Crazy driving

valhalla360 wrote:
Studies show that the safest speed is about 5mph over the average speed. Obviously, everyone can't do 5mph over the average (mathematical impossibility).

If you look at the studies, the further you get from that sweet spot, the greater your odds of being involved in a crash. It doesn't matter if you are running faster or slower than the average. So if the average speed on a busy freeway is 75mph (which is typical) and you are tooling along at 50mph, you are presenting roughly as great of a crash risk as someone doing 105mph.

So if you are getting constantly passed or even worse have a big line up behind you, pick up the pace a little or get off the road as soon as possible. Saving a couple bucks on gas isn't worth the safety risks.

Yes this. I typically maintain the same speed as *most* traffic. There are always people going a lot faster and occasionally a lot slower. One exception is when everyone is moving at 80 MPH (which is typical in NJ in a 65 MPH zone). 80 MPH is possible but not enjoyable (or recommended) in my old Allegro. The other exception is on long, steep hill climbs. With those, there are usually dedicated slow lanes for the climb and I tuck in behind the trucks.

Merges - just a nightmare. I maintain a constant speed so as not to throw anyone off. I don't change lanes either. I think people see this as "bullying" (not "letting" people on the highway) but I think it's more dangerous to put my rig out in the left lane where people are going a lot faster than it is to potentially inconvenience someone by having them merge behind me. But people just don't seem to know how to do it. They always want to seem to match my speed and ride along side until the acceleration lane ends, then they either cut me off hard, or ride in the shoulder and cut behind me. I get plenty of horn honking and hand gestures. I don't get it.