There's speed limits for a reason

Yes, the speed limits serve a purpose, but so do the minimum speeds too. Last night a car was in I-75 in Michigan doing 25 mph. A truck driver said he didn't see the car in time and, basically ran over it, killing both inside the car. The car was soo mangled a police investigator said "we think the car is a 07-09 Grand Prix or simiar, but we can't find the license plate or any of the VIN numbers. So, if you have family members that were supposed to come home last night in a similar car but didn't, please call us"

The accident was after midnight, so it was dark, the car did have it's hazzards on. The accident happened right after the freeway makes a 90 degree turn north, I don't know if that had something to do with the trucker not seeing the car? Either way, if you or your vehicle is not capable of travelling at 45 mph or above, get the heck off the road and call somebody.

And if you have to drive at 45mph, use the right lane and not the middle.

That's terrible.

Related. Once in Canada (not sure, maybe on the 405 or QEW?) I saw someone doing about that speed in a VW Thing, maybe 10 PM, no lights of any kind. Just about got caught up in that mess myself as I was a bit of a right lane feeder at that time.

Right in Downtown Detroit?

We had one of those in Charleston a couple of years ago. Killed the truck driver and the car driver. Set both vehicles on fire and shut down the interstate for about 12 hours while they repaved it.

It was caused by three cars at 25mph blocking the road on purpose. Unfortunately they all got away. The car that got hit was behind them.

beans wrote: Right in Downtown Detroit?

It was just north of the Big Beaver exit (Exit 69 for those that don't know Michigan is full of purvs)

I had a flat in a festiva and was stuck using a 45mph spare on the interstate in the middle of the night. I pushed it to 55mph and got as far right as possible. I still spent the whole night in full clench every time a semi closed distance and went around. I don't think you would survive 5 minutes at 25 mph.

In reply to MrJoshua:

I don't think they did....

I hate, hate, hate overtaking on the right but it's the only way where I live. And it's a funny paradox.

On the highway I generally want to do about 10 over the limit and maintain about 7 or more car lengths in front and behind other cars. I generally sit in the #3 lane from the left leaving the #4 lane for cars merging on-off and #2+1 for overtaking.

On a constant basis cars will slowly creep up behind me 'til I'm in their field of view, ie 2 car lengths or less. So I move over to allow them to overtake, as they'll never, ever simply pass me on my left.

Generally they just want to camp out about 1.8 seconds behind me while they talk on the phone.

So I brake to force them by, and drop in behind them . Often they slow significantly as they weren't actively choosing a speed, but marking my speed at by keeping me at the extent of their field of view, also known as "less than 2 seconds at 70 mph" or "30 feet".

I've had trips back home from the track where other cars are running closer to my truck and trailer than I saw in the open wheel/sports racer group all weekend.

The problem has a few moving parts:

• People don't keep their eyes up. They're looking a couple car lengths up, not at the extent of what they can see. This results in "surprises" for them that I've seen hundreds of feet sooner.

• People follow too closely. Combine this with the bad visual habits, and it's where those accidents we can't fathom ("How do you ball up a car going in a perfectly straight line at sub-cool down lap speed, honestly?") happen.

• People don't know how to overtake, and have no place to do it if they did.

• Turn signal usage is so infrequent that it's honestly surprising when they're used.

I've driven about 5000km in The Netherlands, Italy and Spain in the past 5 years or so. None of these problems exist there.

After a week in Spain and close to 2000km, I came up on a car in the left lane, and they didn't instantly signal and make a swift, sure lane change left. Within 1 minute there was a line of cars behind me. I moved right to let the next guy back try to be noticed, but left room for him to pass on the right if he chose to. He wouldn't, nor would the next couple cars. Finally the truck got about 2 meters behind the car and made a gentle suggestion w/ the air horns. They moved right, and sheepishly waved apologetically to each car as we drove by.

I think the US, at least around the major urban centers on the east coast is irrevocably broken.

One time I was trying to pass an SUV in the inside lane going a little below the limit, when I pulled out (remember, driving on the left with RHD cars) I was barely able to pull back in to dodge a RWD Starlet doing about 20kph, he might as well have been parked. If I'd tried to pass just a hair later there would have been an explosion of old school JDM shrapnel as my first sign that something was wrong.

What you all are seeing is the result of basically proving you are breathing and thus getting issued a drivers license. I wish something like street survival was required for all licensees every 2-3 years....

If they had their hazards on, they should have been in the breakdown lane at 25mph. THAT is reckless. If the semi didn't get them, another car might have.

Bad, BAD judgement at work there.

Our highways in Canada have a minimum speed limit. I am surprised that isn't the case everywhere.

motomoron wrote: I hate, hate, hate overtaking on the right but it's the only way where I live. And it's a funny paradox. ///bunch of words/// I think the US, at least around the major urban centers on the east coast is irrevocably broken.

The problem is the US driver's training, it doesn't teach or reenforce any kind of good habits, and is entirely too easy and cheap to pass and get your license.

bearmtnmartin wrote: Our highways in Canada have a minimum speed limit. I am surprised that isn't the case everywhere.

Lemme go ahead and put this here again

tuna55 wrote: That's terrible. Related. Once in Canada (not sure, maybe on the 405 or QEW?) I saw someone doing about that speed in a VW Thing, maybe 10 PM, no lights of any kind. Just about got caught up in that mess myself as I was a bit of a right lane feeder at that time.

bearmtnmartin wrote: Our highways in Canada have a minimum speed limit. I am surprised that isn't the case everywhere.

We do. It's 45 mph.
If this poor moron was doing 25, and the semi was doing 65 that's a pretty substantial speed differential. Have never driven a big rig I can't say for sure, but I don't know how much there was he could do when he/she saw the car. While I feel for the families of the folks that died, I also feel for the truck driver. He just ended two lives. No matter the reason, I'd have a hard time dealing with that.

I don't understand. Speed kills, so slower is always safer, right?

Yes, I'm being sarcastic.

In reply to Tom_Spangler:

Higher speeds can be safe......so long as you keep slow people off those roadways. They cause most of the problems in the first place.

and I agree with you.......speed doesn't kill, its the abrubt stop that does......or being the abrupt stop in this case.

On most limited access highways in the US the minimum speed is 40 mph and below that you are to use flashers.

Granted, even doing the speed limit (55 mph) on I-95 in PA during commuting hours might not get you literally run over, but damn close sometimes.

In reply to Ian F:

My advice is always "If it is safe to do so, go with the flow of traffic" In Indy on 465 two weeks ago, the left 2 lanes were running 90-95mph.....in a 55.

Don't you guys have signs that say "Vehicles under 45mph use Flashers"?

Downtown 25 and at night... sounds like a drunk driver to me, like someone that can't walk or stand type drunk. IF that is the case and no one else got hurt, good riddance. Better they go that way than take out some innocent bystanders

914Driver wrote: Don't you guys have signs that say "Vehicles under 45mph use Flashers"?

I don't really see how that would help.

yamaha wrote: In reply to Ian F: My advice is always "If it is safe to do so, go with the flow of traffic" In Indy on 465 two weeks ago, the left 2 lanes were running 90-95mph.....in a 55.

Pretty much describes the PA Turnpike during commuting times, although it's toned down a little bit since so much is under construction right now. I'd be in the left lane doing 90 and have guys right on my bumper.

DrBoost wrote:

beans wrote: Right in Downtown Detroit?

It was just north of the Big Beaver exit (Exit 69 for those that don't know Michigan is full of purvs)

Ah, I have a friend that lives right there. I'll have to ask him about it.