Are people driving slow these days?

[Vikas]

I am driving just under the speed limit and I still have to pass people! Has everybody else decided to slow down too? I am using the drive time to practice my singing and trying to see if I can get the mpg meter to creep up on every trip

This is during the commuting hours in MetroWest Boston (I-495). I remember this road used to have traffic flying through and everybody used to do 80+

I wonder if I just had noticed the slow down before.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Not here. Even the slow pokes are typically going 10 mph above the speed limit.

 

[Zaedock]

I take the Pike every day, set the cruise at 68-70 and get passed like I'm standing still.

 

[Indydriver]

It's all the weak-kneed lefties hypermiling in their new hybrids.

 

[SrDriver]

Here in Southeast Alabama if you drive the speed limit the only One you will pass is someone broken down along the side of the road.

Traffic is heavy and high accident rates.

Everyone is in a hurry it seems. Same roads but more and more traffic each and every year.

People do not stop for stop signs, don't bother using signal lights, run red lights. Some who do stop for the red light look and if they see no one coming just gun it through.

 

[NMBurb02]

Most people here in SoCal go speed limit+. I stick to the speed limit and have found my fuel economy jump. My wife on the other hand...even if I have 500+ miles on the trip average fuel economy display, she'll take my company car ('08 Impala) for a 30 mile round trip of mostly highway driving and bring it back with the fuel economy readout a good 1-2 mpg (4-8%) lower.

 

[ctrcbob]

I had friends visit from Europe a couple years ago. As many of you may know, they know how to drive in Europe, and the don't let the grass grow under their tires.

Well, this one friend got stopped three times in one day for speeding. Thats it. Said he can't drive in the USA as they (we) drive too slow. His wife and daughter did the driving the remainder of the trip.

BTW, when I drive with him in Europe, I never have problems with his driving. Just that we Americans as a group "don't know how to drive". Thats me saying that, not him.

 

[sciphi]

I passed two slowpokes on my commute this evening. Those guys were going 10 mph under the speed limit on a 2-lane highway, and I had 30 miles of it to go.

Those folks were the exception, though. I usually get passed on that same stretch of 2-lane when I'm doing at or just over the speed limit.

 

[ClutchDisc]

Not over here. People drive as fast as they want around here!

 

[dparm]

People in the US drive oblivious to the things around them. That means they drive too slow sometimes, not realizing they are holding up traffic.

Related signs of oblivious drivers: not signaling, illegal turns, not going on the green light, etc.

 

[The motor guy]

kind of depends on the day. On the weekends people tend to go slow cause I guess they're not late for work but on the weekdays during rush hour you better watchout with that [censored] of dude fixing to cut you off cause you're not going 10-15mph over the limit. The one road that I live right next to people typically go 35 when it's a 50mph speed limit. That's because when they had construction on that road and were building it the limit was 35 for like 3 years so I guess after a while nobody bothrs to check the speed limit sign.

 

[SLCraig]

People around here drive annoyingly slow for sure.
I passed several people both this morning and this evening on my way home.
SO ANNOYING!
Like several KPH under the speed limit, when most of the flow is going much faster.

Makes me crazy.

 

[OilFool]

Originally Posted By: Indydriver
It's all the weak-kneed lefties hypermiling in their new hybrids.

AND in the left lane here in NJ.

With the Pa, Ct, Ny and rest of the drivers clog up our passing lanes...

Glad they are finally enforcing the keep right, pass left.

I get passed doing 85 on 287, but people are slowing down. Fuel and ticket blitz a few months ago, before Sandy, must have had enough impact

 

[hypervish]

People are not slowing down here in NJ. 80-85 is the normal flow of traffic on pretty much every highway, with the actual speed limit either 65 or 55.

 

[jdeare]

I have a flexible start time so sometimes I go in early (get there at 7-7:30) and sometimes late (9).

Early=lots of cars, but pretty much everyone's still going fast (75-80 in a 55)
Late=lots of cars and lots of slowpokes

I've also noticed that people with sketchy/junky looking cars tend go late.

I like early.

 

[RF Overlord]

Originally Posted By: dparm
People in the US drive oblivious to the things around them. That means they drive too slow sometimes, not realizing they are holding up traffic.

Related signs of oblivious drivers: not signaling, illegal turns, not going on the green light, etc.
Amen to that. Personally, I find people aren't just driving slower, they're driving stupider.

 

[Hermann]

I really do not mind the people who do not honor traffic laws. It is there fuel and tires they are wasting. Not to mention the added wear and tear on every system.

Just wish they didn't get so upset that I drive at or slightly over the speed limit.

 

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted By: SrDriver
People do not stop for stop signs, don't bother using signal lights, run red lights. Some who do stop for the red light look and if they see no one coming just gun it through.


Same here x1000!

If I were a local cop, or a statie, I would be 20x OVER my quota by the 10th of every month!!!!
It would actually add to the income revenue of the area/state.

 

[simple_gifts]

If someone is driving slowly, I assume they are conversing gas or that's the speed they feel they can comfortable control the car. I would rather have someone drive slowly and control the car, than fast and not.

A bit presumptuous to think they should drive faster...

 

[rjundi]

My wife commutes RT95>RT495 in left lane doing 70-80MPH.