GPS units and mapping apps display posted speed limits, but driving those speeds in an RV can actually make you less safe than the surrounding traffic. Commercial truck drivers are trained to match traffic flow rather than strictly follow posted limits because maintaining consistent speed with other vehicles reduces dangerous passing situations and aggressive driver behavior around large vehicles.
The real safety issue occurs when RVers drive significantly slower than prevailing traffic speeds, especially on highways where the posted limit is 70+ mph. A 35-foot motorhome doing exactly 65 mph in 75 mph traffic creates a rolling roadblock that forces cars to constantly change lanes around it. Each passing maneuver increases accident risk, and frustrated drivers often make poor decisions when stuck behind slow-moving RVs.
Experienced RV drivers adopt a modified approach: drive within 5 mph of traffic flow unless conditions specifically require slower speeds due to weather, construction, or mechanical limitations. This doesn’t mean ignoring speed limits entirely, but recognizing that being predictable and maintaining traffic flow is often safer than rigid adherence to posted numbers.
The exception is areas with specific RV speed restrictions, construction zones, or when you’re genuinely struggling with crosswinds, steep grades, or mechanical issues. In those cases, use flashers and take the rightmost lane available. But on clear days with good visibility and stable conditions, matching the pace of surrounding traffic reduces the number of risky passing situations other drivers attempt around your rig.