# Why don't people obey traffic laws? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 25, 2005, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-obey-traffic-laws/286637 "2005-01-25T20:36:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-obey-traffic-laws/286637/21 "2005-01-26T08:25:11Z")
Because- it is impossible to do any amount of traveling without breaking several minor traffic laws. There are laws on the books you likely don’t even know. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-obey-traffic-laws/286637/22 "2005-01-26T12:59:15Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > I think it’s more likely that \<1% of the drivers on the road are complete inconsiderate jerks, it’s just that you see way more than 100 cars on your average trip somewhere. The jerks are memorable, the good drivers are a silent majority. > > Oh, and if you have a jerk behind you flashing his lights in an effort to get you to move over to the right lane, you better be passing a dense string of cars, because IMHO, you should stay right except to pass. Highways are just safer for everyone that way. I offered that as an example because last Sunday, it happened to me twice and I was driving in the right lane both times. Go figure. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-obey-traffic-laws/286637/23 "2005-01-26T13:05:41Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > My point is not about the speeding; it is about the way people who speed are rationalizing it, like all other bad drivers do with their bad habits. And I agree. They are trying to rationalize a dangerous act, as are the people who have said they close in behind someone and flash at them, for whatever reason. There is such a thing as the two second guideline for car distancing; if everyone followed that, I think the accident rate on highways would probably be cut in half. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-obey-traffic-laws/286637/24 "2005-01-26T13:23:43Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > You see, this is what’s so funny about this issue. Everyone who speeds and thinks nothing of it, do you not realize that you’re rationalizing like everyone who does every other illegal/dangerous/stupid thing? You don’t think speeding is dangerous? Have you ever considered why we have speed limits in the first place, (other than as cash cows for local police, but that’s not important right now), instead of everyone just driving any speed they choose? So, where is this study you have access to that shows highways that have speed limits are safer than highways that don’t have them? I’d be interested in seeing that. ---
**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:** [January 26, 2005, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-obey-traffic-laws/286637/25 "2005-01-26T14:06:45Z")
Let’s also not forget that many highways have changed their speed limits from 55 to 65 or 70 over the last decade. Was going 65 a dangerous act the day before the change, and a safe act the day after? The light flashing is, IMHO, not an inherently dangerous thing, unless they’re tailgating and threatening on top of it. Done judiciously, it’s a warning to a forward car that you are closing in on them, and they should move over if possible to allow you to pass. ---
**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:** [January 26, 2005, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-obey-traffic-laws/286637/26 "2005-01-26T14:12:54Z")
Fine, fine, fine, speed all you want. But way up in the thread someone asked a pretty good question. **Why don’t people signal?** I mean, if you’re completely alone at 3:00 am I can see it (I signal a turn into my own driveway at 4:00 am, but it’s a habit), but in traffic? A lane change on a crowded highway? Any other of a million instances where letting other people know what you’re doing might actually be a good idea? I really want someone to come in here and rationalize that for me. Explain to me why keeping your intentions a mystery is a good idea. Convince me that my ingrained habit of signalling every move, turn, or lane change is a bad idea. ---
**Author:** ![Kaitlin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/59ef9b/32.png) [@Kaitlin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaitlin)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-obey-traffic-laws/286637/27 "2005-01-26T15:19:57Z")
I like the drivers who flip on their turn signals midway through a turn. That’s really helpful. ---
**Author:** ![chaparralv8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@chaparralv8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaparralv8)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-obey-traffic-laws/286637/28 "2005-01-26T18:30:48Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > And I agree. They are trying to rationalize a dangerous act, as are the people who have said they close in behind someone and flash at them, for whatever reason. There is such a thing as the two second guideline for car distancing; if everyone followed that, I think the accident rate on highways would probably be cut in half. I should have been clearer; I never get closer than about 2 seconds behind another car when I’m flashing the high beams at them. On the other hand, my headlights are Bright - they’ve never failed to get someone’s attention. I suspect that if they actually checked them they’d be illegal. They’re certainly better than overdriving the lights at night. ---
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-obey-traffic-laws/286637/29 "2005-01-26T18:46:30Z")
Originally posted by **Kaitlin** I like the drivers who flip on their turn signals midway through a turn. That’s really helpful. Yeah I kinda chuckle at that too. They’re halfway into the lane change and there comes the signal. Pisses me off a little too, they coulda killed somebody. And using your turn signal at 3am with no one around? A good habit to have. Always using your turn signal will NEVER be a detriment to safety. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-obey-traffic-laws/286637.md?page=1)