# How to answer "Do you know how fast you were going?" **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 27, 2011, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-answer-do-you-know-how-fast-you-were-going/607472 "2011-12-27T00:58:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-answer-do-you-know-how-fast-you-were-going/607472/101 "2011-12-28T20:06:27Z")
My husband and I were pulled over in Dekalb County, GA. The officer was all, “Why y’all in such a hurry that you gotta go 80 miles an hour?” My husband sighed and said, “I was just following traffic.” (Which was true, cars were whizzing past us at that speed.) The cop was pleasant, he said (picture the Southern accent): “Oh don’t follow these guys, they’ll getcha in trouble.” My husband was pleasant and they made small talk about “Where y’all from?” etc. We were all set to pay the fine right there but because it was a “Superspeeder” ticket he gave my husband a court date. Well as tourists there’s no way we’re gonna come back for that, and we realized later that the cop transposed the last digits of my husband’s licence number on the ticket. I don’t know if that was intentional or not, but we won’t be visiting Georgia ever again, just in case… ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-answer-do-you-know-how-fast-you-were-going/607472/102 "2011-12-28T20:08:07Z")
> [@JBDivmstr](#): > > (bolding mine) > > _ **“Never”?!** _ :dubious: > Even if all other vehicles, in every lane available, are moving at a higher rate of speed than the maximum ‘posted’ speed limit? > I for one, sincerely hope that you do not drive on any ‘major’ roadways, if at all possible. (Especially the ones that I frequently drive on.) > If you’re moving at a significantly slower speed than the majority of the vehicles, IMHO you’re not only a _ **hindrance** _ to the smooth flow of traffic, \*\*\*you are a hazard to all! \*\*\* :mad: > > I would be willing to hazard a bet that this will not be true at some point in the future, if you continue to drive as you say you do. > > Your statement induces me to ask a few questions, if you would be so kind. 😕 > What is your age? > Gender? > General location? > Driving experience? (i.e. How long have you been driving? How many miles (approx.) have you driven?) > Majority of driving type? (i.e. Hwy? Inner city? Countryside (sparsely populated areas)?) Why does this make it a \*requirement \*to speed? As a 41 year old female who’s been driving for over 20 years in several states and a variety of environments, I say screw you if I want to drive the speed limit on the highway in the far right lane. There are at least two other lanes, go around me if you feel you must drive faster than the posted speed limit. Unless you are inclined to donate generously to my gas money and car maintenance funds, I’ll drive as sensibly as I damn well please without regard to how aggressively everyone else is driving. I’m not going to be bullied into driving faster than is necessary. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-answer-do-you-know-how-fast-you-were-going/607472/103 "2011-12-28T20:43:33Z")
There is no problem with anyone who wants to drive the posted speed limit on the button. Just do it in the right lane. ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-answer-do-you-know-how-fast-you-were-going/607472/104 "2011-12-28T21:18:58Z")
> [@Bearflag70](#): > > Q1: Do you know why I pulled you over? > > OR > > Q2: Do you know how fast you were going? > > **A: I’m sorry, officer, have I done something wrong?** There are lots of funny and cute lines in this thread, but the above line is the winning one to use in real life. Show respect, show contrition, _admit nothing_. ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-answer-do-you-know-how-fast-you-were-going/607472/105 "2011-12-28T21:19:41Z")
> [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](#): > > Why does this make it a \*requirement \*to speed? As a 41 year old female who’s been driving for over 20 years in several states and a variety of environments, I say screw you if I want to drive the speed limit on the highway in the far right lane. There are at least two other lanes, go around me if you feel you must drive faster than the posted speed limit. Unless you are inclined to donate generously to my gas money and car maintenance funds, I’ll drive as sensibly as I damn well please without regard to how aggressively everyone else is driving. I’m not going to be bullied into driving faster than is necessary. :mad: I didn’t say that “make[s] it a \*requirement \*to speed”, albeit I guess you could construe my statements to mean, I think that you _ **might** ought to_, if only for the reason of contributing to smooth traffic flow. 😉 With that said, I applaud your intelligence and common sense for moving to the far right lane (whenever possible, I presume) if you realize that you’re traveling slower than the general flow. 🆒 In Texas the law states (and there are signs on the Highways) “Slower traffic keep right” (if and whenever possible). For that matter, there are even Highways where certain portions are designated “Left lane for passing only”. Yet all too often, there will be some sanctimonious ‘yahoo’ driving \*‘the speed limit’ \*in the left hand (or ‘fast’ lane) even though _traffic in the right hand lane is moving **faster than they are!** _ :mad: I have queried various LEOs on this matter, and the general consensus is “go with the flow of traffic”. Now of course, if you’re out on the ‘open Highway’ and you are the one ‘setting the flow speed’ you run the very real risk of getting pulled over. There’s an old saying that goes something along the lines of “If you ain’t the lead dog in the pack, the view never changes.” Of course, being the ‘lead dog’ ain’t always being the ‘best’ dog! 😃 > [@](#): > > And sometimes, it’s just like this: > A man was speeding down the highway, feeling secure in a gaggle of cars all traveling at the same speed. However, as they passed a speed trap, he got nailed with a laser and was pulled over. > > The cop wrote him, handed him the ticket, and was about to walk away when the man asked, “Officer, I know I was speeding, but I don’t think it’s fair - there were plenty of other cars around me who were going just as fast, so why did I get the ticket?” > > “Ever go fishing?” the policeman asked the man. > > “Ummm, yeah…” > > The officer grinned and replied, “Ever catch _ **all** _ the fish?” > > Copyright “Pilgrim” @ [http://www.wildwestcycle.com/f\_johnlaw.html](http://www.wildwestcycle.com/f_johnlaw.html) ---
**Author:** ![Daylate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9dc877/32.png) [@Daylate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daylate)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-answer-do-you-know-how-fast-you-were-going/607472/106 "2011-12-28T21:37:18Z")
Some months ago I heard a Washington State trouper on TV discussing this business of “left lane camping”. He gave the information that in 2009 the State Patrol issued around 9,800 citations for cars in the left lane that were traveling slower than the rest of the traffic, even if they were doing the posted speed limit. He said that the Patrol did not consider it the duty of ordinary citizens to enforce speed limits by their own actions. He sort of compared it with vigilantism. ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-answer-do-you-know-how-fast-you-were-going/607472/107 "2011-12-28T21:49:50Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > “No, but I knew exactly where I was.” > > Well, you would have to have a fairly well educated policeman to carry that off. Niiiiiice. The problem, though, is that in the very likely chance that you have to explain the joke to him, he’s probably going to think you’re a meth dealer, and toss your car. ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-answer-do-you-know-how-fast-you-were-going/607472/108 "2011-12-28T22:03:47Z")
I’ve always had good luck with "I’m sorry. I was driving too fast,"and then being fully cooperative when the officer asked for drivers license, insurance, etc. Twenty six years of driving, probably pulled over a half-dozen times, zero tickets - just warnings to slow it down. (Twice, though, I probably got special consideration because the officer recognized the name from the registration, but I wasn’t married to a cop the previous times. Dunno whether I’d have received warnings or tickets otherwise.) As for camping in the left lane, the hubby has been known to ticket for that. It’s posted “slower traffic keep right,” around here, so the charge is impeding the flow of traffic. ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-answer-do-you-know-how-fast-you-were-going/607472/109 "2011-12-28T22:29:43Z")
> [@](#): > > And sometimes, it’s just like this: > A man was speeding down the highway, feeling secure in a gaggle of cars all traveling at the same speed. However, as they passed a speed trap, he got nailed with a laser and was pulled over. > > The cop wrote him, handed him the ticket, and was about to walk away when the man asked, “Officer, I know I was speeding, but I don’t think it’s fair - there were plenty of other cars around me who were going just as fast, so why did I get the ticket?” > > “Ever go fishing?” the policeman asked the man. > > “Ummm, yeah…” > > The officer grinned and replied, “Ever catch all the fish?” > > Copyright “Pilgrim” @ [You, and John Law](http://www.wildwestcycle.com/f_johnlaw.html) ETA: I just remembered (Hey, I’m old! What else can I say? :smack:) that the above ‘scenario’ has happened to me! I was in a group of three vehicles, mine being in between the other two, as all of us topped the crest of an overpass. Sure enough there was an HPD cruiser running radar, parked on the inside shoulder. We were all going at the same speed, and no one was ahead of anyone else. The cop turns on the ‘red and blues’ and catches up to the pack and proceeds to pull in behind me, motioning for me to pull over. I stop on the outside shoulder, the cop rights me up for 10 over the limit (we were all going\* at least \*18-19 over the posted limit). As she’s handing me back the citation I asked her, “So… What’d you do… just pick me out of the middle at random?” Her reply… “Well… I couldn’t catch _ **all** _ of y’all.” :mad: I took that as my cue to STFU. 😛 (Dismissed in traffic court, cop didn’t show up.) ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-answer-do-you-know-how-fast-you-were-going/607472/110 "2011-12-28T22:30:57Z")
> [@JBDivmstr](#): > > I didn’t say that “make[s] it a \*requirement \*to speed”, albeit I guess you could construe my statements to mean, I think that you _ **might** ought to_, if only for the reason of contributing to smooth traffic flow. 😉 > With that said, I applaud your intelligence and common sense for moving to the far right lane (whenever possible, I presume) if you realize that you’re traveling slower than the general flow. 🆒 Fair enough. Carry on, just don’t tailgate me while you’re waiting for the lane to your left to clear so you can zoom around me. 🙂 > [@Daylate](#): > > Some months ago I heard a Washington State trouper on TV discussing this business of “left lane camping”. He gave the information that in 2009 the State Patrol issued around 9,800 citations for cars in the left lane that were traveling slower than the rest of the traffic, even if they were doing the posted speed limit. He said that the Patrol did not consider it the duty of ordinary citizens to enforce speed limits by their own actions. He sort of compared it with vigilantism. I want to make it clear that my reasons for driving the speed limit has nothing to do with trying to be traffic cop. I personally abhor that behavior and have been the recipient of that obnoxiousness a number of times (usually when it comes to fully utilizing available lanes in heavy traffic). My motivation is to reduce fuel consumption and wear-and-tear on my car while trying to make the best of my commute. It’s not a race, nor a competition for me. I just want to get to my destination safely and in a good mood. Yes, I make a habit of staying to the right and only moving left when it becomes necessary for me to pass or when the right lane is loaded with 18-wheelers continuously bearing down on me. I’ll let them have the lane because, well…I don’t have a death wish or anything. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-answer-do-you-know-how-fast-you-were-going/607472/111 "2011-12-28T23:12:31Z")
> [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](#): > > I want to make it clear that my reasons for driving the speed limit has nothing to do with trying to be traffic cop. I personally abhor that behavior and have been the recipient of that obnoxiousness a number of times (usually when it comes to fully utilizing available lanes in heavy traffic). That pisses me off, too. One day I was driving to work, and got stuck following somebody for a mile or so doing 40mph in a 55mph zone. There’s no passing on that road, so I was pretty annoyed. The weather was clear, roads dry, visibility excellent; there was no reason I could see to go so slow. Later that day I was grousing about it to someone in my store, and she said, “Oh, that was me. I think that speed limit is much too high, so I slow everybody down whenever I can.” I was utterly flabbergasted. ---
**Author:** ![Mopal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Mopal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mopal)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-answer-do-you-know-how-fast-you-were-going/607472/112 "2011-12-28T23:24:03Z")
I was once third in line to make a left turn and the lights were cycling without giving us a green. The two cars ahead of me both went on red with an OHP officer sitting on the other side of the intersection. The light finally went green and I made my turn to see the flashing lights behind less than a hundred yards from the intersection. I was in a very foul mood and after rolling down my window as the officer approached I loudly asked “What the Fuck did I do?” He then informed me that I had a headlight out. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-answer-do-you-know-how-fast-you-were-going/607472/113 "2011-12-29T00:28:07Z")
The problem with the question “Do you know how fast you were going?” is that there is an assumption within the question. In other words, “Do you know how fast you were going?”. And then there is a sub-assumption; that is, “Did you know how fast you were going?” So by answering “Yes, I always go the speed limit.” you are knocking out the assumption and sub-assumption. You are killing two birds with one stone, as it were. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-answer-do-you-know-how-fast-you-were-going/607472/114 "2011-12-29T03:25:03Z")
> [@Daylate](#): > > Some months ago I heard a Washington State trouper on TV… Who cares what an actor thinks about the traffic laws? ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-answer-do-you-know-how-fast-you-were-going/607472/115 "2011-12-29T03:41:22Z")
[quote=“Gary “Wombat” Robson, post:111, topic:607472”] That pisses me off, too. One day I was driving to work, and got stuck following somebody for a mile or so doing 40mph in a 55mph zone. There’s no passing on that road, so I was pretty annoyed. The weather was clear, roads dry, visibility excellent; there was no reason I could see to go so slow. Later that day I was grousing about it to someone in my store, and she said, “Oh, that was me. I think that speed limit is much too high, so I slow everybody down whenever I can.” I was utterly flabbergasted. [/QUOTE] Don’t you just want to throttle 'em? :mad: ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-answer-do-you-know-how-fast-you-were-going/607472/116 "2011-12-29T04:12:18Z")
“Funny enough, I was just talking to my friend about that. Our speedometer has melted and as a result it’s very hard to see with any degree of accuracy exactly how fast we were going.” ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-answer-do-you-know-how-fast-you-were-going/607472/117 "2011-12-29T05:03:07Z")
> [@interface2x](#): > > “Funny enough, I was just talking to my friend about that. Our speedometer has melted and as a result it’s very hard to see with any degree of accuracy exactly how fast we were going.” .. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-answer-do-you-know-how-fast-you-were-going/607472/118 "2011-12-29T05:28:11Z")
> [@Daylate](#): > > Some months ago I heard a Washington State trouper on TV discussing this business of “left lane camping”. He gave the information that in 2009 the State Patrol issued around 9,800 citations for cars in the left lane that were traveling slower than the rest of the traffic, even if they were doing the posted speed limit… This is ridiculous. This is basically the government admitting that the speed limit is BS…but still having the ability to ticket you for going 56 in a 55 zone. I typically surpass the highway speed limit by at least 10 mph, and I also get annoyed at slow drivers in the left lane. But there’s no way that it’s fair to ticket them. They are the ones following the stated rules. Punishing them leaves the door open for all sorts of inconsistent policing, causing drivers to essentially guess as to what will be enforced on a given road. And while we’re on the subject of unfair policing, what’s up with all these FOP and PBA cards? What just because your uncle is a cop, you don’t have to pay the fines that the rest of us? Maybe when there’s more Indian state troopers, I’ll feel differently. Ok, I’m done. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-answer-do-you-know-how-fast-you-were-going/607472/119 "2011-12-29T06:38:44Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > I typically surpass the highway speed limit by at least 10 mph, and I also get annoyed at slow drivers in the left lane. But there’s no way that it’s fair to ticket them. They are the ones following the stated rules. If someone is driving the speed limit in the fast lane then they have to move over if someone faster comes along behind them. Otherwise, the slower person is _not_ following the stated rules; they are impeding traffic. They may be cited for that even if they obey the speed limit. Failure to move over and yield to a faster car (relative speed) has nothing to do with the speed limit. Obviously, the faster driver is violating the speed law and is eligible for a speeding ticket. If the speed limit driver is to obey the law, then they move over to permit faster drivers to pass. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-answer-do-you-know-how-fast-you-were-going/607472/120 "2011-12-29T07:38:24Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > This is ridiculous. This is basically the government admitting that the speed limit is BS…but still having the ability to ticket you for going 56 in a 55 zone. I typically surpass the highway speed limit by at least 10 mph, and I also get annoyed at slow drivers in the left lane. But there’s no way that it’s fair to ticket them. They are the ones following the stated rules. Punishing them leaves the door open for all sorts of inconsistent policing, causing drivers to essentially guess as to what will be enforced on a given road. > > And while we’re on the subject of unfair policing, what’s up with all these FOP and PBA cards? What just because your uncle is a cop, you don’t have to pay the fines that the rest of us? Maybe when there’s more Indian state troopers, I’ll feel differently. > > Ok, I’m done. [Here is the law in Washington](http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.61.100): > [@](#): > > (2) Upon all roadways having two or more lanes for traffic moving in the same direction, all vehicles shall be driven in the right-hand lane then available for traffic, except (a) when overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction, (b) when traveling at a speed greater than the traffic flow, (c) when moving left to allow traffic to merge, or (d) when preparing for a left turn at an intersection, exit, or into a private road or driveway when such left turn is legally permitted. On any such roadway, a vehicle or combination over ten thousand pounds shall be driven only in the right-hand lane except under the conditions enumerated in (a) through (d) of this subsection. > > […] > > (4) It is a traffic infraction to drive continuously in the left lane of a multilane roadway when it impedes the flow of other traffic. Seems pretty straightforward to me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-answer-do-you-know-how-fast-you-were-going/607472.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-answer-do-you-know-how-fast-you-were-going/607472.md?page=7)