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> what's the rationale for letting people go 10 over the limit One reason among many: for passing, especially semis, without spending forever in their blind-sp

> what's the rationale for letting people go 10 over the limit One reason among many: for passing, especially semis, without spending forever in their blind-spot

gnicholas 3y ago
Is it technically legal to exceed the speed limit when passing? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying no one ever speeds. I’m just wondering what the reasoning would be in this case. Seems to reify speeding, if anything.
- kirubakaran 3y ago
  Some good anecdotes here: https://www.quora.com/Have-you-ever-been-pulled-over-for-going-1-MPH-over-the-speed-limit-If-so-did-you-get-a-ticket https://www.quora.com/Have-you-ever-been-pulled-over-for-goi...
  - gnicholas 3y ago
    Oof, that one about the misidentified blue Camry sounds maddening.
- tjohns 3y ago
  No, it's definitely illegal, at least by the letter of the law. But as long as you're only going a few miles over the speed limit for a few moments, nobody's going to write you a ticket for it. One of many situations where the law in theory and practical application differ, since officers are given discretion (read: ability to apply common sense) in their duties. It's not a perfect system, but it's what we've got.
- chiph 3y ago
  Not in my state. And probably few, if any others. But it is a safety thing. The longer you spend in the oncoming lane completing a pass, the higher the risk of a collision (cars pulling out of driveways into the lane, people misjudging distances, etc.). There's also what I've observed (not sure if there's an official name for it), that if you pass someone slowly, they will "lock tractor beams" onto you and start to match your speed. So you want to have a noticeable speed difference between your vehicles to prevent this.
cameronh90 3y ago
Are blind spot mirrors not mandatory there?
- tjohns 3y ago
  Mirrors or not, hanging out in the blind spot is a dangerous place to be. You don't want to be there for any length of time longer than absolutely necessary.
tjohns 3y ago
Also, safety. Being able to floor it during an emergency can sometimes get you out of an impending crash - if the situation is right, and your reaction time is quick enough.
- gnicholas 3y ago
  Oh for sure, but that could require going more than 10 over the limit. I can't imagine needing to go 25 over the limit under pretty much any (non-apocalyptic) circumstance, but 10 doesn't seem like sufficient for this type of situation.

> what's the rationale for letting people go 10 over the limit One reason among many: for passing, especially semis, without spending forever in their blind-spot

gnicholas 3y ago

Is it technically legal to exceed the speed limit when passing? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying no one ever speeds. I’m just wondering what the reasoning would be in this case. Seems to reify speeding, if anything.

kirubakaran 3y ago
Some good anecdotes here: https://www.quora.com/Have-you-ever-been-pulled-over-for-going-1-MPH-over-the-speed-limit-If-so-did-you-get-a-ticket https://www.quora.com/Have-you-ever-been-pulled-over-for-goi...
- gnicholas 3y ago
  Oof, that one about the misidentified blue Camry sounds maddening.
tjohns 3y ago
No, it's definitely illegal, at least by the letter of the law. But as long as you're only going a few miles over the speed limit for a few moments, nobody's going to write you a ticket for it. One of many situations where the law in theory and practical application differ, since officers are given discretion (read: ability to apply common sense) in their duties. It's not a perfect system, but it's what we've got.
chiph 3y ago
Not in my state. And probably few, if any others. But it is a safety thing. The longer you spend in the oncoming lane completing a pass, the higher the risk of a collision (cars pulling out of driveways into the lane, people misjudging distances, etc.). There's also what I've observed (not sure if there's an official name for it), that if you pass someone slowly, they will "lock tractor beams" onto you and start to match your speed. So you want to have a noticeable speed difference between your vehicles to prevent this.

cameronh90 3y ago

Are blind spot mirrors not mandatory there?

tjohns 3y ago
Mirrors or not, hanging out in the blind spot is a dangerous place to be. You don't want to be there for any length of time longer than absolutely necessary.

tjohns 3y ago

Also, safety. Being able to floor it during an emergency can sometimes get you out of an impending crash - if the situation is right, and your reaction time is quick enough.

gnicholas 3y ago
Oh for sure, but that could require going more than 10 over the limit. I can't imagine needing to go 25 over the limit under pretty much any (non-apocalyptic) circumstance, but 10 doesn't seem like sufficient for this type of situation.