Why do some people drive so slow?

This is one of the great mysteries of life that I've been unable to fathom. It's not that I'm a leadfoot or a speed demon on the highway; about 15-20% of traffic typically goes faster than me. I try to keep pace with the general flow of traffic.

But then there are the slowpokes - the ones whom everyone seems to be passing. Or they might be on a two-lane highway with no passing - and a whole slew of cars is lined up behind them because they can't pass. I often wonder why they don't just pull over for a few minutes and let the other cars behind them pass. They're obviously not in a hurry to get anywhere.

I also see quite a few people driving inordinately slow because they're texting, even though it's illegal and dangerous to do so.

Sometimes I see a mini traffic jam of vehicles on the highway, being slowed down by a few strategically placed drivers going 5-10 mph slower than the traffic flow. This leads to situations where vehicles tend to clump up, as they're stuck behind two vehicles, one going 55 mph and the other passing it at 56 mph - where the speed limit is 65 mph (and people generally go around 70 or so). So, people who are used to driving at a certain rate of speed on the highway are suddenly slowed down and clumped together rather tightly. At that speed, the slightest error on anyone's part could lead to a multi-car pileup which often happens on the interstates.

Slow drivers seem like they're in some kind of alternate reality, oblivious to their surroundings. That's why I can't fathom it. If I found myself in a situation where every other vehicle was passing me or honking at me or yelling at me as they pass, I would try to piece it together and figure it out. Don't these drivers know that they're causing many other drivers to be aggravated? Or do they just not care?

Sorry for the long rant, but I just had to get this out of my system.

They probably feel that they can control their cars better at lower speeds. You know the old expresson better late than never. It is better to take a few extra minutes and get there safely than to go fast and have an accident.

In the right lane always go about 5mph slower than the lane to your left. This helps to prevent traffick jams not just behind you but also ahead of you, far ahead sometimes.

Why do people with lead feet try to race in the right lane? Its because they have absolutely no clue that they are undermining their own agenda.

Why do people go slow in the left lane? Its because they are cruel, evil monsters who don't deserve to have a driver's license.

We have various reasons....
- We're not going to waste gas & brakes hurrying to the next red light.
- We're synchronizing our truck with the traffic lights.
- We're just in no hurry.
- It annoys the hell out of that ***** tailgating us.

One of my biggest pet peeves are folks that leaves a big buffer between themselves and the car in front of them.

Everyone just cuts in front of them in rush hour traffic.

Stevicus said:

This is one of the great mysteries of life that I've been unable to fathom. It's not that I'm a leadfoot or a speed demon on the highway; about 15-20% of traffic typically goes faster than me. I try to keep pace with the general flow of traffic.

But then there are the slowpokes - the ones whom everyone seems to be passing. Or they might be on a two-lane highway with no passing - and a whole slew of cars is lined up behind them because they can't pass. I often wonder why they don't just pull over for a few minutes and let the other cars behind them pass. They're obviously not in a hurry to get anywhere.

I also see quite a few people driving inordinately slow because they're texting, even though it's illegal and dangerous to do so.

Sometimes I see a mini traffic jam of vehicles on the highway, being slowed down by a few strategically placed drivers going 5-10 mph slower than the traffic flow. This leads to situations where vehicles tend to clump up, as they're stuck behind two vehicles, one going 55 mph and the other passing it at 56 mph - where the speed limit is 65 mph (and people generally go around 70 or so). So, people who are used to driving at a certain rate of speed on the highway are suddenly slowed down and clumped together rather tightly. At that speed, the slightest error on anyone's part could lead to a multi-car pileup which often happens on the interstates.

Slow drivers seem like they're in some kind of alternate reality, oblivious to their surroundings. That's why I can't fathom it. If I found myself in a situation where every other vehicle was passing me or honking at me or yelling at me as they pass, I would try to piece it together and figure it out. Don't these drivers know that they're causing many other drivers to be aggravated? Or do they just not care?

Sorry for the long rant, but I just had to get this out of my system.

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I use the four lane all the time....
and on one occasion....someone with a pretzel truck was in the left side
semi-truck to the right

five miles of cars behind us....plus one AMBULANCE!!!!!!

Revoltingest said:

We have various reasons....
- We're not going to waste gas & brakes hurrying to the next red light.
- We're synchronizing our truck with the traffic lights.
- We're just in no hurry.
- It annoys the hell out of that ***** tailgating us.

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and you are full of haggis

Stevicus said:

This is one of the great mysteries of life that I've been unable to fathom. It's not that I'm a leadfoot or a speed demon on the highway; about 15-20% of traffic typically goes faster than me. I try to keep pace with the general flow of traffic.

But then there are the slowpokes - the ones whom everyone seems to be passing. Or they might be on a two-lane highway with no passing - and a whole slew of cars is lined up behind them because they can't pass. I often wonder why they don't just pull over for a few minutes and let the other cars behind them pass. They're obviously not in a hurry to get anywhere.

I also see quite a few people driving inordinately slow because they're texting, even though it's illegal and dangerous to do so.

Sometimes I see a mini traffic jam of vehicles on the highway, being slowed down by a few strategically placed drivers going 5-10 mph slower than the traffic flow. This leads to situations where vehicles tend to clump up, as they're stuck behind two vehicles, one going 55 mph and the other passing it at 56 mph - where the speed limit is 65 mph (and people generally go around 70 or so). So, people who are used to driving at a certain rate of speed on the highway are suddenly slowed down and clumped together rather tightly. At that speed, the slightest error on anyone's part could lead to a multi-car pileup which often happens on the interstates.

Slow drivers seem like they're in some kind of alternate reality, oblivious to their surroundings. That's why I can't fathom it. If I found myself in a situation where every other vehicle was passing me or honking at me or yelling at me as they pass, I would try to piece it together and figure it out. Don't these drivers know that they're causing many other drivers to be aggravated? Or do they just not care?

Sorry for the long rant, but I just had to get this out of my system.

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A

I say the same thing to all cars on my favorite twisty back roads which are 55 and they all go like 20 around corners and then speed up in the straightaways!!! Annoying why do cars do that?

Revoltingest said:

- It annoys the hell out of that ***** tailgating us.

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I can't see why people want to be monkeys in a barrel. The street gets packed, and nobody can make a mistake without slowing the whole road down. Gimme some space back there!

Plus all the new cars have atom bombs for headlights that are on at all times. There's so much light, and yet nobody can see!

Thief said:

and you are full of haggis

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Jealous?

Brickjectivity said:

I can't see why people want to be monkeys in a barrel. The street gets packed, and nobody can make a mistake without slowing the whole road down. Gimme some space back there!

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In stop & go traffic jams, especially on highways, I like to pick an average speed such that I don't
have to come to a stop. So I leave a large space in front of me, which lengthens & shortens to
buffer the continual changes of others. Gawd....it must really suck for lead foots behind me. Good!

As of the last half year often being a passenger to a very fast/aggressive driver (I don't own a car as of this post) I can tell you I prefer slow over fast even if I'm going to be late.

I just don't want to die and you fast people terrify me. The person who often drives me once commented "Why don't they increase speed limits? Modern cars' breaks and systems can handle higher speeds now!" To which I replied "but your brain can't!".

You are in a multiple ton tin can death machine with wheels that go faster than humans have ever developed a brain for. Get on a motorcycle and it makes sense, or so I hear, because you are not sheltered by the elements like in a car.

So people complain about someone going 5 or 10 MPH slower? Really? The speed limit is the absolute top LIMIT not the speed you are supposed to average unlike most drivers seem to think. And what the hell is with not using turn signals? It isn't just a pretty light you know!

I'd also like to add that many drivers think it's an extreme sport to act like you are going to kill pedestrians or people on bikes or motorcycles. As someone who rides pedal bikes a lot I'm gonna say some of you are insane. Not as insane as the ones who straight up murder motorcyclists like caught on videos then lie about it. Some drivers like the ones who like to go faster are mentally disturbed. I don't care who I offend there is a reason so many people die a year to car collisions. The wave of death where you tell us pedestrians/bicyclers to go forward when you didn't check if it was actually safe... that should be man slaughter maybe you crazy lazy people wouldn't do that then.

I myself have almost been hit probably half a dozen times in the last 4-5 years by aggressive, angry or idiotic drivers who for some reason just thought I was worth hating even though I was following all the rules and a couple of times at least two feet off of the road. And I was almost killed at least one time and THEN SCREAMED AT like it was my fault by someone driving in the wrong ****ing lane directly in front of my house. I was just arriving home on the right side of the road with my bike and their left wheel was touching the ****ing dirt on the edge of my property... making them on the left side of the road as possible. I was too dumb founded to try to get a license plate or call the cops but god I wish I did.

So how about everyone drive a little slower and cautiously? Please, for the love of god you are all (slower and sane drivers excluded) terrifying me. And one day one of you will probably maim or kill me.

I'm with @Revoltingest, I have no problem traveling at a speed less than the maximum speed limit (I don't go under any posted minimum limit), in order to save resources and optimize my gas mileage, and to time stoplights, etc. I'm well within the bounds of the law.

I see the speeders around me and wonder why they're so impatient to rush to - and idle at - the next stop light.

Stevicus said:

This is one of the great mysteries of life that I've been unable to fathom. It's not that I'm a leadfoot or a speed demon on the highway; about 15-20% of traffic typically goes faster than me. I try to keep pace with the general flow of traffic.

But then there are the slowpokes - the ones whom everyone seems to be passing. Or they might be on a two-lane highway with no passing - and a whole slew of cars is lined up behind them because they can't pass. I often wonder why they don't just pull over for a few minutes and let the other cars behind them pass. They're obviously not in a hurry to get anywhere.

I also see quite a few people driving inordinately slow because they're texting, even though it's illegal and dangerous to do so.

Sometimes I see a mini traffic jam of vehicles on the highway, being slowed down by a few strategically placed drivers going 5-10 mph slower than the traffic flow. This leads to situations where vehicles tend to clump up, as they're stuck behind two vehicles, one going 55 mph and the other passing it at 56 mph - where the speed limit is 65 mph (and people generally go around 70 or so). So, people who are used to driving at a certain rate of speed on the highway are suddenly slowed down and clumped together rather tightly. At that speed, the slightest error on anyone's part could lead to a multi-car pileup which often happens on the interstates.

Slow drivers seem like they're in some kind of alternate reality, oblivious to their surroundings. That's why I can't fathom it. If I found myself in a situation where every other vehicle was passing me or honking at me or yelling at me as they pass, I would try to piece it together and figure it out. Don't these drivers know that they're causing many other drivers to be aggravated? Or do they just not care?

Sorry for the long rant, but I just had to get this out of my system.

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Ah ha.... dear member....
It's me, the OldBastar.... hang on.... yeah.. OldBadger, come to explain all to you.

Reasons why folks go slow, and even stop dead.....
1. As we get older, we get stupider. Now I am ooold!
I expect that if some copper would wake up and do an eyesight test on all us old idiots that more than half of us would fail, and have to have our licences revoked. But 'they' won't do that because it will cost 'them' millions to get us where we need to go. See? Care-in-the-Community costs MILLIONS!
2. Lots of people are buying the new fashionable 'CHUNKY CARS' which are CHUNKY outside but actually not that roomy inside. they couldn't steer a small car through a wide gap before..... now they just freak out and STOP DEAD, so that drivers like you will take the risk of passing them, and if the cars touch they can blame you! (see? we ain't totally demented; well, not just yet).
3. Some of us have this nerdy heated fetish that evreybody should keep to speed limits, and so, despite law enforcers allowing a % leeway, these drivers will take the fast lane and drive at EXACTLY THE SPEED LIMIT! Great fun!
4. No.... I won't bore you any more...... just to say that loads of us oldies, and a few idiot 'youngies' should be dragged kickin' and screamin' from our cars and made tio watch as they are crushed before our eyes, after our electric buggies have been removed for us.

Ha Ha! Electric buggies.,....... I love it!.... the oldies who slow you down on the roads are going to get you in their buggies, on the pavements, doing freaky fast illegal speeds in 'em!
I can't wait to get one!

My granddad used to say about 'slow drivers' that, "They are driving too close to the car behind"

suncowiam said:

One of my biggest pet peeves are folks that leaves a big buffer between themselves and the car in front of them.

Everyone just cuts in front of them in rush hour traffic.

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I do that and find that there are many gap fillers out there that can’t abide to see a gap that is not filled.

This is most annoying on motorways when you are travelling along maintaining the gap at a steady speed then someone cuts in so you have to slow down. This continues until you are almost at a stop.

Very frustrating for us sensible drivers!

BTW, I have a minimal gap in crawling traffic.

suncowiam said:

One of my biggest pet peeves are folks that leaves a big buffer between themselves and the car in front of them.

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Especially when crossing an intersection after the light turns green, then when you finally get up there it turns red again. Same with those who slowly creep out after it turns green.

Mandi said:

So how about everyone drive a little slower and cautiously? Please, for the love of god you are all (slower and sane drivers excluded) terrifying me. And one day one of you will probably maim or kill me.

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Well, as I said, I'm not a speed demon on the roads, but I try to keep up with the general flow of traffic. My point here was about those who go inordinately slow, slower than the majority of traffic.

Slower is not necessarily safer. It would largely depend on the overall traffic conditions. I actually believe that the best way to be safe is to be alert and aware of the surrounding traffic patterns and blend in as much as possible, without going that much faster or slower than the flow of traffic.

My contention is that the inordinately slow drivers are unaware or oblivious of their surroundings (such as those who text and drive) - or they simply don't care, which is most definitely an unsafe way to drive. A lot of drivers simply don't take the process of driving seriously enough. They see it as some kind of leisure activity or game.

Say what you will about fast drivers, but I generally find that they have 100% attention on their driving - mainly because they have to. Plus, their actions are predictable. I can predict that 99% of the time, fast drivers are intending to go forward at the quickest rate possible. It's the slow drivers who are unpredictable and inconsistent, and this is what creates riskier situations than what is necessary.

If someone is going too fast for my comfort, the easiest thing to do is simply move to the side and let them pass; they'll be out of range within seconds and no more worries. However, there are some slow drivers who insist on "standing their ground" and deliberately creating situations mainly rooted in their own pride and ego - having nothing to do with any supposed devotion to "safety."