Rash of slow people on the freeway (Oakland, San Leandro: buy, live)

[sav858]

Originally Posted by ketch89

How about you respect human life and drive the speed limit?

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How about respecting the rules of the road and "Slower Drivers Keep Right"?

[bentobox34]

Originally Posted by ketch89

How about you respect human life and drive the speed limit?

...

Agreed. Plus, if you drive slower you will burn less gas and your car will last longer.

I don't always drive, but when I do I don't notice this trend at all. Then again my preference is to drive slow so I probably have the opposite perspective. When my schedule doesn't work for transit I take 880 south usually before rush hour (around 5:45) and set my cruise at 60. However I try out of courtesy to stay as far to the right as possible. From experience, I am usually the slowest regular car on the road and almost never pass anything other than semi-trucks and people driving 1980s beaters. I frequently am aggressively tailgated by SUVs, which I find bizarre given that I am all the way over on the right and there is ample opportunity to pass. When this happens I usually ease the cruise and slow down (without braking) until they get fed up with it and go around.

[jade408]

Originally Posted by sav858

How about respecting the rules of the road and "Slower Drivers Keep Right"?

If you are in the fast lane with your cruise control set for 63, you are doing it wrong.

[ketch89]

Originally Posted by jade408

FYI: There is some leeway on the speed limit. On the freeway, I travel at 70-75.

On surface streets I stick pretty close to the speed limit, usually slower, especially in school or residential areas.

Speeding =/= reckless driving. Tailgating, driving faster than the conditions allow are all signs of reckless driving. Driving 75 and leaving 8 car lengths between you an the next person is not a problem.

Typical patterns in the Bay Area for highway speeds are 75-80 on the fast lane. I am noticing that people appear to be going slower than the typical patterns. I am noticing the fast lane is traveling at the speed limit and the other lanes are below the speed limit. I haven't seen this happen before.

I was born and raised here, and live here now. I'm not saying I don't know how the freeways roll, I'm just saying I don't agree with it. Perhaps it's indicative of a cultural shift (I wish), or perhaps it's just that with the economy back on track there's more people on the road.

[sonarrat]

Originally Posted by bentobox34

Agreed. Plus, if you drive slower you will burn less gas and your car will last longer.

I don't always drive, but when I do I don't notice this trend at all. Then again my preference is to drive slow so I probably have the opposite perspective. When my schedule doesn't work for transit I take 880 south usually before rush hour (around 5:45) and set my cruise at 60. However I try out of courtesy to stay as far to the right as possible. From experience, I am usually the slowest regular car on the road and almost never pass anything other than semi-trucks and people driving 1980s beaters. I frequently am aggressively tailgated by SUVs, which I find bizarre given that I am all the way over on the right and there is ample opportunity to pass. When this happens I usually ease the cruise and slow down (without braking) until they get fed up with it and go around.

I do the same, but I usually try to assume that they're OK with my speed if they're in my lane, and anyone will look aggressive if they are changing speeds even if they don't mean to. If they want to go around they can go around. If they want to say hello to my rear bumper, my insurance company will be happy to say hello back.

[sav858]

Drivers in the Bay Area seem to have always tried to control the way others drive by being passive aggressive jerks on the road; it's annoying and fairly evident by some people's responses on here.

[04kL4nD]

^+1

[jade408]

There are some generally expected rules for the freeway. Slower traffic in the right lanes. Faster in the left. Traffic in the left typically goes above the speed limit. If you are in the left and 90% of cars pass you, you should head towards the right side.

I think these are reasonable things. I will say if I am traveling at a reasonable speed and someone tailgates closely to encourage me speed up, I slow down intentionally.

I am a polite driver. If you are going "slow" I will slow down to maintain the proper amount of space, put on my turn signal and pass when safe. I leave lots of space between my car and the next, and this varies with my current speed.

[18Montclair]

Originally Posted by jade408

If you are in the fast lane with your cruise control set for 63, you are doing it wrong.

E-X-A-C-T-L-Y. Im about to leave the office in 20 mins and already anticipate that.

Nothing annoys me on the freeway(besides carpool lane cheaters)more than people who feel like its their civic duty to drive exactly 65 in the fast lane, knowing damn well there's a line of cars behind them trying to pass--but nooooooo, there they sit, smug, driving the exact limit thinking they are teaching everyone else a lesson. FYI to anyone who does that: The only thing your demonstrating is what a jerk you are.

Conversely though, its rude to be pushy and impatient with motorists who are correctly driving slower in the slow lane.

[sav858]

Originally Posted by 18Montclair

E-X-A-C-T-L-Y. Im about to leave the office in 20 mins and already anticipate that.

Nothing annoys me on the freeway(besides carpool lane cheaters)more than people who feel like its their civic duty to drive exactly 65 in the fast lane, knowing damn well there's a line of cars behind them trying to pass--but nooooooo, there they sit, smug, driving the exact limit thinking they are teaching everyone else a lesson. FYI to anyone who does that: The only thing your demonstrating is what a jerk you are.

Conversely though, its rude to be pushy and impatient with motorists who are correctly driving slower in the slow lane.

100% agree with all of this.