re Post # 1- not in my area! Living in Tampa, Florida the past 7 years. Speeding, no turn signals, leaving huge gaps at lights/turn lanes- law enforcement included seem to be the norm. One friend told me she leaves the space so if she is rear ended she won’t hit the car ahead of her. But that means cars can’t make the left turn signal because they can’t get in that lane in time. The usual here on major roads and highways seems to be close to 10 miles above the posted speed limit. My experience in WI and other states seems to fit that post # 14 9-10 rule, conditions permitting.
Different states have different expectations. Left lane highway drivers (my preferred lane) in Chicagoland go much past the posted limit (heck, don’t even know what it is, just go with the flow, even faster than the 10 mph rule). However, they are generally polite with slower drivers to the right, signal lane changes and go with slow flow without impatience/many quick lane changes more than what I’ve seen in Florida.
My experience with elderly slow drivers was in Tucson only on a visit. And an aunt who drove below the speed limit on a major road. California H’s aunt visiting Wisconsin years ago was aghast when I went over the solid white line entering the no traffic highway. When I was a teen learning to drive I would go the speed limit in the left lane on the highway- years later I understood my father’s dislike of that.
I like the “slower traffic keep right” signs. Those left lane for passing only ones- well, I’m coming up on a slower car who is in the right lane- should I be weaving back and forth to pass frequently (while cars behind me then zoom ahead)?
A neighbor here tells how she was once stopped for driving slowly on the main drag- the officer thought she might have been impaired. She’s a back seat driver- I say “yes, mother” to her sometimes. Regarding physicians- it’s the surgeons who are most wreckless.
Oh, and Florida seems to have the most (impaired usually) driving going the wrong way on the highway. Too many tragic results for innocent other drivers.
I am NOT a slow driver. I drove from outer Boston area to western Massachusetts yesterday and the worst was those drivers who would tailgate in left lane while I was passing slower traffic, then when I was clear to get back in slower lane and signaled my intent to get out of the way, the tailgater would pass me on the right. Screwed me right to the ceiling.
New yorker here. I drive 10% over the speed limit on all roads except freeways. On 55mph freeways i drive 65 (like everyone else), and on 65mph freeways i drive 70-73mph. Never got a moving violation in my life… I only drive in left lane to pass.
I drive the speed limit almost all the time. I drive about 5 miles over the limit on the highway but in the west that’s often 70-75 and my car doesn’t go much faster than that.
As I mentioned earlier, I do tend to speed on the highway but am always cognizant of the 3 second rule. I find myself picking fixtures (an overhead sign, etc) and testing myself by counting how long it takes me to pass it after the car in front of me. I definitely want to be able to stop in time, no matter how fast I’m going. I also always take my foot off the gas when I see the brake lights on the car in front of me come on…you never know if they’re just slowing a tiny bit or are slowing down more significantly or even coming to a dead stop.
On an interstate/big highway 5-10mph over but on very long trips, if everyone is going faster, I’ll sometimes go to 15. Local roads, I stay at 5 over.
Haven’t gotten a ticket yet (knock on wood) and if I am passing a cop at 5-10 over I don’t brake.
Biggest pet peeve - drivers who stay in the left lane going slower than - or the same speed as - the right lane traffic. Even with a car behind, even with space to go to the right lane.
^ Adding I do not tailgate. If I come up behind a car in the left/passing lane and it’s not moving over and there is room to do so, I pass on the right (after giving said car a few seconds to do the right thing and go to the right lane).
I also glare, and often comment aloud about how that person got a license.
I am on interstate highways a LOT, for long distances. No time for people who don’t know what they’re supposed to do.
Around here, all the lanes are full and most going the same speed so no ‘left lane for passing only.’
Today I drove up the highway to a friend’s home during morning rush hour, about 20 miles. All 3-4 lanes going the same speed, just about the speed limit (unusual for rush hour). The speed limit changes all the time as you go through different cities even though it is the same interstate. 60 mph in Denver, 65 in the town just to the north, 55 after that (and cops known to give out tickets). If you go 65 or 70 in that town, it will cost you big.
It will be no problem on the way home as it will be rush hour again AND a Bronco game at 6. Yep, it will be stop and go all the way home.
We also have speed cameras set up all over town. If you go 6 miles over the limit (even less in school zones), you will get a ticket in the mail.
Interesting about the speed cameras! We’ve seen them in the UK and Europe, but I didn’t realize there were any in the US. I wonder if they will become more common?
@MaineLonghorn I live in the mid-Atlantic and we’ve had them here for years. They are especially common in school zones in my suburban area, but DC also has them on their highways. They are also frequently placed in construction zones on interstates. We’ve had them around here for at least 15 years.
Here is a funny story…this guy isn’t the only one who has been caught damaging cameras out of anger.
@doschicos I didn’t realize they weren’t in more widespread use but after just googling it, it looks like only about 12 states and DC use them. Since I live in MD and travel on DC roads frequently, I encounter them often and just assumed it wasn’t out of the ordinary. Apparently I was wrong and just accustomed to them.
I drive however fast or slow I need to in order to maintain a nice 360 degree bubble of space around me at all times. Basically, I try to stay as far away from all of you nutjobs as possible. Have never had an accident.
I detest the aggressive lane-changing tail gaters. If I’m out in the passing lane going 10-15 mph over the limit to pass a truck, please just back the %$#(&@$# off!
Going 20+ over (like you are) is not a pre-requisite for using the passing lane. If you wait like 5 seconds, I’ll be past the truck and will gladly pull over. Since I’d very much prefer that you crash into someone else’s car rather than mine.
I’m talking about distances between stopped cars in line at the light. Also maddening is those drivers who slow down a block away from a red light- meaning a car can’t get into the turn lane before it changes- and at least 3 minutes of waiting!