What possesses people to drive 20+ under the speed limit?

[Anonymous]

Recently moved from the DMV, so the actual road itself isn't relevant, I guess. But there's a stretch of highway near our new house with a 55 mph speed limit where drivers regularly go 20 or even 30 under. I find it baffling. It's a two-lane divided highway, straight, no turns, wide shoulders, no visual obstructions, can see two miles down the road easy. I.e., this is not a road where even a mediocre driver would feel unsafe. I could understand hovering at 53-54 if there was a known speed trap, but 30 under?!

What's going on here? Help me understand.

[Anonymous]

Are you sure the speed limit is 55? Or is that what you want it to be?

[Anonymous]

Are they high?

I've found people smoking weed drive annoyingly slow.

Elderly people also.

[Anonymous]

It’s a limit. So they’re going under the limit, thereby complying with the law. Perhaps they aren’t lawbreakers and know going the speed limit means it’s quite easy to violate the law by going 1mph over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s a limit. So they’re going under the limit, thereby complying with the law. Perhaps they aren’t lawbreakers and know going the speed limit means it’s quite easy to violate the law by going 1mph over.

If drivers are actually going 20-30 mph under the speed limit, as OP claims, they are breaking the law. It’s illegal to drive so slowly that you impede traffic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you sure the speed limit is 55? Or is that what you want it to be?

Positive. It's marked twice on this stretch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a limit. So they’re going under the limit, thereby complying with the law. Perhaps they aren’t lawbreakers and know going the speed limit means it’s quite easy to violate the law by going 1mph over.

If drivers are actually going 20-30 mph under the speed limit, as OP claims, they are breaking the law. It’s illegal to drive so slowly that you impede traffic.

This isn't the case unless a min speed is posted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a limit. So they’re going under the limit, thereby complying with the law. Perhaps they aren’t lawbreakers and know going the speed limit means it’s quite easy to violate the law by going 1mph over.

If drivers are actually going 20-30 mph under the speed limit, as OP claims, they are breaking the law. It’s illegal to drive so slowly that you impede traffic.

This isn't the case unless a min speed is posted.

OP says it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a limit. So they’re going under the limit, thereby complying with the law. Perhaps they aren’t lawbreakers and know going the speed limit means it’s quite easy to violate the law by going 1mph over.

If drivers are actually going 20-30 mph under the speed limit, as OP claims, they are breaking the law. It’s illegal to drive so slowly that you impede traffic.

This isn't the case unless a min speed is posted.

OP says it is.

I never said that. There's only a speed limit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a limit. So they’re going under the limit, thereby complying with the law. Perhaps they aren’t lawbreakers and know going the speed limit means it’s quite easy to violate the law by going 1mph over.

If drivers are actually going 20-30 mph under the speed limit, as OP claims, they are breaking the law. It’s illegal to drive so slowly that you impede traffic.

This isn't the case unless a min speed is posted.

PP here. I believe that in most jurisdictions police have pretty wide discretion as to what constitutes unsafe driving and if you’re driving unsafely you can get pulled over for it, even if you’re not violating a posted rule. Of course it’s very, very unusual for slow driving to be a safety risk.

[Anonymous]

Bad eyesight.

[Anonymous]

Is it a bit rural and bucolic? Sometimes you just want to relax and enjoy the drive...

[Anonymous]

Could be someone just learning to drive.

[Anonymous]

They don’t know where they’re going.
They’re elderly.
They’re a new driver.
Their car is experiencing mechanical issues.
They’re texting while driving.

Honestly, probably a million things.

[Anonymous]

I drive slow just because it irritates the **** outta people. When I say “slow”, I mean right at the posted limit and no faster. But I’d never considered driving so far under the limit before. That’s a new one. Might have to try this.