"I drive 55mph" on the 65mph interstate.

[elhigh]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

Exactly. Many times when I've been tempted to write a Letter To The Editor of the local paper about something, I realize that the morons that need to see it probably can't or don't read.

Or they can read, but they're reading it on their RSS feed while tailgating you.

[Fat Charlie]

Originally Posted by mikeyjd

Best in what way?

Best because it causes fewer problems.

We're not in a zombie movie and we don't live in Mogadishu. Society is a cooperative venture and to make it work we have to make little sacrifices. Donations, if you will. The highway I commute on is a community. It's full of morons and a-holes, but by and large we follow a set of rules together that generally gets us all to work on time. It's posted 55, but the police don't notice anyone who isn't at least in the mid 70s. At 55 that makes me 10 mph slower than the main flow of traffic and about 15 mph slower than the fastest. My POS has such horrible aero and gearing that it gets its best mileage at around 40. That would be doable in a 55 if traffic were actually doing 55, but it's really a 70. I like to keep the speed differential down below 20, so I have the cruise at 55 and generally let my glides go down to 50. I'm not all that happy with it, but I'm also not turning the road ito a mess.

[tjts1]

Even if you're using the slow lane, if you're forcing semi trucks to pass you on the left in the fast lane, you're impeding traffic. Get off the freeway and use side streets.

[Frank Lee]

Nobody is forcing truckers to do anything.

[Fat Charlie]

So the slowest guy on the road is, by definition, impeding traffic no matter how many other lanes are available? That's amusing.

I'm actually a part of the traffic too, believe it or not. I'm just not the most anxious part of it. It's not my job to make the speed demons not notice that I'm there, but I do go out of my way to minimize my impact on them. If that's not good enough for them then they can rot. If that upsets them too badly then I'll cheerfully play. It's been a few years since my last deliberate (it wasn't an accident), but I've got no problem making a bowl of riceboy soup.

[tjts1]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

Nobody is forcing truckers to do anything.

YOU are forcing them to pass by breaking the law and blocking traffic. Take responsibility for your own actions.

V C Section 22400 Minimum Speed Law

(a) No person shall drive upon a highway at such a slow speed as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, unless the reduced speed is necessary for safe operation, because of a grade, or in compliance with law.

No person shall bring a vehicle to a complete stop upon a highway so as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic unless the stop is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law.

(b) Whenever the Department of Transportation determines on the basis of an engineering and traffic survey that slow speeds on any part of a state highway consistently impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, the department may determine and declare a minimum speed limit below which no person shall drive a vehicle, except when necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law, when appropriate signs giving notice thereof are erected along the part of the highway for which a minimum speed limit is established.

Subdivision (b) of this section shall apply only to vehicles subject to registration.

Amended Ch. 364, Stats. 1979. Effective January 1, 1980.

Originally Posted by Fat Charlie

So the slowest guy on the road is, by definition, impeding traffic no matter how many other lanes are available? That's amusing.

I'm actually a part of the traffic too, believe it or not. I'm just not the most anxious part of it. It's not my job to make the speed demons not notice that I'm there, but I do go out of my way to minimize my impact on them. If that's not good enough for them then they can rot. If that upsets them too badly then I'll cheerfully play. It's been a few years since my last deliberate (it wasn't an accident), but I've got no problem making a bowl of riceboy soup.

When you get rear ended, you only have yourself to blame.

[Fat Charlie]

Originally Posted by tjts1

When you get rear ended, you only have yourself to blame.

Wha?

[Frank Lee]

Originally Posted by tjts1

YOU are forcing them to pass by breaking the law and blocking traffic. Take responsibility for your own actions. BLAH BLAH BLAH


When you get rear ended, you only have yourself to blame.

There are minimum speed limts and if you are above them, everyone else including the cops can pish off.

I've never been rear-ended but WE ALL KNOW who is at fault when it happens.

[doviatt]

While there are a lot of occasion for bad behavior I will say a majority of traffic I see every day moves along just fine weather I am around or not. I will say most drivers are completely unaware of my speed or position but they know I'm there. They are content to just go with the flow. I stay out of their way. I am not a nuisance nor do I impede traffic. There are many lanes to pass safely on my left which as good sheep and attentive drivers they usually do if needed without thought or effort.
The emphasis of this thread seems to be addressing the selfish, intolerant, aggressive, inattentive drivers. There is no help for them. Even normal traffic flow will upset them because of situations they create.
I actually see more cars willing to match my speed in effort to save fuel and be safe than I do of the occasional intolerant ones trying to pass on the right. The friendly travelers have no need to pass and give lots of buffer room. They know why I travel in the slow lane and attach themselves for the right reasons. A majority of society can be painted with a positive brush. Sometimes it takes lots of effort....

[cbaber]

Originally Posted by tjts1

Even if you're using the slow lane, if you're forcing semi trucks to pass you on the left in the fast lane, you're impeding traffic. Get off the freeway and use side streets.

Your attitude is exactly the mindset of the bad drivers we have been talking about in the thread. It's your road, right? Everyone needs to get out of your way because you have places to be. What you don't seem to comprehend is that everyone has a right to the road, providing they follow the laws. That means I have the right to go 55, and you have the right to drive 70 mph. Despite how you feel about slow speeds, I can do it all I want and you have to deal with it.

Speed limits are limits. A 70 mph speed limit doesn't mean everyone has to go 70 mph. In fact, the minimum speed limit on my highway is 40 mph. So legally I can drive as slow as 40 mph. The idea that the speed limit is the required speed is absurd. Every study ever done about traffic accidents shows that the slower you drive the safer you are. Beyond that benefit, I get 10-15% better fuel economy from going 55 compared to going 70.

As for your comment about being rear ended, please come to KC and rear end my car. Your insurance will be paying for my totaled car, and I can buy a new one! But even though you will be cited for the accident, and your insurance will be paying for my costs, according to you I only have myself to blame.