That is a good philosophy to have. Going so fast (if it is even possible) over the relatively short distances that most of us drive on the highways only saves us a few minutes of time.

But, as many have said, being tone-deaf and driving too slow for the conditions (the flow of traffic) can be a safety hazard in itself. That may be enough to cause some idiot in the older BMW 3 or VW hothatch wannabe (not a GTI but just an older Golf with a lowered suspension) to "speed, overtake, give someone the stink eye".

Before I get flamed for blaming all traffic problems on BMWs and VWs, that it what I see here in my neck of the woods.

 

"Idiot in the older BMW 3," I guess that's me (2007 is old right, or did you mean 2005) but I'm 100% I don't drive like an idiot. This statement would be reliable and valid, when bluefin tuna fishermen start catching tuna with nets...

 

 

You're assuming that because someone is driving over the speed limit they're "overtaking", or "giving someone the stink eye" or driving aggressively. I drive more or less the flow of traffic, which tends to be 10-15 over here and I don't drive aggressively.

Unfortunately, where I am going is often quite important, I'm a busy guy and I drive around from place to place throughout the day and I'm meeting clients and people at different locations, I do have to be cognizant of the amount of time it takes me to get places. That doesn't mean I drive like a maniac, but I drive with purpose, walk with purpose.

5 minutes here, 5 minutes there, at the end of the day you're talking about me being g 30+ minutes behind and thats not going to work.

 

 

 

the only time you need to go faster/slower is when you have grass on your left and a car on your right doing the same speed as you so you should be moving into that right lane. don't be that guy causing a build up of traffic because you're blocking those going faster. people who go fast usually hurt themselves and maybe a couple others. people driving slow usually hurt more cause of the built up tailgaters behind them when they get in an accident. people also need to learn how to merge properly. if you're getting onto a highway/interstate you should be up to speed by the time you can merge, not 20 under still and expecting everyone to let you in cause your lane is ending.

 

Totally depends on the location, weather, and my mood. But generally, around town I drive the speed limit due to the poor roads. Going at a reasonable speed makes it easy to dodge road imperfections. I get bullied a lot by people in pickup trucks and large SUVs, that too when nearly always being in the right lane.

On the highway I go quite fast in the left-most lane, but not more than 10 mph over if there's a lot of cars around or if I know it's a stretch where cops could be hiding.

 

Well said. It's just $$ collecting for the road pirates.

 

Both down in LA for decades and then up here in Oregon for 25 years I've always set a limit of about 10 over. It probably works out to a bit less than that, since my speedo is maybe 1 or 2 fast (based on the radar units on the side of the highway). I have no problem with folks going slower, just stay to the right. Haven't had a ticket in decades.

Anyone who insists on a rigid speed limit might want to drive in other countries in the world, where the road rules and enforcement are, uh, quite a bit different. Shocking at first, then you get used to it and go with the flow. Then you come back here and are shocked at how meek everyone is. Not that it's a bad thing, just that our way is not the only way.

Driving a little rental Fiat on a German autobahn a couple of decades ago, doing about 85mph. I move to the left lane to pass a lorry (truck) and see in my rearview mirror a car at least a half-mile behind me, flashing his lights. I get back over and he passes me in a matter of seconds, going easily 120mph. That's how THEY drive. Are they wrong?

So if you want to go slower, fine, just stay to the right, as the rules require anyway.

EDIT: If it's a glorious day I will sometimes go slower to soak it in. If I'm on a two-lane road I will be perfectly happy to pull over to let someone by who is in more of a hurry than me. No worries, mate.

 

The stock Is350 F-Sport speedo is right on. I have a GPS radar detector and it's always showing what my speedo is showing.

 

isn't the autobahn road quality way better than here? also american drivers aren't as alert/testing standards are lower. I'd days more than 50% of people don't know how to properly use their blinkers. I was test driving a GS and my salesman was complaining how the lane keep assist system was annoying because it would always interfere when he was changing lanes/merging cause he didn't use his blinkers.

 

everyone here drives minimum of 10-15 over the limit on freeways

 

If you look at YouTube, there is a richey rich group driving exotics and giving cops a hard time--I have a pretty good hunch that no matter what our opinion is today, we were likely brought up with closely similar manners (did your mom and dad teach you to bully other kids and steal peoples' wallets, cheat at sports, lie on interviews, etc.). It's once we get out into the real world that we diverge. When I come across those vids, I am pro LE. Just because you lease a car I would never dream of being able to test drive, doesn't make it ok to max it out on an interstate (and I did that at 19).

For the most part, we "can" do what we want--and that is to go 10 even sometimes 20 over the limit, without any intervention. In MD, even the cams are set to nab at 12, so 11 works.

Road pirates, I've been looking for the proper term to label what I see in this sub forum quite a lot--I found it. It's a "backhanded" comment.

 

drivers being either oblivious (not checking their rear) or purposeful a-holes. Ive read about how some cops pulled over left lane lollygaggers and the drivers admitted they drove slow to "stop others from speeding" If you want to stop people from speeding, get a damn badge.