Are people driving slow these days?

[Chris142]

Still driving stupid here in their 8.1L suburbans and Lifted Chevy pickups sucking up the $4.00 a gallon gas as fast as they can.

My commute to work is a 45 mph zone. I get passed by people in the forementioned trucks doing 2x the speed limit.

 

[DBMaster]

^That's a sign to me that gas is still too cheap.

 

[fdcg27]

I have found that a steady pace of sixty or so on the two lane I take most of the way to work allows me to make decent time and to avoid braking when I come up behind a slow mover.
Traffic is slower now than it was ten years ago, but that's because there's more of it.
I'll pass if there isn't a clot of other cars in sight ahead.
If there is, I might pass just for grins.
Passing on a two lane is fun.
On the interstates in Ohio, your speed is more traffic limited than condition limited.
A surprising number of cars get in all three lanes of those sectors of rural I-71 opened up to three lanes each way (most of the way between Cleveland and Cincinnati) and just sit there driving at the same speed.
You would think that a six lane limited access highway would always allow faster traffic to get by, but many drivers appear too oblivious to move right and let the faster traffic go by.
OTOH, I was driving home on I-71 south of Columbus in the BMW, doing about 73 mph, just below 3500 revs, sitting in the center lane of this three lanes each way sector, and some fool in a Mazda who thought he was racing a BMW in the left lane actually flashed his headlights at me, thinking I was going to rush to get out of his way.
Since I had the top down, he could not have mistaken the hand signal I gave him.

 

[gathermewool]

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


Not here. Most of the hybrids I see on the road are doing well above the speed limit. I notice they don't tend to tailgate like other speeders, but they're for sure not slow-pokin' around!

My STI bis VERY sensitive to speed. I get 21 mpg at 70 mph and as much as 25mpg at 60 mph, so I've slowed down over the past couple of years and begun enjoying my drives. Instead of keeping an eye out for cops, and the other stress-rising activities required of speeding, I set the cruise and instantly my load is reduced to a slow, continual scan of traffic ahead and each of my mirrors. The rest of my attention is on the radio or a conversation.

 

[gathermewool]

Oh, and I agree that driving slow in congested traffic is a hazard, such as when the passing lane is at the same speed as the travel lane(s) and those who driver much slower than traffic are actually a hindrance. If traffic is congested, but moving quickly, I'll do whatever speed is appropriate.

With that being said, Dparm hit the nail on the head. If I'm driving 60mph (or even 65mph) in a 65mph zone and the road is not busy AT ALL, please don't fly up on my butt doing 15 over and wait until the last minute to check over your shoulder before nearly grazing my bumper as you pass in the EMPTY passing lane. One should NEVER need to use their brakes on an empty highway while cruising, but some of these numb nuts simply don't pay attention, and then when they do, it's like I popped up out of nowhere to be in their way. I've actually had some one high-beam me before, when the whole left lane was empty.

 

[PandaBear]

Around here people drive slower, not because of fuel price but because of government budget shortfall led to lots of speeding tickets.

 

[friendly_jacek]

I noticed slower speeds in the last 2 years. I blame fuel prices and gas pump sticker shock, because slower drivers drive larger SUVs and trucks. Hybrid cars at least tripled or quadrupled around here too (still tiny minority).

 

[OilFool]

Originally Posted By: 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.

I'd be pounding the people that cannot keep right

 

[getnpsi]

The people in socal who drive the speed limit are only doing so to text or look things up as they drive. At night the tell tale blue glow of a smart phone, dumb driver...

 

[hardcore302]

Yes and it infuriates me. I'm not asking you to speed, but let's hit the gas a little bit.

The worst is when they run parallel to each other accross all lanes and force people to pile up behind them. And the funny thing is, they don't even do it on purpose. They are just terrified of being the one caught speeding, or going faster than the other guy. So they stick together. I call them the flock of idiots.

And another thing. When I give you a little high beam in the left lane, move over. Let me get going. But NOOOOOOOOOO, you gotta slow down because how dare I go fast in the fast lane.

OK I'm done. You've struck a nerve with me, clearly. LOL

 

[gathermewool]

Originally Posted By: hardcore302
Yes and it infuriates me. I'm not asking you to speed, but let's hit the gas a little bit.

The worst is when they run parallel to each other accross all lanes and force people to pile up behind them. And the funny thing is, they don't even do it on purpose. They are just terrified of being the one caught speeding, or going faster than the other guy. So they stick together. I call them the flock of idiots.

And another thing. When I give you a little high beam in the left lane, move over. Let me get going. But NOOOOOOOOOO, you gotta slow down because how dare I go fast in the fast lane.

OK I'm done. You've struck a nerve with me, clearly. LOL


I don't think they're intentionally trying NOT to speed. I truly believe that most times, they're completely oblivious, or think that cutting off passing traffic so they can pass some one at a rate of 0.1-0.5 mph faster than the car they're trying to pass is acceptable.

With respect to flashing high-beams to signal you'd like them to get over and allow you to pass: I think that a lot of people don't understand the signal and take it a sign of aggression. Granted, riding their butt and continually flashing your high-beams IS aggressive, but a quick couple of flashes while you're approaching at >6-10 car lengths back SHOULD BE perceived as a normal, courteous reminder that the passing lane is for passing.

Prepare for digression!

With that being said (RE: high-beam to pass,) there are also those who flip me the high-beam while I'm in the left lane in congested traffic (cars in all lanes, for as far as the eye can see.) I'm not sure if they plan on doing this to every one, expecting us all to get out of their way or if they perceive my leaving a safe following distance as "lagging behind," but it makes no sense - what's the goal?

Usually, these are the same type of people who will try to pass on the right at any opportunity. I see it coming, and should just let the aggressive jerk get his or her way, but I can't help myself. When one of these numb nuts tries to take an opening on the right (such as when a couple of cars to the right of me exit,) I close the gap from a safe 2 seconds following distance to close enough that they can't cut me off.

This usually results in the other driver flipping me the bird (or, in one unusual case, when the same numb nut tried 4-5 times to pass me on a very busy highway and I wouldn't let him, he pantomimed sucking something...right before he nearly hit the car in front of him since we were STILL IN TRAFFIC.

) I mean, come on! There are literally 100's of cars on this road, all no more than a few car length from each other; what do you hope to achieve by trying to pass me illegally?

 

[Vikas]

In the past I used to use the right lane to check the acceleration of the car! Most of the time, average traffic used to be moving 70+ and left lane (in my case empty right lane) doing 80+

But now I am actually in the right lane doing 65, I am noticing even slower traffic. Yes, there are usual massholes driving like maniacs but rarely I see anybody really zooming fast.

 

[andyd]

Originally Posted By: rjundi
My wife commutes RT95>RT495 in left lane doing 70-80MPH.
Down on the southern end of RT 495 the traffic is held to 70 by increased police presence. Also, I have been seeing keep right msgs on the signboards.

 

[Propflux01]

I just can't stand those that "drive slow" with 15 cars behind them (2-lane) and won't either speed up or pull over and let the train get by. I know some states have laws that say 5 or more behind you to pull over, unfortunately the 'Stan isn't one of them.

 

[Merkava_4]

Yesterday I set my cruise to 55 on the freeway. I was just going to the VA to take a blood test and
I was in no hurry. I was amazed that I was able to pass one small pickup while I was still in cruise.

 

[DBMaster]

The high beam flash in the left lane is worse than useless here. It is taken as a sign of aggression 100% of the time and they will either not move over, at best, or display road rage. In Texas the left lane is just another lane, unfortunately.

Example: I left extra early for my morning commute recently. On the George Bush Tollway, which was not very busy at that time I used the high beam flash on two pokies in the left lane along my 14 mile drive. I think they both got scared due to heavy state trooper speed enforcement on that road. So, unusually, they both moved over. However, the first one laid on the horn as I passed and the second one got back behind me, sped up, and then drove with the high beams on for several miles.

Texas drivers are the WORST!

 

[Mustang2008Z]

I would love to comment on speed, highways, drivers, and the left lane; however, I won't because people DO NOT KNOW HOW TO DRIVE PROPERLY. I, also, will not comment on Law Enforcement, nor the States' Congressional, nor the Judicial Systems of the 50 states.

 

[dave1251]

Originally Posted By: friendly_jacek
I noticed slower speeds in the last 2 years. I blame fuel prices and gas pump sticker shock, because slower drivers drive larger SUVs and trucks. Hybrid cars at least tripled or quadrupled around here too (still tiny minority).


If you are not driving over 75 in a 65 zone here you better stay in the right lane. Someone with his 26's in his escalade had a serious fit of road rage because I was coasting to a stop light. Too bad he side swiped another car a couple of days later for the same stupid reason racing to a stop light.