>

This might only apply if you're a learner driver.
Agreed but I'm downvoting because I'm fairly certain this is a popular opinion. >

Fair enough, sorta thought more people would be like "just slow down you speed demon" >

Well then that’s where you get to the nuance of it. I’m not moving over on a 50mph road when I’m doing 50 because the guy behind wants to do 80. >

This is exactly it. If someone is going below the speed limit (like drastically below), then they need to speed up.  But, if I am doing the speed limit, I don't care how impatient you get. (again, this also isn't talking about camping in passing lanes) >

This is not an unpopular opinion: the only one who doesn't agree with it is the person driving slowly at the front of the line. >

My dad does this and it makes me so anxious. He is the slowest driver on earth and I hate it so much, I can almost feel the anger of the other drivers behind us. >

Does he know that he's annoying the people behind him by not just pulling over or speeding up? >

I really don’t think he’s aware, that’s the worst part. I always have to tell him he’s going too slow. He’ll say “Well, they can pass me.” I’m like “Well, if everyone is passing you maybe you need to speed up.” Then he gets defensive. He’s just way too overly cautious >

That's the thing is we can't always pass that person (at least not legally anyways) like if it's a one lane road. >

I know. I always try to drive if I can help it. He’s the worst haha >

It used to be a law in Wisconsin, back when i lived there, you had to pull over if you were holding up 5 or more vehicals. >

5 seems like a lot, id say like 2 or 3 is reasonable because at that point you might get a guy that instead of going 10 below he's going 5 below which is also super slow >

The worst is two lanes and both cars in each lane are just driving side-by-side 😫 >

This is true, especially one 18 wheeler truck trying to pass another. Always takes forever >

If its a 2 lane road no you DONT have to pull over... if its a multilane highway people have a left lane to pass you. If youre not comfortable gping the actual speed limit you shouldnt be driving. Unless theres weather conditions ie heavy rain or ice you shouldnt be traveling 10 under the limit... >

Yes agreed, I was mostly thinking single lane roads when I posted this. In multi lane roads you shouldn't be in left lane unless you're passing >

Which is weird though because then all trfgic gets backed up in the right lane... sometimes i just cruise in the left lane going 10 over. If someone is comming up ill get over tho >

I feel these people lack awareness of their surroundings or they simply do not care. They are the same people that block aisles at grocery stores. >

Agreed, but......  If I'm already doing 65 in a 55 and 1 or more cars are tailgating, we will ALL be doing 55 Max for the next mile or 2. >

I fully agree it's so annoying to be behind someone being slow as hell and in my experience most slow drivers I saw were usually braking repeatedly which made their behaviour unpredictable it's more dangerous than someone speeding and passing me >

This only applies on single lane highways for me. Otherwise just pass me normally >

Yeah thats kinda what I was trying to get at >

Very popular opinion >

I was driving once in a snow storm on a two lane freeway, a line of cars a mile long behind me. I was new in driving in snow and driving very slow. Normally everyone drives like maniacs here and I was tempted to drive faster, but then I thought, they could all pass I'd they wanted. The line stayed behind me happy of someone forging ahead.
Long story short, it all depends. As long as you drive speed limit or according to circumstances you are fine. Don't let those rushing force you to something you are not ready. >

Under that circumstance I'd agree with you, with a big part of it being a two lane road and they could pass if they wanted. Road conditions obviously play a big part into this. >

In most cases, it's not even just "you should" -- It's literally the law if you're in the leftmost lane on the highway.
It doesn't matter if the speed limit is 70 and you're going 70mph. It does not fucking matter. You get over and let the people behind you pass. You're going to cause an accident because they can't get around you. >


You're going to cause an accident because they can't get around you

How? 
If you are referring to people overtaking dangerously then that isn't the slow person's fault, it's the impatient person overtaking recklessly. >

We aren't talking about who is at fault here, we are talking about preventing an accident.  If you can prevent an accident that wouldn't be your fault, you should obviously do it. >

Just go the speed limit >

It boggles my mind that this is not more of a common courtesy. To go along with it, how the fuck do these people not realize the cars ahead of them are pulling away and gaining distance?! And then they also have cars stacking up behind them. How the fuck can anyone drive a vehicle and be this completely unaware of their surroundings? >

I dont think I've ever seen a single person do it besides me when I was learning to drive or my parents. >

Agreed. I swear theres people that wake up every day and their first thought is "imma be a hinder to everyone around me". Just move aside. Dont drive way below the speed limit. Some of us actually do want to go places in times. >

Everyone down voting this is the problem >

No upvote for you! I completely agree - these people are the bane of existence >

if everything else were identical but the road sign said 20 mph slower and the person were going the exact same speed you'd probably be going slower than them.
you're only mad because you want to go faster than them, not because of the speed they're going.
if roads had no speed limit, would you constantly pull over for people who want to go 120mph all the time? >

There is no reason beyond a fragile ego to not let faster traffic pass you. Why on earth would you want lots of cars held up behind you? It's more dangerous and promotes road rage instead of just letting everyone go about their day.
Unless of course you feel the childish need to be important and act like a police officer that gets to decide how fast everyone else should be going. >

Thank God someone said it. If you want to drive slow then fine, but if you want to hold everyone up then you're a problem >

At least in Germany, by law, you have to drive on the 1st lane and use the 2nd for overtakes. If that one's busy as well, if available, overtake on the 3rd. So I'm downvoting this because the solution and approach is all wrong >

I was moreso talking about single lane roads in a more countryside/rural setting. It still works a bit differently in America, where the left most lane is supposed to be used nearly exclusively for passing, and the right/middle lanes to be used for cruising and getting off at your exit. >

So they should interrupt their already slow trip in a single lane road just because YOU have a car with a better engine, better speed, want to go over the legal speed limit and, for any reason, cannot overpass the slower car on the opposite direction lane? Is that what you're trying to say? Because we are able to just overpass onto the opposite lane if there are no cars incoming and if the section permits it >

Those sections where you can overpass in the opposing lane happen few and far between. Plus it seems like you missed a key aspect of the post. Im not saying I want to go over the legal speed limit: if your car is going the speed limit and im behind you then I'm all fine with that. But if you're going so slow you're causing a huge line of cars behind you then thats a problem. >

Or, alternatively, don't drive below the speed limit unnecessarily >

You wouldn't believe how often I've been seeing it lately, it's insane. And I hate tailgating because then I feel like the asshole >

Is it because it's the middle of winter and everything is like an ice rink? >

I mean obviously if the road conditions themselves are bad that's a different story. I'll see it on roads that are completely clear of any snow, water, and ice. >

I find in general driving has gotten about 20% worse since the start of Covid.  I'm not sure if it's from people driving less, or a loss of cognitive skills from long Covid.  But I see more people clueless on the road than ever before. >

Where I live Covid caused a less intense driving test than usual so for my area I’d bet that’s why I find people worse at driving recently. >

Oh wow, yeah that is massive. I don't think it caused a change here, and it's also a lot more bad drivers than just new ones, but I don't know. >

Yeah no reverse, parallel, emergency stop, and they also shortened it by around 25%. It was pretty horrible tbh >

Wtf. >

No, bad drivers take the speed limit as "I must do this speed". It is not the speed you must drive, wtf can 90% of drivers not get this in their heads. >

Yes which is why it's a speed limit. Unless the road conditions are poor you should be going close to the speed limit, not 5 to 10mph below. There's no reason that you should be holding up multiple cars because you want to drive slower. If you wanna drive slower then fine but let the rest of us who want to drive at the speed limit pass you. >

5 below the limit is close to the limit, Fuck me how do you not get this. If I'm holding cars up by going 45 then I can bet my life they all want to drive above the limit. >

Why though? It’s a speed LIMIT. Nothing says it’s forbidden to ride a bit under, on country roads that is. What if there’s a heavy truck and the driver needs to be extra careful because of the load? Or if another one is riding a motorcycle and there’s leftover dirt that some tractor left behind? Or what if this tractor is on the country road, going slowly? What’s the point in tailgating? The speed limit is in fact a limit folks. 
Do the math.. how much time will you save by driving 7miles per hour faster? I think what people really don’t like is that impression of not advancing when you have to slow down from your usual cruising speed. Its just an impression because you’re still getting closer to your destination. Its not worth risking the life of others or your life over it.
Adapt your driving, be attentive and enjoy the ride. No need to always be at the speed limit or over. Life is to precious to die or kill in a stupid road accident. You are still getting to where you’re going, Specifically if you drive carefully. >

If youre causing a line of traffic behind you it's an issue. And if you're going slow to "enjoy the ride" then how come you can't be courteous to others around you and pull over and allow them to pass? >

If I’m going slightly under the speed limit and there’s traffic behind the issue is the people insisting on going at or over the speed limit. As I said, its a speed limit for a reason. Its not a recommended speed and there are good reasons not to always stick to it.
Many country roads do have passing lines. I’d rather let the hurried ones pass and keep an appropriate speed so they can securly pass at these places. The only moment i’ll pull over is if an emergency vehicle needs the lane. Or some other emergency happens.
Do people get angry at a snow storm because it slows them? Surely. But they can’t tailgate it or harass it. So why do that to a driver who’s only perceived fault is respecting the speed limit? >

If I'm going the speed limit then F off and slow down >

And you're the issue. Move over and then nobody cares how fast you're going >

Mmm nah. Why don't you give me a ticket? Oh wait... You can't lol >

Keep being inconsiderate, you are the main character after all >

It's the law bro. Speed limits were made for safety. By not respecting them, you're thinking you're more important than other people's safety. You're the one with main character syndrome, my dude. >

Nah those people can wait >

This is a popular option. A lot of drivers can't plan ahead and go out early to drive from y to z. They instead do things last minute and this is why a lot of people try to hurry to places. It's stupid how someone can't plan ahead and go 5 mins earlier than they should. >

What about a situation where you are already going 5-10mph and there are cars tailgating you on a 1 lane road? I used to live off a 55mph road and saw more of this than people going under the speed limit >

Pull over and stop? No. Faster cars should overtake when they have an opportunity.
I never drive above the speed limit and rarely below it, and it still sometimes happens. Usually in winter, when it's dark at 5pm. There's a road in my city with speed limit 50 km/h (since it's a residential area). But it also has intersections, crosswalks and side roads to store parking lots every 100-150 meters. And usually heavy traffic. No way I'm doing 50 and stopping at every single crosswalk. Sometimes it's also dark and/or wet. So yeah, it is possible and safe to go 50 there on a Sunday morning, but not on work days.
Also, you seem to assume it's safe and legal to just pull over on a road. >

Not all roads have the opportunity to overtake the car. I also did specify "pull over when it's safe to do so" which many times it can be. I generally mean the roads that are in more rural areas where you can just cruise through. To be fair though I didn't realize my wording could be thought to mean all roads. >

Yeah, it's probably regional differences. I though about my own driving experience and I guess I misunderstood your post.
In my personal driving experience being stuck behind a slow driver (driving below speed limit for no apparent reason) is incredibly rare. I live in Poland. In my area there are many towns and cities very close to each other, connected with 90 km/h roads, one lane in each direction and usually going through forests and fields. It's pretty common to get overtaken by a person going over 100 km/h. There's either no place to pull over, because you'd drive into a cornfield/a tree, or there is a "lane" meant for bikes and pedestrians. I'd have to check but I'm pretty sure it's illegal to stop there without an emergency.
Where are you from? I guess roads there are different than here. >


going 5 or 10mph below the speed limit
if you already are going the speed limit

These are literally the same thing. it's why it's called a SPEED LIMIT. It's the MAXIMUM you are allowed to drive.
Just slow down and wait behind me. Overtake when safe to do so. I'm not driving to race anyone and neither should you
I'll speed up a bit for you if I see you can't overtake me, but don't expect much. Gasoline is expensive >

I don’t think this is unpopular. In fact, I like to pull over and let tailgaters pass me. I like to see if I just catch up with them at the next light anyway, plus I feed like it’s probably a bit unnerving for the tailgater. >

After seeing some of the comments on this post it's more polarizing than unpopular. I've seen a good amount of people here on both sides of the argument >

People always say to follow the speed limit, but generally speaking (where I live), I noticed some streets are posted to go 40 mph due to residential/school areas, but normal traffic goes 45 to 50 without it being dangerous. The speed limit does not always match what is really "safe" per se, it's a great baseline to start, but there's absolutely no reason to go under what it says...new drivers included, big rig drivers, and those that are having car issues obviously. And weather. >

You might be right. The problem is that most drivers out there are shit at making these judgment calls. This would require correctly estimating their response rate and the car’s behavior on different road conditions. So you’re giving people way too much credit if you’re thinking they can know when +10 mph is just as safe.
A friend of mine is a driving instructor giving those court mandated classes to people who had their license suspended, and you wouldn’t believe how idiotic most people are. He explains things like braking distance to them, and there’s always one idiot that goes like “wait, you’re meaning to tell me that if I’m driving 60 mph, my car is moving 90 feet per second? That’s crazy!!” - and my friend is like “it’s not crazy, it’s math”. If people don’t understand movement speed - do you really expect them to be good judges of their reaction speed and breaking distance?
Most people are just bad drivers. Speed limits wouldn’t be required if all drivers were good. >

Yeah, I generally try not to tailgate if they are going the actual speed limit but like I said 5 or 10mph lower than the speed limit is ridiculous