Vent: People who drive way under the speed limit

[Becky2005]

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.)

Of course, if you go too slow even though you are literally the *only* car on the road besides the trap set-up, you can get pulled over for DUI.

That happened to me over Labor Day and then after the police officer asked me if I had been drinking I was STILL wondering why in the heck he stopped me. It wasn't registering that he stopped me because he thought I may have been drinking (especially since I don't drink at all anyway -- my poor DD thought it as funny though!). It was after 11 pm at night, I was literally the only car on the road & I was going less than probably a 2 mile stretch of road -- I think turning into the industrial area which is a shortcut to the place I was going to tipped it. I was going 35 in a 45 mph place that is NOTORIOUS for speed traps (and I was in the right lane with the left lane completely open for anyone who wanted to pass but considering I was the only car on the road....). I hadn't looked at my speed but I was going 35 - 40ish. I honestly thought he was pulling me over for speeding since they sit there constantly waiting to nab people for speeding but I didn't think I was (or some light was out in my car or something). I was talking to DD & we had just pulled from a light previously & apparently didn't get up to fast enough speed in time to turn at the next light I was going to.

Then again, I've been on the tollway with "minimum" speeds but yet, somehow everyone is creeping along at 2 mph in all the lanes for several miles. I guess they could make some $$$$ for stopping everyone for not going the min. on those.

 

[crashbb]

Then again, I've been on the tollway with "minimum" speeds but yet, somehow everyone is creeping along at 2 mph in all the lanes for several miles. I guess they could make some $$$$ for stopping everyone for not going the min. on those.

That reminded me traveling in Germany as a kid. We were in West Germany, driving into (I think) Berlin. The road (autobahn, I guess) traveled through East Germany for a stretch. You got a ticket when you entered the East German portion and you had to show that ticket when you re-entered the West German portion. Timing the trip correctly was very important - if the ticket showed that you went too fast, you got into trouble for speeding. If you took too long, they'd wonder what nefarious things you had been up to in East Germany.

Of course, it is possible that my dad made this all up, to make the drive seem more interesting to me - I was a gullible kid.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

I generally don't mind going a little slower - but my big peeve is people who tailgate me when I'm in a line of cars! One evening last week, during the 5 p.m. rush, I was on a road where the speed limit is 45 and it's one lane each way. I was the 8th car behind someone going about 30. The guy behind me was right on my bumper, so close that I couldn't even see the hood of his car. It's times like that that I wish I had a sign in my rear window, "Tailgating ME isn't going to make the 7 cars in front of me speed up!"

(Before anyone suggests it, I couldn't pull over - there is no shoulder on this road).

 

[declansdad]

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.

This is a great attitude for yourself, however, the problem is that people going under the speed limit during rush hour for no apparent reason cause other to get frustrated. They are creating a dangerous situation and shouldn't be driving if they can't obey the rules of the road.

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.. A "fun" day for me does not include hitting a deer..

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..

You must have some seriously big deer or some very fast drivers if when hit they are going through the windshield and killing people . Now a moose, that's a different story.

Everyday, we have deer travel through our yard and other yards around us. These deer do get hit and can cause some serious property damage but rarely do they cause fatalities.

I do agree that you need to be vigilant when driving in areas that are known to have deer crossing but I don't believe that is what the OP was talking about.

 

[PaulaSB12]

There was a woman banned for driving at 10 miles an hour on a motorway in the uk (speed limit is 70)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSHAR45816520080104

Many years ago I used to work in Leicester I had to drive down one particular road that used to get people driving 10 - 15 miles an hour under the speed limit BUT if you tried to over take they would swerve across the road to stop you! One car nearly collided with a car on the other side of the road because of that.

 

[C.Ann]

You must have some seriously big deer or some very fast drivers if when hit they are going through the windshield and killing people . Now a moose, that's a different story.

Everyday, we have deer travel through our yard and other yards around us. These deer do get hit and can cause some serious property damage but rarely do they cause fatalities.

I do agree that you need to be vigilant when driving in areas that are known to have deer crossing but I don't believe that is what the OP was talking about.

Not really.. In the past 2 years there was an incident each deer season where the deer came through the windshield and killed the driver by the thrashing of their hooves.. Cause of death? Trauma to the head.. What a gruesome way to die!

And yes - we have moose up here too - although far fewer than the deer population..

 

[KAMLEM]

Why not? If you're on a country road, what's the big deal?

Route 95 is NOT a country road. It's a highway and the speed limit is 65 mph.

 

[C.Ann]

Route 95 is NOT a country road. It's a highway and the speed limit is 65 mph.

Many of the highways here have more than one lane - with a max and a minimum speed limit.. If you're in the far right lane and doing the minimum, you're not doing anything wrong.. If they didn't want people driving the minimum - or they thought it would cause a road hazard - they wouldn't have a minimum posted..

 

[PaddingtonBear]

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

Well, you better be prepared for me hoking my horn at you the whole time. Driving under the speed limit in front of me in the left lane is unacceptable and I will make it miserable for you. The left lane is for passing, not for taking a leisurely meander down the highway.

Of course if the weather is bad, its snowing, raining or foggy, then driving a little slower is common sense. But just for every day, clear skies driving? Oh heck no.

 

[It'sWDW4me]

I was forced to drive behind someone going 10 mph under the posted speed limit for 10 miles! Posted limit was 50 so they drove 40. Speed limit changed to 40 for a stretch so they, in true form, dropped to 30! I could've cried. This was a two lane road and every flippin time there was a passing zone, of course there was someone coming! The train that formed behind us - oy! The nimwit finally pulled over to let the train go around her but she was completely clueless for those 10 miles.

 

[Chicago526]

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.

It wasn't the car, it was the driver. I drive a Saturn and my DH has gotten it up to 115 MPH. And I know I've done 80 in it myself. 55 is the standard US highway speed, the driver might have thought that your higher speeds were either optional or he/she just didn't feel comfortable going faster (I feel uncomfortable going much faster than 75 myself).

Sorry, just felt the need to stick up for Saturns!

 

[tomthebarncat]

It wasn't the car, it was the driver. I drive a Saturn and my DH has gotten it up to 115 MPH. And I know I've done 80 in it myself. 55 is the standard US highway speed, the driver might have thought that your higher speeds were either optional or he/she just didn't feel comfortable going faster (I feel uncomfortable going much faster than 75 myself).

Sorry, just felt the need to stick up for Saturns!

The car had US military tags on it, and all military personnel are required to take a drivers test for driving in Germany, so they are well aware of what is expected of them behind the wheel. I did not say anything about the car, just that I noticed it was a Saturn. You don't see many of those here in the land of expensive German BMW's , Audi's and of course my favorite the Mercedes Benz. The good thing is that when the military folks get tickets the military is notified first and they are mandated to counsel the person. So not only do you get an expensive fine but you also get spanked by your commander. Sorry but your justification is not fact!

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I HATE tailgaters so much... I don't care who you are but if you start tailgating me when I'm going the speed limit and you have no reason to tailgate me that's when I get pissed.

You're tailgating me because you can't pass me so either stop tailgating me OR I WILL slow down much more.

But, I don't care when people drive 5MPH under the speed limit, much more than that is annoying though.... unless of course, you've been tailgating me, then I'll drive 15MPH under.

 

[declansdad]

Well I believe the OP was talking about a country road..

Actually, the OP simply stated it was a road leading to the highway. Regardless, she had a point.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Well, you better be prepared for me hoking my horn at you the whole time. Driving under the speed limit in front of me in the left lane is unacceptable and I will make it miserable for you. The left lane is for passing, not for taking a leisurely meander down the highway.

Of course if the weather is bad, its snowing, raining or foggy, then driving a little slower is common sense. But just for every day, clear skies driving? Oh heck no.

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

Well, unless you didn't quote happygirl's post in its entirety, there's no indication that she's advocating driving a tad slower than the speed limit on a multi-lane highway.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Facts only, no opinion: It's a speed LIMIT. Not a speed requirement, or a speed minimum. If a driver on a single-lane road opts to travel at a reasonable speed below the posted maximum (aka limit), they're doing nothing wrong.

Oh, and to the poster who asked a page or so back: when there's a posted minimum and maximum but weather or road conditions dictate an even slower speed than the minimum, at least here in Massachusetts the temporary limit/maximum is broadcast on the radio and enforced by the State Police.

 

[Anne34]

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.

I totally agree -- was on the highway Sunday coming home and both lanes had drivers doing 55/60 in a 65 zone. Traffic was baked up for miles and people were driving really crazy trying to get around them!!! Seriously, I think this is worse than going too fast!

 

[DebbieB]

You usually know when someone is driving slow because they are either inexperienced or elderly - they brake on a flat straight road with no one in front of them or a light.

 

[dismom2005]

I HATE tailgaters so much... I don't care who you are but if you start tailgating me when I'm going the speed limit and you have no reason to tailgate me that's when I get pissed.

You're tailgating me because you can't pass me so either stop tailgating me OR I WILL slow down much more.

But, I don't care when people drive 5MPH under the speed limit, much more than that is annoying though.... unless of course, you've been tailgating me, then I'll drive 15MPH under.

OP here - how do you not tailgate someone who is driving a good 10 miles under the speed limit? I don't think that a speed limit of 50 means to drive 40 just to bother the person behind you, that is just as unsafe if not more so than driving what the law is allowing. You are purposely causing an unsafe driving condition IMO by driving that slow, during rush hour where people are obviously trying to get to work/school on time.

I totally agree -- was on the highway Sunday coming home and both lanes had drivers doing 55/60 in a 65 zone. Traffic was baked up for miles and people were driving really crazy trying to get around them!!! Seriously, I think this is worse than going too fast!

Agreed.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

OP here - how do you not tailgate someone who is driving a good 10 miles under the speed limit? I don't think that a speed limit of 50 means to drive 40 just to bother the person behind you, that is just as unsafe if not more so than driving what the law is allowing. You are purposely causing an unsafe driving condition IMO by driving that slow, during rush hour where people are obviously trying to get to work/school on time.

You sort of misunderstood me. When people have no reason to be tailgating me in the first place because I drive AT the speed limit... THAT is when I ease off the gas and go 30mph when I should be going 45.

If they are going to be a d-bag, so will I. There is nothing (I mean NOTHING) worse to me than people who unnecessarily tailgate.