General Discussion

A HERETIC I AM

(24,908 posts)

117. The speed limit is COMPLETELY and utterly arbitrary.

Wed Jul 5, 2017, 07:06 PM

Jul 2017

"The speed limit is there for a reason. "

Yup. And that reason is primarily revenue production. It has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with safety.

Please tell me what is the real fundamental difference between this stretch of road;
https://goo.gl/maps/E6YTMLsdi3B2

And this one;
https://goo.gl/maps/ZdRExBUpH162

The first is US 84, NW of Laredo, TX.

The second is I 5 in the Southern Central Valley of CA, north of Lost Hills, which BTW, is 70 MPH for passenger cars, but California is a member of a small club of states that thinks mandating trucks and other vehicles run 15 MPH slower than the rest of the traffic is a good idea. It's not.

Advisory speeds on curves and hills is another matter, but for mostly flat, straight sections of interstate, people run the speed they are comfortable with, and that is fine, as long as you stay to the right.

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Two gripes after a 12 day road trip. [View all] liberal N proud Jun 2017 OP

I hate left lane drivers Proud liberal 80 Jun 2017 #1

It should be here as well. liberal N proud Jul 2017 #11

It Is In Illinois ProfessorGAC Jul 2017 #77

I recall when that law went I to effect liberal N proud Jul 2017 #89

I See ProfessorGAC Jul 2017 #98

Similar story here liberal N proud Jul 2017 #99

trouble is i drive in an area where the right lane is in such disrepair that my car hates it dembotoz Jul 2017 #22

Absolutely... rainbow4321 Jul 2017 #24

That's fine, but if you make that choice increase speed appropriately Amishman Jul 2017 #113

Wisconsin is a flat road paradise AngryAmish Jul 2017 #33

Feel ur pain but wis roads rated bottom 5 in the usa dembotoz Jul 2017 #38

I take it all back. AngryAmish Jul 2017 #120

starting to see some gains against the gop talking points...just point to the roads dembotoz Jul 2017 #121

The roundabouts are nice, tho. AngryAmish Jul 2017 #122

at first i hated them i have grown to accept them dembotoz Jul 2017 #123

I do a LOT of driving for my job Nac Mac Feegle Jul 2017 #114

You mean right lane drivers driving on the left side of the road right? grantcart Jul 2017 #32

No one should be cruising in the left Proud liberal 80 Jul 2017 #50

What state(s) were you in? oberliner Jun 2017 #2

On Friday alone, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina liberal N proud Jul 2017 #10

Try going thru the tunnels on 77... ileus Jul 2017 #13

It is crazy liberal N proud Jul 2017 #20

NC does not have melm00se Jul 2017 #16

I always joke there is no such thing as a speed limit in NC. mnhtnbb Jul 2017 #39

Yesterday a dude stopped about 25 yards before a traffic light to text or answer his phone. Blue_true Jun 2017 #3

Mindless! liberal N proud Jul 2017 #9

I hear ya about the rain ProudLib72 Jun 2017 #4

Not if you live in upstate NY. :)))) pangaia Jun 2017 #5

Hey I'm in CO! ProudLib72 Jun 2017 #7

My last 2 were Subaru Imprezas. Unstoppable. pangaia Jul 2017 #28

These idiots just stopped in the lane. liberal N proud Jul 2017 #12

And then there are those idiots... 3catwoman3 Jul 2017 #88

Now illegal to drive slowly in left lanes in NC unc70 Jun 2017 #6

That wasn't stopping anyone on Friday. liberal N proud Jul 2017 #8

Just become law here in Virginia also. ileus Jul 2017 #14

Looks like not a law yet in NC. rgbecker Jul 2017 #40

I thought I saw it had passed unc70 Jul 2017 #44

you sure it passed the Senate - last I can find is that it did not pass - that was April DrDan Jul 2017 #74

See post #44 above unc70 Jul 2017 #76

Am I obligated by you to exceed the speed limit in order to pass rgbecker Jul 2017 #15

agree 100% - I feel no obligation to accelerate passing because of another driver's impatience DrDan Jul 2017 #18

Why are cruising in the left Proud liberal 80 Jul 2017 #51

The sign says "SLOWER TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT" liberal N proud Jul 2017 #19

In California the speed of the flow of traffic supercedes the posted limit. nocalflea Jul 2017 #34

Maybe in California, maybe not. rgbecker Jul 2017 #36

There is a difference between driving at an unsafe speed or impediing the flow of traffic or speeding while driving within the flow of traffic. nocalflea Jul 2017 #48

Yes! liberal N proud Jul 2017 #45

not true DrDan Jul 2017 #86

Targeting. nocalflea Jul 2017 #109

If you want to pass, speed up. B2G Jul 2017 #21

Hey, you guys can speed all you want. rgbecker Jul 2017 #23

Then stay in the right lane Proud liberal 80 Jul 2017 #52

So never pass anyone? athena Jul 2017 #54

No I didn't say don't pass Proud liberal 80 Jul 2017 #64

Some idiot tried to zoom past me at the Grand Canyon last week rainbow4321 Jul 2017 #25

You're obligated to get the fuck out of the way A HERETIC I AM Jul 2017 #27

Obligated??? WOW. rgbecker Jul 2017 #37

You could not be more wrong... Whiskeytide Jul 2017 #42

I have a dash cam for such reasons liberal N proud Jul 2017 #46

I always thought all those loafers out there obeying the speed limit were republicans. pangaia Jul 2017 #30

Republicans are the young simplistic angry males who zig zag at high speed Awsi Dooger Jul 2017 #31

I totally agree. (n/t) athena Jul 2017 #55

Enlightening thread. klook Jul 2017 #71

Yes Proud liberal 80 Jul 2017 #49

A safe driver keeps a safe distance to the car in front of her. athena Jul 2017 #56

I am a very safe driver Proud liberal 80 Jul 2017 #65

I could drive all day with drivers like you liberal N proud Jul 2017 #70

so when you "ride someone", regardless of which lane, you are driving safely? DrDan Jul 2017 #73

A lot of terrible drivers Proud liberal 80 Jul 2017 #80

not offended at all. . . . and I do not tailgate anyone, regardless of which lane I am in DrDan Jul 2017 #81

Being in the left lane Proud liberal 80 Jul 2017 #83

I am in the left lane to pass . . . have I said otherwise? DrDan Jul 2017 #84

I have no problem with people using the left to pass Proud liberal 80 Jul 2017 #85

A "very safe driver" who breaks the law. athena Jul 2017 #91

Funny how that 5-7 over Proud liberal 80 Jul 2017 #92

Technically, it is illegal. athena Jul 2017 #93

My Dad's a cop Proud liberal 80 Jul 2017 #94

That still doesn't make it legal. athena Jul 2017 #96

The speed limit is COMPLETELY and utterly arbitrary. A HERETIC I AM Jul 2017 #117

If there's nobody in front of you and everybody behind you, you're the problem krispos42 Jul 2017 #75

Absolutely Egnever Jul 2017 #95

Yes. aikoaiko Jul 2017 #110

My husband, who had a CDL and once drove cement mixers mountain grammy Jul 2017 #17

I think it's a male thing. My husband drives the left lane, too. Can't tell you how many times mnhtnbb Jul 2017 #41

Not Around Here It Isn't ProfessorGAC Jul 2017 #79

Welcome to my world A HERETIC I AM Jul 2017 #26

I agree with that. liberal N proud Jul 2017 #47

Here's a pet peeve of mine... spooky3 Jul 2017 #29

4 or 5 way stop Freddie Jul 2017 #35

Two theories, Lib: Most people live in urban areas Hortensis Jul 2017 #43

Counter-rant: Freelancer Jul 2017 #53

Ever since I got a hybrid, athena Jul 2017 #57

Staying in the left lane, you are creating a safety hazzard liberal N proud Jul 2017 #58

Nothing said will change anything. Might as well smile about it. Freelancer Jul 2017 #59

That video is a riot! rgbecker Jul 2017 #61

Agree Proud liberal 80 Jul 2017 #67

100% rgbecker Jul 2017 #60

Know that I am cussing at you as I pass on the dangerous right! liberal N proud Jul 2017 #62

Yet, you do it to one car after another as you disappear over the horizon Freelancer Jul 2017 #63

If I am only gaining three minutes, it's because there are so many of you impeding traffic. liberal N proud Jul 2017 #68

The person cruising in the left Proud liberal 80 Jul 2017 #66

More dangerous because they impede traffic and force passing on the right. liberal N proud Jul 2017 #69

3 second rule? For day light and good conditions, retread Jul 2017 #72

They are like children, you have keep repeating it and maybe they will back off. rgbecker Jul 2017 #78

This rule can be applied Proud liberal 80 Jul 2017 #82

I am going to say one more thing Proud liberal 80 Jul 2017 #87

Common sense. liberal N proud Jul 2017 #90

My driving pet peeve is the state of Connecticut Zing Zing Zingbah Jul 2017 #97

I drove that corridor once liberal N proud Jul 2017 #100

Was it only once because it was a bad experience? n/t Zing Zing Zingbah Jul 2017 #101

It wasn't a terrible experience liberal N proud Jul 2017 #105

I have had left lane drivers tell me that they are driving the speed limit and no one should be appleannie1943 Jul 2017 #102

Not according to this thread Proud liberal 80 Jul 2017 #103

hmmm - I have always considered the agressive driver, the tailgater to be most likely be a DrDan Jul 2017 #111

Two key things that you stated Proud liberal 80 Jul 2017 #112

What makes people think they have to force other to conform? liberal N proud Jul 2017 #106

I agree with you. I have actually had a couple long arguments with people that think it is okay to appleannie1943 Jul 2017 #107

Good comparison because both groups think they are obligated to force others to conform liberal N proud Jul 2017 #108

Excellent post!!! Left lane sluggards are also a pet peeve of mine. Kilgore Jul 2017 #104

Was on a road trip today Proud liberal 80 Jul 2017 #115

Exactly liberal N proud Jul 2017 #119

I made a trip to New Orleans and this guy cut me off on the way to Lakefront Major Nikon Jul 2017 #116

I've been doing a lot of driving lately-IL to KY PossiblePasts Jul 2017 #118