[Photonate]

Hello. First let me say I hope this is an appropriate place/section for this topic, I can't find anywhere else to go to with the concerns I'll address in the thread.

So I just recently got my TIP, and will hopefully pass my road test and get my actual driver's license.

I've been practicing and don't have many issues, concerns, etc. but about the only thing that I just can't quite seem to get a grasp on is being able to know the speed limit of a road - more specifically when a speed limit sign hasn't been posted within a decent distance of say like right after turning onto a new road.

As far as I can tell, there are usually typical limits in regards to the type of area/road that are a general guide; school, residential, urban, suburban, business, rural, highway etc. But I just can't seem to be able to I guess properly identify/distinguish these areas sometimes, besides obvious ones like school, rural, highway etc.

So I'm just hoping somebody might have some advice, tips, knowledge etc. that could be of help. Thank you so much!

Edit: forgot to include I live in Lansing Michigan if that helps anything.

[downandlonely]

I think average speed around here is about 35 mph (but I'm in Texas).

If you use apple maps on your phone, it tells you the speed limit of the road you're on in the top left corner. I find that useful. I always use GPS on my phone, because I would be totally lost otherwise.

[eskielover]

I live in rural Ky. Our farm roads wind & turn & sometimes farm equipment determines the speed. Most is 55 unless posted but I go the speed I feel safe depending on the weather (& yes, I have been known to speed)

I have found that usually going with the flow of traffic on the highways is the safest thing to do. We have a few highways that are 70mph around here. I learn them the more I drive.....sticks in my head after driving awhile. School zones usually have a flashing light that says when flashing 25mph....rest of the time 55. Second nature after driving 52 years

[Nammu]

The general rule of thumb I learned was city streets 30, rural roads 55, interstates 70 but dependent on the state. Generally any difference is well posted. Going with the flow of traffic is best but observe weather conditions.

[MuseumGhost]

I've had to adjust to both metric speed limits (kph, instead of mph), as well as the situation you are describing. I moved to Canada from New York State about 20 years ago, and I find myself still musing about the differences in speed limits, signage, and the ACTUAL speeds that people normally drive.

There are gong to be differences from state to state. But I think Nammu's summed-up what I learned, and lived with, all those centuries ago.

The basic rules of the road don't change very much over time.

[Soupe du jour]

My native state of New Jersey is pretty good about posting speed limits. I don't recall too many cases of not knowing how fast to go. But now I live in central Europe. Here there are more "rules/guidelines" about them. When they might differ, then there is definitely a speed limit posted.

The problem with speed limits in the US is that the rules can vary according to state, even though Americans often drive out of their home states during travel. I remember a long time ago when I moved to California I found some notable differences in road rules, compared to New Jersey. I had to learn them in order to pass the California written driver's test. Then with rules changing over time, this adds complexity. When I first started driving in NJ, the highest speed a car was supposed to go (on a major highway) was 55 mph. However, during the last decade, or so, that speed limit increased to 65 mph. I think many states even have higher. I "get" that since some states have highways sort of in the middle of nowhere, where most New Jersey highways are almost always close to civilization. Please take no offense in me saying that.

[downandlonely]

In Houston, highest speed on the interstate is 65. But I think in the rural areas, it can go up to 75 or 80.

[Sometimes psychotic]

So first this should be part of your drivers education course but in Michigan side streets are 25, freeways are 70 in between is normally 45 for major roads, 35 for smaller. However the easiest thing is to map your route with google maps app....they put the speed limit in the corner.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[WastingAsparagus]

Originally Posted by Sometimes psychotic

So first this should be part of your drivers education course but in Michigan side streets are 25, freeways are 70 in between is normally 45 for major roads, 35 for smaller. However the easiest thing is to map your route with google maps app....they put the speed limit in the corner.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Yeah that is one interesting feature of the Google maps app - that has helped me in circumstances when the speed limit isn't overtly obvious.