> I think legally there should be some allowance for exceeding the speed limit when passing There is. Or rather, there might be. In the US, some states allow

> I think legally there should be some allowance for exceeding the speed limit when passing There is. Or rather, there might be. In the US, some states allow you speed while passing. The qualifications on how much you can speed range from "reasonable margin of safety" to specific numbers. And, some states further limit the situations where you can do this, for instance to only allowing it on two lane roads where you're pulling into the oncoming lane to pass.