General Discussion

WillowTree

(5,350 posts)

38. When I get on a tollway or expressway......

Wed Aug 5, 2015, 11:39 AM

Aug 2015

......I set my cruise control at the speed limit and take up residence in the right lane, venturing to the left when there's room to do so only to pass the occasional slow mover or to allow more room for a string of cars trying to merge in from the right. But I spend fully 99% of my time at the speed limit in the right lane. And still, about once a week I encounter some idiot crawling up my tailpipe. When that happens, I cancel the cruise control, take my foot off the gas and let the my speed drift down until the moron behind me either backs off sufficiently for me to see his headlights or he passes me.

Yes, it pisses them off, and one has to be careful that they don't try to cut you off when they pass you, but other than that, I don't care how pissed they get. Considering the fact that I am the car in front, it's my lane and I'm driving within the law.

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Obeying traffic laws? How hard is it? [View all] MineralMan Aug 2015 OP

People drive at the speed that is comfortable for them. NutmegYankee Aug 2015 #1

No. I've timed my car at 60 using mile markers. MineralMan Aug 2015 #2

I doubt that. NutmegYankee Aug 2015 #5

You do? Every car I've ever owned, I've timed at 60 MPH MineralMan Aug 2015 #7

Yep, I still do. NutmegYankee Aug 2015 #12

Yes, the diameter of the tire changes with wear. MineralMan Aug 2015 #16

I still have my doubts. NutmegYankee Aug 2015 #22

My watch has a stop function. MineralMan Aug 2015 #29

*cough*. Nerds! Calista241 Aug 2015 #57

I'm a proud nerdish geek. MineralMan Aug 2015 #61

You're missing an important detail in your 'discussion' with NutmegYankee Atman Aug 2015 #82

A digital speedometer is not 100% accurate either even through a VSS. You should read how they're MillennialDem Aug 2015 #100

The tachometer gets the signal from a separate sensor. NutmegYankee Aug 2015 #127

You're right. But the point still ultimately stands. You can only estimate (not exact) speed off the MillennialDem Aug 2015 #134

I agree. NutmegYankee Aug 2015 #135

That doesn't account for the 10, 20 or 30 mph difference I see daily Orrex Aug 2015 #43

I have 4 cars and all are spot on at highways speeds with my GPS Major Nikon Aug 2015 #98

I think the more likely answer is that the majority of drivers were doing 10 above the speed limit. pnwmom Aug 2015 #108

In Vegas 10 mph over is the norm. joshcryer Aug 2015 #112

Cause if they use them someone might speed up to stop them. pnwmom Aug 2015 #115

Never in my life encountered worst drivers. joshcryer Aug 2015 #117

Are you visiting or living there? pnwmom Aug 2015 #118

Extended visit. joshcryer Aug 2015 #120

Lawns: why can't the kids get off them? Warren Stupidity Aug 2015 #3

That's funny! DawgHouse Aug 2015 #10

The neighborhood kids are welcome to play on my lawn, MineralMan Aug 2015 #13

lol pintobean Aug 2015 #36

Now add looking at a stopwatch and not the road and we have a real menace to traffic. Hassin Bin Sober Aug 2015 #52

I don't look at the stopwatch while driving. MineralMan Aug 2015 #70

ME FIRST! TIME IS MONEY! OUTTA MY WAY, GRANDPA! Warpy Aug 2015 #4

I drive the speed limit, when it is safe to do so. MineralMan Aug 2015 #11

At least you have the common sense to drive in the right lane. Ace Rothstein Aug 2015 #6

I always use the right lane on two-lane highways, MineralMan Aug 2015 #8

Come drive down some of our interstates madokie Aug 2015 #122

I drive all the time. leftyladyfrommo Aug 2015 #9

I work hard to keep an appropriate distance MineralMan Aug 2015 #17

When I get on a tollway or expressway...... WillowTree Aug 2015 #38

Post removed Post removed Aug 2015 #91

What the Hell are you talking about?! Did you even read the whole post, or only the last paragraph? WillowTree Aug 2015 #92

Why are you assuming that the tailgaters can always pass him? If the roads are crowded, people often follow pnwmom Aug 2015 #119

Me too. cwydro Aug 2015 #47

I hate tailgaters. I stay to the right. I drive the limit. I leave plenty LibDemAlways Aug 2015 #103

I have said for a long time there's no such thing as a speed limit in NC. mnhtnbb Aug 2015 #14

Traffic signals. So many people in Minnesota blow through MineralMan Aug 2015 #19

Oh, the texting. Scares the crap out of me. Our local Town of Chapel Hill mnhtnbb Aug 2015 #26

I know someone who once got a speeding ticket for 30 in a 35 zone. hobbit709 Aug 2015 #15

I just came back from St. Martin Lurker Deluxe Aug 2015 #18

Sounds crazy. MineralMan Aug 2015 #20

I drove there once, fun times. Ace Rothstein Aug 2015 #30

It was fun Lurker Deluxe Aug 2015 #34

You should write one of those "Random Thoughts" columns in the weekly shopper ProudToBeBlueInRhody Aug 2015 #21

I see very few State Troopers on our local Interstates. MineralMan Aug 2015 #25

Traffic is so bad in SoCal now you really don't have to worry about speeding unless it's midnight! mnhtnbb Aug 2015 #31

I've lived in LA for over 50 years. Got my LibDemAlways Aug 2015 #105

In the early 80's I lived in Woodland Hills and worked in Hollywood. mnhtnbb Aug 2015 #109

I have a friend who lives in Calabasas and works at LibDemAlways Aug 2015 #128

I used to work at Children's! mnhtnbb Aug 2015 #139

She's an RN. Started out there about 8 years ago in LibDemAlways Aug 2015 #140

OMG. mnhtnbb Aug 2015 #141

My friend no doubt knows her. Small world, LibDemAlways Aug 2015 #142

Try I-15 from Corona to San Diego... cherokeeprogressive Aug 2015 #95

I tried driving California 38 from Mentone to Big Bear Lake once Art_from_Ark Aug 2015 #106

Most drivers drive 5 to 10 mph over the posted... Whiskeytide Aug 2015 #23

Because sometimes you just have to give somebody the phone and punch it snooper2 Aug 2015 #24

Good golly! narnian60 Aug 2015 #37

OMG that was stupid! Glassunion Aug 2015 #46

Check it out after the new Ford racing exhaust snooper2 Aug 2015 #48

I don't find that kind of crap funny at all. MineralMan Aug 2015 #56

You have to catch the cars to crush them - it would also encourage more people running from the MillennialDem Aug 2015 #102

Ever notice how backed up traffic gets when there's a cop leading? ileus Aug 2015 #27

It backs up because people slow down Travis_0004 Aug 2015 #65

No, it is the volume of traffic. Atman Aug 2015 #84

I noticed that. NutmegYankee Aug 2015 #125

I've seen people pass the cop steve2470 Aug 2015 #78

I've done it pintobean Aug 2015 #79

yea you're definitely safe then nt steve2470 Aug 2015 #80

I don't know anymore. pintobean Aug 2015 #83

I saw someone pass the cop last year. He used the deceleration/acceleration lane to do it. Hassin Bin Sober Aug 2015 #85

Glad you're staying right and not playing hall monitor in the left lane. Gidney N Cloyd Aug 2015 #28

Must not be from Ohio. ileus Aug 2015 #76

I usually go 5-10 over. marmar Aug 2015 #32

Me, too. I disdain overly cautious and timid drivers but... randome Aug 2015 #35

Eh, I'm a fan of speed control. joshcryer Aug 2015 #113

They also don't realize that the faster they go Kelvin Mace Aug 2015 #33

They don't care about that, actually. MineralMan Aug 2015 #50

i drive an older kia--a sephia or is it a kia syphilis??? i forget. consider the instruments their dembotoz Aug 2015 #129

Cue George Carlin.... GreatGazoo Aug 2015 #39

Well, his joke depends on a failure of logic. Orrex Aug 2015 #44

I usually go a little over the limit out on the open road. lpbk2713 Aug 2015 #40

Think of it as civil disobedience. aikoaiko Aug 2015 #41

What? Driving the speed limit in the right lane? MineralMan Aug 2015 #69

A Meditation On The Speed Limit Make7 Aug 2015 #42

I wouldn't do that, frankly. MineralMan Aug 2015 #68

this is the Age KT2000 Aug 2015 #45

Lots of four way stops in residential neighborhoods in St. Paul. MineralMan Aug 2015 #64

Yes - I've become KT2000 Aug 2015 #88

How far away does your friend live? Snobblevitch Aug 2015 #49

I'm in St. Paul. My friend lives in Prior Lake. MineralMan Aug 2015 #53

Ok, now I get it. Snobblevitch Aug 2015 #93

Obeying traffic laws? How hard is it? Depends what color you are. AllFieldsRequired Aug 2015 #51

Very true. I still play it safe, and follow MineralMan Aug 2015 #54

That's the disturbing subtext of the OP alcibiades_mystery Aug 2015 #71

That's not something new pintobean Aug 2015 #75

Yeah. joshcryer Aug 2015 #114

Aparently (not the OP) the traffic law about staying right except to pass in MD is hard to obey. nt kelly1mm Aug 2015 #55

I have no trouble with that law. MineralMan Aug 2015 #58

I am guilty of going over the speed limit. RebelOne Aug 2015 #59

That's one too many for me. MineralMan Aug 2015 #63

I never go the speed limit down I-94, 494. or 394. Deadshot Aug 2015 #60

I don't care what you do. Just stay off my bumper if I'm in the MineralMan Aug 2015 #62

Is your time valuable? I know mine is... Taitertots Aug 2015 #66

You will do as you see fit, I'm sure. MineralMan Aug 2015 #67

5 minutes a day is more than 1 day every year Taitertots Aug 2015 #86

Whatever you say. MineralMan Aug 2015 #87

it's first grade level math. 5 minutes times 365 days = 1825 minutes per year Taitertots Aug 2015 #123

My highway driving is bassed on low stress these days. NCTraveler Aug 2015 #72

Obeying the law is for chumps! steve2470 Aug 2015 #73

In fairness, in certain vehicles optimum gas mileage is above the speed limit. MillennialDem Aug 2015 #104

If driving 5-10 mph over the speed limit taught_me_patience Aug 2015 #74

That's how I see it laundry_queen Aug 2015 #99

It's also amazing how those minutes add up taught_me_patience Aug 2015 #130

I speed almost every day. Adrahil Aug 2015 #77

The worst PowerToThePeople Aug 2015 #81

I treat them as advisory. Guidelines, really. n/t lumberjack_jeff Aug 2015 #89

It's very hard mythology Aug 2015 #90

LOL. TransitJohn Aug 2015 #94

+1000. nt raccoon Aug 2015 #138

What is your point? Are you saying that white people obey the traffic laws akbacchus_BC Aug 2015 #96

That's a good way to get pulled over around here. LeftyMom Aug 2015 #97

Minor speeders are far less a problem than other traffic problems MillennialDem Aug 2015 #101

For those of us with no or not functioning cruise control strategery blunder Aug 2015 #107

Check your fuses, it might be your problem with the cruise control. B Calm Aug 2015 #131

I'd have to pay someone to do it strategery blunder Aug 2015 #132

You have to pay someone to check your fuses? Do you pay someone to change a B Calm Aug 2015 #145

In my living room, I actually know where the fuse is. strategery blunder Aug 2015 #146

Check your glove compartment and see if your vehicle has an owners manual. B Calm Aug 2015 #147

My daily drive: AngryOldDem Aug 2015 #110

Technically you can pass a vehicle going the speed limit... joshcryer Aug 2015 #111

I have to get to work you deadbeat. Live and Learn Aug 2015 #116

Boy, Are You And I Ever On The Same Page, MM ProfessorGAC Aug 2015 #121

I was on the Dan Ryan Saturday. Going along with most of the traffic. Hassin Bin Sober Aug 2015 #136

I Hate That Road! ProfessorGAC Aug 2015 #143

I think driverless cars are meant for interstate driving alarimer Aug 2015 #124

Many trucks are governed to run below 70 mph, how many trucks did you pass? B Calm Aug 2015 #126

I passed two trucks. Both had oversized loads. MineralMan Aug 2015 #133

They are more important than other drivers on the road. CTyankee Aug 2015 #137

This, "dam kids get off my lawn" moment brought to you by Rex Aug 2015 #144