Driving slow on fast freeways?

[VicHanson]

Most of the big trucks in Peru were Volvo or Mercedes. Volvo seems to have made big inroads here in the last 5 years. Don't they have the same trucks in Europe or are they export only?

 

[DrMoab]

Most of the big trucks in Peru were Volvo or Mercedes. Volvo seems to have made big inroads here in the last 5 years. Don't they have the same trucks in Europe or are they export only?

The Volvo's here are actually a mash up of the old White brand. It used to be White, then Volvo-White to just Volvo. They have been on the road here for 25 or more years. They are pretty much an all American truck with a European name. In fact I think they have a big assembly plant in Utah here.

 

[Outback]

This was in regard to his going slower than the posted speed limit. If someone is behind you then pull over when safe to do so to let them pass. I will speed up a bit if weather conditions and road conditions are safe to do so. Then when I see a safe place for them to pass I will pull over a bit and slow down so they can pass. No big deal. But to go 55 on a two lane road when the speed limit is 65 is simply not the right thing to do and hold up traffic. Thats what makes people behind you get antsy to pass.

And if going the speed limit MAKES you the slower vehicle??

For courtesy's sake, I see someone as having the responsibility to move over and let others pass when they have the opportunity. Thats my biggest beef with people on twisty roads. Everyone seems to think that because theyre out to enjoy a nice slow drive, that everyone else should also.

For the OP's situation, I dont see anything wrong with driving slowly to better your mileage, as long as he at least has the courtesy to allow others to pass. If you're on a 2 lane, pull over when possible. If youre on a freeway/interstate, stay to the right. If I feel like driving slowly, Im going to do it, I just either stay to the right, or pull over when possible to allow others to pass. It is OTHERS responsibility to make sure that THEY drive safely, not mine.

That being said, if I feel like just cruising or taking my time, I also tend to stay on smaller roads, they tend to be less traveled. I have also, many times, stayed in my lane and slowed down waving the other driver by. By slowing down, it gives them more space to safely pass me. That wouldnt work of course with a line of cars, but when I only have one behind or motorcycles, its an easy way to show some courtesy without actually having to stop or pullover.

 

[02TahoeMD]

Here is a nice solution to the problem at hand :bike_rider:

 

[DiploStrat]

European trucks go much slower, for much slower distances, carrying much lighter loads. From what I have seen European trucks are not even in the same category as the ones from the US.

No true at all. Europeans truck from UK to Russia and some of the compound trailer rigs are monsters. Because they have to get off the motorways onto narrower, more curved roads, they favor shorter, more articulated vehicles. The long, single semi-trailer that is common in the United States can't work actual deliveries. (And as noted, that ability to go direct from source to destination is the trucks only edge over rail.)

Contrary to a few posts, US/Canadian freight rail is absolute state of the art; from sea to shining sea. In the US, passenger trains are shunted aside for the freights. In Europe, passenger service rules. (We have nothing that even approaches the TGV and its cousins. ) But they are way behind us in freight.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Thanks, Ryan. Hopefully we can enjoy the beauty of Utah together some time, and I'll try my best to keep out of your way!...

If not the red & blues might be the ones tailgaiting you

Several years ago now the Utah Highway Patrol stepped up enforcement of those impeding traffic.

" 41-6a-605. Minimum speed regulations.
(1) A person may not operate a motor vehicle at a speed so slow as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic except when:
(a) a reduced speed is necessary for safe operation;
(b) upon a grade; or
(c) in compliance with a traffic-control device.
(2) Operating a motor vehicle on a limited access highway at less than the speed limit side by side with and at the same speed as a vehicle operated in the adjacent right lane is evidence of a violation of Subsection (1)."

I don't see slowing down for efficiency in there

I often burn down the freeway in an FJ40 running 2F power pushing 35's and a very heavy truck. I do my best to keep up or get out of the way because on the flip side when I'm in my Tacoma pulling the canyons at full-speed... I know what its like to beat my head against the window in a train of vehicles burning far more fuel collectively then that guy up front is saving

 

[scarysharkface]

If not the red & blues might be the ones tailgaiting you

Several years ago now the Utah Highway Patrol stepped up enforcement of those impeding traffic.

" 41-6a-605. Minimum speed regulations.
(1) A person may not operate a motor vehicle at a speed so slow as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic except when:
(a) a reduced speed is necessary for safe operation;
(b) upon a grade; or
(c) in compliance with a traffic-control device.
(2) Operating a motor vehicle on a limited access highway at less than the speed limit side by side with and at the same speed as a vehicle operated in the adjacent right lane is evidence of a violation of Subsection (1)."

I don't see slowing down for efficiency in there

I often burn down the freeway in an FJ40 running 2F power pushing 35's and a very heavy truck. I do my best to keep up or get out of the way because on the flip side when I'm in my Tacoma pulling the canyons at full-speed... I know what its like to beat my head against the window in a train of vehicles burning far more fuel collectively then that guy up front is saving

I don't believe the OP or anyone else was advocating any of the above listed conditions.

John

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Wow, how vague is that law? What exactly is "speed so slow as to impede traffic?" The OP was talking about actually doing the speed limit. The lawyers are really getting themselves into a catch-22 with this one. Actually, I guess subsection c) would apply in this case "in compliance with a traffic-control device". If the speed limit is 55, and everybody else wants to do 70-80... well too bad.

b) is also subject to a lot of interpretation. If the OP states that he feels his vehicle is *not safe* to operate above 55mph, who's going to argue with him? I know myself, I don't feel my Discovery II is safe above 60mph, but other people drive 80-100mph in them. I'm a very highly skilled driver, but I also know how low the limits are on this truck. Other people are just ignorant to it.

The Volvo's here are actually a mash up of the old White brand. It used to be White, then Volvo-White to just Volvo. They have been on the road here for 25 or more years. They are pretty much an all American truck with a European name. In fact I think they have a big assembly plant in Utah here.

Do the Volvo's here have Cummins in them? I saw a Cummins spare parts trailer being pulled by a Volvo last week and chuckled.

European trucks go much slower, for much slower distances, carrying much lighter loads. From what I have seen European trucks are not even in the same category as the ones from the US.

Really?

http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=...com.microsoft:en-US&rlz=1I7ADFA_en&tbs=isch:1

 

[VicHanson]

Nice selective information there Kurt! Here is the rest of the regulation from the Utah State site:

(3) (a) If, based on an engineering and traffic investigation, a highway authority determines that slow speeds on any part of a highway under its jurisdiction consistently impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, the highway authority may post a minimum speed limit.
(b) If a minimum speed limit is posted under this Subsection (3), a person may not operate a vehicle at a speed below the posted minimum speed limit except:
(i) when necessary for safe operation; or
(ii) in accordance with Section 41-6a-205.
(c) The minimum speed limit is effective when appropriate signs giving notice are erected along the highway or section of the highway.

No. 2 in your post is specifically referring to driving in the LEFT lane and going the same speed, and side by side, with a vehicle in the right lane, if they are going less than the posted speed limit. That is saying that the one in the left lane is guilty of a violation, not the one in the right lane. As you can imagine, I rarely pass anyone! And when I do, I speed up and do the pass properly.

 

[VicHanson]

I see where Utah is considering a bill to raise the freeway speed limits to 80 mph. Here is part of what the bill includes.

Jenkins' measure also creates a new crime of "careless driving" which happens when a motorist commits any traffic violation while: on a cell phone, eating, drinking, smoking, tending to children or other passengers, looking for something dropped in the car, or grooming oneself. The police may use unmarked police cars to issue tickets for careless or reckless driving, but not ordinary speeding. It also outlaws driving slowly in the left lane of a freeway, saying that dawdlers, "may not impede the movement or free flow of traffic in the left general purpose lane." Notice that it specifically refers to the LEFT lane.

 

[Deleted member 9101]

The Volvo's here are actually a mash up of the old White brand. It used to be White, then Volvo-White to just Volvo. They have been on the road here for 25 or more years. They are pretty much an all American truck with a European name. In fact I think they have a big assembly plant in Utah here.

Actually, volvo bought out Mack trucks in the US a few years ago... no more Macks.... just Volvo's. They are suppose to be the best riding, best handling, and most fuel efficient line of OTR trucks in America.

 

[Deleted member 9101]

I see where Utah is considering a bill to raise the freeway speed limits to 80 mph. Here is part of what the bill includes.

Jenkins' measure also creates a new crime of "careless driving" which happens when a motorist commits any traffic violation while: on a cell phone, eating, drinking, smoking, tending to children or other passengers, looking for something dropped in the car, or grooming oneself. The police may use unmarked police cars to issue tickets for careless or reckless driving, but not ordinary speeding. It also outlaws driving slowly in the left lane of a freeway, saying that dawdlers, "may not impede the movement or free flow of traffic in the left general purpose lane." Notice that it specifically refers to the LEFT lane.

Sounds liek a step in the right direction

 

[Deleted member 9101]

Kenworth 953

Western Star ******:

 

[JayGannon]

Personally I don't care what vehicle someone is in, as long as they are driving above the min speed limit they have just as much of a right to be there as anyone else. IF you can't do the min speed limit get off the freeway, but at the same time truckers don't have the right to set the 'appropriate speed' either. If the vehicle is traveling between the min and max speed limits its fine. The max speed limit is just that, the maximum speed that you should travel, not the average or the minimum, the maximum. The min speed limit is there for a reason.

 

[JayGannon]

Germans: (joke)

But the Aussies top out for trucking large loads:

But yeah we have large loads this side of the pond, particularly in Northern and Easterns Europe, and as for distance theres some crazy long routes up into Russia and down into the middle east. The Russian routes can be over 2000 miles.