Speed limit increases - Ontario 400 Series Highways

[Cressida]

Originally Posted by 02SE
Originally Posted by double vanos
80 mph in Texas from El Paso to Kerrville- really helps shrink the state.

Long stretches of I-80 and I-15 in Utah are also 80 mph.

Oklahoma has just passed legislation to raise limit to 80 mph on some of their turnpikes.

I hope that doesn't apply to the big trucks because 50,000 to 80,000 lbs at 80 mph downhill is a lot of momentum. That 23 year old truck driver on I-70 in CO demonstrated that deadly event last week.

 

[A_Harman]

About half my runs are into Canada, and I came to the conclusion about a year ago that ALL of the speed limits there are about 10 kph too slow. It seems like everybody there drives like they're on 'ludes, until they get on a freeway, then they're all freakin' Gilles Villeneuve. On the 401, 400, 402, 403, 407, and the QEW in Ontario the max speed that everybody seems to want to go is 120k's. I'm OK with that.

Out west, like in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, there isn't much enforcement that I have seen, and I think that Alberta has 110 kph coming up from Sweet Grass, Montana.

Then on the Trans-Canada, the last time I drove from Wawa to Sault St Marie, I didn't encounter another vehicle going my direction for 2 hours. So who cares about speed limits? Just don't wreck, because it may be days before you're discovered.

 

[StevieC]

Originally Posted by xxch4osxx
Originally Posted by StevieC
I regularly drive 130-140km/hr (80-86mph) I know where all the radars hang out usually.

Oh and no accidents because I only do it where safe to do so and in weather permitting.
The 407 (expensive toll highway) which I drive on frequently, is like a qualifying track in the left-lane most of the time for most.

Keep an eye out in the Pine Valley stretch of the 407, the OPP love setting up laser traps there. Apparently they have nailed some really fast moving vehicles along that spot!

Yes I know... I always slow down, pass through that area and then hit it again. Most drivers that take it daily know. LOL

 

[A_Harman]

Originally Posted by Cressida
Originally Posted by 02SE
Originally Posted by double vanos
80 mph in Texas from El Paso to Kerrville- really helps shrink the state.

Long stretches of I-80 and I-15 in Utah are also 80 mph.

Oklahoma has just passed legislation to raise limit to 80 mph on some of their turnpikes.

I hope that doesn't apply to the big trucks because 50,000 to 80,000 lbs at 80 mph downhill is a lot of momentum. That 23 year old truck driver on I-70 in CO demonstrated that deadly event last week.


I'm trying to think of any grades in Oklahoma that compare to the mountains in Colorado, and am coming up empty...

 

[02SE]

Wyoming and Idaho also have 80 mph speed limits on some Interstates.

 

[maxdustington]

401 has the most hardened, insane commuters. Big difference driving on the 401 v QEW.

I'm glad I live off Kingston road and have the option not to take it.

 

[StevieC]

Originally Posted by maxdustington
401 has the most hardened, insane commuters. Big difference driving on the 401 v QEW.

I'm glad I live off Kingston road and have the option not to take it.

Some folks are just idiots on our highways for sure. We get them on the QEW/403 (my neck of the woods) as well. I was passed by a Mercedes so fast on one highway it shook my vehicle with the wind force as the person flew by me. Had to be doing 180-200. I had to correct the steering like a strong wind gust.

 

[NO2]

Originally Posted by StevieC
I'm on the 401, 400, 427, 407, 403 almost daily and have had 0 issues accumulating over 1,000,000km (600K miles) on these highways.


You must lead a charmed life. I've seen all kinds of antics on those roads, from racing (200+ kph) on 407 to flying tires in Toronto and moose blocking the road near the Quebec border. Not to mention the random late night 401 closures with no notice and no signs. And don't get me started on the winter driving, especially between Windsor/Sarnia and London on 401 and 402.

The speed limit should be 120. I usually set the cruise at 118 to avoid tickets.

 

[fsdork]

Originally Posted by Garak
Originally Posted by StevieC
There isn't a winter limit imposed now, people that know how to drive in snow will naturally slow down.

The last time I saw a differential limit was a day versus night highway speed limit when I was a little kid. That was at the early part of the metric rollout. I think it was 65 or 70 mph day, and 55 mph night, with 55 mph all the time for truckers.


The Coquihalla between Kamloops and Hope was bumped up to 120km/h a few years ago. When they did that they introduced electronic signs in "variable speed corridors", which can be adjusted remotely based on conditions. I think it's a good balance, as it speeds up the trip during ideal conditions, but dial it back when needed.

 

[StevieC]

I'm the most happy about the ticketing of slow drivers in the passing lane. That has been something that gets under my skin for years. Probably because I spend my day on the roads.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted by fsdork
The Coquihalla between Kamloops and Hope was bumped up to 120km/h a few years ago. When they did that they introduced electronic signs in "variable speed corridors", which can be adjusted remotely based on conditions. I think it's a good balance, as it speeds up the trip during ideal conditions, but dial it back when needed.

That could work, as long as people pay attention. At least the technology is there for it. Back in the 1970s, not so much.

 

[cjcride]

Some states have a speed posted for cars and a lower posted speed for large trucks.

 

[StevieC]

No issues with the trucks for the most part they stick to the right lane or middle lane during congested times where there is multiple folks getting on/off or where the highways keep splitting off. They are also quite courteous working with you to merge etc. I always try to return the favour where possible because I have my Class "A" license to drive these things and it's not easy at times especially with idiot drivers in cars cutting you off and skirting up the right side as you try to turn wide.

You do get the odd idiot truck driver though and usually these are the ones that haven't been in the country long or aren't from the U.S. is what I have seen.

Honestly with raising the speed limit a little and having them ticket left-lane slowpokes that will greatly increase the flow of traffic.

 

[grampi]

I don't know why we even have speed limits. I don't know how things are in Canada, but here in the states, drivers make up their own speed limits, and law enforcement doesn't do anything about it. Our roads here are free-for-alls where people just make up their own speed limits and driving rules, which is why I quit riding motorcycles, you're just going to die if you do...

 

[grampi]

Originally Posted by StevieC
No issues with the trucks for the most part they stick to the right lane or middle lane during congested times where there is multiple folks getting on/off or where the highways keep splitting off. They are also quite courteous working with you to merge etc. I always try to return the favour where possible because I have my Class "A" license to drive these things and it's not easy at times especially with idiot drivers in cars cutting you off and skirting up the right side as you try to turn wide.

You do get the odd idiot truck driver though and usually these are the ones that haven't been in the country long or aren't from the U.S. is what I have seen.

Honestly with raising the speed limit a little and having them ticket left-lane slowpokes that will greatly increase the flow of traffic.


The truckers aren't like that here. They spend as much time in the left lane as they do the other lanes. They even use the far left lane, like on the freeways where there are more than two lanes in a given direction, and they are supposed to stay in the two right lanes. In this case, semis aren't supposed to be in the far left lane, but I see them there a lot...it's not uncommon the see 3 abreast blocking the entire highway...these guys should be ticketed for that...

 

[StevieC]

It's illegal here for Trucks to use the left-lane unless it's a 2 lane road and they are passing, or unless it's for some safety reason. It's like a few pages in on the drivers handbook. I remember reading it when I was going for my class "A" license.

 

[pandus13]

Originally Posted by StevieC
It's illegal here for Trucks to use the left-lane unless it's a 2 lane road and they are passing, or unless it's for some safety reason. It's like a few pages in on the drivers handbook. I remember reading it when I was going for my class "A" license.

[off-topic]
(...Grampi has had a few anti-semi/trucks threads in the past)
The reason is I-65 through Indiana.
Truckers will do many things: passing each other at .5 mph, driving in all lanes, aggressive driving, tailgatting, etc.
I will either drive late at night or take I-57. Usually much better behaved, very courteous drivers, with some really tired in the mix sometime.

 

[StevieC]

I don't drive to my friends in Cincinnati on I-75 for that reason. For a long stretch between Michigan and Ohio on I-75 it's 2 lane rural highway and the trucks (lots of them) will pass each other at .5mph and it takes forever. Also I don't like that there is nowhere really to stop for hours and hours going that way both from the Canadian 401 London-Windsor corridor section and then past Detroit area I-75 section of the route.

Something like ~100km (~60mi) and there is a toll road but it's much better going through New York, Pennsylvania route around the lake that way and it's multi-lane highway for the most part with few trucks and loads of places to stop which is good when your spouse has a bladder of a 4 year old.

 

[grampi]

Originally Posted by pandus13
Originally Posted by StevieC
It's illegal here for Trucks to use the left-lane unless it's a 2 lane road and they are passing, or unless it's for some safety reason. It's like a few pages in on the drivers handbook. I remember reading it when I was going for my class "A" license.

[off-topic]
(...Grampi has had a few anti-semi/trucks threads in the past)
The reason is I-65 through Indiana.
Truckers will do many things: passing each other at .5 mph, driving in all lanes, aggressive driving, tailgatting, etc.
I will either drive late at night or take I-57. Usually much better behaved, very courteous drivers, with some really tired in the mix sometime.


It isn't just on I-65, it's also on I-70, I-80, I-94, etc...

 

[grampi]

Originally Posted by StevieC
It's illegal here for Trucks to use the left-lane unless it's a 2 lane road and they are passing, or unless it's for some safety reason. It's like a few pages in on the drivers handbook. I remember reading it when I was going for my class "A" license.


I believe it's illegal here too, but they do it anyway...like I said, LE for traffic is non-existent here....