how fast over the speed limit is it proper to drive? (Annandale: safe, moving to)

[KM_W&M06]

Originally Posted by spencgr

I was not insinuating you should pull over to the shoulder on a two-lane road UNLESS you are going under the speed limit (and then you should). On a two lane road, I am perfectly fine driving behind you as you go the speed limit. I will wait until there is a dotted line, so I can legally pass you. But when I do that, DO NOT speed up.

+1 on NOT speeding up when you are getting passed! If I'm on a two-lane road I'll go 0-5 MPH over the speed limit on average but if I can, I put on the cruise control so I a) don't get distracted by something and slowly fall below the limit or b) see the car behind me creeping up and then feel I need to speed up.

[brooklynborndad]

Originally Posted by dkf747

The OP was asking about local roads, not freeways.

Indeed. On a limited access road, the safety issue is motor vehicle vs motor vehicle. If over 80% of motorists are comfortable going 70MPH, than arguably that is what the limit SHOULD be, and the posted limit may be too low.

On all other roads, speed effects cyclists and pedestrians (who have the right to cross at crosswalks - and IIUC a there are implicit crosswalks at intersections even when not marked - I may start a thread on the topic).

[brooklynborndad]

Originally Posted by spencgr

Thank you!!! It baffles me why anyone would care if I want to go faster than you. What are you trying to prevent? If you feel that my speed may make me an un-safe driver, isn't it much better to have me in front of you, than behind you? I drive faster than most (apparently, from reading this thread), but always move over if someone comes up behind me going faster. I actually welcome it. I figure that, if there is an officer ahead, that person will get the ticket. They are my safety net.

I would never SPEED UP when someone is trying to pass me, and they are going well over the speed limit. To do so could increase the likelihood of a collision, which I would want to avoid.

I am tempted, however, to get a dashboard cam, and send their license number to local LE. If LE disregards, then I might want to raise that with my local member of the board of supervisors.

[FC Merrifield]

Originally Posted by brooklynborndad

So the almost universal consensus is that driving 5 - 10 MPH over is needed to keep up with traffic, it won't get you a ticket, its basically fine (except possibly in school zones), etc, etc

From which I deduce that the vast majority of drivers in this area are scofflaws.

At least as much, if not more so, than cyclists. Like most scofflaw cyclists, they tend to violate the laws in ways which they feel will not endanger themselves.

I hope none of the people who has admitted to regularly driving over the limit is among those opposed to the encouragement of cycling on the grounds that many cyclists are scofflaws.

Ditto vis a vis pedestrians.

Sure, I have no problem with cyclists and pedestrians going a few miles over the speed limit.

[spencgr]

Originally Posted by brooklynborndad

I hope none of the people who has admitted to regularly driving over the limit is among those opposed to the encouragement of cycling on the grounds that many cyclists are scofflaws.

Ditto vis a vis pedestrians.

In theory, I'm not against cyclists or pedestrians. In practice, they are very irritating when they slow me down. And this is particularly true in hilly, windy back roads in Loudoun county. I understand that you are getting your exercise and out for a nice Saturday afternoon ride, but I'm trying to get my errands done. And stuck behind you for two miles going 10-15 miles an hour is very irritating.

Legally, they can be there, yes. Doesn't mean I'm not annoyed. I'm rarely annoyed if I can quickly pass them, which is usually the case anywhere east of Rt 15.

[brooklynborndad]

Originally Posted by FC Merrifield

Sure, I have no problem with cyclists and pedestrians going a few miles over the speed limit.

ha ha.

Each mode tends to scofflaw in ways that are logical for them. motorists tend to drive over the limit, cyclists often treat stop signs as if they were yield signs( see Idaho stop, named after the state where they are legal) and a smaller number treat red lights as stop signs, etc. pedestrians cross roads without a crosswalk where its a long way to the next crosswalk, and when crossing at a signal they often anticipate the crossing signal.

Each has its own logic.

[airjay75]

Originally Posted by spencgr

I was not insinuating you should pull over to the shoulder on a two-lane road UNLESS you are going under the speed limit (and then you should). On a two lane road, I am perfectly fine driving behind you as you go the speed limit. I will wait until there is a dotted line, so I can legally pass you. But when I do that, DO NOT speed up.

I definitely agree on the not speeding part when someone is passing you - in fact, I would even slow down a little more to allow you to pass more quickly and more safely. However, I'm not so sure I agree with you about having to pull over to the shoulder if you are going under the speed limit on a busy 2-lane road. One, the speed limit is exactly what it says - a limit, implying that it is the maximum speed at which you are legally allowed to travel. Thus, if someone is traveling a couple of miles under the speed limit, that is perfectly acceptable and should not be a reason for someone to pull over. To have that expectation of someone (again, on a busy 2-lane road - I'm not talking about a rural, county road), is unreasonable in my opinion. Additionally, driving conditions, such as adverse weather, could necessitate a speed lower than the limit.

Now, if someone is consciously traveling say 10 mph under the speed limit, I think it would be the courteous thing to do to pull over and allow others to pass, and such a person would most definitely annoy me if they did not. But, I still don't think you can say it is anything other than the courteous thing for them to do. If they don't do it, I'm not going to ride their tail, I'm not going to flash my lights, and I'm not going to honk my horn. I'm going to patiently (although slightly annoyed) wait until I have a chance to pass them - which, is also the courteous thing to do, in my opinion.

[brooklynborndad]

Originally Posted by spencgr

In theory, I'm not against cyclists or pedestrians. In practice, they are very irritating when they slow me down. And this is particularly true in hilly, windy back roads in Loudoun county. I understand that you are getting your exercise and out for a nice Saturday afternoon ride, but I'm trying to get my errands done. And stuck behind you for two miles going 10-15 miles an hour is very irritating.

Legally, they can be there, yes. Doesn't mean I'm not annoyed. I'm rarely annoyed if I can quickly pass them, which is usually the case anywhere east of Rt 15.

It may be different in Loudoun county, but in the closer in places there are people cycling to work, for errands, etc. This is particularly true on the roads - given the availability of trails, and the miserable bike unfriendliness of most roads, I doubt many folks out purely for exercise are on the roads, unless its to access a trail - which in a sense IS an errand - just as someone driving to a gym, say, is.

I don't mind if you are annoyed, or if you pass (as long as you do so safely - the law in Va is 2 ft, though it really should be 3 ft - one nice thing about loudoun I guess is that the arterials are typically 4 lanes - here in FFX they are often two lanes, leading to worse conflicts) I do mind when folks who are scofflaws themselves oppose bike friendly policies because "those cyclists are scofflaws"

[brooklynborndad]

Originally Posted by FC Merrifield

Sure, I have no problem with cyclists and pedestrians going a few miles over the speed limit.

I prefer cyclists (and all other road users) be Predictable, Alert, and Lawful. There are lots of sharp downgrades where its easy for a cyclist to exceed a posted limit of 25MPG, and there are strong cyclists who can easily exceed a 25MPG limit on a modest downgrade. They should not, of course. And some local trails have speed limits that are lower still - for example the limit on the MVT is 15MPH - a limit strong cyclists can easily exceed on flat terrain. They should not, however.

[brooklynborndad]

Originally Posted by airjay75

One, the speed limit is exactly what it says - a limit, implying that it is the maximum speed at which you are legally allowed to travel.

that seems to be at issue

"Elizabeth: Wait! You have to take me to shore. According to the Code of the Order of the Brethren...
Barbossa: First, your return to shore was not part of our negotiations nor our agreement so I must do nothing. And secondly, you must be a pirate for the pirate's code to apply and you're not. And thirdly, the code is more what you'd call "guidelines" than actual rules. Welcome aboard the Black Pearl, Miss Turner . "