Vent: People who drive way under the speed limit

[dismom2005]

I know this shouldn't bother me as much as it does but I seem to regularly get behind people during rush hour driving at least a good 10 miles under the speed limit with no room to pass. There is a road that stretches between my house and the highway that is about 7 miles long where the speed limit is 50 and it's a struggle some days to even get up to 45 mph because people are driving so slow. Maybe i'm missing something and it's not as if I want to even speed, but I just don't understand why this happens, especially during rush hour (8:00 am). It's also hard not to tailgate. Maybe i'm missing something but shouldn't people at least drive close to the speed limit?

 

[happygirl]

I know this shouldn't bother me as much as it does but I seem to regularly get behind people during rush hour driving at least a good 10 miles under the speed limit with no room to pass. There is a road that stretches between my house and the highway that is about 7 miles long where the speed limit is 50 and it's a struggle some days to even get up to 45 mph because people are driving so slow. Maybe i'm missing something and it's not as if I want to even speed, but I just don't understand why this happens, especially during rush hour (8:00 am). It's also hard not to tailgate. Maybe i'm missing something but shouldn't people at least drive close to the speed limit?

I don't think someone driving under 5 miles the speed limit a big deal? I would rather drive a little slow then over the speed limit

 

[dismom2005]

I don't think someone driving under 5 miles the speed limit a big deal? I would rather drive a little slow then over the speed limit

I agree - if it's only 5 miles under that's a good day. Today there was a County truck driving 32 miles per hour on a 50 mph road - I can't pass and it's frustrating when you're stuck behind this type of slow moving traffic. I guess i'll just have to plan on leaving the house 5 minutes earlier every day.

 

[kacaju]

Please remember that it could possibly be a new driver. My dd just got her permit and I am sorry, the only way I can help teach her to drive is to get her out on the road. (just like we all did)

I am amazed at how many people tailgated and illegally passed her the first week she had her permit. She did take lessons and I soon realized that she didn't have these issues with the driving instructor because she had a big ole sign on the car that said STUDENT DRIVER!!

She has basically been driving back and forth to dance and most of it is on a 25 mile per hour road for almost a mile, yes for the first couple of times she did drive 20 miles an hour, (she does much better now!) but please keep this in mind as you are out driving. We all have to learn and it is hard for anyone, teen or adult.

 

[Kim&Chris]

Just my opinion, but people who drive too slowly are just as dangerous as people who drive too fast. They totally destroy the flow of traffic. I'm talking specifically about highway driving, not residential streets (or similar small roads).

 

[monarchsfan16]

I don't understand it either. Those people are a danger to themselves and everyone stuck behind them on the road.
I got stuck behind someone doing 38 in a 45, yesterday, where most people hum along at 50+. I nearly got rearended a couple times, first when someone came up behind me too fast, then when they apparently forgot people were going slower than normal.
I'm not a huge fan of speeding, but going the speed limit or a few over is NOT going to get you a ticket. Pick up the pace to be with the flow of traffic, and the road will be safer for everyone.

 

[mjkacmom]

We have a lot of seniors here who shouldn't be on the road (if you need to be at a complete stop to make a turn, it's time to give up your license). If you need to drive 10 miles under the limit, your driving skills have deteriorated, and you are a danger to others.

 

[C.Ann]

As close to the speed limit as possible would be preferable, but you also have to take into account the road conditons; if it's raining; if there's fog; and of course at this time of year (depending on your location) there's a very good chance that a deer will dart out in front of you on a country road in the morning and evening..

 

[Evil Genius]

The people driving too slow are usually occupied with something else, cell phone, texting, makeup. I catch one man in a Jaguar every morning who reads his paper while he drives. He could care less that he is in the left lane doing 10 under on a 4 lane highway.

 

[happygirl]

As close to the speed limit as possible would be preferable, but you also have to take into account the road conditons; if it's raining; if there's fog; and of course at this time of year (depending on your location) there's a very good chance that a deer will dart out in front of you on a country road in the morning and evening..

. I know there is a road by my house the speed limit it 55 there is no way I would drive that right now there are to many deers that run across the road. If i did see I was holding up traffic I would pull over and let them pass

 

[sorcerormickey]

I know this shouldn't bother me as much as it does but I seem to regularly get behind people during rush hour driving at least a good 10 miles under the speed limit with no room to pass. There is a road that stretches between my house and the highway that is about 7 miles long where the speed limit is 50 and it's a struggle some days to even get up to 45 mph because people are driving so slow. Maybe i'm missing something and it's not as if I want to even speed, but I just don't understand why this happens, especially during rush hour (8:00 am). It's also hard not to tailgate. Maybe i'm missing something but shouldn't people at least drive close to the speed limit?

I had this very issue this morning - drove me crazy!

I drove my BF to the airport and while I was driving back, I got behind someone doing 20-25 in a 45 MPH zone!!! It was one lane each way and too much traffic going the opposite way for me to pass. I was stuck behind her for MILES and MILES - there was a HUGE parade of cars behind me - I couldn't even see the end of it. She frustrated me so much I just wanted to cry! When there was finally a right turn lane, she went into it and I went past - it was just some chick on her phone laughing and carrying on while she made a big old traffic mess!!!

 

[ajpa]

I look at tit this way: I can't control other drivers. I can control my own actions/reactions. Keep my cool, don't tailgate or give in to road-rage, and switch to a smooth listening channel. If I am going to be late because of another driver ... oh well, I really should leave 5 min earlier next time.
Stressing over traffic really isn't productive or healthy, after all.

 

[C.Ann]

I look at tit this way: I can't control other drivers. I can control my own actions/reactions. Keep my cool, don't tailgate or give in to road-rage, and switch to a smooth listening channel. If I am going to be late because of another driver ... oh well, I really should leave 5 min earlier next time.
Stressing over traffic really isn't productive or healthy, after all.

That's pretty much the way I feel.. I'm one of those people who always allows myself plenty of extra time to get to where I'm going because I know I can't control the traffic (or weather).. Even if it's not slow drivers, it could be an accident, road work I wasn't aware of, being stuck behind a school bus or garbage truck, etc.. So I listen to the radio, sing along, and enjoy the scenery..

I feel the same way about waiting in check-out lines at the store.. No sense getting hot and bothered over what I can't control.. I love to "people watch" - and there's plenty to watch in stores..

 

[tomthebarncat]

I was on the German autobahn (highway) and a police car was behind American Saturn, which was going very slow, next thing I noticed his police car now has his lights flashing and saturn is being pulled over. I am sure that he got an expensive ticket for this as it really is a hazard. My motto is if you or your car cannot handle the speed limits on German roads then do not drive in Germany. The posted speed limit is 130 Kilometers per hour, I think that is about 80 miles per hour or so! 55 is creating a hazard and I impeding the flow of traffic.

 

[focusondisney]

I hate when this happens. Especiallly on the highway when 3 drivers decide to go under the limit. But instead of all being in the same lane behind each other, they are side by side; blocking all 3 lanes. No one gets to pass & traffic really backs up.


Or the other thing that drives me nuts: DH driving behind the person going a lot under speed. He NEVER goes around, even if there are open lanes to safely pass. OMG! I think he does that just to make me crazy! And it seems like he attracts these people! It is always happening. Oh well, I'm working on my patience skills!

 

[Golf4food]

Which is one reason I hate winter and the time change - getting dark earlier just causes so many people to go 10 mph under the speed limit for no reason other than it is dusk at 5:30 pm. I'm sorry - you have headlights and the speed limit is only 45 mph to begin with, you do not need to slow down to 35 to be safe, especially in a populated area where there is no wildlife to jump out in front of you. In the woods where a deer might cross in front of you at the last second? Sure. In the city? Do the speed limit!

 

[Becky2005]

Please remember that it could possibly be a new driver. My dd just got her permit and I am sorry, the only way I can help teach her to drive is to get her out on the road. (just like we all did)

I am amazed at how many people tailgated and illegally passed her the first week she had her permit. She did take lessons and I soon realized that she didn't have these issues with the driving instructor because she had a big ole sign on the car that said STUDENT DRIVER!!

She has basically been driving back and forth to dance and most of it is on a 25 mile per hour road for almost a mile, yes for the first couple of times she did drive 20 miles an hour, (she does much better now!) but please keep this in mind as you are out driving. We all have to learn and it is hard for anyone, teen or adult.

I was thinking the same thing! My DD has the hardest time getting my van up to speed. Then when I'm looking at her speedometer from the passenger seat, it looks like it's under but the gas pedal does take quite a bit of pressure. When she uses that much pressure in the tiny driver's ed car, the thing speeds up big time, so she was always getting in trouble for attempting to regulate her speed.

I took her out yesterday for a 2 1/2 hour drive on a long stretch of what is usually hardly any cars and I thought maybe it was her but I drove home from where we were & people still passed me even though the speed limit was 55 & that's what I was doing. I did know most people could easily pass on this road but a lot of times they chose not to for the longest time. Most of the time I think DD was going about 50 and then slowing down for curves & slowing way down for stops, earlier than most other people would but not so out there. At least she actually STOPPED at the stop signs even if it was farther back than necessary. Of course, the speed going from 55 to 40 & then back up to 55, took her a bit to get the car getting to that speed.

We did get a sticker that said "please be patient student driver" but it's a sticker & we don't put permanent stickers on our car, so I'm stuck as to what to do for that.

 

[KAMLEM]

As far as the student drivers, I told my DD that when she starts driving if she doesn't feel comfortable driving at the speed limit and she ends up with someone tailgaiting her she just needs to pull over and let them pass. That eliminates the stress for everyone.

As close to the speed limit as possible would be preferable, but you also have to take into account the road conditons; if it's raining; if there's fog; and of course at this time of year (depending on your location) there's a very good chance that a deer will dart out in front of you on a country road in the morning and evening..

Deer dart out all over the place around her. On Route 95 I saw 3 dead deer on the side of the road last week alone. You can't drive slow just because you think a deer "might" dart out.

 

[C.Ann]

As far as the student drivers, I told my DD that when she starts driving if she doesn't feel comfortable driving at the speed limit and she ends up with someone tailgaiting her she just needs to pull over and let them pass. That eliminates the stress for everyone.

Deer dart out all over the place around her. On Route 95 I saw 3 dead deer on the side of the road last week alone. You can't drive slow just because you think a deer "might" dart out.

Why not? If you're on a country road, what's the big deal? Do you know how much damage a deer can do to your car? Do you know people are killed every year when deer are hit and come through the windshield?

I'm not talking about going 5 MPH, but if you're on a country road, it's common sense to be extra cautious - especially at this time of year when the hunters are chasing the deer out of the woods.. The general store here at the lake is 3 miles up the main road and every single time I go to the store I see one or more deer on my way there and on the way back..

Plan accordingly, leave yourself a reasonable amount of time to reach your destination (rather than leaving the house at the last possible minute), and enjoy the ride..

 

[crashbb]

I've seen roads where both maximum AND minimum speeds are posted. Not really sure how the law about minimum speed is written (e.g. is there an "out" for weather, traffic jams, etc.)