motorway and most cars should handle it easily. If you don't feel safe or comfortable doing those speeds (when safe to do so of course!) then you should stick to the secondary routes IMO.

That would mean no trucks being allowed on Motorways though

Larry Wildman

I drove to Cork recently and wanted to test the car so I waited for a long empty stretch and got it up to around 235kph...good fun

Tail Docker

Larry Wildman wrote: »

I drove to Cork recently and wanted to test the car so I waited for a long empty stretch and got it up to around 235kph...good fun

I did that too, a while ago. There was a little blue speck, far away behind..it caught up eventually and gave me a bollicking/points/a fine...

Larry Wildman

Tail Docker wrote: »

I did that too, a while ago. There was a little blue speck, far away behind..it caught up eventually and gave me a bollicking/points/a fine...

Hard luck.

CiniO

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

The only thing I will say however is that you really need a decent car under you if you're going to be "speeding". Little 1.4/1.6 hatchbacks doing 160 is probably not a good idea. It also seems to be mostly young wans in such cars that I see zooming down the outside lanes these days.

Any reasons why?
I can't really see a difference in doing 160km/h in 1.2 corsa or 3 litre bmw.

Jesus.

Probably more to do with age. If it was old banger of a Corsa doing a ton, it'd be a bit dodgy

shedweller

CiniO wrote: »

Any reasons why?
I can't really see a difference in doing 160km/h in 1.2 corsa or 3 litre bmw.

Me either. At that speed the outcome is the same!

b_mac2

CiniO wrote: »

Any reasons why?
I can't really see a difference in doing 160km/h in 1.2 corsa or 3 litre bmw.

Better brakes and more than likely tyre quality on the 3 litre BMW...

alan partridge aha

b_mac2 wrote: »

Better brakes and more than likely tyre quality on the 3 litre BMW...

+1

gctest50

Tail Docker wrote: »

I did that too, a while ago. There was a little blue speck,........

isn't that the Stall Warning / Low Speed warning light ???

goes away when you accelerate again ???

CiniO

b_mac2 wrote: »

Better brakes and more than likely tyre quality on the 3 litre BMW...

While hi spec cars might have bigger, better ventilated brake discs, which will last longer in rally/racing style driving before overheating, but every single stock car sold on EU market is able to stop with full braking performance once from 160km/h to 0 without overheating its brakes.
Tyre quality - you can the same way have cheap Chineese brand on hi spec car as well as premium brand on small car. Tyre width will surely be lower on small car, but this is compensated by vehicle weight. Most vehicles come from factory with optimal tyre width, suitable for car weight.

In general - at 160km/h if you do emergency braking in small 1.2 litre car and 3.0 litre hi spec car, they both should stop in very similar distance.

Mint Sauce

CiniO wrote: »

Any reasons why?
I can't really see a difference in doing 160km/h in 1.2 corsa or 3 litre bmw.

Maybe only the vibrations coming from the engine bay.

Dartz

Tyres, brakes and the chassis are better suited to sustained travel at those speeds. If anything, the big BMW is just getting warmed up at those speeds. Wider tyres, inasmuch as grippier, better quality tyres. And a better chance of evading the hazards that can't be stopped in time for.

The most amazing thing about 160kph in a car that's built to do it, is that it really doesn't feel all that fast.

It is, however, expensive.


Megane 1.5 GT-Line, heading up fro Cork, was doing 8l/100km at 140kph. Knock it back to 120, and it dropped to under 5. Actually nearly ran out of fuel because of it.... was burping on fumes by the time I found the services to put a splash in.

It's the same with the Rx8. It'll roar along up to silly speeds - the engine practically urging you to chase the beeps. But it'll find its longest legs cruising in 6th at around 3700rpm, hugging 120kph. I swear to got it got as low as 10l/100km doing that - when it'll do 17 around town.

I can't afford to speed. Big speed is expensive in fuel in a big way.

demanufactured

Most I have done was 160kph/100mph on the M6 coming from galway to athlone..It was 2 am and not a sinner on the road.

I drive it every day for work and stick on cruise control at 120

Javan

Sobanek wrote: »

I stick to the speed limit on the M50, sometimes even below, but I've been known for doing 100mph on the M8 - it's practically empty so the only person that I'll hurt is myself if something goes wrong

The only person you will hurt is yourself.
and your friends and family
and all the emergency services who cut you out of the wreck
and the old lady whose hip operation is delayed again because you are in the OR getting shrapnel dug out of you

To suggest you are the only one who would get hurt shows a thoughtless, selfish attitude.