Does anyone follow the speed limit on interstate highways?

Question

55 mph is the speed limit posted in my area interstate highways, but almost nobody goes 55. Everyone goes more like 70 to 75 mph and this is a common trend and thats how it has been for the past several years. This has even been confirmed by the speed surveys conducted by traffic engineers working for department of transport. However, my question is that if you're the only person going 55 while the flow is moving at 70 to 75, aren't you endangering your own safety? In such situation, you maybe doing more harm to yourself by going the speed limit then to go 15 to 20 mph over the limit. However, if you go 15 to 20 mph over the limit, you get speed ticket and then you cannot argue in court, that the flow was moving fast. Do the speed limit need to be raised in such a case? the 55 limit has been there for over 30 years without regard to the technological advancement of modern cars. The cars of 70's moved slow, and thats why 55 was initially set as limit. So what do you say about this?

Answer 1

the answerer nika caliente is WRONG. You do endanger your safety when you're moving much slower than the rest of the traffic. What you're doing is impeding the flow of traffic and its only a matter of time before you get rear-ended. I have been rear-ended going 55 when everyone was going around 75 to 80 even at the extreme right lane. If you take a driver improvement course they too will teach that regardless of what the posted limit, you need to take certain factors into account before deciding what speed you drive --- the weather, the number of cars and their speed, etc etc. I used to think too that the car can pass me but i'll go 55 and if he tailgates thats his problem -- guess what? a honda civic smashed on my rear bumper while tailgating me in november 2006. I was 55, the honda was at least 80 and couldn't slow on time. Both our cars were totaled, and i was seriously injured as well as the person in honda. I'm lucky i survived. Later i found out in a scientific study that you're 6 times more likely to get hit when you go 55 when others go 75. But at the same time you risk getting ticketed at 75 -- as reckless. This is why i avoid using interstates whenever i can. If i have to use interstate, i would try to be on the extreme right and if there's a car behind me that is gaining on me, i would speed up and i don't care if i get a ticket. Getting a ticket is better than being hospitalized.

Answer 2

Everybody speeds, unless the road conditions are bad or there is a speed trap ahead. Normally, people drive 5-10 MPH over the posted limit. Here in the Midwest, speeding fines are normally under $100-except in school or construction zones, then the fines are doubled.

Answer 3

I try to do the speed limit, but seeing a grill from an 18-wheeler in my rear view window will make me speed up! And not all 70's cars were slow, mine had a top speed of 120, with no governor, like most cars do today.

Answer 4

I do the the speed limit because nowadays they are charging you $1000 off tops if they catch you speeding especially if you are under 21 unless this is just the state of Virginia. Personally I don't think you would be endangering yourself because if the drivers think you are moving too slow then they can just go around you, but personally other drivers can drive up on my tail if they want but it won't make me go any faster and that's how it should be.