Do you drive at the posted speed limit even when it doesn't make sense?
By Jess
@JJ4Ever (4693)
United States
May 6, 2010 10:56pm CST
Do you always drive at (or under) the posted speed limit? Do you do so even when the flow of traffic is going faster than that? I live in the city and most of the time, if people don't drive at least five miles per hour over the posted speed limit, they will get run off the road! (LOL) I'm not usually in a hurry to go somewhere unless I'm on my way to work or late for an appointment. Otherwise, I don't understand what the hurry is for other drivers! Of course, I think I've turned into a true city driver since I tend to scold other drivers (from the safety of my own vehicle, of course - LOL!) for driving too slow, pulling out in front of me, etc. That is the extent of my "road rage." However, in my city the way people drive, you would think that the speed limit was at least ten miles per hour more than it actually is. Although I'm careful to observe all traffic laws (and have never gotten a ticket or had an at-fault accident), sometimes it's safer for me to go over the speed limit to keep up with the flow of traffic because driving any slower would cause an accident. Do you ever feel this way? While I don't go out of my way to break the speed limit, I think there are times when it's justified. Drivers shouldn't be in such a hurry that they run others off the road because that puts everyone else at risk. What are your thoughts?
2 people like this
7 responses
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
8 Jun 10
I always thought that every road should have two lanes, one for those that want to follow the speed limit and one for those those that don't. 
I try to follow the speed limit most of the time but like you at times I go with the flow to avoid causing accidents. I think it's the wise and safe way to drive.
I try to follow the speed limit most of the time but like you at times I go with the flow to avoid causing accidents. I think it's the wise and safe way to drive.3 people like this
@JJ4Ever (4693)
• United States
11 Jul 10
I agree with you, but I also think there should be three lanes going each way on every road - one for those who go under the speed limit, one for those going at the speed limit, and one for those who go over the speed limit. What do you think? (LOL) I generally drive at the speed limit. If I'm not, I don't go more than about four miles an hour over the limit. I don't want to be the one the sticks out like a sore thumb when the cops come by and want to pull me over, if you know what I mean! I also have to judge if it's safer to go with the flow rather than observe the speed limit. My husband and I were driving back to Michigan from Tennessee last weekend, and we were going about 75 MPH on the expressway. We caught up to a car in the middle lane that must've been going about 40 MPH! I felt scared for that person because not only were they in the middle lane rather than the slow lane to the far right, they were also going slow enough to where people going double their speed would catch up to them so fast to hit them! We almost hit them just because we weren't expecting someone to go that slow, especially on the expressway! I don't think that's safe either, so it's best just to judge which speed to go. Thanks for your response!
2 people like this
@JJ4Ever (4693)
• United States
24 Aug 11
I like that idea (except for the knocking down the cities). It seems like here in the metro Detroit area where I live, they're constantly ripping up old roads and adding in new (with many, many) extra lanes. It's kind of a pain going through it, but it's nice once it's done. The most recent project in my town is the construction people taking a bridge (one lane each way with a small turn lane) and making it five or six lanes across. Under the bridge is the expressway, so it's not like it's over water or anything, but it's still a HUGE undertaking since they still have to create more land and foundation underneath where the new bridge will go. It's awful having that construction during rush hour, but it's really neat to see how the project has progressed!
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
12 Jul 10
Thank you for the BR award. Three lanes sounds even better. They would have to knock down every city and rebuild with six lanes streets.
3 people like this
@manojt2 (179)
• India
7 May 10
Yes! I came down to earth when my stupid driving would have caused my family's murder. Once I was traveling with my family to some countryside. The speed limit there was 60 km / hour. And I was driving at 80 km / hour. Suddenly I could sense my car was drifting very much to the left side and if I won't control it would fall off the road in the fields which was about 8 ft deep from the road level. In a haste I suddenly turned the steering to right and because of the speed of 80 km / hr the car got drifted to the extreme right in a fraction of second. I don't know what to do and I again jerked the steering to left and again my car was drifted to the extreme left. It took one or two zig zags and then luckily I just pressed my leg on the brakes and the car stopped somewhere to the extreme right. Luckily for us no vehicle was traveling before us or after us, else we would have collided. I was very scared and even my family members were stunned. From thereon I am very cautious and drive at a lower speed. You never know what will happen. Drive cautiously!
3 people like this
@AmbiePam (92865)
• United States
7 May 10
I would say for the most part I follow the speed limit even when it isn't practical or make sense. Mainly because I can't afford to get a ticket! I don't know how I would pay for it. 
There is a stretch of road I take to go from my apartment to my parent's house. It is the kind of road that usually has a 50mph speed limit. Other roads similar in type and location around here DO have a posted speed limit of 50mph. However, this one has a speed limit of 40mph. I don't know how many cars I have seen pulled over on that road by the police. People constantly pass me, but I don't care. With police crawling all over those 4 miles, I'll let them be the one to get a ticket!
There is a stretch of road I take to go from my apartment to my parent's house. It is the kind of road that usually has a 50mph speed limit. Other roads similar in type and location around here DO have a posted speed limit of 50mph. However, this one has a speed limit of 40mph. I don't know how many cars I have seen pulled over on that road by the police. People constantly pass me, but I don't care. With police crawling all over those 4 miles, I'll let them be the one to get a ticket!2 people like this
@JJ4Ever (4693)
• United States
11 Jul 10
I'm exactly the same way. I'd rather be the one to watch others get pulled over than get pulled over myself. People can tailgate me all they want, but that doesn't make me go any faster because I know they won't hit me since they'll wouldn't want to mess up their car! I don't purposely go slow, but sticking to the speed limit definitely ensure no expensive tickets! I've never had a ticket and don't plan on ever getting one. Thanks for your response!
1 person likes this
@Steinway (307)
• United States
7 May 10
Sometimes, I drive a little over the speed limit and sometimes I drive a little under the speed limit, depending on how I feel. I feel that no matter how slow or how fast you go there is always someone who is in a bigger hurry than you are. But, I keep it around the posted speed limit, not only because of police, but because of gas mileage.
2 people like this
@JJ4Ever (4693)
• United States
11 Jul 10
You're exactly right - no matter how fast or slow we go, there's always someone going slower or faster...and I agree with you, when it seems like you're going slow, there's always someone who's not happy to go that slow behind you. Of course, I've been there and done that, too, when someone in front of me isn't going the speed I think they should go! It definitely saves money in gas and tickets if we just go the posted speed limit. I know sometimes it's tempting no to, but that temptation will always be there so it's better safe than sorry!
1 person likes this
@nidhinswathi (87)
• India
7 May 10
i like to drive at speed limits this will help us from accidents
2 people like this
@leahk1975 (4)
• United States
7 May 10
I usually stay with the flow of traffic without exceding the speed limit by too much.
2 people like this
@rolandbago (25)
•
7 May 10
i try to follow the rules, but sometime is not work :)
2 people like this
@JJ4Ever (4693)
• United States
8 Jul 12
I'm like you. I have good intentions of following the speed limit, but it's hard! My car is really smooth, so a lot of times I'll be driving and then look down to find I'm going too fast again. It's frustrating, but we all struggle with it. Thanks for your response!
@cyrus123 (6363)
• United States
7 May 10
I live in a small town, as you know, and I try to stay right at or a little below the speed limit everywhere. I've gotten two or three speeding tickets in my life and I can't afford one these days. If I'm driving to Birmingham, which is the nearest big city to where I live, I tend to get a little over the speed limit sometimes, which I don't mean to do. I tend to have a heavy foot on the gas pedal and that's a major highway between here and Birmingham. I don't drive over there much any more since I don't have a very dependable vehicle any more and gas is so high these days. I might ride over there with somebody else, though. The faster you drive, the more gas you use up and I think it pays to watch your speed for this reason. We have one or two streets here in town where the speed limit is 25 and that's ridiculously slow
! I got a ticket one time because I was going 43 on one of these streets
! There is a college on this particular street and I was in college at the time. I think a lot of college students got caught for going a little too fast on this street, lol. Some drove faster than I did, though.
! I got a ticket one time because I was going 43 on one of these streets! There is a college on this particular street and I was in college at the time. I think a lot of college students got caught for going a little too fast on this street, lol. Some drove faster than I did, though.1 person likes this
@JJ4Ever (4693)
• United States
11 Jul 10
Hi there! I definitely agree with you that it pays to drive slower even you're tempted not to because it saves money in gas as well as the money you would pay for a ticket if you got caught! That's the way to go, especially if you do a lot of driving. The more driving we do, the more of a chance we would have of getting pulled over if we were not to observe the speed limit. It's great you've recognized that you have a heavy foot, so you do what you can to correct it. Good for you! Thanks for your response.
1 person likes this
