Is Driving Too Slowly Dangerous?

You know it’s dangerous to drive too fast — you can lose control, stop too late, cause a collision, etc. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 12,151 people died in speeding-related vehicle crashes in 2022. 

But do you know the dangers of driving slowly? Can you get a ticket for driving slowly? Can you get pulled over for driving too slowly? It turns out that driving too far below the speed limit can be hazardous. 

3 Dangers of Driving Too Slowly

The dangers of driving too fast are intuitive, but the risks of driving slowly aren’t as obvious. A car that’s moving too far below the posted speed limit or driving too slowly in the passing lane can cause dangerous situations on the road. Furthermore, many states are adopting “slow poke” laws, which means you can get pulled over and even ticketed and fined for driving too slowly. Here are three of the reasons that driving slowly can be dangerous.

1. Impeding Traffic

When traffic conditions are normal, a slowly moving car can impact the flow of traffic, even blocking lanes. You can even get a ticket for driving slowly, especially when it impedes traffic. Additionally, if a vehicle is moving slowly in the left lane, which is meant for cars passing one another, it can negatively impact the ability of other vehicles to move smoothly. That’s why a slower-moving vehicle should stay in the right lane, which allows vehicles to pass on the left and keeps everyone safer on the road. 

1. Forcing Other Drivers to Make Quick Adjustments

Speed limits are posted by the side of the road for a reason. A uniform speed limit keeps the traffic moving at a predictable pace, and everyone knows what to expect. But when a vehicle is traveling well under the speed limit, other drivers on the road must make unexpected adjustments, sometimes with too little time to gauge the situation and alter their own driving behavior. These changes can lead to dangerous actions — stopping or slowing suddenly, abruptly changing lanes or passing on the right side instead of in the passing lane. When you drive at the posted speed limit, you keep everyone else safe, too.

1. Increasing the Risk for Road Rage

Yes, it’s true: road rage is never the appropriate response to any situation on the road. Feeling anger or aggression can cause drivers to act in inappropriate ways, and the situation is growing: from 2014 to 2023, incidents of gun violence prompted by road rage have spiked over 400 percent. 

But you can’t control other people’s emotions, and there’s no reason to cause others to be angry on the road. A driver driving slowly in a passing lane is a common annoyance, and can quickly drain the patience of even the most patient fellow drivers. 

Safe Driving Comes First

Practicing safe driving habits is every driver’s responsibility. Before you set out on the road, be sure to follow these safe driving tips to help keep everyone safer. Contact a local Farm Bureau agent today to learn more about how you can save on average more than 25% on your auto insurance premium by participating in Driveology.