Do you drive the speed limit in roadworks?
Posted by RecognitionNew3122@reddit | AskAnAmerican | View on Reddit | 157 comments
Do you drop to 55mph for the roadworks in it entirety or continue with your current speed?
Hypnox88@reddit
Yes officer and I also always abide by all the local laws of my area.
RecognitionNew3122@reddit (OP)
I’m just on holiday an I’ve driven the length of WV in the last day an I try to avoid the fast lane in roadworks as it felt like everyone was trying to get in the backseat if I even attempted to do 55 in the zone
FLOHTX@reddit
You should avoid the left lane unless you're actively passing the cars on the right. Pass, and safely move back right.
dontforgettowriteme@reddit
You can be clearly passing people and other drivers will still try to get into your backseat.
I am all in agreement that the left lane is for passing but people definitely don't give other drivers the grace and space to do that. They will emerge on the horizon, from nowhere, already pissed off that you're in front of them and speeding up to prove that point.
getElephantById@reddit
So let them pass you and be over the horizon, so you can forget them forever. Don't be the guy just hanging out in the left lane, and don't be the guy plugging up the left lane to teach people a lesson.
fleetiebelle@reddit
Often in construction zones trucks are instructed to drive in the left lane, which means none of the lanes are for speeding, anyway.
RecognitionNew3122@reddit (OP)
And then try and pass me on the inside!!
Jazzvinyl59@reddit
OP you might have heard this already but many drivers in the US believe the rule “only 9, you’re fine” meaning as long as you’re no more than 10mph over the limit law enforcement will not bother with it. Some people expect you to go about 10mph faster than the posted limit, so if it was 55 they’d be frustrated if you went less than 65 etc. This is in no way true, officers can pull you over for speeding even 1 mph over the limit if they decide to. Not saying these people are right, I slow down for work zones myself, and get over the the right if there is more than one lane.
RecognitionNew3122@reddit (OP)
It’s funny that only 9 obviously I’ve never heard it, in the UK we generally do 10% plus 2/3, so in a 70 you can do 79/80, as there needs to be a margin of error for non digital speedometers. If I’m not in a hurry I’ll set cruise to 73, it sounds low but there’s a motorway (interstate) in London with aggressive speed traps every 3 miles.
Lower_Neck_1432@reddit
Must be the orbital car park, the M25, of course.
Jeffers315@reddit
Not gonna get me, copper.
RecognitionNew3122@reddit (OP)
I’m on holiday from the UK and we have average speed cameras in our road construction zones, you can do 54 in a 50mph (that’s our limit for those zones regardless of people present)
Lower_Neck_1432@reddit
Well, there's a difference. The British Work Force tend to put up road works, and you never see them at all. In the US, if there is road works, by god, someone is going to be working there, especially at night.
Jeffers315@reddit
While there are speed cameras in some areas of the US, they're rare especially in comparison to the UK. For the most part, you have to be pulled over by a police officer to receive a ticket in the US.
RecognitionNew3122@reddit (OP)
Aaah and we slow down for cops always. That’s universal.
G00dSh0tJans0n@reddit
Do you mean construction zones with roadwork? They usually have signs indicating what the speed is for the work zone. Do NOT speed in a work zone or the ticket will be very, very bad.
DenseAstronomer3631@reddit
Yup! Fines are usually doubled at the least
BouncingSphinx@reddit
Almost always doubled when workers are present that I’ve seen.
Individual_Agency703@reddit
and when police are present
Lower_Neck_1432@reddit
And jail time if you cause injury or death.
futurearmysolider@reddit
I have seen cops get speeding tickets in work zones (a construction vehicle with a camera). I have also heard them getting their wages garnished and in trouble with internal affairs for it too. At least in my home state.
binarycow@reddit
A few months ago, I got a ticket for speeding in a work zone by a speed camera.
The total cost of the ticket was $25.
ian9921@reddit
The ticket is the least of your worries. I used to work traffic safety and if I catch you speeding in my work zone I'm stealing your kneecaps.
RecognitionNew3122@reddit (OP)
Yeah when the orange sticks (we call them cones in the UK), and dudes doing stuff behind them. I mean mostly on the freeway
xXxjayceexXx@reddit
I don't mind speeding in normal situations but there are two places I will not. Construction zones and school zones. For me, it's a matter of respect. I've stood out on the road on a highway when people go zoom and past and it's not a great feeling. So I try to respect the workers and the children by doing the speed that they request.
G00dSh0tJans0n@reddit
The good thing about never speeding is that I never have to worry about getting a speeding ticket, ever.
xXxjayceexXx@reddit
That's fine we all have our risk tolerances. Just don't camp in the left lane and we can all get along.
TheROL1@reddit
This is an immature, selfish, and ignorant perspective. Firstly, you aren't the only person you're putting at risk. Furthermore, energy rises with the square of velocity. Just going 80 instead of 70 increases your kinetic energy by 30%. Going 85 increases it by 47%. It is that much harder to stop or maneuver, and that energy is what hurts people.
Which_Initiative_882@reddit
Open highway, middle of bloody nowhere, abandoned runway, dry lake bed, Nürburgring, speed.
Construction, road operations, school zone, hospital zone, any situation where people being on or near the road is likely? Slow THE FUCK down.
RecognitionNew3122@reddit (OP)
Great response dude
theycallmethevault@reddit
Yeah, or worse. I was speeding through an empty construction zone in the middle of the night. Got arrested for reckless driving in a construction zone.
No-Lunch4249@reddit
Yeah pretty sure OP means work zones
Lower_Neck_1432@reddit
I drop to whatever the speed posted is because:
1. The lanes narrow
2. Cops are present
3. Signs state that fines are doubled in work zones, and possible jail if you cause injury or death, especially to a road worker.
RigidEntropy42@reddit
In Oregon we all drive 10 over the speed limit. Same is generally true in work zones, which have a reduced speed limit.
judgingA-holes@reddit
If there are people actually doing construction i go the posted speed limit or lower. If no one is out there I do what I want.
TankDestroyerSarg@reddit
55?? Construction zone speed restrictions are more like 45 mph, even on major interstate highways. I won't admit to anything, but I have seen quite a percentage not care and go as fast as they can. Most people are probably up to 10 over, if no one is there working on the roads. Road work speed zones, barricades and signs are usually up a lot longer than the actual work being done.
Ananvil@reddit
If there are people there, sure.
If there are orange cones for no fucking reason, no.
Donald_J_Duck65@reddit
I maintain my current speed.
In Massachusetts, they have to have a police detail in construction zones, but they aren't going to leave tje detail to chase you down.
minidog8@reddit
If it's on the highway I continue at the speed because everybody else is doing that and it's really dangerous to be going 55 mph when everyone else is at 70-80 mph.
minidog8@reddit
On normal roads and when workers are present I follow the law
JMT_325@reddit
Yep, especially when there are workers present. I used to drive a tow truck. Cars and trucks going past just a few feet away at 80 mph is not the best work environment.
OfficeChair70@reddit
Usually, but there's a 22 mile long work zone near me on the freeway that's been going for over a year now where people have collectively stopped going any slower than the normal flow of traffic (75-85), and in the past 1.5 years I haven't seen an officer along it
AttilaTheFun818@reddit
I don’t fuck with speed limits in constructions zones. I go exactly at what they post.
molten_dragon@reddit
For me it depends on whether it's an actual construction zone or a "construction zone" where they have signs and barrels up but nothing is actually happening. I speed through those unless I have reason to think a cop is going to be tagging speeders.
NightDragon8002@reddit
Yeah if nobody is actually working then I'll go at normal speed but if workers are present I go the posted speed limit or less
Cinisajoy2@reddit
Or slower depending on the traffic.
Drew707@reddit
This is it. Don't be the tall poppy.
Which_Initiative_882@reddit
Huh... well thats a new way to say 'dont stick out in a crowd'. I like it!
Drew707@reddit
I think I heard some Aussies use it and I had to look it up and it's kinda just stuck with me.
Apparently, "the tall poppy gets cut."
holymacaroley@reddit
Yes
theeCrawlingChaos@reddit
Not speaking for myself for legal reasons, but most people on the road in Saint Louis drive 70+ mph on the urban interstates as a matter of normality (when the limit is 60) and in work zones, the flow of traffic does not slow down one iota unless there is a physical impediment to traffic flow (a blocked lane). I think its basically just a collective "What are the police going to do, pull me over and also everyone else around me?" herd mentality that enables it.
VerucaGotBurned@reddit
I generally try to drive no faster than the majority of people on the road with me. Where I live now that's usually pretty fast. If there are actually workers present, people do tend to slow down. But the other day I was going about 20 over and had tons of people passing me because I was going too slow for them.
ashmyketchum@reddit
I absolutely do! Generally I try to avoid hitting anyone with my car, so if there’s construction happening and the speed limit drops to 25, I am going 25 max.
allegedlydm@reddit
Yes. I used to be a first responder and I’ve seen enough already - I’m not risking killing someone to get somewhere a minute earlier.
No-Possibility5556@reddit
Pretty much the only time I’m not over the speed limit
No_Angle875@reddit
Unless there’s active people/machinery right next to the road, then no.
HairyDadBear@reddit
On the streets, always. On the highway, only if I'm in the right lane.
Weightmonster@reddit
Not to mention 95% of the time, there’s traffic that’ll force you to slow down.
Weightmonster@reddit
If you don’t want to get a ticket to slow down. They have speed cameras now.
kaosrules2@reddit
If they are actually working on them, then I go the speed limit. But some of those remote highways have miles and miles of construction zone with nothing going on, so I'll go a little faster.
Better-Credit6701@reddit
speed trap
Not construction, but watch out for cement barriers separating the highway.
But yeah, I slow down to the speed limit in construction areas.
972 mile day with lots of construction
RecognitionNew3122@reddit (OP)
Holy shit are you a trucker?? Big respect for you guys.
Better-Credit6701@reddit
That was done in a 2021 MX-5/Miata which is pretty much the opposite of a truck
RecognitionNew3122@reddit (OP)
It’s a fantastic piece of engineering, that’s what it is. One of the best, if not the best car Mazda has ever made. Redefined the small 2 seater sports car.
KoalaGrunt0311@reddit
Construction zone speed limits are usually heavily enforced for safety and bonus revenue generation.
That said, knowing state laws is helpful--in some states, the lower speed limit applies whenever the road isn't in it's original state. In others, it only applies when workers are actively on site.
RecognitionNew3122@reddit (OP)
Ooh now that sounds interesting. I just drove from Lewisburg to Morgantown and it seemed no one slowed down, ever. Even at the most dangerous one, which is still in ‘construction’ 4 years later
MyUsername2459@reddit
I don't know West Virginia law, but they may have a law that the lower speed limit, and increased penalties for violating it, only applies if actual workers are present.
RecognitionNew3122@reddit (OP)
I’ll have a Google of it. It’s fascinating everyone thought I was a cop. Cops don’t use Reddit so they? (Cue loads of cops now telling me they do) why else is there to do at the side of the road!!
reyadeyat@reddit
Everyone's just joking, lol. They didn't actually think you were a cop.
RecognitionNew3122@reddit (OP)
Thank the lord for that. I figured. Cops have better ways to catch us than Reddit subs
Jazzvinyl59@reddit
WV has relatively aggressive drivers for the low level of density they have. Independent mountain people with big trucks, know the roads, not used to a lot of traffic.
RecognitionNew3122@reddit (OP)
Yeah they were all around me on the crazy mountain road too. Switchbacks and steep inclines an they’re running it like it’s a road race. I suppose if I knew the road I wouldn’t drive like a grandma on it either.
Mediocre_Daikon6935@reddit
I drive the speed posted.
Going under the speed is dangerous, and if your ass can’t do cattle shoots at the speed the construction zone has posted, you shouldn’t be driving.
RecognitionNew3122@reddit (OP)
I didn’t say I couldn’t do it. I’m good with whatever speed. I normally let the assholes go around me.
aphrodora@reddit
Yes, but I don't call them roadworks.
RecognitionNew3122@reddit (OP)
What do you call them?
aphrodora@reddit
Work zones or construction zones.
RecognitionNew3122@reddit (OP)
I think they’re work zones on the freeway?
aphrodora@reddit
No one calls them freeways either where I am from. They are highways or interstates regardless of whether they are tolled. I don't think there is any meaningful distinction between work zone or construction zone. I suppose the signs say work zone, people say construction when discussing what an inconvenience it is.
RecognitionNew3122@reddit (OP)
Yeah it’s funny the sign on the on ramp says what you cat do on a freeway but I’ve always knows it as the interstate too. It even just the I number and then not the I either, just the number.
RickySlayer9@reddit
I drive whatever everyone else is doing, or 30 if I’m on my own (usually 25 mph speed limit)
rambolonewolf@reddit
I believe in some states they've recently increased the penalties if you hit and kill someone in a construction zone.
Standard-Outcome9881@reddit
55? Usually it’s 45 mph or less in work zones. And yes I always drive at the posted speed limit in such areas and often slower on narrower roads.
Absurdtittyz@reddit
If there are workers present and actual work being done then yes, if it’s just a 10 mile stretch with nothing happening and it’s road “work” probably not. There’s a lot of that where I live, road work that’s done but still has barriers or cones up.
Doctor--Spaceman@reddit
The latter are way too common in my area; there will be entire 10-mile long stretches of interstate with orange cones set up and no visible work being done
WinterRevolutionary6@reddit
Depends on if workers are present. The second I see a pickup truck or a hi vis vest, I’m dropping to the posted speed limit. I’m not trying to get someone killed or take out a mortgage for the fines. If it’s obviously unmanned, I’m driving the regular speed I would go down the road (0-10 over depending on the area).
No-Lunch4249@reddit
In my state, areas with road construction have extra fines for speeding and often have automated speed cameras as part of an effort to improve worker safety.
They work on me, anyway. I always slow down in work zones.
tiedye62@reddit
I wish that Alabama would use automated speed cameras in the work zones. It seems like nobody's going the speed limit in active work zones around here. If you drive at the speed limit on any highway around here, you are a moving obstacle. I believe that the only way to slow them down, would be a few surprises in the mail (speed camera tickets).
SkiingAway@reddit
If they are actually doing work yes.
If they have put up 10 miles of orange barrels, left them there for months, and there is fuck all happening, then no, as long as I can see that there's nothing happening ahead.
BracedRhombus@reddit
What moron would drive highway speeds in a work zone?
RecognitionNew3122@reddit (OP)
Loads of them on my drive yesterday. I do drive the limit as I’m a guest in your country.
HarlequinKOTF@reddit
Yes. I've worked on construction sites near roadways. Slow down. People on site are trying to get the road in working order ASAP. We want to be there even less than you do. Please do not make our job more dangerous.
RecognitionNew3122@reddit (OP)
I do and did yesterday but everyone seems to want to get close enough for me to tow them!
HarlequinKOTF@reddit
Well that's sorta the consequence of slowing down unfortunately. When your speed drops the flow of cars through a site also decreases leading to jams and tighter gaps.
AnorakWithAHaircut@reddit
Cop question. Nice try.
RecognitionNew3122@reddit (OP)
🤣🤣 I’m not a cop. I’m a dude from England on holiday, driving around WV. And everyone seems to have a healthy disregard to the posted 55 in the orange zones. I try and stay out of the left lane here as there always seems to be a giant semi or truck right up my ass if I’m doing less than 70 through them. Even in the posted 65 on Route 19!
SteampunkExplorer@reddit
Ooooh. Yikes. Please don't do as the Romans do in this case. It's definitely better to drive like a granny when men are working. 🫣
RecognitionNew3122@reddit (OP)
I do. I move over and let them overtake me, it’s their license not mine
dontforgettowriteme@reddit
I always go the speed limit, but especially in modified speed areas like construction zones.
itdoes_doesntit@reddit
I get frustrated here in Kansas and Missouri when there are no workers ANYWHERE for the 20 miles on the highway with orange cones narrowing it down to one lane.
Dio_Yuji@reddit
I do the speed limit everywhere. My fellow Americans hate me for it, even though I’m right and they’re wrong.
kittenpantzen@reddit
Barrels but no work? Depends on how much I am in. Typically I don't drive much faster than the speed limit anyway. I try not to leave myself in the position where I have to speed to get there on time, because traffic is unpredictable.
Any workers at all? I am doing at or below the posted speed regardless of whether it looks like they're any police around. I hope to be lucky enough to live another 30 to 40 years, and I don't want to spend that time with someone's death on my conscience.
PrimaryDry2017@reddit
As someone who used to work heavy/highway construction, a always slow down for construction zones
shelwood46@reddit
Sure.
If you are a cop, you have to tell us you're a cop.
RecognitionNew3122@reddit (OP)
I’m not a cop. Just a dude from England on holiday driving around WV.
Vachic09@reddit
Virginia doesn't play around about work zones.
ZealousidealAnt111@reddit
I try to, but when traffic continues to flow at 75-80mph in those zones, it’s hard to be the only person going slow. Then im just impeding the flow of traffic
RecognitionNew3122@reddit (OP)
This is the reason I stay out of the fast lane when it’s posted at 55. A drive from southern WV yesterday to Morgantown an there’s lots of work zones on the I79 but everyone had a healthy disregard to the orange zones.
milliemargo@reddit
If you need to slow down there will be an orange speed limit sign. ALWAYS abide. For one, the placement of the cones can change day by day, so the route could catch you by surprise even if you live in the rust belt like me and drive through the same construction sites for a year. But also because many states double or triple the penalties. Speeding tickets skyrocket and misdemeanors become felonies
RecognitionNew3122@reddit (OP)
Ooof I’ll keep to that 55 then.
XayahTheVastaya@reddit
They don't have speed limit signs for construction in my area, usually either a guy with a 2 sided stop/slow sign on each end or a portable LCD sign telling you to slow down if they don't need to put bidirectional traffic in one lane.
therealdrewder@reddit
My driving life became much less stressful when i stopped speeding in all circumstances
Steamsagoodham@reddit
I generally still go with the flow of traffic. I’ve driven past a lot of roadwork zones where nobody was actually working and people just drove on by normally despite the signs.
If it’s just me I’ll go the speed limit or possibly even slower if people are actually working.
clutzycook@reddit
Damn straight I do. I'll even go slower if I feel the situation calls for it. The fines and penalties for speeding or (God forbid) hitting a worker in those zones is nothing to fuck around with.
DOMSdeluise@reddit
I drive the speed limit, or under, in every circumstance. It's the speed limit after all, not the speed minimum.
SteampunkExplorer@reddit
Wait, what? Of course you slow down for workers! You don't want to kill somebody, right?
There are also steep fines if you don't slow down in a work zone, but I think that's much less important than not endangering people.
DrMindbendersMonocle@reddit
There are usually signs up that speeding ticket fines will be doubled or tripled if you get caught speeding in a road construction area. So most people do keep to the limit
DuelJ@reddit
If I can tell there's actual workers I'll probably go a littlle lower than needed.
If it's empty I'll go at the speed requested
PghSubie@reddit
Yes
thingsbetw1xt@reddit
Yes because I don't want to kill construction people.
Antitenant@reddit
Around this specific area 50-55 is the normal speed limit, so the posted speed for construction areas is usually 40
AvarethTaika@reddit
depends on traffic flow and where the work is. if they're working on the shoulder I'll probably pop over to the other lanes and carry on. if there's a bigass lifted pickup truck riding my bumper, yeah obviously; hell, I'll go slower than even the posted limit probably just to make sure the workers are safe.
travelinmatt76@reddit
Yes, the fines for speeding in construction zones are doubled
r2k398@reddit
Yes because the fines double. I can think of better things to spend that money on instead of a ticket.
Zendiklue91@reddit
If it is active then yes I drop my speed. But not necessarily down to the speed limit but close to it.
alphaturducken@reddit
Yes, but not because I fear the ticket I just don't want to hit equipment or else, a person. Plus lane changes happen in work zones and gaming a little extra processing time helps with that
RVFullTime@reddit
The signs indicate a reduced speed limit in construction zones. Most people abide by the speed limit. Unfortunately, some people drive recklessly and kill road workers.
John_Tacos@reddit
Always:
https://oklahoma.gov/odot/about-us/fallen-highway-workers.html
_jagwaz@reddit
Generally yes. Only exception is inactive highway ones. I’ll usually slow down to the regular posted limit or less but I’m not dropping down to 55.
idontreallyknow6969@reddit
Yes, those tickets are very expensive
Ok_Orchid1004@reddit
I drop to whatever the speed limit is. It’s not always 55 in construction zones. Sometimes it’s lower.
SippsMccree@reddit
I do if there's active work going on. If it's 4am and no work is happening i'll go the regular highway speeds
rhinocerosjockey@reddit
They all deserve to go home, so yes, I drive the construction zone speed or slower, depending on conditions, so that I feel I have 100% complete control of my vehicle in a safe manner when workers are present.
Unknown1776@reddit
I go whatever everyone else is going. There’s a highway near me that been under construction for 3-4 years now, people will go 70 through it no problem
shelwood46@reddit
Yup, flow of traffic. It's usually down to one lane anyway, it's not like you get much choice unless it is 3 am.
MakeStupidHurtAgain@reddit
It’s double fines, there are speed cameras now, and if you get a road construction zone ticket you can’t go to driver safety school to avoid the increase in your auto insurance.
So yeah. Slow down.
Slight_Manufacturer6@reddit
Yes
SabresBills69@reddit
you pay double the fine if you speed in work zones
Much-Leek-420@reddit
I always drive the speed limit, no matter where I am. Yeah, I'm that person most of you hate. Ask me if I care.
grandma-activities@reddit
I drop it like it's hot. My state is currently obsessed with putting speed cameras everywhere, and you can't fight those tickets, even with law enforcement connections. Plus, it's just wrong to put the workers at additional risk.
Comfortable_Break387@reddit
There are extra fines, but people here usually continue unabated or slow down to being like 10 over the work zone speed limit. I feel like a big part of that is those work zones have nobody there as often as construction is actually happening. If they were only active when someone was actually there, people might actually slow down.
Cinisajoy2@reddit
You slow your car down to whatever speed they have designated usually 35 or lower. Or you blow through if you can like a bat out of H*** and get a huge ticket.
seancbo@reddit
Yep. I speed pretty regularly outside of them, but work zones very often have cops hanging around strictly enforcing the speed and if you get a ticket, the work zone doubles it.
sootfire@reddit
I do. I have noticed that other drivers do not like this
jessek@reddit
I generally don’t break the law and if I did I wouldn’t post about it online.
NS_8099@reddit
Even as someone with a lead foot, I definitely try to stick to the reduced speed limit in construction zones and especially school zones. I’m always afraid that a kid will jump out in front of me without looking and that could easily turn into a catastrophic accident.
sendme_your_cats@reddit
Lol. Lmao even
Bigmtnskier91@reddit
Could even be a rofl for a lil while
Phoenix_Court@reddit
Is a "roadwork" a work zone? Work zones here will have a posted speed limit which is usually a good bit lower than the street's actual speed limit. In my area people do drive the speed limit in them because you can get hit with absolutely massive fines for speeding in a work zone. Especially if workers are present.
Minimalistmacrophage@reddit
Always slow down to the listed reduced speed for roadworks or work zones.
It's courtesy and for the safety of the workers.
Also here it's double fines.
fourdigityear@reddit
Yeah. There's no real reason to speed through a zone where folk are working under already dangerous conditions. Plus, the fines and insurance increases are hefty.
HVAC_instructor@reddit
In active construction sites yes, always. I've worked on them and it can get scary the way people drove through then
Feisty_Water_3164@reddit
If there are workers on the site I do.
Anubis-Hound@reddit
Like when there are workers around? I slow down. I'll be damned if I kill someone when it could've been avoided.
royhurford@reddit
Speed limits in work areas here vary from 55-25 mph. And yes, I generally drive the speed limit, or close to it. Not doing so is a terrible safety hazard for workers, and you will be fined double if caught speeding in those areas.
Blutrumpeter@reddit
9 over most of the time unless it's a neighborhood or school zone or something
BusinessWarthog6@reddit
Yes, I obey all traffic laws