Driving speed out west

[UGAphin]

Does anyone know about law enforcement in Canada?

I'm also planning on driving across from Vancouver to Toronto, and there will probably be some long open stretches along that route.

I'm not talking about 120, that was a joke. If I ever hit 120, it won't last more than 10 seconds, and its only in very special situations. I'm talking about maybe 80 or 85. Or faster if its safe. Has anyone driven that stretch?

[Midwest Michael]

Hmmm. OK I will take a stab: Oregon and Arizona

Oregon is right, but Arizona's 75 mph.

Iowa is actually the other one, but that's changing next month. They've decided to raise it to 70 effective July 1 - Wahoo!

Sorry you had to edit my previous post, I only ment the racetrack comment as a joke playing off a previous "Nascar" reference.

[UGAphin]

Ha, I love NASCAR.

And, strangely enough, I truly believe that my interest in NASCAR has made me more interested in road trips, and has made me a better driver.

[Mark Sedenquist]

Does anyone know about law enforcement in Canada?
I'm also planning on driving across from Vancouver to Toronto, and there will probably be some long open stretches along that route.

I don't remember where you are from, but if you are a USA citizen and a royal mountie pulls you over for speeding -- better get ready to dig deep for any bill and coin of the realm you have. Speeding is not tolerated (at least when committed by Americans) and unlike the post about Nevada's DMV system -- if you get a ticket in Canada, your insurer in the states will know about it before the ink is dry on your ticket!

I'm not talking about 120, that was a joke. If I ever hit 120, it won't last more than 10 seconds, and its only in very special situations. I'm talking about maybe 80 or 85. Or faster if its safe. Has anyone driven that stretch?

I have driven it a few times -- slow down...

[UGAphin]

You've driven it? What is the road like?

I am ridiculously anxious about this trip, I want it to be here now..

We have a lakehouse in Canada, so I am there every summer.

I believe you about the law enforcement. One downside of the large Canadian government is that it is underfunded. They are penny pinchers. They charge amazing amounts of money for small things.

Example: They just came up with the brilliant idea of making everyone get 'pleasure craft' boating liscenses. No big deal right?

They charge $40 for the 10 page paper guide you have to study, and $40 more to take the test. If you fail, you don't get your money back. Its absurd. I hate big government... Beautiful country. But I'm sure the cops are licking their lips when they see some Americans zooming through Manitoba.

[Mark Sedenquist]

Oregon is right, but Arizona's 75 mph.

Oh goodie, I am only half aware... Interesting about Iowa -- thanks for the trivia test!

Sorry you had to edit my previous post, I only meant the racetrack comment as a joke playing off a previous "Nascar" reference.

It was an innocent remark -- but I felt I needed to tone down the rhetoric a bit -- As you know, I have feelings about the necessity of playing nice on this forum.

We want to ensure that this place offers a safe place to ask what some might consider rude and/or dumb questions as they relate to roadtrips in North America. It is better to make a judgment mistake here in the virtual realm than doing it IRL out there. At the same time, I want everyone to strive for cordial relations whenever we can. Hence the editing. Everyone can get a little steamed from time to time -- it is part of the passion with which all of us bring to road trips! ...And that is a good thing!

Mark

[Mark Sedenquist]

You've driven it? What is the road like?

Just to be sure, we are talking about driving across from Vancouver to Toronto? I haven't done the whole route in one trip, I have driven sections of it. It is like much of Northern USA -- gorgeous in the mountains, long sweeping distances in the plains and fascinating cities in the east. Syv, a long-term contributor shares some tidbits about this route here .

I am ridiculously anxious about this trip, I want it to be here now..

Sounds about normal to me (getting excited about a road trip!

I believe you about the law enforcement. One downside of the large Canadian government is that it is underfunded. They are penny pinchers. They charge amazing amounts of money for small things.

The thing to remember, is that it is ALL a matter of perspective. Canadians think the same kinds of things about the USA government (and I think, in general they are correct. Official treatment of Canadian citizens by certain USA officials in certain regards is appalling rude when it comes to traffic citations and other related issues).

Example: They just came up with the brilliant idea of making everyone get 'pleasure craft' boating liscenses. No big deal right?
They charge $40 for the 10 page paper guide you have to study, and $40 more to take the test. If you fail, you don't get your money back. Its absurd.

I don't know. I kind of admire that level of silliness. Pretty good circular system.

Mark

[PNW Judy]

RE: speeding in Nevada. Just wanted to remind folks that they do a lot of air patrol there. The worst speeding ticket I ever got occurred on Veteran's Memorial Highway, issued by the Town of Beatty. Three of us were whooping it up on the smooth, flat road with virtually no traffic on it. We failed to notice the airplane markings on the highway. Next thing we knew, way up ahead....and I do mean way up ahead....we saw 3 cop cars pull into position to pull us over. Busted big time!

And contrary to previous statements, it immediately showed up on my own state's driving record.

I also tried to pay off the ticket in installments at $10 per month, then $20, then I got a letter from my own state's licensing department informing me that if I didn't pay the ticket in full within the next 30 days that I would have my license suspended. Oops....I guess that wasn't such a good idea.

Well, let's just say that I no longer whoop it up quite so much when traveling through places like Nevada. Bummer!

[zxa]

I've done some pretty fast driving out west, usually in the deserts ... but I'm just lucky I wasn't caught, because there were a few near misses. Like mentioned in previous post, look out for light aircraft, and what surprised me was the cops sitting behing big rocks or billboards on the meridian (that doesn't happen in England, where most roads are now littered with big brother speed cameras).

They seem to be pretty hot on trapping you in road works (where fines are doubled in California), so that's one place not to exceed the stated limit. What you can't account for are the unmarked cars, watch out for Crown Victorias cruising at a dstance where you can't make out who's driving, but keeping pace with you and waiting until you've broken the limit for a couple of miles, then they pull you over.

I was warned once and had a few cops gesture to slow down, but never got a ticket ... they were ok with me, just emphasised the need to keep the speed down.

You're generally ok to speed at night, because they don't operate radar traps then. Also try not to be the first or last car in a pack of speeders, they quite often target these first, and never admit you were racing another car as they'll likely arrest you.

The disconcerting thing I found driving on single carriageway roads (one lane each way) was when overtaking a big truck ... the car you thought was miles away seems to be right upon you quicker than you ever expect, this can lead to some heart stopping moments. When there are no buildings or trees at the side of a long open road it's easy to lose perspective of speeds and distances because there's nothing to gauge them by. You can easily creep up to 100mph and swear blind it feels like 60mph - but two cars approaching each other at these speeds means you aren't going to walk away if you really screw up on judgement passing a truck line that seems to last forever. Sometimes I felt it was safer just to wait for a divided highway section to pass and just cruise in the pack ... less tiring and safer.

[UGAphin]

Lots of great advice here, thanks to everyone.

I'm sure I will cruise through the west at a reasonable speed, and perhaps I will hit unreasonable speeds for fun a couple of times when the moment is right. But I'll make sure there are no cars on the road, no cop hiding spots, and no airplanes following me.