1. Keep up with the flow of traffic, even if it's above the posted speed limit. If the prevailing speed is 75 MPH and you are the only one plodding along at 55 MPH you are creating a dangerous situation.

2. When you turn onto a highway with a higher speed limit, accelerate briskly up to speed. The people you just pulled out in front of should not have to brake because you are too limp-footed with the accelerator.

3. Exercise lane discipline, keep to the right whenever possible and pass on the left. If you are slothing along in the left lane and people are passing you in the right lane, that's your queue to move to the right lane.

"1. Keep up with the flow of traffic, even if it's above the posted speed limit. If the prevailing speed is 75 MPH and you are the only one plodding along at 55 MPH you are creating a dangerous situation."

Why? It's no less safe to go 55 when those passing you go 75. If someone wants to go 55, save fuel, and operate in their comfort zone, what's the problem? Especially if the legal limit is 55. I ride every day on a road with a 65 MPH limit and there are a lot of people who go 55, even if there is no traffic impeding their progress. My reaction? I pass them. Maybe you should read Car Talk's Official Guide to Civil Driving. Your first point indicates that you didn't.

In this case the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Common courtesy dictates that you should not become a rolling roadblock and hold up the majority of the folks who are traveling at the prevailing speed. Likewise if the prevailing speed was 55 MPH an you have a few people driving 75 MPH the same idea applies. Since again the people driving 75 MPH would likely be weaving in and out of 55 MPH traffic, and is dangerous as well.

The problems with the sloths who drive substantially slower than the prevailing traffic is that, they tend to do so in the left or middle lanes. 99% of the time they refuse to change lanes. At any rate traveling well below the speed that everyone else is traveling is dangerous. I stand by my original statement.

I still disagree with you. Common courtesy dictates that you compy woth the speed of the traffic in front of you on that 2-lane road. I had just that experience this morning. One pick-up gtruck was going 35 MPH, then we came upon another at a traffic light, also going 35 MPH. The guy in front of me pulled out and passed them on a double yellow line. The passer was wrong, and did something very dangerous. I patiently waited for the end of the 2-lane stretch (~10 minutes) as did the traffic behind me. That is the responsible, adult response. If you can't wait, leave earlier so that you have enough time to get to your destination. Your second response still smacks of the me-me-me first issue that Tom and Ray explicitly called un-civil driving. I suggest you reread their post. Again.

I should have been more clear. I was referring to driving on a multi-lane highway. One should not pass when there is a double yellow line present.

As for the second suggestion. On the contrary, but *not* accelerating up to the prevailing speed as soon as possible, you are purposely causing headaches (granted not, earth-shattering hardship) by those who already have the right of way. IMHO that smacks of the me-me-me mentality more than waiting until the approaching vehicles have past you to pull onto the road. Of course there are times when you really can't wait until traffic is such where you can pull out and accelerate at a leisurely pace and not cause others to take evasive action or slow down on your account. Those are the times you should make it a point to get to speeds as quickly and safely as possible.

Common courtesy dictates that you compy woth the speed of the traffic in front of you on that 2-lane road.

Maybe, but it also dictates that you not drive above the speed limit or the prevailing speed on a two lane road! It is a two way street.

It would seem that one group is asking the other to violate the law and maybe drive faster than is safe.

That said the slow driver should be making an effort to allow those who are braking the law to safely and easily pass them.

FoDaddy's right.

NHSTA studies indicate--on a limited access highway--risk of accident increases roughly exponentially as one deviates from a low point. That low point is around 2 MPH in excess of the prevailing speed.

Consider that the NHTSA, most likely, would have preferrd the data not come out this way...unlikely to be propoganda. "Drive slowly and save lives" sounds good but, like "From each according to their abilities...," it doesn't work that way in real-world applications.

As soon as the speeders agree to pay any tickets and insurance increases I may incur from joining their illegal (and possibly dangerous) activity, I will consider going along with their flow. But probably not.

"Why? It's no less safe to go 55 when those passing you go 75."
Yes it's less safe. If there's continuous traffic going 75, with you going 55, that generates an unsafe situation where you and you alone are generating a roadblock, and impeding the flow of traffic. You are removing use of that one lane for everyone else, causing traffic to squeeze into one fewer lanes than otherwise just to get past you. It's very selfish. This is in a multi-lane situation. In single-lane (per direction) situation my grandparents recognize they are holding up traffic and pull over on the shoulder periodically. Despite being flat, Iowa has almost no passing zones for some reason.

On the contrary, a few others are right that if traffic is going SLOW for some reason they should also match. It's just as impolite to weave through at 75MPH when traffics doing 55.

I don't know about OP, but I've read that guide, and a few points just are wrong. "Slow down" is just not good advice if you are driving far slower than everyone else.

"2. When you turn onto a highway with a higher speed limit, accelerate briskly up to speed. The people you just pulled out in front of should not have to brake because you are too limp-footed with the accelerator. "
Excellent advice. To those who say slow down and pull in behind: This is right as well, if possible. But if traffic is heavy, this is not always possible. I see FAR too many people here in Iowa that are asses about this.. they just casually coast onto a busy interstate at like 45MPH, you'll hear they are just not giving it any gas.. it's awful, and of course EXTREMELY dangerous -- these roads have 70-75MPH speed limits! They will even pull right out in front of semis! The cops here REALLY should ticket them for "failure to yield" since there's yield signs at the end of every ramp which they are blatantly ignoring. And possibly a second ticket for driving below the minimum speed if they merge on slow enough.

"3. Exercise lane discipline,"
Yes! This used to be a TERRIBLE problem here in Iowa. Now it doesn't seem to be a problem on the interstates and rural highways anymore, but in town I have to go by on the right constantly. People will just go 5-10 under the speed limit in the left lane. Are they turning left? No, just no lane discipline.

1. Keep up with the flow of traffic, even if it's above the posted speed limit. If the prevailing speed is 75 MPH and you are the only one plodding along at 55 MPH you are creating a dangerous situation.

The same rule must also apply in reverse. If the traffic flow is slower than the speed limit then those drivers wishing to speed should slow down.

I would disagree. Those who are speeding are creating a dangerous situation. That said, it is important to keep in mind that most cars at those speeds have speedometers that will indicate about 5 mph high. In traffic which is moving faster than I would choose to drive, I generally will drive up to 5 mph over the speed limit. Note: that is and additional 5 mph after adjusting for speedometer error. How much over depends on many factors. There are times I have gone to 75 mph due to traffic because it would have been unsafe to be even 5 mph below that.

Where is "review and make sure you understand the rules of the road" - or something like that? Provide some examples - review how 4-way stops operate. Review the rules and logic of using interstate highways. Know the difference between "stop" and "yield." I can sometimes be a jerk to other drivers - because many of them have never been taught "rules of the road."

Leave the d*** cell phone at home.

Re: comment on speeding up to the flow of traffic quickly. That's fine if you aren't towing a travel trailer.
You can bet your a** I ain't going to pull my trailer at 65mph, never mind 75mph.

Pay attention to the rules of the road and keep right except to pass.

Think about it, there ARE exceptions.

Having driven in many different countries, the ones that leave the most pleasant memories are the ones where EVERYONE OBEYS THE RULES, which makes for low stress driving. Germany and Switzerland stand out as places I enjoyed driving even though the speeds in Germany were a little frightening. British roads are very crowded, but the high level of driver competence and general courtesy of drivers makes it a nice experience.

In Holland there are numerous bicycles sharing the road with cars, yet it all moves harmoniously. By contrast, India is intitutionalized anarchy since everyone breaks the rules. Most Asian countries turn driving into a Formula 1 exercise, and breaking rules is the norm. Hong Kong, Bangkok, Bejing, and Manila are prime examples.

Theoretically, the US should have the easiest driving environment; good wide roads with shoulders, relatively new cars, most drivers are literate and did not "buy" their licence. Unfortunately, US drivers have an entitlement mentality combined with lower than world class driving skill levels. This results in poor driving habits with lack of attention to traffic conditions, performing all manner of other activities while driving (I've seen a woman floss her teeth and steer with her elbows!), and being generally rude with repect to others on the road. Only in small towns where everyone knows each other do you see courteous driving and a high level of adherence to rules.

Common courtesy combined with obeying the rules make for less stressful driving and no doubt benefits the vehicle as well!

Don't be possessive of the road. Let others pass you even if you travel at or slightly above/below the speed limit. Make the effort to let people pass you by if they appear to need to.

On the interstate, the left lane is for passing and emergency vehicles only. If you aren't actively passing someone, move over at least one lane to the right, even if you are exceeding the speed limit. (Why would breaking one law make it okay to break another.) Don't try to limit anyone else's speed. That's one of the police's functions.

Agree; this is one of the worst habits of drivers in my area. It slows down traffic on otherwise good 4 lane highwais. In Germany and other European countries they would flash their high beams indicating you should let them pass.

If all this did was slow down traffic, I might live with it. But it makes the highways by far more dangerous than anything on the current driving tips list. It produces congestion, cramming everyone together, getting on many people's nerves and then produces those other kinds of problems (like tailgating and tempers).

I spend a lot of time on interstates and NONE of the dangers I encounter are produced by things like excessive speed. They are produced by people who have no idea how to use the highway.

I could be mistaken, but I seem to remember that in Germany you can get a ticket if you are "slow" in the fast lane. ie you are only allowed in the left lane if you are actually passing another vehicle.

Don't tailgate!!! Tailgating is asinine and reckless.

Please understand that there is a red light a half block ahead and there is no need to tailgate me if I happen to be in front of you.

Please use your turn signal when right turning into a side road where I or someone is waiting at a stop sign to proceed.

If you habitually drive annoyingly fast then please don't forget to run during the final portion of your trip after you get out of your car. Also, don't forget to run back to your car.

Harley riders, please get a better muffler; don't make me roll up my window while you go by.

One more, don't drive in platoons on a two lane freeway so left lane hogs are then less of a problem.

There, I feel better!