People drive too fast in poor conditions and too slow in normal conditions.

Posted by Single_Molasses_8434@reddit | driving | View on Reddit | 60 comments

Why does it seem like this is always the case? A couple of nights ago I was doing a long interstate drive, where the speed limit for the entire road is 65, which is absurdly low for the quality of the road. But normally, people stick to it or around there, If I’m going 70 I pass most people, 75 I pass everyone.

But on my drive on it a couple of nights ago, it was raining and pretty much everyone was doing 80+, and there were cars weaving in and out of lanes definitely going over 90, even in a construction zone. It was probably the fastest I’ve seen traffic on that highway, but also one of the worst conditions I’ve seen, to the point of being extremely scarily dangerous. Ironically, when we got out of the construction zone and the rain, traffic slowed significantly to the point that I was going 75 and passing pretty much everyone.

I also notice that large metro areas with high traffic tend to have the highest speeds, to the point they are going unsafely fast. Meanwhile the rural roads where it’s safest to speed usually have the slowest drivers, to the point they are going annoyingly slow.

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XainRoss@reddit

I tend to notice the opposite more. The first light dusting of snow every year and people slow down like they've never seen snow before. I live in the northeast so this is not new for us.

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planefan001@reddit

I’ve noticed trucks are some of the worst offenders of this. I remember driving back home after a trip and passing through Indiana when it got really icy. All the car on the highway were going around 30 mph while semis were blasting past at 50-60 mph.

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PlainNotToasted@reddit

People drive too slow on the highway and too fast on surface streets.

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justacrossword@reddit

When you are doing 75, you notice the people going 10mph slower. When you are going slower, you notice the people going much faster.

This falls under the category of “everybody driving slower than me is an assshole and everybody driving faster than me is an idiot.”

Do you have a great understanding of the traction circle for your car/tire combination as well as the traction circles for everybody else? Is that what makes you the lone expert on how fast to go in every situation?

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kalelopaka@reddit

Agreed, I always say drivers are instant idiots, just add water…

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New_Breadfruit8692@reddit

People drive the way they drive, get used to it and practice patience and defensive driving skills.

I got my learners permit in 1973. Nothing has changed since then except the rods have become safer, cars have become safer. Drivers will always be assholes in your mind.

When I moved from Oregon to Florida I was on the interstate for 3,010 miles. In a truck that was the largest Penske rented. Pulling a trailer with my car on it. Most of the way I stayed in the right lane, but that is not always possible as people merge, but the truck had a governor that limited it to seventy at most. Traffic does not always have your pizza getting cold as first priority. Live with it.

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Moist_Rule9623@reddit

4WD/AWD gives people a false sense of security in adverse weather. On the rare occasions it still snows here, literally EVERY car I see off the road is equipped with an advanced drivetrain, because the drivers think it gives them an X Man ability to avoid skidding or losing control.

AWD and 4WD are there to help GET YOU MOVING in low traction conditions. Once you’re at 60mph or more you still have to exert some caution (and not be live-tweeting your drive 🤬)

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Buckupbuttercup1@reddit

Yes! People dont grasp that 4 wheel drive does not mean 4 wheel stop. And ice is still not your friend. Plus the big trucks,those divers think they are immune. The back end fishtails all over

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Oblivionix129@reddit

Idk why but this reminded me of the statement "why does your nose run, but feet smell?"

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MikeP001@reddit

Because when conditions deteriorate they're late and must hurry to catch up. Idiots.

The other related example are the people who do below the speed limit on empty roads, yet when they pass through a town they don't slow down to the limit, they blast through without any change of speed or regard for the residents.

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2020IsANightmare@reddit

Words can't describe how much I fucking HATE those people.

Under normal driving conditions, anyone that doesn't go at least five over is a legit psychopath. Period.

But, if someone is going 60 in a 55, I can't really be mad. As long as the speed is consistent.

Now, the people that go 50 in a 55? And then ALSO go 50 in a 30?

Obviously their driving isn't based on the law or safety. Just a stupid fuck that does not belong behind the wheel.

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knockatize@reddit

I call them Club 42.

On a highway in the sticks, they’re doing 42 (with a dozen vehicles behind them). Through a school zone, still 42. Residential streets, 42.

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ililegal@reddit

Oh my god other people have noticed this shit too?!

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Draggonzz@reddit

Oh, the Constant Speeders. They blast 65 km/h through a 40 km/h school zone. They go 65 in a 50 residential. Out on a country highway where the limit's 80 km/h they're...still doing 65 and holding traffic up. Love those fuckers.

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Low-Limit8066@reddit

Oh my god if this ain’t the small town I live in🤦🏻‍♀️ going to slow for me 50-55 in a 55 (I like at least 60, no more than 65)… but as soon as they hit that 35 they’ll go 60

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Amphernee@reddit

People figure cops aren’t out and they’re less likely to get pulled over

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Cranks_No_Start@reddit

Locally (I live in the boonies) the country replaced and did a very nice job for a section of road. The speed limit is 25.

When the road was beat up people still do 35 but now that’s it’s nice and smooth I see people going 45 and faster.

Hers the thing, as they just did this people haven’t experienced this is the sno and it makes a very sharp, steep and off camber turn and I know come this winter there WILL be tons of people hitting it in the AM in the dark and just sliding right off into the trees.

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Castabae3@reddit

Set up a live videocam that records movement, Aim it towards the ditch for the winter, Free crash clips.

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bobi2393@reddit

I reject your opinion that 65 is "absurdly low" for a nice road in nice conditions. It's generally all-around safer and better for your car, fuel mileage, and indirectly the environment. Midsize gas cars average 45 mpg at 55 mph, 38 mpg at 65 mph, and 32 mpg at 75 mph.* People have different values, and being able to pass in another lane allows them to coexist reasonably, but I don't think driving the speed limit is "absurd".

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mothwizzard@reddit

Last night on a windy mountain road, once the rain hits people are going 10-20 over. I drive a little car that take corners well and I was surprised on how everyone had to push it

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trap_money_danny@reddit

My experience is the opposite (TX, USA) — people go reasonably over the speed limit in decent conditions and way too slow in un-ideal conditions. The speed limit in around city freeways is mostly 65. People go 75 - 80. It's perfect.

The going slow be cause of conditions thing... idk. It can be lack of experience, poorly equipped vehicles, fear, a number of things. I'm trying to give people more of a break cause like... I just paid $700 for a set of tires. 10 years ago I was buying an entire car for $700. Some grace, I guess.

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bangbangracer@reddit

As a Minnesotan who has legitimately commuted to work in blizzard conditions, I have no concerns about driving too slow in poor conditions. When the snow is coming down, visibility is barely the car in front of you, and even your snow tires don't know what's under them, slow and steady is fine with me.

Also, what you guys consider poor conditions doesn't even trigger alarms up here.

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Raptor_197@reddit

I would argue rain is much worse of a condition than snow.

Snow is definitely “worse” condition wise, but when you realize when people wreck in the snow, it means they slow motion slid into a ditch, it’s not even a blimp on the radar of losing the back end at high speeds in the rain.

Like literally it graphed fatalities from snow and fatalities from rain, I bet the snow fatalities are barely readable on the graph.

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Initial_Cellist9240@reddit

It’s almost like rain is more common.

But snow regularly causes 50 car pileups.

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Raptor_197@reddit

How often is there a fatality though? It’s like once or twice a year that happens somewhere and like maybe one or two people die.

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zakku_88@reddit

Upstate New York here:

I definitely don't mind going a little slower than normal when those roads get caked with snow lol

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trap_money_danny@reddit

I lived in Michigan and Colorado before Texas so — been there. I always saw it more as "other people going slow in the snow are ruining my fun". Visibility, slush, and ice aside — when it's fresh snow and traffic has died down, I'm 100% "that guy".

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K_Linkmaster@reddit

Texas brake light phenomenon.

When a drop of rain hits a windshield, the highway lights up red immediately.

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Playful_Original_243@reddit

I just find it crazy when it starts sprinkling over here and people go 30mph 😅

But yeah, definitely giving people grace. There was a period of time where if I braked too hard my car would completely shut off. So many people were cutting me off because I was leaving a bigger gap, which made it to where I had to brake hard and my car would shut off. We don’t know what they’re dealing with inside that car.

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trap_money_danny@reddit

I feel like it's PTSD from hurricanes or something. Hydroplaning is a choice, I don't think people know how to deal with the tires leaving the pavement and they panic.

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1up_for_life@reddit

Many years ago I heard about a study which demonstrated that people aren't able to judge their speed as well in low contrast situations and tend to drive faster as a result.

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Temporary-District96@reddit

because they basically drive the same as when its normal conditions and everyone else slows down. some have too much trust in their skill or quality of their ride and some just dont overall. as an example, i know my winter tires are always top notch while others i know dont even believe in winter tires... could be a false sense of security but ive driven to understand limitations of my cars ability as well. also people dont understand that with fwd, you power through. i notice now squirly it gets when im not putting it in a 'forward motion'... like its not in a neutral state just letting it roll if that makes sense

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Francesca_N_Furter@reddit

I am waiting for the people who claim cars are so much better now, so this is all ok....you know, assuming the owners actually have decent tires and working brakes. LOL

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zakku_88@reddit

And the driving experience to back it all up lol

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Fokazz@reddit

Some people also drive too slowly in poor conditions and too fast in normal conditions

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zakku_88@reddit

I remember back when I was first learning how to drive, I had a really good teacher who would always tell me that I needed to "find that happy medium". Seems like a number of people either forgot where that 'happy medium' is, or they never found it in the first place...

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Focustazn@reddit

In Southern California it’s the opposite.

People road rage if you go under 85 on the highway (regardless of lane).

But if one, singular, TINY drop of water falls from the sky, everyone immediately slows down to 35MPH because it must be a hurricane.

Also, if there is a slight curvature in the road, those 85+ers will slam their brake until they are doing 35, causing phantom traffic for two miles behind each curve.

Sometimes, I get so frustrated I gotta whip out the “WHOOO-SAAH” deep breathing exercises to resist shooting a mofo.

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LongJohnBill@reddit

I hated the clowns in Florida who would drive bunched up, a few feet off the bumper ahead, in torrential rain, no visibility. Doing 80+ on the highways/tollways. And of course they all had their 4 way flashers going. I called them "trains".

It got to where the highways' alert marquis signs even posted notices "Do not use flashers in the rain".

I watch videos like this all the time on YouTube: "Trains" going too fast, then they all pile into one after another during rain, blizzards, etc.

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Necro_the_Pyro@reddit

One of these years they'll start putting variable speed limit signs on longer stretches of highway. At least, I hope they will. Because, as just about everyone in this sub has seen, people are idiots. I drove a stretch of highway in Colorado several times during my travels, all but one of which were sunny and clear and perfect driving conditions, everyone's going 55.

The one time it wasn't nice, there was about 4" of snow on the ground, fog so thick you couldn't see 100' in front of you, and patches of black ice. 90% of the people were still going 55. After a few miles of driving at a reasonable speed for the road conditions, I encountered a pileup of at least 20 cars, with more being added every minute as they came sliding in on the black ice out of the fog.

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zacmobile@reddit

105 km/hr (65 MPH) is my personal limit in ideal conditions, I've seen too much stuff in my 35 years of driving to be able to justify going faster than that.

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Relevant_Discount278@reddit

I do the speed limit. Pass me

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knockatize@reddit

Happens all the time when snow is in the foreccast.

1/3 of the drivers go full Talladega the moment they see a snowflake. Another third slow to a crawl like there's already six inches on the ground and no plows in sight. And then there's us normies.

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N703ND@reddit

people go slow in normal conditions(clear day dry road) and even slower when it's bad(like 40 on 75).

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666-3629@reddit

nah, I drive fast all the time, if I wanted to travel slowly, I would take public transport or an Uber. I especially love traveling fast in the rain because my sporty summer tires are not a decoration, just because your car can't handle the rain doesn't mean others can't.

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boooradley11@reddit

We are all so impressed by you telling a story that never happened. Internet, keyboard. Whatever makes it easier.

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666-3629@reddit

yea, never happen with your car, totally understandable, whatever makes you happy lol

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RedditUserSnap@reddit

Usually this is just confirmation bias.

If you're going 70, you're going to pass every person going 65, and never catch up to another person going 70.

And then same if you're driving safely. All of the unsafe drivers are going to be passing you, and the other safe drivers are not going to catch up to you.

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Single_Molasses_8434@reddit (OP)

I get what you’re saying, but it is a little different here. If people were going 80-90 normally, they would definitely be passing me when I’m going 70-75, but that almost never happens. I can certainly see how there’s probably a lot of other people going 70-75 most of the time though, I just don’t catch them.

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windowschick@reddit

Side eyes Subaru Outback drivers. Never noticed it until I had a Forester for several years, but Outback drivers in my neck of the woods are notorious for doing exactly that.

Blinding snowstorm? Sheets of rain? Tear assing along with little regard for road conditions.

Clear sunny day with dry pavement? Crawling below the speed limit. Bonus points for parking in the left lane.

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robomassacre@reddit

During shitty weather, i swear everyone is either driving 20mph, or 120mph, no in between it's the weirdest thing

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Riverrat423@reddit

I think that the same drivers who go too fast in good conditions also go too fast in bad conditions. In my experience most drivers go way over the speed limit most of the time.

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lmscar12@reddit

Yep same. Nobody slows down in cities even though the speed limit might go from 75 to 65 or even 55. Everybody just goes 80 the whole way.

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Photocrazy11@reddit

Come to Portland or Seattle. A skiff of snow, people abandoned their cars where they were, even on the freeway. Traffic jams for hours. I am from SE Washington, and we got up to a foot every year or so. Here, the city shuts down. My husband worked at the water billing department. One year, he was home for 3 days paid, because they closed over a foot of snow. He now works at the PO mail handling facility. He usually gets a room at the hotel across the street, the job doesn't shut down. It saves him from hours of driving a 15 min drive.

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Ecstatic_Tea_5739@reddit

I've been commuting on Chicago expressways for a little more than twenty years. I've observed that the "too fast for conditions" phase has a high spike at the beginning of adverse road conditions. It takes some folks a few trips and perhaps a wipeout to jar them into easing up when it's slippy.

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Secondhand-Drunk@reddit

Mother fuckers accelerating to 60 on the interstates on ramp, merging, THEN getting up to speed.

Fuck.

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