Driving Speed
Mar 6th, 2011, 02:04 PM
#1
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Driving Speed
Does one kilometer in one minute seem like a fair average estimate for driving times when sightseeing or too slow? This would be about 60km in an hour. I'm trying to factor in picture taking, windy lanes, wrong turns, etc.
Mar 6th, 2011, 02:21 PM
#2
"<i>Does one kilometer in one minute seem like a fair average estimate for driving times when sightseeing or too slow? </i>"
Definitely not too slow. 60 kph is a bit high for an average in scenic areas. Plan on between 45 and 55 kph. Higher speeds are definitely doable on some major roads -- but not in the scenic bits especially in the SW/west coast.
Definitely not too slow. 60 kph is a bit high for an average in scenic areas. Plan on between 45 and 55 kph. Higher speeds are definitely doable on some major roads -- but not in the scenic bits especially in the SW/west coast.
Mar 6th, 2011, 09:06 PM
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You can't possibly do anything remotely near 40 miles an hour if "trying to factor in picture taking, windy lanes, wrong turns, etc".
My <b>standard</b> average driving speed in the English countryside - no intended stopping, routes my car can almost drive itself, really trying to get to the bank before it closes, knowing EXACTLY where there'll be parking spaces free - is about 20-25 mph. If you really think you're going to get lost and stop for photographs, 20 MILES per hour is the absolute maximum.
Note, though, that on many city-to-city routes Ireland now has proper motorways 90% or more of the way. Most sources of advice haven't kept up with this (or in many cases: anything else that's happened in Ireland since St Patrick was a young slave)and wrongly extend my comments on "sightseeing" drive times to longer-distance driving.
My <b>standard</b> average driving speed in the English countryside - no intended stopping, routes my car can almost drive itself, really trying to get to the bank before it closes, knowing EXACTLY where there'll be parking spaces free - is about 20-25 mph. If you really think you're going to get lost and stop for photographs, 20 MILES per hour is the absolute maximum.
Note, though, that on many city-to-city routes Ireland now has proper motorways 90% or more of the way. Most sources of advice haven't kept up with this (or in many cases: anything else that's happened in Ireland since St Patrick was a young slave)and wrongly extend my comments on "sightseeing" drive times to longer-distance driving.
Mar 7th, 2011, 12:31 AM
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"Oh and 25 mph is near enough 40 kph"
Yes. I'm old enough to do the sums.
And to realise that "If you really think you're going to get lost and stop for photographs, 20 MILES per hour is the absolute maximum." is utterly different from "Plan on between 45 and 55 kph."
Yes. I'm old enough to do the sums.
And to realise that "If you really think you're going to get lost and stop for photographs, 20 MILES per hour is the absolute maximum." is utterly different from "Plan on between 45 and 55 kph."
Mar 7th, 2011, 12:35 AM
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As both hetismij and flanner said, it depends on what road you take.
Take the itinerary in your other thread, for example: Dingle to Galway via Cliffs of Moher.
You will probably have scenic vistas on the first leg until you got a bit more inland. And again on the last leg, from Ennistimon via Cliffs to Galway. Which will slow you down, probably.
From Tralee to Adare, you will drive on a pretty wide 2-lane national road with break-down lanes. From Adare to Ennis on 4-lane motorways only, bypass Limerick city and Ennis town and hit a more narrow 2-lane national road to the coast. On each leg you will average a different speed.
If you went via Tarbert/Kilrush and took the Shannon ferry, it would save a few kms, but took much longer as you'd be driving on rather narrow 2-lane highways w/o break-down lane. And had to calculate some waiting time for the next ferry departure.
As a rule of thumb, with a wide error margin, and without taking into effect possible delays when having to go through bigger towns, I'd calculate:
M roads (motorways): 100 kph average (120 kph speed limit)
N roads (single digits, 10s, 20s): 70-80 kph
N roads (dbl digits): 50-60kph
R roads: 30-50 kph
L roads or not numbered: 30 kph or less.
But how often you will stop to take a picture or how few or many wrong turns you will make, no one can foresee or include into any equasion.
Take the itinerary in your other thread, for example: Dingle to Galway via Cliffs of Moher.
You will probably have scenic vistas on the first leg until you got a bit more inland. And again on the last leg, from Ennistimon via Cliffs to Galway. Which will slow you down, probably.
From Tralee to Adare, you will drive on a pretty wide 2-lane national road with break-down lanes. From Adare to Ennis on 4-lane motorways only, bypass Limerick city and Ennis town and hit a more narrow 2-lane national road to the coast. On each leg you will average a different speed.
If you went via Tarbert/Kilrush and took the Shannon ferry, it would save a few kms, but took much longer as you'd be driving on rather narrow 2-lane highways w/o break-down lane. And had to calculate some waiting time for the next ferry departure.
As a rule of thumb, with a wide error margin, and without taking into effect possible delays when having to go through bigger towns, I'd calculate:
M roads (motorways): 100 kph average (120 kph speed limit)
N roads (single digits, 10s, 20s): 70-80 kph
N roads (dbl digits): 50-60kph
R roads: 30-50 kph
L roads or not numbered: 30 kph or less.
But how often you will stop to take a picture or how few or many wrong turns you will make, no one can foresee or include into any equasion.
Mar 7th, 2011, 05:15 AM
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Just as visual example to what hetismij wrote earlier about speed limits.
I hope this Google Streetview links work. You may have to pan the view a bit to look south/uphill.
http://tinyurl.com/5r8az2e
While the signs are technically speed limit signs, they mean that you have reached the city/village limits. And not that the road ahead would be suitable to drive 80kph/50mph.
I hope this Google Streetview links work. You may have to pan the view a bit to look south/uphill.
http://tinyurl.com/5r8az2e
While the signs are technically speed limit signs, they mean that you have reached the city/village limits. And not that the road ahead would be suitable to drive 80kph/50mph.
Mar 7th, 2011, 12:19 PM
#9
OK -- I was talking actual driving speeds. Since you mentioned 1 k per min, and said you want to factor in photo ops and getting I figured you wanted to know about speeds so you'd have some idea.
if you want to know you how much distance you can travel -- that entirely depends on how many photo ops you take and how directionally challenged.
Driving speeds and time in transit are different animals . . .
if you want to know you how much distance you can travel -- that entirely depends on how many photo ops you take and how directionally challenged.
Driving speeds and time in transit are different animals . . .
Mar 7th, 2011, 01:34 PM
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Wow what great responses and I love the street view. I would love to try driving my Mini 80kph on that road. What do you do if someone comes from the other direction!
Perhaps I should have elaborated more. When looking at Google maps (or others) I know that they may be overly optimistic about driving times so I was looking for a formula to use that would average the highways and back roads. This way I could determine if covering a certain distance in a day is feasible. For example one leg of my unfinished itinerary was to drive from Kilkenny to Dingle with a stop at Cashel en route. It seemed kind of long for a single trip but not knowing the roads it's hard for me to judge. Then throw in the MPH vs. KPH it got even more confusing (as you know the US never really got on board with all that Metric stuff). Then I thought it might be nice to pass through the town of Kenmare and travel a small piece of the Ring of Kerry on the way to Dingle but now I'm pretty sure I'm pushing it.
Anyway, I plan to start another thread with my itinerary soon. Thanks again for all the great information.
Perhaps I should have elaborated more. When looking at Google maps (or others) I know that they may be overly optimistic about driving times so I was looking for a formula to use that would average the highways and back roads. This way I could determine if covering a certain distance in a day is feasible. For example one leg of my unfinished itinerary was to drive from Kilkenny to Dingle with a stop at Cashel en route. It seemed kind of long for a single trip but not knowing the roads it's hard for me to judge. Then throw in the MPH vs. KPH it got even more confusing (as you know the US never really got on board with all that Metric stuff). Then I thought it might be nice to pass through the town of Kenmare and travel a small piece of the Ring of Kerry on the way to Dingle but now I'm pretty sure I'm pushing it.
Anyway, I plan to start another thread with my itinerary soon. Thanks again for all the great information.
Mar 7th, 2011, 01:59 PM
#11
"<i> I know that they may be overly optimistic about driving times</i>"
No 'may' about it. They are definitely overly optimistic IME. One normally has to add between 25% and 50% to the drive times on mapping websites. And THEN add time for stops.
"<i>What do you do if someone comes from the other direction! </i>"
See that little wide bit w/ the pole across the road from it? That is a place you can pass. If a car is coming the opposite direction and you get there first you pull as far to the left there next to the pole and stop so the other car can squeeze around you coming the other direction. If the other car is there first, they will pull towards the bump out and wait for you to pass.
No 'may' about it. They are definitely overly optimistic IME. One normally has to add between 25% and 50% to the drive times on mapping websites. And THEN add time for stops.
"<i>What do you do if someone comes from the other direction! </i>"
See that little wide bit w/ the pole across the road from it? That is a place you can pass. If a car is coming the opposite direction and you get there first you pull as far to the left there next to the pole and stop so the other car can squeeze around you coming the other direction. If the other car is there first, they will pull towards the bump out and wait for you to pass.
