# See that? It's the speed limit. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 18, 2004, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/see-that-its-the-speed-limit/260457 "2004-08-18T21:16:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/see-that-its-the-speed-limit/260457/21 "2004-08-19T13:26:01Z")
I just one to point out that while driving with the flow of traffic (even if the flow is above the legal speed limit) is probably safer than strictly following the speed limit, it does not guarentee that the person behind you will not tailgate. I’ve actually had worse problems on at least one road when driving 3-5 miles above the limit than when driving at or slightly below the limit. (The road in question is not in Atlanta. However, I tend to assume that idiot drivers appear any place there are cars, and in greater numbers where there are more cars). ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/see-that-its-the-speed-limit/260457/22 "2004-08-19T13:30:59Z")
> [@XWalrus2](#): > > I don’t go above the speed limit for two reasons: > > 1. Like I said, I don’t feel comfortable going above the speed limit. > 2. The police here are _looking_ for teenagers speeding. Really. I’m not just paranoid. I don’t blame them, either, seeing as we’re a risky group of drivers. Again, good for you for doing this. Anybody who drives over the speed limit because everybody else is had better be ready to pay the occasional speeding ticket. I, myself, have better things to do with my money. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/see-that-its-the-speed-limit/260457/23 "2004-08-19T13:35:06Z")
Following is a bumper sticker I say just yesterday. > [@](#): > > Please don’t Tailgate > There is enough terrorism in the world already I kid you not. ---
**Author:** ![Dante](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dante/32/9673_2.png) [@Dante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/see-that-its-the-speed-limit/260457/24 "2004-08-19T14:05:40Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > But eventually you get used to driving as fast as everyone else AND you tune out the tailgaters. One day, you’ll even find yourself driving on someone’s tail. Yeah, that’s what you want to do. Start tuning things out and driving on auto-pilot until you find yourself “unexpectedly” on someone’s tail. That’s the sign of a proficient driver. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/see-that-its-the-speed-limit/260457/25 "2004-08-19T14:12:45Z")
All of you who drive (or have driven) in Atlanta may enjoy this site: [The Atlanta Roadways Digest (TARD)](http://www.tardsite.com/). Hasn’t been updated in a while, though. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/see-that-its-the-speed-limit/260457/26 "2004-08-19T14:27:01Z")
> [@Sharky](#): > > I hated driving in Atlanta. One of the primary reasons I moved down here to the country was to get away from the road rage epedimic in that hellhole. No offense to resident Atlanta Dopers, but you know what I’m talking about. I despised driving in Atlanta. It’s one of the reasons I paid too much in rent when I lived there so I could have a MARTA station within walking distance - I worked downtown, and could walk out my door, up the hill and get on the train. I almost never had to drive downtown. I honestlly think that Atlanta has some of the worst drivers around. I finally learned routes to avoid 285 - because when I was on it, I found myself being pulled into the angry driver mode, tailgating, speeding and generally making an ass of myself. On other roads, I was usually (although I still occasionally had temper flares) able to keep myself calm. ---
**Author:** ![c\_goat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@c\_goat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/c_goat)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/see-that-its-the-speed-limit/260457/27 "2004-08-19T14:33:58Z")
The best way to deal with tailgaters is to just leave room for them to get around (where applicable). If you’re on a one lane road, or in traffic or there’s just nowhere for you or them to go, then the best thing you can do is make sure you have plenty of room in front of you so that if you have to stop, you can do so gradually to avoid being rear-ended. Let off on the gas to decrease speed a tiny bit to make room, then resume your previous speed. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/see-that-its-the-speed-limit/260457/28 "2004-08-19T16:06:13Z")
In the name of all that is good in the world, please ignore all the advice of those above who advocate slowing down, slamming on brakes, and otherwise antagonizing tailgaters. Do you want to be as big as jerk as a tailgater? Or perhaps instigate some type of accident or road-rage event? Then by all means, be a jerk to the jerks that tailgate. On the other hand, you probably have your hands full with learning how to be a safe, defensive, conscientious driver. I’d suggest using your energies to be a good and correct driver, rather than a four-wheeled vigilante doling out lessons to other assholes behind the wheel. Again, that’s just my view, but I think the US could use more good drivers. There ought to be fewer people who use 1800 pounds of steel as a tool to inflict lessons on drivers who drive too slow or follow too closely. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/see-that-its-the-speed-limit/260457/29 "2004-08-19T16:14:28Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > In the name of all that is good in the world, please ignore all the advice of those above who advocate slowing down, slamming on brakes, and otherwise antagonizing tailgaters. Spoilsport 😛 My prefered tactic is to hit my fog light briefly - it means I don’t slow at all, so there’s no danger to me, but it gives them one hellluva fright anyway. I’ve been tailgated by a police car at 90…thought he was going to pull me over, but when I changed lanes he just overtook me… :mad: ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/see-that-its-the-speed-limit/260457/30 "2004-08-19T16:16:20Z")
> [@](#): > > Yeah, that’s what you want to do. Start tuning things out and driving on auto-pilot until you find yourself “unexpectedly” on someone’s tail. That’s the sign of a proficient driver. Well, it’s better than being angry all the time, isn’t it? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/see-that-its-the-speed-limit/260457/31 "2004-08-19T16:52:44Z")
Alright, I hate tailgaters as much as the next girl, but this: > [@monstro](#): > > I drive like driving Miss Daisy now and do not care about the cars bunched up on my tail. Actually, I do not even realize they’re there most of the time. I’ve got a _big_ problem with. If you’ve got a bunch of cars on your tail, chances are, you’re being as big of an ass as the first tailgater. We’ve got a lot of two-lane, windy, hilly roads up here in Sonoma County and you can bet your ass there’s always one asshole driving _exactly_ the speed limit. Which is totally fine. Thing is, numbnuts doesn’t care (or maybe, as in your case, even _notice_) the 20 odd cars he’s holding up. If there’s a big line of cars piled up behind you for the love of god and all that is holy, _pull over and let them pass!_ If you don’t have room, that’s one thing, but not caring or not noticing? Not _even_ cool. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/see-that-its-the-speed-limit/260457/32 "2004-08-19T17:33:04Z")
Sorry I’m a big fat ass. I never thought of myself as an inconsiderate driver, but maybe I fucking am. I apologize to the **lezlers** of the world for holding ya’ll up. (I was exaggerating when I said I drive like Ms. Daisy. I do five above the speed limit generally, when I’m not on a speed trap. When I’m on a two-lane highway, I generally keep up with traffic. Honest.) But I learned in Defense Driving 101 that it is not the responsibility of a driver keeping up with the speed limit to make sure drivers behind them can continue to speed. A slow driver is one thing, but if you’re stuck behind someone doing the speed limit…it’s on you to pass _them_. Not for them to pull over. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/see-that-its-the-speed-limit/260457/33 "2004-08-19T17:56:16Z")
I drive the speed limit, and, on a local multi-lane highway where the speed limit’s 70, I drive slower than the limit (I go 60, because that’s about all my Volvo wagon will handle). The minimum’s 40 mph, so I’m way over the minimum. People who want me to drive 70 on that road can buy me a car that’ll go 70. Otherwise they can pass my speed-limit-not-exceeding ass. And yes, if somebody starts to tailgate, I’ll slow down to 50. It’s still not below the minimum. Don’t like it? Don’t tailgate me. There’s another perfectly good lane right to my left that they can drive in and go as fast as they freakin’ want. A friend of mine just bought a Jaguar XJR. He was driving it home from the dealer, looked down and was kind of surprised that he was going 130. His thought: “Holy crap, I have to get a radar detector now.” My thought: “Holy crap, you need to _slow the hell down._” ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/see-that-its-the-speed-limit/260457/34 "2004-08-19T17:59:48Z")
Well, yes, **monstro** , that’s true. If it’s safe to pass. It isn’t, always. And the law (at least in my state) says that if there’s more than 3 people behind you, you are to pull over at the first place where it is safe to do so, and to let them pass. At least, that’s what the cop who pulled me over told me. You can get a ticket for going too slow, just as you can for going to fast. And, it’s not your job to keep me legal. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/see-that-its-the-speed-limit/260457/35 "2004-08-19T18:07:28Z")
**Maureen** , does that apply if you’re going the speed limit or under the speed limit? Either way, it’s good to know. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/see-that-its-the-speed-limit/260457/36 "2004-08-19T18:10:40Z")
> [@XWalrus2](#): > > Note:Can anyone give me a tip as to how to get tailgaters to back off? Yep. Make a fist, stick your thumb out, then make stabbing motions towards your rear window, while shouting “Get off my tail!” My girlfriend does this, and it’s amazing how often people comply. ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/see-that-its-the-speed-limit/260457/37 "2004-08-19T18:15:24Z")
When I got pulled over, I was doing just under the speed limit on a rather nasty stretch of mountain road called Hopland Grade, just above Napa. The locals zip through there at about 10mph over the speed limit. It was only the second time I’d driven it, and I was rather intimidated. I was paying very close attention to the road ahead of me, and hadn’t noticed that there were 5 or 6 cars behind me. The cop let me off with a warning, and told me to check my rear view more often. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/see-that-its-the-speed-limit/260457/38 "2004-08-19T18:17:06Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > But I learned in Defense Driving 101 that it is not the responsibility of a driver keeping up with the speed limit to make sure drivers behind them can continue to speed. A slow driver is one thing, but if you’re stuck behind someone doing the speed limit…it’s on you to pass _them_. Not for them to pull over. Maybe things are different in NJ. Here in California, we’ve got these crazy things called _pull-outs_ (or maybe they’re turn-outs, whatever, same concept) and even crazier signs saying “_slow drivers, please use pull-outs_” (not that anyone ever does). Now, why do you suppose they would have those if slow drivers holding up traffic weren’t expected to pull over and let others pass? And on those 2 lane highways I was writing about where there’s miles of road with solid yellow lines (and hence, no passing) but pull-outs every 1/4 mile or so, it’s not possible to pass without a little help from granny in the way of utilizing a pull-out. So i’d say it’s on _you_, m’dear. ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/see-that-its-the-speed-limit/260457/39 "2004-08-19T18:20:11Z")
> [@Maureen](#): > > When I got pulled over, I was doing just under the speed limit on a rather nasty stretch of mountain road called Hopland Grade, just above Napa. The locals zip through there at about 10mph over the speed limit. It was only the second time I’d driven it, and I was rather intimidated. I was paying very close attention to the road ahead of me, and hadn’t noticed that there were 5 or 6 cars behind me. The cop let me off with a warning, and told me to check my rear view more often. 😉 That’s hysterical, because that’s the very road I’m speaking of. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/see-that-its-the-speed-limit/260457/40 "2004-08-19T18:21:56Z")
> [@Maureen](#): > > When I got pulled over, I was doing just under the speed limit on a rather nasty stretch of mountain road called Hopland Grade, just above Napa. The locals zip through there at about 10mph over the speed limit. It was only the second time I’d driven it, and I was rather intimidated. I was paying very close attention to the road ahead of me, and hadn’t noticed that there were 5 or 6 cars behind me. The cop let me off with a warning, and told me to check my rear view more often. 😉 That’s hysterical, because that’s the very road I’m speaking of. 🆒 Or actually, are you talking about the road from Calistoga to Santa Rosa? Because that road’s a bitch. Even I go slower than the speed limit at times (although I always pull over if I can do so if there’s someone behind me). I was speaking of 116 and 121 from Napa to Santa Rosa. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/see-that-its-the-speed-limit/260457.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/see-that-its-the-speed-limit/260457.md?page=3)