Ehh..At least the speed limit?

[Evil Duckie]

Is it rude to go way under the speed limit for no apparent reason?

No it is not rude to go under the speed limit. You really don't know why he was not going as fast as you want. There could be many reasons and all of the valid.

Yes it is frustrating to be behind someone going slow, but that is life. It can be very dangerous to fast on many country roads. I know around here it could be that he saw deer near the road.

Being a speed manic is worse to me.  You don't have time to react to something unexpected especially on country roads. I have seen many accidents from people hitting deer, you can't always avoid them but speeding makes it worse. I  have seen people almost hit a school bus full of kids because they didn't realize that a bus was stopped waiting to turn just over the top of the hill.

[Squishygirl]

Personally I try to never exceed 10 mph over the limit

I'm not sure if this is the legal speed limit where you are, but here in the UK, the speed limit is not an optional but a legal limit. In towns and on quite a few of the local twisty turny roads the limit is 30 MPH and there are a series of commercials on TV which press the point. In them a small child has been knocked over.

The message is simply that if you hit the child at 40 MPH there's an 80% chance she'll die. Hit her at 30 MPH and there's an 80% chance she'll live.

Effective enough for me and most of the people I know to stick to the legal limit or just below it.

[Slartibartfast]

Around here the general rule is the speed limit or up to five miles above it is fine; anything out of that range will be too slow / too fast for the speed of other traffic.

My commute to work every day is 30 minutes of two-lane road, along which there are several housing construction projects.  I HATE getting stuck behind trucks that do 10 under the speed limit while spewing gravel, dirt, and mud at my car even when I'm following 8-10 car lengths behind.  I can't come closer and prepare to pass because the road is hilly and somewhat well used (so the opportunities to pass are short and few, even if there isn't oncoming traffic) and my windshield would be so covered in gunk by the time I got close enough, I couldn't see.  I also got THREE flat tires this summer because these stupid trucks drop screws and nails along with the dirt and gravel.

I'll be so happy when they finish all this development!  The road will be crazy busy, but maybe they will widen it eventually.

[alli_wan]

Is it rude to go way under the speed limit for no apparent reason?

Not nearly as rude as speeding because you think you're entitled to.

The speed limit exists for a reason, not simply to annoy you.

The person driving may have inconvenienced you slightly, but a driver's license is not a guarantee that you will be permitted to drive as fast as you want or even at the limit every single time you drive.

If you were so intent on getting to your destination all that sooner, take a major roadway or leave earlier.  Rural roads do not exist simply for your amusement.

[Virg]

Sorry Smarterthanu213, but I have to agree with alli_wan on this one.  There are laws on many states' books stating that a driver may not legally drive slowly enough to cause a hazardous condition, but the case you describe doesn't seem to fall into that category.  Going more than 15 MPH under the legal limit is the usual break point for police to intervene, and since this fellow was going close to that he should have pulled over to allow those behind him to pass, but I stop short of labelling his actions rude or dangerous.

Speeding is dangerous on back roads.  While I understand the reasoning, especially on back roads that one knows very well, it only takes a single problem to cause a severe accident.  Consider that while you're speeding down the road, that you encounter something that you simply can't avoid.  For everyone who says that they react fast enough to avoid anything that might be laying on the road, I ask how you would handle coming around a corner to find someone oncoming in your lane, due to their making an illegal pass or swerving out of their own lane for whatever reason.  In that case you can forget evading the accident at all, and then it comes down to what you're going to hit, and how hard you're going to hit it.  Unlike a highway, there's usually very little room on the sides of back roads before you encounter hard objects like trees, utility poles and houses, and the difference between hitting something at 30 MPH versus 40 MPH is well documented.

In short, I'd say that if you're willing to exceed the speed limit on a road you give up the right to complain about other people driving at unusual speeds, fast or slow.

Virg

[smarterthanu213]

I live on back country roads, very twisty, etc. There are good reasons to be going under the limit besides the fact that the limit is the legal maximum. If you are unfamiliar with the roads, many aren't clearly labeled so you slow down to check the signs.

As someone who has pegged various wildlife including a bear and having nearly missed pegging a loose sheep and an escaped horse, I am careful coming around curves, especially in the country.

I am going to be honest here and say that the OP kind of offended me in that I am being reassured that "If I get stuck behind you and you're going 35, I'm OK with that." I don't really care if someone is "OK" with the fact that I have abided by the law. I am actually obligated to follow laws regarding speed limits and don't really need the "OK" from someone who disregards them. Yet I see and hear several people who act as if their begrudging tolerance of people who follow posted limits is some act of benevolence.

As for the cop ticketing the driver going 22, it is far more likely that our low flying OP will pull a ticket for exceeding the speed limit on twisty country roads.

I'm sorry if I offended you. I was just stating that, while I prefer to go 5 or so over the limit, I'm not like some other people in that I don't get mad at you for going slower than me. Most people around here will get very violent and angry if they get behind someone actualy going the speed limit.

He was on a long, open, straight stretch. There are curves, and the posted limit on them is 15; he slowed down to a near stop on those cuves. There is no wildlife on those roads. The area around is flat.

Honestly, I don't understand what is rude of me for going 5 over the posted limit. Yes, I realize I am going over the posted limit, but where I live that's the norm. I've been honked at and flipped off for going 5 over. The person was not just inconveniencing me but 6 other drivers on the road. I don't think I'm entitled to speeding. I might once in awhile, but I don't have a problem with *not* speeding. I only have a problem with going 13 under the limit for no apparent reason, the individual is holding up traffic, and there is no way to get around him.

[DottyG]

Edited to note that the OP and I posted at the same time.

Sorry Smarterthanu213, but I have to agree with alli_wan on this one.  There are laws on many states' books stating that a driver may not legally drive slowly enough to cause a hazardous condition, but the case you describe doesn't seem to fall into that category.  Going more than 15 MPH under the legal limit is the usual break point for police to intervene, and since this fellow was going close to that he should have pulled over to allow those behind him to pass, but I stop short of labelling his actions rude or dangerous.

Speeding is dangerous on back roads.  While I understand the reasoning, especially on back roads that one knows very well, it only takes a single problem to cause a severe accident.  Consider that while you're speeding down the road, that you encounter something that you simply can't avoid.  For everyone who says that they react fast enough to avoid anything that might be laying on the road, I ask how you would handle coming around a corner to find someone oncoming in your lane, due to their making an illegal pass or swerving out of their own lane for whatever reason.  In that case you can forget evading the accident at all, and then it comes down to what you're going to hit, and how hard you're going to hit it.  Unlike a highway, there's usually very little room on the sides of back roads before you encounter hard objects like trees, utility poles and houses, and the difference between hitting something at 30 MPH versus 40 MPH is well documented.

In short, I'd say that if you're willing to exceed the speed limit on a road you give up the right to complain about other people driving at unusual speeds, fast or slow.

Virg

Gonna have to "third" y'all.  Speeding, especially on a back road where any animal or other hazard could lurk, is dangerous.  Period.  There's no excuse for that, and it's not some kind of "badge of honor" to do so.  Speeding, anywhere, is dangerous.  And, I'm a bit bothered by the glee attitude that someone is doing so knowingly and without regard for what could happen because of it.

[DottyG]

There is no wildlife on those roads. The area around is flat.

Honestly, I don't understand what is rude of me for going 5 over the posted limit. Yes, I realize I am going over the posted limit, but where I live that's the norm. I've been honked at and flipped off for going 5 over. The person was not just inconveniencing me but 6 other drivers on the road. I don't think I'm entitled to speeding. I might once in awhile, but I don't have a problem with *not* speeding. I only have a problem with going 13 under the limit for no apparent reason, the individual is holding up traffic, and there is no way to get around him.

Not once, but twice in your original post, you referred to how you are a "speed maniac like me."  I'm sorry, but that's not just going 5 mph over the limit.  Five miles over is a mere variance in speedometers.  What you've described (and are now backpedaling) is that you speed far enough above the limit that even you realize that you've going way too fast.

(Not trying to be snarky.  Just wanted to point that out, because I think it's germane to the thread.)

And, no one lives in a vacuum.  You say there is no wildlife, but are you positive about that?  What about a stray dog that you have to hit, because you're flying down the road?  It's just too risky to be speeding that much.  Too much could happen.

[ShadesOfGrey]

He was on a long, open, straight stretch. There are curves, and the posted limit on them is 15; he slowed down to a near stop on those cuves. There is no wildlife on those roads. The area around is flat.

Honestly, I don't understand what is rude of me for going 5 over the posted limit. Yes, I realize I am going over the posted limit, but where I live that's the norm. I've been honked at and flipped off for going 5 over. The person was not just inconveniencing me but 6 other drivers on the road. I don't think I'm entitled to speeding. I might once in awhile, but I don't have a problem with *not* speeding. I only have a problem with going 13 under the limit for no apparent reason, the individual is holding up traffic, and there is no way to get around him.

smarter, I think you've missed the point of many of the posters.  YOU may not see any reason for him to be driving so slowly, but there may actually BE a reason. 

And no, it's not just rude for you to speed, it's dangerous, and, as many other threads will tell you - safety trumps politeness.

It sounds like you are looking for validation of your feelings, and you just arent finding it here.  Many posters have said that while it may be aggravating to be behind someone going slowly for various reasons, it certainly isnt rude of them to make an informed judgement about the road conditions and their driving abilities.

It doesnt really matter how you judged the conditions.  The nature of a 1 lane road is that when someone deems it necessary to drive 22 in a 35, and you are behind them, you must now drive 22 yourself.  There's not much you can do about that.

[goblue2539]

 And, I'm a bit bothered by the glee attitude that someone is doing so knowingly and without regard for what could happen because of it.

I'm trying very hard not to be snarky here, because this is an honest question.  Where do you see glee?  I see an admittance of contribution, and acknowledgement that the world and the person aren't always perfect. 

I'm surprised that no one here has been able to respond to the question without attacking the OP.  The question wasn't about her driving skill, regardless of whether anyone here considers them good or bad.  The question was if the other driver was rude.  It's possible to say that he wasn't (or was) without attacking the OP. 

[Twik]

I can sympathize with the OP, since I usually drive a little fast myself (voice from off-stage "A little? HAH!"). And creating a long backlog of impatient drivers is a serious hazard. Making people try to pass where it's not safe is one of the worst things you can do.

HOWEVER, when I get behind a car like she describes, I try to remind myself that when not deliberately pacing themselves to the speed limit, most people drive as quickly as they feel they safely can. So, do I really want that driver (usually an older person) to speed up beyond the speed at which they feel safe, just for my convenience?

I'm more annoyed at the people who pick the centre or left-hand lane of a multilane highway to mosy along at 5 - 10 miles below, when they have a perfectly suitable right-hand lane to use.

[goblue2539]

I'm more annoyed at the people who pick the centre or left-hand lane of a multilane highway to mosy along at 5 - 10 miles below, when they have a perfectly suitable right-hand lane to use.

This we can definitely agree on.  There are few things about driving I hate more than finding myself passing on the right.  Even (or maybe especially) when I wasn't actively trying to pass, just going the limit (Ok, maybe a little over for me too) in my lane. 

[Evil Duckie]

I'm more annoyed at the people who pick the centre or left-hand lane of a multilane highway to mosy along at 5 - 10 miles below, when they have a perfectly suitable right-hand lane to use.

I agree. I am annoyed by this but it is not rude or illegal to do this.

At times like this tell myself, "patience is a virtue now get some".

[DottyG]

 And, I'm a bit bothered by the glee attitude that someone is doing so knowingly and without regard for what could happen because of it.

I'm trying very hard not to be snarky here, because this is an honest question.  Where do you see glee?  I see an admittance of contribution, and acknowledgement that the world and the person aren't always perfect. 

I'm surprised that no one here has been able to respond to the question without attacking the OP.  The question wasn't about her driving skill, regardless of whether anyone here considers them good or bad.  The question was if the other driver was rude.  It's possible to say that he wasn't (or was) without attacking the OP. 

I debated that word "glee" and almost deleted it.  But, I guess I'm just finding some of what another poster mentioned.  That there's a bit of "I know I was disobeying the law, but the person in front of me was ticking me off.  So, he's rude, right?!" in the post.  And, yet it doesn't seem to be registering that 1) regardless of how she's now backpedalling the story, the OP has admitted that she was not going just a tad above the posted speed and 2) she has no real idea on why the person ahead of her was going too slowly.  Because they could?  Possibly.  To be annoying.  Possibly.  Because they're a jerk and wanted to create a "parade" behind them?  Possibly.  Because they had a legitimate reason that the OP is not aware of?  Also possibly.

The first fact remains that the OP knowingly speeds at something that she's describing (yes, I know - tongue-in-cheek - but still) as "maniacally."  That's just not good.

And, then she's deemed it "ok" with her that someone else obeys the law.  That's what rankling some people's nerves here.  She really doesn't have the right - or the power - to deem it "ok" that someone else drives at a more reasonable speed limit than she.

I think part of why the OP is encountering resistance here is just the wording that she's choosing to use in her posts.  It's kinda rubbing some people the wrong way.  Perhaps that's not her intent, but it's what's occurring.

[goblue2539]

Ok, thank you Dottyg.  I knew I could count on an answer if I just asked.  I do understand what you're saying.  And I think this is something that we run into on the board a lot, not just on this thread.  Tone of voice doesn't translate through the written word.  You read, "Yeah, I speed, so what? He's a jerk."  I read, "Ok, I know I'm no angel, but that doesn't really mean this guy was right, does it?"  And to me, that's a huge difference. 

You're right of course, that there are a lot of possibilities for why the man was driving that slow.  As humans, we're all entitled to our feelings, but I'd have to agree even being one of those frustrated at times that me being annoyed doesn't make the driver rude. 

That being said, as someone who's been labelled a "lead foot" for going 5 over, I think taking speed maniac at face value might be going a little bit far.  I've heard people call themselves speed demons, and then ridden with them unable to even drive the limit. IMHO, the label doesn't mean much on it's own. 

Also on the tone of voice thing... with the "ok" comment, I don't think the OP meant she could grant permission.  I took it more as an attempt to head off the numerous posts that would have come telling her that she had no right to be annoyed.  Obviously, that backfired.  And I should probably stop, since the OP is capable of sticking up for herself.