I agree it’s probably safest to follow the flow of traffic, because it’s speed differences and changes that I’ve seen cause the most accidents or near-accidents

I agree it’s probably safest to follow the flow of traffic, because it’s speed differences and changes that I’ve seen cause the most accidents or near-accidents. When people are slowing down, changing lanes, exiting, or other things that cause speed differences between vehicles, it reduces other drivers’ ability to predict what’s going to happen, introducing more opportunities for a wrong move. Whereas I’ve done the trip between SF and Reno/Tahoe many times, for example, and depending on time of day (day of week, season of year, &c.) there are parts of I-80 where virtually all the traffic flows smoothly and consistently at 80–85mph. I have a hunch that it’s not a coincidence that I’ve seen far fewer accidents in those areas—all you have to do is stay awake, steer, and hope a deer doesn’t jump out.