Why do people have to speed so much on the interstates? Why tailgate, You CANNOT STOP in time?

Question

I am not saying that I do not go over the speed limit, but 99% of the time it is only 2-3 miles over. I am talking about people doing 80, 85+ mph. Then they are such a hurry, they tailgate to try and get around you. Montana used to have a speed law--"SPEED LIMIT"--"REASONABLE AND PRUDENT". Not anymore, too many people were having accidents and getting injured and killed. Do you think there might be a reason for the SPEED LIMIT?

Why should I move over--I am going the legal speed. Just because they want to speed, tough. Actually, if your speeding and on my butt--I'll tap my brakes. We all have the same rights on the highways

Answer 1

The speed limits established are specifically for the maximum safe speed for the best conditions.

Sadly, we've become a society of "instant" everything. We need information, we resort to using the internet. Drive-thru restaurants to ATM machines...we want everything now! This includes going from here to there!

Those who feel they can ignore traffic laws, and otherwise, do so at the expense of those who do comply with the laws.

I understand some who've mentioned that the existing speed limits are too slow, however, I submit that with more and more cars on the roadways, we've become an accident waiting to happen.

One blogger mentioned staying out of the left lane and let the other traffic go by. Good point, it gives me a chance to identify the speeders faster to make the roads safer for those who comply with the law.

When the German Autoban was created, there were very strict guidelines established to insure overall safety. One rule of the autoban is that slower traffic yield to faster traffic. The system does work yet in on our own highways you have some who feel that as long as they're doing the speed limit, they have the right to use any lane they wish. This is not necessarily true. The law actually states that one should drive in the righthand lane unless passing. Two wrongs, however, don't make a right.

We share the roadways and thus should have respect for other drivers instead of trying to play "police" on the highways further endangering others just to make ones point that "the other driver is doing wrong."

In my patrol car, I have the option to pull a violator over for tailgating. In my private vehicle, I don't have that ability. I will normally slow down and let the tailgator pass to avoid further frustration. If they continue to tailgate, I will find a safe location to pull over and let them pass.

I had the opportunity to watch a driver pulling an oversized boat on Interstate 85 traveling at speeds exceeding 90mph. He would tailgate, cut drivers off, pass illegally, and a myriad of other offenses. Because there is most definitely a shortage of police on the roads, it takes time to catch some violators. Pursue this issue with your law enforcement agencies and legislators. Let them know how frustrated you've become due to a of concern by some drivers who fail to see what their lack of proper driving skills does to those who comply with the laws.

In the meantime, I would suggest that citizens continue to use their cellphones (SAFELY) to contact law enforcement to report unsafe drivers who feel they own the roadways.

Best wishes.

Answer 2

there is a difference between legality and reality. Legally yes there is a speed limit and people should go it. But the reality is that the left lane is for passing or otherwise known as the "fast lane". We all must drive where we are comfortable on the road, but if someone wants to get around you let them. Move over. Its safer for you in that you will avoid that rear end collision, and if they are ahead of you they will get picked up by the cops first. Although there are laws regarding speed, there are also laws for impeding traffic as well, even at the speed limit. Remember it is "reasonable and prudent". Just because the speed limit sign says 45, there is still room for interpretation regarding "reasonable and prudent", both above , below, and at the speed limit. People are going to do it, it is not going to change. You have 3 options at this point... move over, get off the road, or deal with drivers and what they do. Remember defensive driving means protecting yourself, just because you are obeying the law, you sometimes must let those who are going to break it just get around you in order to keep yourself safe. Personally speaking if you are going slow in the left lane and people are wanting to pass, and you do not move because you think you "have a right to be there", you are as great an offender and a hazard as the speeders and tailgaters. Legality and reality.... remember that.

Answer 3

Every time I speed it is because I am in a hurry. I work two jobs, have to take care of my house, my pets, my husband, and a whole lot of other things. I sometimes run late and can't afford to loose my job over being late. I have to get from Dallas to the suburbs and to my other job in 45 minutes.

I do not understand why people do not move overand let these people pass if they do not want to be tailgated. I understand that sometimes you can not move over but the people who just sit in the left lane going exactly 60 are rude too. You never know why some people are speeding and if people would just stay in the speed appropriate lane and let people pass than it would not be a problem.

Sometimes I speed on the way to a catering to get there on time so that I will get a tip. If I am 5 minutes late people don't tip and off of a $2000 order that $300-$400 means a lot o me.

Sometimes people have ligitimate reasons to speed, I always let people pass me if I am not in a hurry and have the time to take it slow.

I do not talk on my phone, change the station, or any of those other stupid things while driving though. Those people are the real problem out there.

Answer 4

OK, first off, there is nothing wrong with going the speed limit or even a little over if that is what the flow of traffic is. However, the people who are doing 85+ in a 65 there is something wrong with. If theres one thing that is a true fact it is this: After 80MPH your odds for survival in a wreck are literally 0%. No one I know has ever seen a collision where one of the vehicle was going over 80 and nobody was killed. Someone, if not everyone, will die in a collision at that speed regardless of seatbelts or airbags. I don't know why people go that fast knowing they may kill themselves or someone else. Moving on to the tailgating thing, I'm gonna say you are both right and wrong. While legally yes, if they hit you from behind it is their fault no matter what, you should try and move over to the right lanes whenever possible to allow them to pass you safely on the left. There is nothing worse then a car in the high speed lane going 40 in a 65 at night and comming up on it doing 65 in the same lane. I've been in that situation. The driver didn't have his headlights on (which means no tail lights either) and was going approximatly 40MPH on a 2-lane highway on a night with no moon. I was traveling the speed limit at 65 and in the high speed lane (there was an onramp comming up and I couldn't see if there was oncomming traffic) next thing I know theres a car infront of me going slow as could be and I had to swerve to avoid hitting it. Case and point. Also, as long as we're discussing bad highway habits, what about the geniuses who pass on the right (get out of the middle lane behind you and get in the slow lane to pass you). That is incredibly annoying. Here I am in the center lane going the speed limit with no car to the left of me. My exit is in 3/4 of a mile or so and suddenly the guy behind me decides to pass me on the right side of my car. What makes it worse, they decided to take their time doing it and my exits coming up and so they make me have to hit the brakes or gun it to get behind or infront of them to make the exit. The whole scenario could be avoided if they just passed on the left like they are supposed to. The speed limit is an arbitrary number really. The Department of Transportation (DOT) conducted a study on speeds. They determined that the safe operating speed on a roadway is the average speed at which 80% of the public drives. Sometimes its above the speed limit, sometimes its below. This is why we saw (at least in the northeast) the speed limits going up from 55 (optimum gas milage speed; they were originally to help us not import as much oil interestingly enough) to 65 (the average speed at which 80% of vehicles were traveling. The safe operating speed should always be maintained. Driving too slow or too fast can be equally dangerous. The new speed limits reflected the "safe" speed in favorable conditions. Also of note, there are 2 speeding laws where I am from (MA): one is driving above the posted limit which is conventional speeding, the other is "Not driving properly for conditions" or in other words if its raining or snowing, you can still get a speeding ticket even if you are going the speed limit. You can even get one if you are going 5 under the limit. And an added note on tailgating. Here's a great driving tip for everyone. The true "safe" distance has changed. Its actually not a distance at all. Pick a sign or tree you are going to pass. When the car infront of you passes it start counting ("onethousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three, etc"). When you reach the same landmark you started on, you should have just completed the number three ("onethousand three," pass landmark). This is the true safe following distance, three seconds. In fact, when we are on the highway thats how we pull over tailgaters. We count from one car passing us until the next reaches. If its less then three seconds, we can pull you over. Best advice: Stick to the speed limit or flow of traffic, ALWAYS pass on the left, don't tailgate, and be safe out there. :-)

Answer 5

Some people cannot judge distance, hence they can't allow for the reaction time of the vehicle and their own.
Other people can't estimate a safe speed, so they tail gate as a matter of fact.
Others are taught "Keep up with the flow of traffic", they are usually the least ept.
If you think Montana is bad try the NE mega-tropolis.

Answer 6

As someone from the opposite side of the spectrum, i go 80+ in a 55 everyday, I feel that it is the slow people that cause most of the wrecks. Whenever my girl friend is driving, who drives amazingly slow and safe, I feel like we are going to wreck every 2-3 minutes. If people would stop being on their cell phones or eating or multitasking while driving, going 80+ would not be a problem. If you think otherwise, just drive in texas... everyone there goes 90+ and the speed limits are 70 or 75mph.

Answer 7

decelerate somewhat and shield that %, wait somewhat to work out in the experience that they enable off somewhat and in the experience that they do no longer I decelerate some more effective. Tailgating is amazingly risky particularly at larger % seeing as you under no circumstances understand if there is a few thing which will get up making you may want to slam on your brakes. ought to you opt to finish that the tailgating individual to boot as your self ought to correctly be heavily injured if no longer killed.

Answer 8

if you tap your brakes like that, thats not legal, and i'm more likely to pull you over than the speeder. barring them going a retarded amount over. brake checking only causes someone to get pissed off even more, which may make them shoot you. you don't know weather that man behind you is a serial murder who's got a body in the trunk. or could be rushing to the hospital becuase his wifes having a baby. now they have no right to speed, but unless you are a law enforcement officer, you have no right to stop them. they are gonna speed weather you like it or not, and trying to stop them is just making the situation more dangerous for you.

Answer 9

You should travel on the right lane and let those who want to drive at higher speeds utilize the left lanes. If you cannot convince them to slow down, then just get out of their (and harms) way.

Answer 10

A friend of mine told me "no use in going too fast, where are you going that you can't be a few minutes late?"

And its true, budget your travel time and you don't need to worry about being late.