Minimum Speed Requirement

[chainblu]

If I was behind you doing 30-35 in a 40, I wouldn't be too bothered, but it depends on the situation. You're obviously in a 'city' environment. 45 on a 55 back road, I'll be coming around you.

 

[Carmudgeon]

When I see someone driving 30 in 40, or 50 in 60, you can also observe other types of behavior. They are constantly on the brakes, they make some moves that indicate a lack of confidence, a lack of predictability.
I pass them pronto. Once I passed a lady who I think had left foot on the brake constantly. I parked my car, was answering email in the car, getting out, there she was parking next to me (at some grocery store). She told me: "You see, you came at the same time as me. No need to drive fast."
I said: "Lady, I did not pass you bcs. I was in a rush, but bcs. I was afraid driving behind you."
I left her puzzled.

The inconsistent and unpredictable drivers are the worst. You can pass them, and try to get away from them as far as possible, and then resume a normal consistent speed. But the attempt to avoid them is usually thwarted when one of their two brain cells flip bits, and instead of going 50 holding up the passing lane, they decide they want to go 80, catch up to you, and repeat the situation again, like an unwelcome leech.

 

[edyvw]

The inconsistent and unpredictable drivers are the worst. You can pass them, and try to get away from them as far as possible, and then resume a normal consistent speed. But the attempt to avoid them is usually thwarted when one of their two brain cells flip bits, and instead of going 50 holding up the passing lane, they decide they want to go 80, catch up to you, and repeat the situation again, like an unwelcome leech.

Yeah. Those are the ones with some serious insecurity issues.

 

[MParr]

It isn't only elderly people who can't drive. I frequently get behind folks who are doing 45 in a 55. I pass those folks as soon as it's safe. Those folks are a mix of ages and genders. I normally run 62 in a 55. Five mph over the limit is average for me.

 

[grasscutter]

never heard of that one before, roads might be safer without you driving, you are absolutely terrified, brakes?

When you're driving the speed limit, you have to brake harder before reaching the red light. When I'm driving 30 in a 40 mile per hour zone, I let off the gas pedal immediately when seeing the light turn red and then coast a long ways before applying the brakes. Meanwhile, people are passing me up on the left and right trying to get to the red light before me.

 

[edyvw]

When you're driving the speed limit, you have to brake harder before reaching the red light. When I'm driving 30 in a 40 mile per hour zone, I let off the gas pedal immediately when seeing the light turn red and then coast a long ways before applying the brakes. Meanwhile, people are passing me up on the left and right trying to get to the red light before me.

When you drive, you have to brake. If you don't drive at all, you don't have to brake. Problem solved.
As for people passing you, maybe they just don't want to be around you. I pass people like that because of their unpredictability. If you think you are a safer driver than others, you are not. You are actually creating conditions that are dangerous.

 

[grasscutter]

When you drive, you have to brake. If you don't drive at all, you don't have to brake. Problem solved.
As for people passing you, maybe they just don't want to be around you. I pass people like that because of their unpredictability. If you think you are a safer driver than others, you are not. You are actually creating conditions that are dangerous.

When I find a police officer that works traffic enforcement, I'll stop and ask him what he wants me to do.

If he says I have to be within 5 miles per hour of the speed limit, that's what I'll do.

 

[edyvw]

When I find a police officer that works traffic enforcement, I'll stop and ask him what he wants me to do.

If he says I have to be within 5 miles per hour of the speed limit, that's what I'll do.

Just because a police officer says: yes, you are ok within 5mph, does not mean people won't pass you if you are impeding traffic, or you won't get pulled over.
Generally, 5mph over or under is fine. Other factors matter too when it comes to why people pass you: holding the foot on the brake, not using turn signals, etc.
I am personally more afraid of unpredictable drivers than those who do 100mph on the interstate.

 

[MParr]

Could you post your age?

 

[PontiacHO]

Like many other violations, minimum speed limits are no longer enforced. Just another opinion but a slow driver causes more crashes than speeding drivers.

 

[rstcso]

When I find a police officer that works traffic enforcement, I'll stop and ask him what he wants me to do.

If he says I have to be within 5 miles per hour of the speed limit, that's what I'll do.

Depending on traffic conditions, what you "should do" will vary. I'd be surprised if a LEO were to tell you to stay within 5 mph of a posted speed limit unless it's the law in the jurisdiction they're serving. Try asking when they see you're holding up a line of cars and see what they say. Impeding the flow of traffic is a law they can enforce.

 

[Mainia]

You would not believe how angry people get with me. What I do on a regular basis is pull over to the far right into the bike lane and let people go by if I can, but sometimes there's no bike lane and nowhere to go.

EDIT::: I just saw this OP post after I wrote my post. This is an OCD issue like my Dad had with his car.

"The rough roads do increase the wear on the vehicle's chassis and driving the speed limit does increase the wear on the vehicle's brakes."

You have a modern day car that can take the use of hard braking ( which your car has never seen, it seems) and your car has a very very robust suspension system to take 1000% more then you will every give it WHILE having very longevity. Your thought process on this is not rational with modern day cars.


Just maybe you need to take an "Aggressive Driver Course" so you can come along, to get along. On a serious note: I am wondering if you are also going this slow, because like my Dad always seemed to worry about not braking hard to save his brakes and also worried about his alignment a bit too much. Firestone Tire Center knew him on a first name basis because he was get full use of his lifetime alignment policy. They eventually could not take the excessive 6 month appointments he was doing and "fired him" as a client and gave him his money back. Which I could not figure out because he was truck driver when he was very young and a farm boy in Wisconsin.

If this is happening to you, it still and always will, until you bump up your speed to come closer to the moving traffic.You don't have to be the fastest driver there but it sounds like you are VERY slow, if your pulling over all time from stress pressure from other drivers wanting you to comply with the speed limit of the road.



Minneapolis suburbs and I would assume the (Nanny -->) state in their GREAT Wisdom of "Control" have lowered some residential main thoroughfares 30 mph roads to 25 mph, where even these roads if you had speed limit most would be going 35mph. Now I am seeing people passing the 25 mph drivers and getting up to 40 mph to do so, and it has not deterred 80% of the people to keep driving 30 to 35 mph. And probably spent a million $$ on sign changes. Brilliant. It made the streets more unsafe.

 

[barbersurgeon]

What’s your tire pressure when driving on these rough roads?

What’s the age of your vehicle? Might be time to inspect suspension and struts/shocks?

If others on the same roads drive the posted limit, might be worth checking these things out.

Jack rabbit ting from light to light can lead to more wear, but if your a normal driver most wear items like brakes, tires etc last quite a while now. Endangering your self and others to extend them a little more seems like a poor trade off.

 

[spasm3]

Considering your username, I have to ask; how fast do you mow? Zero turn? Are you a commercial lawn service guy ?

What is your main mower type, brand?

 

[meep]

Thoughts. @grasscutter

OP mentioned he sets cruise at 55 on the interstates. IMO the interstate is not the correct road choice for the OP. Interstates here are 65 and 70, for the reason of going faster. You have to know you are “picking fight” to go 15-20mph slower than traffic, especially if it’s during congested hours. If you can’t go that speed, and you know it, you should choose alternative routes. Im sure there will be extenuating circumstances, but this is not courteous and does create hazards for everyone else.

Speed between lights. It depends on the distance between lights. If they are close together, then there is a reasonableness to holding back on speed for timing. However, as they spread out, that weakens - people are on the road to get to their next destination.

I hate to say it but something seems a little passive aggressive here, like having a point to prove. OP is right that lower speeds reduce wear and tear, and factually his logic is sound, but there’s also the question of what is “reasonable.” If the average traffic is faster, then blending in (to the extent that one isnt violating other laws) by definition is more reasonable from a civic courtesy and even safety to others, at the detriment of wear and tear and an mpg or 2. This also holds that driving 10 under for wear and tear concerns becomes unreasonable.

I’m not sure about where I live now, but there used to be laws concerning max number of cars that could stack up behind you before you were required to pull over. I pulled over regularly on 2-lanes when pulling a camper.

I get frustrated when I drive between job sites mid-day and folks out and about are going slower than I would and missing green lights because of their phones and blocking both lanes of traffic. Common courtesy on their part would be to pay attention and keep right. At least they aren’t out during rush hour. They’d get creamed. I try to be as polite as I can.

Once I lived in a very large city and my mom came to visit. She was confused by all the traffic and experienced several horns and a single finger solute. It wasn’t a great time for her. I try to remember that the person holding me up could be my own mother, or definitely is someone else’s mom (or dad). But, my mom has also realized the interstate isnt for her and chooses slower back roads whenever possible. She’s not a fast driver, and frankly, neither am I, most of the time, so I get it.

 

[SC Maintenance]

OP mentioned he sets cruise at 55 on the interstates.

South Carolina minimum is 45 on all interestates. I believe this is true in many places - there are signs on the ramps "no mopeds, farm equipment, etc". There is a bill in the legislature here that would raise it to 50. I personally think 60 would be a good starting point.

I honestly don't have an issue with someone doing 45 on a lazy Tuesday afternoon when there is no traffic. On a day with traffic, you would have to be complete crazy to try 45. You would cause a 20 car pile up.

I also don't understand is idiots trying to block other cars in, like they do side by side on the interstate for miles. Most likely accident is getting rear ended. Last thing I want is someone behind me in a rush on my but. Please, allow me to move over so you can go far ahead where you can't harm me.