Speed Limit

Why is that people constantly drive below the speed limit, but won't move over to let other pass? I see it all the time and it seems to be getting worse.

If you don't want to drive the speed limit, I understand, but please use the shoulder and move out of everyone's way. It's just the nice thing to do!

AMEN!

Is it legal to do that? I was told by a driving instructor that if there is a double stripe there should be no passing.

the shoulder is for emergency parking only, and not for driving on so others can pass. it could be dangerous of the person was driving on the shoulder on a hill and someone was parked below that hill.

I got a ticket for doing it in Oklahoma a few years back. But just the other day a TxDPS Trooper moved over in that lane to let me pass.

Oklahoma is, well lets just say "different". Last time I looked its a single white line.

It's kind of a Texas thing, but its just so irritating to get behind a slow driver and not be able to pass. Why can't people just drive the speed limit????

Why wrote:

Oklahoma is, well lets just say "different". Last time I looked its a single white line.
It's kind of a Texas thing, but its just so irritating to get behind a slow driver and not be able to pass. Why can't people just drive the speed limit????

I hate to get behind someone that doesn't pull over and let you pass too but on the other hand, why are we always in a hurry? Leave on time or early enough and you will get there. Even if you are driving the speed limit there is always some idiot who thinks he is driving a racecar and nearly blows you off the road.

If someone is driving the speed limit, I dont have a problem with that. I normally drive 2 over or so, but thats not a prob. I am talking about those who drive a 65 in a 70, or worse 55 in a 70, and have a convoy of people behind them... Those people need to scoot over!

My favorite is when you are on a 4 lane hwy...and it never fails I always get behind someone who decides to drive the EXACT same speed as the person next to them.....thus, blocking the road. It's a PASSING lane.....so PASS!!!! ugh!

lola wrote:

My favorite is when you are on a 4 lane hwy...and it never fails I always get behind someone who decides to drive the EXACT same speed as the person next to them.....thus, blocking the road. It's a PASSING lane.....so PASS!!!! ugh!

My favorite is when you are west of Nocona where the slow moving lanes are and the slow driver still stays in the fast lane instead of pulling over to the right. The other one is when you have some guy who is driving half on the shoulder and half on the driving lane.

The problem really is that people are oblivious to everything and everyone around them!

Why wrote:

Oklahoma is, well lets just say "different". Last time I looked its a single white line.
It's kind of a Texas thing, but its just so irritating to get behind a slow driver and not be able to pass. Why can't people just drive the speed limit????

Yes, single white on the right, but double line on the left, therefor, it should be unsafe to pass at all in that area...what if someone is pulling out from a road or is parked on the shoulder and you are unable to see until you are up on them....it just seems unsafe to move over to the shoulder to let someone pass, even though you are frustrated. If you wait a few minutes, there should be a legal opportunity. I thought that was why there were the stripes in the middle of the highway, to let you know the safest times to pass.

There are many FM roads around, as well as many state roads that have very few places to pass. The idea is to never move over going up a hill, but if and when its safe to do so, please let the 18 people behind you go by....

Why wrote:

There are many FM roads around, as well as many state roads that have very few places to pass. The idea is to never move over going up a hill, but if and when its safe to do so, please let the 18 people behind you go by....

Do many FM roads have shoulders? I agree if there are 18 people behind you then you must be going way below the posted limit, but I personally haven't seen that. You should find a safe place and let that many people around, maybe even stop. I guess what have seen more often is people actually going the speed limit and someone just comes right up on them and tailgates them, almost bullying them to pull to the right.

Ok, 18 is a little over the top, but I have been the 6th person behind someone on 175/59 that was going 55...
I will say this; I normally drive 2 over whatever the posted speed is. As much as I hate people that drive below the limit, I hate people that tailgate even more!
My point is paying attention to things around you and be courteous to others. We are all trying to get somewhere...

Why wrote:

Ok, 18 is a little over the top, but I have been the 6th person behind someone on 175/59 that was going 55...
I will say this; I normally drive 2 over whatever the posted speed is. As much as I hate people that drive below the limit, I hate people that tailgate even more!
My point is paying attention to things around you and be courteous to others. We are all trying to get somewhere...

Yes, I agree!...in general, just be aware of your surroundings.

Wondering wrote:

<quoted text>
Yes, I agree!...in general, just be aware of your surroundings.

I agree to be aware of your surroundings and people need to look in their rear view mirror once in awhile! As far as pulling over on the shoulder to let people pass you is that illegal or not? Some places you might get a ticket for driving on the shoulder even if you are trying to be a courteous driver and let people by. On the other hand if you are driving the speed limit and the cars behind you are staying the proper distance then everybody should be able to maintain the posted speed limit and not rear end anybody. I've had people stay right on my bumper and I wanted to hit my brakes so bad to get them to back off and I was driving the posted speed limit. I also wanted to say that I'm older and probably got more insurance than you do.

I dont think that its illegal as long as you don't stay over there.

Like I said, I hate tailgaters just as much as slow drivers. That's why I always drive 2 over, because our speedometer can be off that much pretty easy.

Why wrote:

I dont think that its illegal as long as you don't stay over there.

You are correct my friend. The Texas Transportation Code, Section 545.058 states:

DRIVING ON IMPROVED SHOULDER.(a) An operator may drive on an improved shoulder to the right of the main traveled portion of a roadway if that operation is necessary and may be done safely, but only:

(1) to stop, stand, or park;

(2) to accelerate before entering the main traveled lane of traffic;

(3) to decelerate before making a right turn;

(4) to pass another vehicle that is slowing or stopped on the main traveled portion of the highway, disabled, or preparing to make a left turn;

(5) to allow another vehicle traveling faster to pass;

(6) as permitted or required by an official traffic-control device; or

(7) to avoid a collision.

(b) An operator may drive on an improved shoulder to the left of the main traveled portion of a divided or limited-access or controlled-access highway if that operation may be done safely, but only:

(1) to slow or stop when the vehicle is disabled and traffic or other circumstances prohibit the safe movement of the vehicle to the shoulder to the right of the main traveled portion of the roadway;

(2) as permitted or required by an official traffic-control device; or

(3) to avoid a collision.

(c) A limitation in this section on driving on an improved shoulder does not apply to:

(1) an authorized emergency vehicle responding to a call;

(2) a police patrol; or

(3) a bicycle.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Good info. John E. Law. I always thought it was illegal to pass someone on the right if it was a two lane road? I thought the people needed to stp and wait until you made that left hand turn? Two lane road with shoulder is what I'm talking about.