It only takes a second....

Terryallan wrote:

jimh425 wrote:
I wish I lived in your black/white world that some of you guys live in sometimes. Other times, I'm glad I don't.

Not saying this is the OP scenario, but stay with me ... BTW, you could just as well put any speed close to 60 in these scenarios. A person going 57 is still "legal". What do you think the experience is like for those behind you in each of these cases? Maybe you don't care.

Let's say you are driving a modern diesel pickup. That generally means you can out accelerate almost every vehicle on the road even with TC. At least, you can accelerate fast enough that it is hard to pass without exceeding the speed limit. You could be someone who slows down in each curve to follow the "guidance" for that curve, and prevent others from going the speed limit during the entire distance. Then, on the straight away you rightly accelerate. After all, you don't want to go "too" slow.

Then, there is the obvious. You think you are going the speed limit, but your speedometer is actually indicating a few miles per hour faster than your actual speed. You could very well think you are going the speed limit, but actually, you are not. Maybe based on your eyesight, you think you are going 60, but you are actually going 59. How is someone reasonably going to pass in that scenario without exceeding the speed limit?

I believe all of the states out West have impeding laws probably to deal with some of these scenarios. BTW, I'm not breaking any laws by letting people pass me when I'm the slow one. I appreciate consideration when I'm the one following in a faster vehicle.

I have been driving, and passing slower vehicles on single lane roads for 45 years. NOt ONCE have I been cited for going over the speedlimit while passing another vehicle. It is pretty well expected. so you can get out, get by, and back in soon as possible. However once past. You have to slow down back to the speedlimit.

As for your faster car, and thinking that you just have to pass a vehicle running the speedlimit. You should have left home earlier.
I will not pull over while running the speedlimit, to allow YOU to break the speedlimit. And BTW. Our mountain roads don't have pullovers, and the speedlimt is usually in the 25 to 35 MPH range.

Disclaimer: I'm not arguing the point to prove anything about what the OP did or did not do in his situation. There's no judgement from me. I find topic interesting and is causing what I consider to be constructive discussion. It's fair to say none of us would like to be in the OP's shoes and maybe there's something good that can come of it.

That said, I think you still missed Jim's point and are using a Straw Man. Jim proposed very real scenarios in which a driver could "think" they are going the speed limit and yet are not (slowing in corners or speedometer error). He was attempting to explain why some of these "lunatics" may want to pass and be completely in the right for doing it. Not to mention, many do not like to follow a camper or RV wall, no matter what travel speed. I know I don't and completely get those wanting around me, no matter my speed.

For the record, it is still illegal to exceed the limit when passing. How is ignoring that law OK but not OK for a sedan who doesn't want to travel at the speed of an RV? The reason cops don't stop everyone for a little over the limit is because one size fits all speed limits don't apply well in real life and discretion is applied.