Why do people become unhinged when you drive exactly the speed limit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Roads can safely handle higher speeds than are posted. Speed limits are set very conservatively, often with fuel efficiency in mind, and with "safety" as a notional purpose even though few accidents are attributable exclusively to driving 10-15 over the posted limit. 20 mph and over is another matter, but most accidents are due to inattentive/distracted driving, driver inexperience or age, or drunk/drugged driving, not speeding slightly.

Most vehicle speedometers read several mph over actual speed, which is why speed cameras and police won't cite anyone for speeding unless they are actually travelling at least 9mph as measured by calibrated radar over the posted limit. So, when you set your cruise control to the exact posted speed limit, chances are you're actually going slower than you think.

Lastly , the reality is that behavior like yours encourages road rage, whether you think it should or not. Ignoring that reality makes you complicit in it when it could easily be avoided by driving more like most people do and by diligently staying right except to pass so that people who want to drive faster than you can do so safely, whether they do so by exceeding the posted limit or not. Self-righteousness does nothing to make the roads safer for everyone.

Stopping for stop signs also encourages road rage, but I'm not complicit in shit. Get your anger under control or get off the road.

Sounds like you have rage too!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, it’s probably the speed. Although you might think you’re being a good citizen by driving at exactly the posted speed limit, the reality is that most of the roads can be safely driven on 10-15 mph above the posted limit.
I also bet you’re the type of driver that takes much longer to get up to the posted speed limit, and I’m also betting you are the kind of driver that probably sit’s at green lights for 5 seconds before moving. Driving in the area is bad enough as it is but it’s drivers like you that make the situation worse.

I'm not risking a ticket. And speeding and reckless driving is unsafe, not me. And I doubt you're an ER surgeon on call needed to go save a life. Your speeding doesn't even get you anywhere any faster. You're just raging and need to relax. And sadly, the streets are full of crazies like you who think law abiding drivers are the issue. YOU are the issue.

That right there is why you get the reactions you do. The combination of the Tesla and the rigid adherence to the speed limit signals you are goody-two-shoes, righteousness prick that no one likes. Even the cops expect people to go up to 10 mph over the speed limit.

[Anonymous]

Mistakenly go 10 over thru a school zone and you’ll be nicked for reckless driving, ya putz.

[Anonymous]

Get into an accident while going 5-10 over and when you’re sued, the plaintiff’s lawyer will retrieve the black box recording device data from your car and find you at fault. Hope you thoroughly enjoyed getting everywhere 30 seconds faster when you’re personally on the hook for a large judgment or you can’t get insurance moving forward after your insurance settles and cancels you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I go the speed limit now or 5mph over. The police in my area have been cracking down due to the insane reckless driving. I now see them pulling people over often. I’ve gotten pulled over twice myself. The speed limit is what they want you to go. Not above, not below.

If I get tailgated, I don’t care. They can drive around me.

Where is this?

Not in DMV

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's your stupid Tesla not the speed op.

I drive a Ford Explorer for my job and get the same reaction as OP. I drive the speed limit everywhere. People are batshit. I assume the crazy drivers are drunk or on drugs.

[Anonymous]

OP you have two issues. First of course is the Tesla, second is failure to understand that the posted speed limit is like the sticker price on a car, it is a suggestion not a definitive statement.

[Anonymous]

Most people drive at speeds they find comfortable for conditions. In good weather, in daylight, those are often higher than the posted limits. There is a point at which speed above posted limits becomes reckless/dangerous, but 10-15 over is rarely that. So, people blocking the road by slavishly adhering to posted limits when it's clearly possible to safely move faster are merely either overly cautious, or are self-righteous. They encourage road rage, which is not thereby justified, but is a foreseeable consequence of such inconsiderate behavior which presumes that what one wants to do is what everyone must do.

[Anonymous]

Because it's usually the elderly who should have already given up their license that drive the speed limit. 5 miles over won't get you a ticket, set your cruise control for that.

Also, please stay to the far right if you are driving the speed limit - not park in the farthest left hand lane, which would set me off to passing you (but I'm not flipping off anyone other than in my head, because the slow poke might have a gun!)

[Anonymous]

Someone rammed my bumper and I never got it fixed. Interestingly, seeing a wrecked bumper has dissuaded tailgating by the cars behind me.

[Anonymous]

What lane are you in? That affects whether the response is reasonable. I also drive the speed limit but make sure to stay in the lane all the way to the right, unless I need to move out of the way briefly for someone to be able to merge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What lane are you in? That affects whether the response is reasonable. I also drive the speed limit but make sure to stay in the lane all the way to the right, unless I need to move out of the way briefly for someone to be able to merge.

This is considerate and sensible. Don't worry about how fast anyone else wants to drive, and don't be a rolling roadblock when that's not necessary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, it’s probably the speed. Although you might think you’re being a good citizen by driving at exactly the posted speed limit, the reality is that most of the roads can be safely driven on 10-15 mph above the posted limit.
I also bet you’re the type of driver that takes much longer to get up to the posted speed limit, and I’m also betting you are the kind of driver that probably sit’s at green lights for 5 seconds before moving. Driving in the area is bad enough as it is but it’s drivers like you that make the situation worse.

NP. But 20 MPH over speed limit is reckless driving in DC and VA and the fines are steep. I go with the flow, have never caused an accident, hurt anyone, flipped anyone off or driven aggressively. No speeding tickets. Very boring but safe. My adult children have the same great driving records. I enjoyed driving them to school and pointing out the A-hole drivers who - invariably - despite their anger, aggression and illegal behavior - wind up next to me at the next stop light. Always.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because it's usually the elderly who should have already given up their license that drive the speed limit. 5 miles over won't get you a ticket, set your cruise control for that.

No thanks. I’ll set it at exactly the speed limit and sometimes 5 less if the weather is crummy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because it's usually the elderly who should have already given up their license that drive the speed limit. 5 miles over won't get you a ticket, set your cruise control for that.

No thanks. I’ll set it at exactly the speed limit and sometimes 5 less if the weather is crummy.

As long as you get over and let people pass, alright.