Question: What advice do you have when driving in heavy traffic that is averaging 25 to 30 km/h over the posted speed limit? I was crossing Lake Okanagan bridge a few days ago in the right lane and if I went 15 to 20 km/h over the posted 60 km/h limit I was still the slowest vehicle there.
I had other vehicles tailgating me and giving me looks that suggested I should go even faster! I don’t like to hold up traffic but how should one deal with that situation without causing a problem?
Few Drivers Follow the Speed Limit
Like you, I prefer to follow the speed limit or even reduce my speed if the circumstances call for it. We are in what appears to be a very small minority on BC highways.
Our governments all seem to embrace the philosophy of Vision Zero but lack the political will to make the significant changes needed to implement it.
The Risk of Not Keeping Up
Current studies suggest that the risk involved in speeding is real. On the other side of the coin, travelling slower than the speed limit or surrounding traffic is not as risky as it was once thought to be.
Minimize Your Risk
If you want to drive at the speed limit, take steps to minimize your risk.
On highways with more than one lane in your direction of travel, use the right lane.
On two lane highways, watch the lineup behind you and consider moving out of the way to let them pass. You don't have to, but accepting the inconvenience to minimize your risk could be a good choice.
Passing Zones
If you arrive at a passing zone, stay at the speed you were travelling prior to the zone. When the drivers behind you have passed by, then speed up to the limit if that if that is the option.
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It makes no difference if your the only one following the law, (speed limit) especially when you are in the correct right lane. All the speeders are the ones breaking the law and risk getting tickets and points, and the tailgaters are also the drivers breaking the law risking getting a ticket and points. Let them look at you anyway they like, you are the safe driver following the law, who cares what they think.
I always find this where ever I go, as I never speed, if I am on a 1 lane each direction hwy at the speed limit and start getting a string of traffic behind me and no passing lane coming anytime soon, I will find the safest place to pull of to the right and let them by me, if there is a passing lane coming I will slow down once I get there to allow the speeders by. The reason being is not that I agree with them speeding, but no sense getting the speeders mad as then they become even more unsafe on the road.
If I am on a 2 lane or more and I am in the right lane, then that is their problem if they don't like me following the law. If they want to tailgate me well then I just start slowing down, as now the road conditions are no longer ideal, which means I have to slow down to lessen the saverity of a crash should one happen. If they one finger salute me on the way by, I just ignore them, why should their bad driving effect me, I know better.
Never allow bad drivers to intimidate you when your driving by the law, just remember they are the unsafe law breakers risking points & fines, not you.
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1. Stay in the right lane
2. Signal and pull over on to the shoulder once 5 vehicles line up behind you
3. Slow down in passing zones to below the speed limit - so that everyone who was lined up can pass and be out of your hair sooner.
I think one of the problems on BC highways with passing is that those vehicles that stay below speed limit in the single-lane stretches (turns and curves) inexplicably speed up (often above the posted limit) in the double-lane passing zones. This forces all passing vehicles to pass at "excessive" speed and shortens the time-frame for safe passes (since the passing zone is only some kilometers long).
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Simple, follow the law.