# why do people who are not old drive so fast **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 14, 2002, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-who-are-not-old-drive-so-fast/109065 "2002-05-14T19:42:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ezstrete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ea924/32.png) [@Ezstrete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ezstrete)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2002, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-who-are-not-old-drive-so-fast/109065/1 "2002-05-14T19:42:49Z")
Over the years watching this board I have seen many a diatribe on the ‘old ones’ and their disgusting driving habits. Now I would like to know why teenagers,and those who refuse to admit they are no longer teenagers , have to drive at 70 mph to go two blocks to the pizza parlor. Is it because there’re rumors of a pepperoni shortage? Or are they on their way to the drugstore because they’ve just discovered facial hair sufficient to require a razor? As a thriving octagenarian I’m curious to know what the hurry is all about! As the king of siam is supposed to have said,“it is a puzzlement!” ---
**Author:** ![Wikkit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c0e974/32.png) [@Wikkit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wikkit)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2002, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-who-are-not-old-drive-so-fast/109065/2 "2002-05-14T20:09:55Z")
Aren’t parody threads usually in the pit? Anyway, it’s because their time is valuable and they’re immortal. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2002, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-who-are-not-old-drive-so-fast/109065/3 "2002-05-14T20:41:59Z")
I’m usually morally certain that whatever I will be doing next is more important than what I’m doing now. That makes me rush to get to it. Despite occasionally finding that to be a ridiculous attitude, I’m also certain that almost anything I _could_ do, would be more important than fixing this unrewarding and stressful approach to life. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ezstrete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ea924/32.png) [@Ezstrete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ezstrete)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2002, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-who-are-not-old-drive-so-fast/109065/4 "2002-05-14T22:35:04Z")
How great is is to find that there is still spontaneous humor in the world. TNX !!! ---
**Author:** ![WSLer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a6a055/32.png) [@WSLer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WSLer)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2002, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-who-are-not-old-drive-so-fast/109065/5 "2002-05-14T23:45:02Z")
A couple of reasons: 1. They are fucking idiots. (Sorry for the profanity.) 2. See #1 3. See #1 4. They think they are immortal, which is a direct cause of #1. ---
**Author:** ![dead0man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/edb3f5/32.png) [@dead0man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dead0man)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2002, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-who-are-not-old-drive-so-fast/109065/6 "2002-05-14T23:50:39Z")
Well, my drive(and walk) to work takes 30 minutes from my door to the door of my office, if I got 80 on the highway. If I were to do the speed limit, I’d have to leave 5 minutes sooner. Thats 5 minutes everyday I wouldnt get to spend with my SO. Thats 25 minutes a week. If my math is correct, that is 21 hours and 40 minutes a year. Times that by 2 for my trip home. 43 hours and 20 minutes a year extra I get to spend at home because I drive a little faster. And thats just work. So, I give myself an extra 2 (at least) days of extra life a year by driving fast. dead0man…waiting for someone to tear this apart ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2002, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-who-are-not-old-drive-so-fast/109065/7 "2002-05-15T00:10:24Z")
If you drive fast. You get there quicker, It’s more fun driving faster. You avoid annoying all the other people who want to get there quicker, You contribute to the reduction of trafic jams. In Germany there is no speed limit, consequently (or perhaps it’s an amazing co-incidence) Germany has a record low number of trafic accidents, and virtually no jams at all. Don’t quote me on this, it’s second-hand information. but I believe it. probably something to do with unrestricted speed leads to more efficient use of the roads. or maybe it has something to do with the cars spending less time _in_ the trafic, and therefore there is less trafic. ---
**Author:** ![WSLer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a6a055/32.png) [@WSLer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WSLer)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2002, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-who-are-not-old-drive-so-fast/109065/8 "2002-05-15T02:20:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lobley \* > \*\* > > In Germany there is no speed limit, consequently (or perhaps it’s an amazing co-incidence) Germany has a record low number of trafic accidents, and virtually no jams at all. Don’t quote me on this, it’s second-hand information. but I believe it. probably something to do with unrestricted speed leads to more efficient use of the roads. or maybe it has something to do with the cars spending less time _in_ the trafic, and therefore there is less trafic. \*\* Ummm…yes there is a speed limit in Germany, and they have traffic jams just like the rest of the world. And I doubt the record low number of accidents thing. Yes, on **portions** of the Autobahn, there is no posted speed limit, but that doesn’t mean that you can weave in and out of lanes at 160 mph. That will get you pulled over right quick. Also, sad to say, but the majority of people aren’t “qualified” to drive a car at 100+ mph for any extended period of time simply because their reflexes aren’t good enough. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2002, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-who-are-not-old-drive-so-fast/109065/9 "2002-05-15T03:02:23Z")
Young people are animals, so they do what ever feels good at the moment. A better (less obvious) question might be “Why do so many people who _are_ old, and should know better, drive so fast?” I, as I approach geezerhood (I’m 57), am a leadfoot. And I notice what seem’s like a lot of other oldsters ripping down the fast lane at 80+. We _do_ have a special right to do so, but one would think that common sense would prevail. Now get outta my way, kid. 🙂 Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2002, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-who-are-not-old-drive-so-fast/109065/10 "2002-05-15T03:06:02Z")
Young people are animals, so they do what ever feels good at the moment. A better (less obvious) question might be “Why do so many people who _are_ old, and should know better, drive so fast?” I, as I approach geezerhood (I’m 57), am a leadfoot. And I notice what seem’s like a lot of other oldsters ripping down the fast lane at 80+. We _do_ have a special right to do so, but one would think that common sense would prevail. Now get outta my way, kid. 🙂 Oh, yeah. The OP is not a parody, but a counter-question. No pit here, imo. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Chekmate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/46a35a/32.png) [@Chekmate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chekmate)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2002, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-who-are-not-old-drive-so-fast/109065/11 "2002-05-15T03:30:44Z")
Well, myself being 18, I try to abide by the 15% rule. don’t go faster then the speed limit \* 1.15. Is this reasonable? ---
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2002, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-who-are-not-old-drive-so-fast/109065/12 "2002-05-15T05:02:50Z")
I’m young and I speed and I love it. I tell people I speed because I like to get where I’m going quickly, but really I just like driving fast. Whether it’s the four-hour ride home from school or the four-minute jaunt to the pizza place I drive fast, I snake through herds of cars on the highways, and I run yellow lights with abandon, I do 40 on a 25, 90 on a 55, and 100 on a 65, and if I know the road and it looks clear I’ll do 120 or more for a minute or two. Sometimes I actually dream about blazing down the Autobahn in Porsche Turbo at top speed. Believe it or not I’m actually a very safe driver. I have a perfect record, I always signal, I obey all posted signs with the exception of speed limits, I change lanes only when there is ample room to do so, and I’m always alert and responsive. I don’t think the same can be said about a lot of the slower drivers out there. ---
**Author:** ![Tedster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@Tedster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tedster)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2002, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-who-are-not-old-drive-so-fast/109065/13 "2002-05-15T05:22:24Z")
Somebody beat me to it. I saw the “why do old people drive so slow” thread, but never read it. I’ve lived in europe and loved the autobahn – no secondhand information here. However, Guess what? In the areas where they do have speed limits, it’s 100 kph, about 62mph, or even less in residential areas. They will nail your ass to the wall for speeding. There is a time and a place for speeding, this is the problem I have with speeders, as the potential for killing someone other than yourself out of selfish stupidity is beyond the pale. Additionally, there are vehicle inspections required every year which are very thorough, you do not see rusted out death traps ‘over there’. Tires, brakes and other maintenence is held to a higher standard than here due to the high speeds. To obtain a drivers license costs the equivalent of around a thousand dollars (more if you have trouble) and many hours of driving instruction in differing weather conditions, at night, city driving, city driving at night, etc. ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2002, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-who-are-not-old-drive-so-fast/109065/14 "2002-05-15T05:29:13Z")
I’m 32. I usually fudge by about 5-10 mph over the limit. Impatience is my reason for it, plain and simple. ---
**Author:** ![Omnivore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e47774/32.png) [@Omnivore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omnivore)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2002, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-who-are-not-old-drive-so-fast/109065/15 "2002-05-15T05:46:06Z")
Because when you are young and hot, feeling immortal and full of piss and vinegar, you live at a faster pace. ---
**Author:** ![mmmiiikkkeee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/edb3f5/32.png) [@mmmiiikkkeee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmmiiikkkeee)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2002, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-who-are-not-old-drive-so-fast/109065/16 "2002-05-15T06:17:27Z")
Hmmmm, I don’t think: “I snake through herds of cars on the highways, and I run yellow lights with abandon, I do 40 on a 25, 90 on a 55, and 100 on a 65” and: “I’m actually a very safe driver” can logically or by any other means be expressed by the same person and be accurate, **ever**. Beleive it or not? Yeah, I’ll go with NOT. I don’t mean to pick on anyone in the above, but this **is** the attitude behind most of the young (and just plain foolish) drivers who routinely speed… “I’m just so damn good that nothing could possibly happen to me (and I’ll put everyone else’s life who’s on or near the road at risk to prove it)”. Gimme a slow driver any day of the week; they at least usually have the concept safety somewhere in mind. ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2002, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-who-are-not-old-drive-so-fast/109065/17 "2002-05-15T06:37:48Z")
i drive fast. many times more than twice the speed limit. often, i hear the arguement “why are you driving so fast, we’re not in a hurry, it’s ok if we reach late” i’d just like to say that i don’t necessarily care what time we reach, i just enjoy driving fast… it has nothing to do with where i’m going or how late i am… i go for a spin 'coz i enjoy it… not because i’m going anywhere in particular… ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2002, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-who-are-not-old-drive-so-fast/109065/18 "2002-05-15T11:05:59Z")
A lot of youngsters also haven’t had the pleasure of being in an accident. I’ll tell ya, the one time I came cruising over a blind hill, too fast for the rainy weather, on a small residential road and found: 1 pickup truck on the side of the road, half in my lane, half out 1 driver’s side door on the truck wide open into my lane 1 car coming up the other side of the road 1 guy standing on the traffic side of the pickup, getting out of the cab Net result, through some awfully lucky driving: I didn’t smash the pickup driver into a bloody pulp, he jumped into the bed of his pickup with the telephone books he was delivering I didn’t smash head on into the oncoming car I didn’t rear end the pickup I did a really nice job destroying his driver’s side door I drive MUCH slower over that hill today (and in general) than I did when I was younger Incidents like that remind us of our mortality, and contribute to slower driving. Of couse, depending on the youngster, YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Theobroma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@Theobroma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theobroma)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2002, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-who-are-not-old-drive-so-fast/109065/19 "2002-05-15T13:22:28Z")
I never understood this. I would think that young people, who have all the time in the world, would take their time and listen to the radio…while the elderly, whose time is running out, would zoom to doctor’s appointments at 95mph. Doesn’t seem to work that way, though! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2002, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-who-are-not-old-drive-so-fast/109065/20 "2002-05-15T13:34:21Z")
There is a 20% slowing in reaction time from age 20 to age 60 [http://www.laurushealth.com/HealthyLiving/may99mindbodybodychange.htm](http://www.laurushealth.com/HealthyLiving/may99mindbodybodychange.htm) This means the average 20 year old can respond to traffic conditions 20% faster than the average 60 year old. Hence a greater speed. 'nuff said [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-who-are-not-old-drive-so-fast/109065.md?page=2)