Current Events > Who actually controls the flow of traffic on the road?

(+) Yeah! (+)

(speaking about the United States).

Before I begin I generally do go with the flow of traffic within reason. If the speed limit on a highway is say 65, and people are going 80 in general I will "go with the flow".

But I have always been curious who determines what the flow is? If the speed limit on the highway is 65, and everybody is going 65, is the person who wants to go 80 now setting the flow or disrupting the flow?

I live near a lot of roads that are one way in both directions. If the speed limit is 35 on a road, and the person in front wants to go 30 or 35 max I follow that because I do not want to tailgate and I cannot go through them. But, what if I am on a road with nobody around going 35(speed limit) and somebody comes behind me going 50. Should they not "go with the flow"? Who sets the flow?

Maybe this is just a lot of words and spinning around for something like this but I have always been curious. Is there any US law that states who "sets the flow?"

Dave

Wizards

I do.

It's 5 above the speed limit. 10 if you're willing to risk it.

10 above is the flow. They set the limits expecting the flow to be a little higher. Strict adherence to the limit is just for construction or school zones.

The lead car sets the flow. If you're doing 35 in a 35 and someone comes up behind you going 50, they can either accept that the flow is 35 or they can be an aggressive asshole.

And for the record, if a cop really wants to, they can absolutely pull you over for going 80 in a 65. It doesn't matter if that's the flow of traffic, speeding is still speeding. It's just a toss up if you pass a cop that doesn't care or not.

Raikuro posted...

10 above is the flow. They set the limits expecting the flow to be a little higher. Strict adherence to the limit is just for construction or school zones.

This is incorrect. Speeding is speeding, and arguing "I was going with the flow of traffic" is actually taken as an admission of speeding, to most police.

I've always heard about going above the speed limit:

"9 you're fine. 10 you're mine."

Tickets pay the bills for cops. They're looking for a reason.

Civil engineers generally, which is why shit is so fucked generally.

HashtagSEP posted...

This is incorrect. Speeding is speeding, and arguing "I was going with the flow of traffic" is actually taken as an admission of speeding, to most police.

You are arguing about when someone gets a ticket, not how they determine the actual speed limit itself: the thing that they are talking about.

You can read more about what they are talking about on the Progressive website: https://www.progressive.com/lifelanes/on-the-road/how-are-speed-limits-set/

ellis123 posted...

You are arguing about when someone gets a ticket, not how they determine the actual speed limit itself: the thing that they are talking about.

You can read more about what they are talking about on the Progressive website: https://www.progressive.com/lifelanes/on-the-road/how-are-speed-limits-set/

This topic is about flow of traffic, not how speed limits are set. Even if the current flow of traffic is above the speed limit, you're still speeding and can be pulled over.

TC is basically asking if flow of traffic matters vs. speed limit, and it does not, in the event of being over the speed limit.

HashtagSEP posted...

This topic is about flow of traffic, not how speed limits are set. Even if the current flow of traffic is above the speed limit, you're still speeding and can be pulled over.

You are correct. I don't see what that has to do with my post.

HashtagSEP posted...

TC is basically asking if flow of traffic matters vs. speed limit, and it does not, in the event of being over the speed limit.

Yes, and post 6 isn't from TC.

HashtagSEP posted...

you're still speeding and can be pulled over.

every time we're caught. adding to the stop quota for the city or county.

ellis123 posted...

You are correct. I don't see what that has to do with my post.

Yes, and post 6 isn't from TC.

Post 6 also is talking about flow of traffic vs. speed limit, so....

HashtagSEP posted...

Post 6 also is talking about flow of traffic vs. speed limit, so....

Ah, I misread their post. Nvm then.

The flow is set by the lead car and maintained by everyone else. For it to be a flow, I'd say you'd need at least 5-8 cars. Anything less than that is just a group of speeders. I think a cop would generally ignore a larger set of speeding cars, but it depends on how how fast and how they're feeling. Usually only the front or back car would be the scapegoat, but they do have the ability to pull over more than one at once.