Totally agree. However, I was also told (maybe bad advice??) when i used to drive at 100kms on the dot, that all this did was cause the queues behind you to get angry and increase the potential for dangerous overtaking. It also generally means those driving behind you are right on your bumper, which IS dangerous.

I also agree with Bruce that my 105kms is OFFICIALLY still only about 100 (judging by those nifty new speed signs that show you how fast you are going)

According to Google Maps it’s 531km from Wellington to the Mount on SH1. They assume a driving time of 7 hours 25 minutes, which implies an average speed of 72 km/h.

Let’s assume that by driving at 105 km/h on the open road, rather than 100 km/h which is the legal speed limit, you can increase that average speed by a full 5 km/h over the whole trip (in reality it would probably be less than that, but let’s keep it simple).

What do you gain? Less than 30 minutes.

And, what does this cost you in terms of safety, stopping distances, etc, not to mention fuel? So, why would you do this? To avoid being considered a “nanna”. Isn’t that a bigger problem than the quality of the roads?

I was recently caught speeding on the motorway. It made me think about why I was driving faster than I needed to and should have been. I didn’t come up with a single good reason. The only answer I could think of at the time when the cop asked was: “because I’m an idiot”.

Although I must say, there are more and more passing lanes!

Here’s how I usually get between Auckland and Wellington. It’s pretty obvious how to modify it for The Mount.

http://bit.ly/ak_to_wn

The one tricky bit is using SH1 in the WRONG DIRECTION for about 2 km near Lake Karapiro. Some of the roads are quite rural, but are smooth and flowing except for a few quite short stretches (e.g. 2 or 3 km just south of Lake Waipapa is the worst) Oh, and the turn from Waipapa Rd to Rotongata Rd is easy to miss traveling north. (and Oreipunga Road to Plantation Rd — but just take Maungatautari Rd instead)

I’d say check your speed with a GPS if you can. On many cars when the speedo is reading 105 you’re doing more like 98 or 99. I sit on a *true* 106 or so (reads 110 in my car) and 1) very few people want to overtake me (and I let them past easily if they do), and 2) cops have *never* taken a second glance at me at that speed, including when I’m overtaking them. Police policy is that you’re ok up to a TRUE 109, which is about 114 on the speedo in my car. Just be very very sure that you know the calibration of your car’s speedo, which varies with tyre wear and (to a lesser extent) inflation.

And of course only do this if you’re feeling comfortable and safe at that speed.