Here's what Your Culture of Speed Gets You

General Discussion
43

This topic had me engaged with my family members about respecting the speed limit and going with the flow of traffic. Since this topic has been long discussed on cartalk and appears to be an ongoing matter with the community, I thought it would be educational to discuss this with others outside of CarTalk as well.

I also did some research on this topic to get a clearer understanding of it.

It appears from a legal standpoint that obeying the posted speed limit ( which I barely do ) is the correct way of driving, and safer than going with the flow of traffic.

If a police officer decides to pull you over for going 5mph over the posted speed limit and you say you are going with the flow of traffic, that is an admission to speeding according to the law and thus will make matter worse than it should be.

Going with the flow of traffic is not a rule made by the book and will likely not help you in defending yourself against a sensitive cop.

The people I spoke to about this topic, some of them said just because traffic is violating a rule by exceeding the posted speed limit does not mean you should join. They argued that two wrongs donā€™t make a right.

When it comes to road safety, some argued that going over the speed limit by 10mph and more is more dangerous than being rear ended for going slower than traffic. They defended that a child could be crossing the road, debris and other obstacles could be lying around on the road, and bicyclists often misjudge speeding vehicles, then there is that troublesome and problematic occurrence of deers popping out of no where.

I barely ever travel the posted speed limit. Iā€™m always 5mph to 10mph over, and there are some cases where I end up going 20mph over, especially when I want to get around a trailer truck and not linger around in its blind spots for too long.

Concerning the law abd technicality on this topic, speeding behind the wheel is neither safe nor legal. It increases the chances of collision with other vehicles, pedestrians, or objects and may leave you with costly fines, penalties, and serious injuries.

44

Keeping up with traffic at 15 mph is not even remotely legal and will get you a ticker almost anywhere I have driven. Of course There are 8 states I have not driven in. Having said that, if traffic is regulary moving at 15 mph over the limit, the speed limit is set too low. I have rarely driven a tractor-trailer capable of exceeding the highway or interstate speed limit. The idea that someone driving near the speed limit in the right hand lane is holding up traffic is ridiculous. Drive right pass left is the rule, people driving slower than traffic in the left hand lanes are the idiots that are holding up traffic.

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45

I see youā€™ve had the joy of driving in Maryland.

46

Who is ā€˜Karenā€™?

47

You speak of the risks of going with the flow of traffic, yet in the above you eschew the very culture of speed/speeding I alluded to in the title of this thread.

Well which one is it, Mr. Clueless?

48

Back around 30-35 years ago, there was an elderly Maryland man who decided that his great purpose in life was to slow-down the traffic on The Capital Beltway (I-495), and as a result, he would drive his car, every dayā€“in the left laneā€“at exactly the speed limit. In other words, the ultimate Karen of the Highways.

God only knows how many accidents he caused, and how many people he caused to be late for work or medical appointments.

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49

I think, by now, we can all agree on 2 things, as far as this discussion goes . . .

@ChrisTheTireWhisperer is definitely holding up traffic, contributing road rage and creating a very dangerous situation

@Clueless33 . . . well, his latest statements have demonstrated the appropriateness of his screen name

I think our roads would be safer for all involved if BOTH OF THEM werenā€™t driving

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50

And/ or, law enforcement arenā€™t doing their job.

51

Yes, according to the law concerning speed limit, Iā€™m not driving correctly, which I outlined previously.

I believe youā€™re right about speeding as where the law is concerned, also where safety is concern to a great extent. But there is that one problem with being the only driver going the posted speed limit, where the traffic is being held up and others having to change lanes to get around you. But then again, from a legal and technical standpoint, that would be their problem and not yours. You arenā€™t breaking the law by traveling at the posted speed limit.

52

@Clueless33 @ChrisTheTireWhisperer BOTH OF YOU are clearly endangering the other drivers around you

Please stay off our roads

Thank you

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53

It is also noteworthy to know that speeders **cause ** more accidents than those following the speed limit.

54

You yourself said you rarely obey the speed limit

You repeatedly show why youā€™ve chosen an appropriate user name :rofl:

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55

I stand by what I said. I barely ever obey the posted speed limit. All Iā€™m saying here is that Chris is right with his assignment on speed limit as far as legality and technicality go.

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56

Are you going to change your driving habits/patterns?
I will not, and clearly, most of the other forum members will not do so.
Therefore, I submit that his constant, ongoing rant about the supposed dangers of exceeding the speed limit is nothing more than a tedious annoyance.

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57

Youā€™re kidding right? Google ā€˜Karenā€™.

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58

I call someone I disagree with ā€œsomeone I disagree withā€, not a perfectly good name.

59

Since no one on the road is obeying the speed limit, then Iā€™m afraid I wonā€™t change my driving behavior, though Iā€™m aware Iā€™m violating the law and increasing my chance of getting a traffic ticket.

I mentioned on here before that I got a ticket in Virginia when I tried to get away from two semi- trucks. One was in the far right lane and the other was in the far left lane, and I was in the middle of them both. I hate traveling close to trucks, so I always increase my speed to get away from them when they are traveling too slow according to my judgment. The Virginia cop did not care about whatever excuse I had to defend speeding.

60

Exactly
If you want to reduce your chances of being in a collision, you need to drive at the prevailing traffic speed.

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61

You do you.

I do me, to the right of you.

62

I hope you have the good sense to not yell at or shake your fists in anger at people passing you who are driving the prevailing speed