Speed | TheaterFire

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prodego@reddit

If you're on a long country road, especially a straight one, and everyone routinely drives +15 the speed limit and you're driving the speed limit or just under them you're a bit of a nuisance.

You can actually be ticketed for this some places. It's called impeding the flow of traffic. Rule of thumb, if there are cars lined up behind you and nobody in front of you, you're the asshole.

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BogBabe@reddit

I've never heard of someone getting a ticket for impeding the flow of traffic if they're driving the speed limit. They may get a ticket for left-lane camping while driving the speed limit, but that would be for using the passing lane improperly. But I have trouble imagining any scenario in which someone driving the speed limit on a city or country road, or on a freeway not in the passing lane, would get a ticket for impeding.

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Bforbrilliantt@reddit

I'm not sure how it is in US but getting a ticket for doing the speed limit in the righthand lane of a highway sounds odd. Why not raise the posted limit then if it's too slow?

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But "you're a bit of a nuisance" isn't "you are wrong for driving the speed limit."

There are plenty of vehicles that can't, plenty of loads that can't, plenty of drivers that can't, plenty of situations that can't... go the speed limit or faster than the speed limit.

My states law is:

on a two-lane highway where passing is unsafe, a slow-moving vehicle shall turn off the roadway at a safe location if there are five or more vehicles in a line behind them.

If I need to follow you for 50 miles and can't pass you while you just take your time it's annoying.

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CastorCurio@reddit

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. People do lots of things that are annoying, to me, but also fine (ie socially or morally acceptable, or things I don't necessarily need them to change but annoy me personally).

It's so weird to me when people want to disagree with a holistic point I make by just examine the semantics and exact words I used. Like can you not understand my point, and disagree with it, without just trying to pick apart my diction?

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speedbumpdoom@reddit

Well... I did what you asked and you're the one who chose to use the words you used. By your definition you are contradicting yourself. You can disagree with that, it's fine.

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CastorCurio@reddit

No I didn't but you know that.

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BogBabe@reddit

If you're on a long country road ... and you're driving the speed limit or just under them you're a bit of a nuisance.

Yep, perfectly fine. And I said you'll have to deal with your annoyance. It's not my job to keep you from being annoyed.

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prodego@reddit

Objectively fucking wrong

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BogBabe@reddit

shall turn off the roadway at the nearest place designated as a turnout by signs erected by the authority having jurisdiction over the highway, or wherever sufficient area for a safe turnout exists, in order to permit the vehicles following it to proceed.

I already told you that's what I do. But you're driving a full-size long-bed pickup towing a fifth wheel, and your total rig length is nearly 60', there are limits to where there is "sufficient area for a safe turnout." If you happen to get behind me just past one of those "sufficient areas for a safe turnout" and there's not another one for several miles and there are no passing lanes for several miles, you'll just have to deal with your annoyance like a big boy. There's absolutely nothing that requires me to pull off onto a soft shoulder where I'll get stuck, or turn into someone's private driveway, or turn off onto a dead-end side street that I can't get out of without backing out onto the main roadway.

Are there cases where exceeding the speed limit and breaking the law is safer than maintaining the limit? Absolutely. Strictly following the speed limit is not always the safest thing to do, but if a novice driver were to follow the advice in my top-level comment (with the edit), they would be technically correct most of the time and would build reasonably safe habits.

Would some people be annoyed that they couldn’t speed on a long and straight road? Sure. But that’s not the subject driver’s problem. They are following the rules of the road, and it’s not their job to break the law just to avoid inconveniencing the drivers around them. If following the speed limit creates an unsafe situation because another driver is going faster, that’s also not their problem to solve except in a case of self-preservation. The speeding driver is in the wrong here. Find a way to pass, or, if you can’t, accept that you are going to follow the legal speed limit today.

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OrangeHitch@reddit

People drive at the speed that they feel comfortable. Even if I'd like to go faster, it's wrong to say that someone should drive beyond their limits and risk an accident. I usually am over the limit on rural roads but at the limit on highways. I observe lane courtesy. I understand the point of view that others may be held up. I've been in the situation where cars are approaching in the opposite lane just when I get a passing zone.

zeptillian@reddit

When we force them to do that they put us all in more danger.

It's better to let faster cars pass on the left regardless of the legality of their speed. That's where it's expected and codified into law in a lot of places.

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TigerPoppy@reddit

Often people will tailgate and otherwise express inpatience even though the cars in front of you are going the same speed. This indicates the tailgater is not reading the traffic. I see no reason to accommodate their futility.

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zeptillian@reddit

I personally wont just drive along with another car attached to my bumper. I will get over because that shit is unsafe and I will not tolerate it.

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shotstraight@reddit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nv8FAJ3A5pM

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BogBabe@reddit

What if there is a law that says slower drivers keep right and you are a slower driver in the left lane?

Then the problem is your choice of lane, not your speed.

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NASAfan89@reddit

If they're driving the speed limit and you're driving faster than them, IDK why you'd expect traffic laws to keep right would be enforced upon them but traffic laws to obey speed limits would not be enforced upon you...

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insta@reddit

people speeding expect to get tickets for speeding. the difference is the tickets are administered by the police, not other drivers cosplaying as police.

there are actually some states that allow you to exceed the speed limit to pass as well.

some states do allow temporarily exceeding the speed limit to pass.

but still, the major difference is who's doing the policing. you can't really stop someone who's speeding and give them a ticket. you can call it in to the non-emergency number and see if they care. the problem is when people will block other drivers because "they shouldn't be speeding". move over and call it in. let them go ahead of you.

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eugenesbluegenes@reddit

Did you not read the comment before replying?

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theFooMart@reddit

Can you just drive past dozens of those signs on the side of the road and ignore them?

You could, just like you could ignore the red light, the wrong way sign, the detour sign, etc. But you could still get a ticket.

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PirateKingOfIreland@reddit

I’m not sure I understand. Why would my comment lead you to think that driving the speed limit allows you to ignore signs that say slower drivers keep right?l

If you’re going the speed limit and passing someone in this circumstance, you’re perfectly fine being in the left lane. You should move right when safe and when done passing.

If you’re going the speed limit and not passing someone in this circumstance you should be in the right lane.

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zeptillian@reddit

I think your comment was unclear before you edited it.

With that condition I think you have them all covered.

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PirateKingOfIreland@reddit

Good catch

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LeagueOfLegendsAcc@reddit

There is only an appropriate lane if you are on a large road like a highway or freeway. This is not applicable most of the time when you are just driving around in the city.

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Minimum-Register-644@reddit

Thank you for being an actual reasonable motorist. The amount of people who justify speeding is insane, the risk is so much higher for everyone on the road.

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chevy42083@reddit

Everyone driving slower than you is an idiot, everyone driving faster than you is crazy.
And everyone feels this way.

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TotalWeb2893@reddit

Unless you have a left turn or exit shortly

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FoaRyan@reddit

This. Lots of people think the "left lane is for passing" on residential roads, with grocery stores, gas stations, and neighborhood turn-ins every 1/4 mile or less. Left lane is for passing on divided highways.

This. Just don’t be the one camping in the left lane. If you need to pass do so quickly and efficiently then get back over.

If you need to turn left, be observant where you are going and don’t drive in the left lane for miles before your turn.

I have to drive the speed limit when in my work vehicle or I will get in trouble with my job. They can’t ticket you for obeying the law and being in the correct lane.

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Prestigious_Back7980@reddit

Not slow, just correctly and legally 😂

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Nick_OS_@reddit

Unless I’m in a cop heavy area, I cruise around 7-8mph over the speed limit. Occasionally I do go 10-15 over. But I try to never go 20 over

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Due_Bowler_7129@reddit

I don’t want to be a nuisance.

Just keep to the right then.

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telking777@reddit

Say that again for the millions in the back 🗣️

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xeno_4_x86@reddit

Imo keep driving the speed limit if that's what you're comfortable with. At least you're doing the speed limit. Here in Washington people don't even do that. Example, this morning on the freeway, semi truck in left lane doing 50. Mercedes SUV in right lane doing 50. Truck wasn't going any faster to I get behind the Mercedes SUV and flash my brights. Nothing. So I just leave them on and inch closer. Eventually they got the message. Wouldn't of had to do so had either or been doing the speed limit.

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wineskigolf@reddit

You may think you are driving the speed limit but your speedometer may be off. My wife's Toyota reads 3 MPH fast. I have had speedometers calibrated that are 8-10 MPH off at 65 MPH. I recommend speeding up a few miles per hour. You will never get a ticket, you will not impede traffic as badly and it's more comfortable when people are not blowing your doors off.

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There is a simple rule I follow.

If they are going faster than me, they are a maniac that probably will cause an accident up ahead.

If they they are going slower than me they are a slowpoke in everyone's way that will probably cause an accident behind me.

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Vohsrek@reddit

This made me laugh

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Vohsrek@reddit

People are so self-oriented. I am on the faster end of drivers. Sometimes, when I get stuck behind someone doing at or below the speed limit, I get annoyed. I feel the urge to tailgate, to communicate to the front driver that they are driving “slow” - aka the speed limit.

In my life, 9/10 times, these drivers are older folks, cars incapable of going faster, or mothers with young children in the car. I invariably feel badly about crowding them. So, I just don’t. I take a deep breath. If I’m running late, I remind myself, “your lack of planning is not their crisis”.

It’s so easy to make up nefarious or rude assumptions about others on the road, to fall into a “it’s me vs. them” mindset, but the truth is we’re all humans just trying to travel somewhere safely.

“Well, if they’re old and have to drive the speed limit to feel safe, then they shouldn’t be driving at all.”

Is a dismissive and close-minded sentiment. We ALL get old one day. However you think you would act if you were in their position, giving up driving is one of the universally hardest things to do for our elders, because it means giving up independence. All of us right now would balk at losing our ability to drive ourselves places. I work in assisted living. Almost all our residents, the ones who come and go, struggled to give up their ability to drive. It’s not a one-off thing, it’s a common sentiment, and again - you’re going to get old one day too, and if you think,

“I’d do the right thing and give up driving for the safety of others!”

I’ll say again, most of our residents struggle with this. From the kindest, most altruistic and reasonable, to the “everyone get out of my way” attitude. They aren’t being mean, they aren’t being ignorant, they’re just struggling along the journey of growing old.

I’m not making a judgement on whether it is OK for older folks who are genuinely unsafe on the road to continue driving. I’m just reminding others of the very human reason they may do so.

Just have some kindness, some patience. It goes for the other side of the coin, too. If someone speeds past you, and you tend to think,

“Wow, what a selfish jerk!” Or are tempted to deliberately block someone from speeding or passing, remember they could be in an emergency, they could be late to a very important, or even life changing, meeting. They could be an excellent driver just goofing around - again, I won’t make a judgement call on the ethics of any of these reasons.

Remember we’re all human. Try to counter your knee-jerk assumptions about other drivers with kinder explanations, give them the benefit of the doubt - same as you do for yourself. We don’t need any more rage in the world.

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BongSaber_00@reddit

What's your tire size? Is it different from what's on the door sticker?

My car drives at least 5 miles slower than the speedometer because my tire is larger than the factory size for my car. So I have to go 75 on my gauge if I want to go 70 and isn't noticeable until I go up to about 40, but I'm actually going roughly over 35mph.

There's a tire calculator online that can tell you how fast it will offset the speed of your car from a factory sized tire if that's the case.

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Daruvian@reddit

You are backward. If you put a larger tire on, you will travel farther per rotation of the wheel, which means your speed is actually higher than what is shown on the speedometer.

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BongSaber_00@reddit

"Up-sizing, or installing a taller tire, will lead to a speedometer reading that is slower than your actual speed. This is because a taller tire will have a larger overall circumference, causing it to need to travel more distance per revolution than the original equipment tire"

"Speedometer readings are altered by changing the tire height because most vehicles measure speed within the transmission based on tire revolutions."

discount tire

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Daruvian@reddit

Exactly. "A speedometer reading that is slower than your actual speed."

That means you are going faster as I said...

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BongSaber_00@reddit

The speedometer is faster, yes, not the car. Thus, is why my speedometer says 75 when in reality I'm going 70. If I was not aware of this I would be driving 5 miles slower than the posted speedlimit.

The speedometer measures axel speed, the axel is spinning faster the car isn't going faster or slower if the tire to the transmission was 1:1 then you would be right in this case

maybe I should have worded my initial comment better.

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Daruvian@reddit

Wrong. 100% wrong.

The speedometer is based on revolutions of the axle and is calibrated with factory wheels and tires.

If you put a larger tire on, then you are going farther for each revolution of the axle, which means you are going faster.

I mean fucking hell it's right there in the quote you posted previously...

Your reading comprehension needs some work.

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BongSaber_00@reddit

my point is that your actual speed is 5 miles per hour less than what is shown on the speedometer. Forget about it making your car faster okay. The speedometer is showing the wrong speed!

If you haven't figured that out, maybe you need to practice your comprehension click on the helpful link I've provided where I took the quote

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Daruvian@reddit

God, you're and idiot! Go reread what you quoted!

"Up-sizing, or installing a taller tire, will lead to a speedometer reading that is slower than your actual speed."

SPEEDOMETER READING IS SLOWER THAN YOUR ACTUAL SPEED!

That means you are going FASTER THAN WHAT THE SPEEDOMETER SAYS! NOT SLOWER!

Nah, you're sad and bitter. You only focused on what's wrong, but you can't agree that the speedometer is still going to be inaccurate. Instead of trying to actually help, you berated me. Because you have nothing more important going on in your life except to be "right" on a subreddit.

I gave you a real-life example of what I see happening in my own car, and you were condescending the entire time.

And now you need to sit there and argue over a baseless claim that's pretty indicative that people don't like you

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Daruvian@reddit

I focused on what is wrong because you are giving people inaccurate information. And that inaccurate information could lead to real legal consequences.

EtherealSai@reddit

It's usually safest to just go with the speed of traffic, unless the traffic is driving dangerously.

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Electronic_Priority@reddit

Here’s the thing, over the speed limit is driving dangerously

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WorkingDogAddict1@reddit

Lol no. Driving slower than the flow of traffic is though

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Electronic_Priority@reddit

Then what is the purpose of a speed limit if not defining the maximum safe speed? Why not just make the highway speed limit 120mph?

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WorkingDogAddict1@reddit

Mostly to generate revenue.

Speed limits on interstates are generally written 10-20mph below the speed the road is designed for

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Past-Apartment-8455@reddit

I even made a map showing the highest tickets per population density. All data came from the government and I just looked at the fines and Forteits, matched it up with other data like my zip code database.

It isn't about safety, it is about income. Many of these areas rely on ticket income to up to 80% of their budget

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Vohsrek@reddit

Jesus Christ, Ohio.

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Electronic_Priority@reddit

If it was to generate revenue, why don’t they fine every single driver? (if everyone drives over the limit, as is suggested)

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I’ve enjoyed living in essentially crime free countries like Japan and UAE. Don’t understand why people in many other countries justify and essentially encourage crime.

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cynical-rationale@reddit

Yeah crime is more lax in north america compared to those countries. Then people wonder why we have such issues lol

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This also means that (according to your logic) if everyone was going double the speed limit it would be dangerous to only go 20-30 over the speed limit.

It’s like looting logic. Everyone else is nicking things so I can too.

I’ll go the speed limit and so will any car behind me.

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insta@reddit

that's fine, just be in the appropriate lane when doing so.

if a faster driver is behind you, and they cannot go more left because you're camping in the left lane, you are very likely breaking other traffic laws regardless of their speed.

if you move right so they can pass you, you've broken no laws, and they can get the ticket. plus they can run rabbit for you and find cops shooting radar.

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Electronic_Priority@reddit

Exactly 🤌🏼

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LilSkills@reddit

If the road conditions allow for such speeds and there's no idiot on the road? Yes, have you heard about autobahn? There's no speed limits, people usually go at extremely high speeds on a daily basis and yet reported numbers of accidents are lower than in majority of the countries. Why? Because people there actually know how to drive.

You do you, camp at the passing lane and force people to go at your speed all you want. Let's see how long you go before meeting someone crazy to give you a reality check

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Electronic_Priority@reddit

I would never sit in a passing lane if I’m not passing.

pgnshgn@reddit

The European answer is you raise the limits and then don't give the shitty ones a license

You're just going to need to get over "being a nuisance," even though you're doing nothing wrong.

I regularly exceed the speed limit, usually by a decent margin. I also recognize that it's a choice I'm making that I can't force someone else to make, so I speed when I can and if I'm behind someone who doesn't want to, I still give them their space and just deal with it, which I understand many people don't do.

Unfortunately, people will get upset with you for doing absolutely nothing wrong, and you just kinda have to eat that.

People suck sometimes.

You're fine. Just don't get scared of people passing you. Someone going the speed limit is no nuisance.

The only nuisance is people blocking passing lanes and those who step on the brakes for no reason.

I usually stay between 2 and 7 mph over the speed limit depending on the limit. I try to stick to the speed limit +10% at most. 44 years old one ticket for aggressive lane change in '06. I lane changed into a tight space to avoid slowing traffic in the rain, and cut off the CHP. She was cordial and I was able to do traffic school to keep it from affecting my insurance.

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LuckyNumber-Bot@reddit

All the numbers in your comment added up to 69. Congrats!

Me too. I prefer to go the speed limit, I never feel like I’m driving too slow and I’m perfectly comfortable doing the limit however I do go 5-10 over just to appease other drivers because everyone is obsessed with speeding. I hate it. I have to go out of my comfort zone just to appease others and if I don’t then people will drive aggressively towards me and treat me like a problem.

It’s really up to each driver and your results will vary by location, but I personally prefer to keep up with traffic (within reason) than stick to the speed limit. If everyone else is going 10 over or so, I’ll go 10 over too. And it’s purely to not be in the way of traffic. I’ll happily go the speed limit but not when even 18 wheelers are passing me. The chances of being pulled over in those places are slim to none. Where I live, speed enforcement is basically nonexistent, which is why everyone is speeding in the first place.

Speed limits are usually significantly lower than what the roads can actually safely support. They are absolutely important in some cases, but the majority of limits are usually at least 10MPH slower than the ideal speed for the road. Not talking about highways.

Drivers who want to go faster than the limit are rarely being as truly reckless as the hand-wringers would have us believe. There are absolutely people who push it too far, but they also may have the skill and the vehicle able to do it. Even an average driver and car can usually safely do 55 in a 45, for example.

Despite what the internet wants us to think, the majority of people are perfectly able to properly judge the speed they can safely go. Most want to go faster, not just because they're in a hurry, but because it makes driving more enjoyable. It is still, generally, safe.

Now, you should also drive the way that makes YOU comfortable, but if you are constantly paying attention to your speed, you are technically driving distracted. As you're looking at your speed, you're taking your eyes off of the road. It may be a split second, but that's often all it takes to start the chain reaction to disaster.

The more you drive, the more automatic the physical act becomes. I don't consciously think about putting on my seatbelt; I just do it. I don't remind myself to check my mirrors or use my turn signal; I just do it. I don't pay attention to my speed; I just know what my car (and myself) can and can't do so I can focus my attention on the rest of the world. I see a potential hazard, my foot is already off of the accelerator and going for the brake before I consciously tell it to. I've also been driving for almost 30 years and hundreds of thousands of miles.

Slow and steady does win the race, and there's nothing wrong with wanting to cruise along at the speed limit, but most other drivers assume you're going to do 5 to 10 over the limit. If not more, depending on the road and conditions.

If there is a line of cars behind you, and they're all crowding each other, and there's nobody in front of you, you are absolutely causing a hazard. Yes, those drivers are wrong for getting impatient and road rage-y, but human beings are just not that evolved yet. Pull over and let them pass you, and then get back on your way. You don't want them getting so worked up that they pass you illegally. You may be in the right, but if your goal is safety then just let them pass. You'll catch up to them at the next stop sign or stoplight and they will probably notice and feel sheepish about it.

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MET90LX@reddit

You’ll never get a speeding ticket.

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ZestycloseStop9685@reddit (OP)

that’s my biggest reason for driving how I drive to avoid any tickets

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Due_Bowler_7129@reddit

I avoid tickets with a Uniden but fair enough.

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theFooMart@reddit

is it me? Is it them?

Both.

On one hand, you're free to drive at a speed you're comfortable with, just don't be holding people up.

But if everyone is driving faster than you, then you're driving too slow. The ideal speed is keeping up with traffic. You're actually more of a hazard when you're driving significantly slower (or faster) than traffic, than if you were keeping up with traffic while driving above the speed limit.

Also keep in mind that speed limits, particularly those not on large highways are kept lower for various reasons, including "because that's how it's always been" even though cars are getting safer. It's not like driving ten over on a main road is going to kill you.

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WaterDreamer10@reddit

Depends where you are and what road you are on. If you are on a highway and traffic is flying past you, then yes, you are a nuisance and a danger to other drivers. The ones stuck behind you now have to try to wait for a large gap in order to pull and pass given the large speed differential, which could result in an accident.

You can still be the slowest vehicle on the road, but only by 5 MPH, not 20!

There is a highway near me that is PSL of 55. Pretty much the right lane does 65 at ALL times, and the left lane is 70+.

If someone is stuck behind you doing 54 mph trying to pull in front of someone doing 73, that is dangerous for everyone.

No, all your wishing and wanting will not get people to slow to your speed so you have to use common sense.

You can do 63 in that lane, people will still be able to pass, you can still drive slow, but the dangerous speed differential will be reduced.

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sssRealm@reddit

I drive 5 to 10 miles over the speed limit and people zoom past me.

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b15cowboy@reddit

It's most definitely you!!! Sometimes you have to floor it.

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ZUUT23@reddit

If you're driving the posted speedlimit on a highway or major road you are going too slow. Speed limits are typically set at 90% of the average speed traveled on the road. Doing 5 over in these scenarios is expected and depending on locality 10 over is expected

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alanudi@reddit

In upstate NY the speed limit is a starting point.

I recently started following the speed limit and EVERYONE hates me now lol.

DefinableEel1@reddit

So while you aren’t wrong, sometimes going with the flow of traffic is just the safer option because others may not expect to come up behind someone going the speed limit like around the bend or anything. But also some of those fast drivers are just psychopaths. Like if you can’t accept going 15mph over which will save you like 30 seconds, you do not have the patience to be behind a wheel.