I suppose you think you're one of the better (more skillful) drivers on the road, with the ability to outwit all the other traffic, and the foresight to anticipate everything ahead. Maybe you drive a BMW (the ultimate car), able to out turn, out brake, out manoeuver every thing in your way. Here's a suggestion: Drive a 1964 swing axle VW Bus. It takes an expert just to keep one of those on the road, right side up, much less keeping up with traffic. A BMW is a car designed for old men who have lost their eyesight, hand-eye coordination, and steadiness of hand, but not their desire to drive fast. No surprises with a BMW, how exciting is that?

Although I do think myself more skilled than average, I don't drive a BMW. I've always associated the Bavarian brand with snobbery--true or not. I've not driven in races, so I don't think I have any real way to measure my skill. I'm good at video games--does that count?

I suspect you may (or may have once) driven the VW Bus you speak of. I've never had that opportunity.

I think more the reason for my post is that when I'm traveling faster than other cars, I just get more of a feeling that I'm getting somewhere. Generally my commute is not congested, but occasionally, I encounter the speed-limit left laner. Its' hard to be angry at them--it IS the speed limit-- but I just don't want to be behind anyone.

a response to the previous comment: the point here is not that everyone needs to go faster, but that the people who choose to go the same speed stay in one lane, rather than taking up all of the lanes and blocking those who are trying to go a little faster. also, dont raise the safety concerns, we are only talking about a slight speed difference, and this situation also applies to all of the situations where i have been behind an old lady going 10mph below the limit, and the cell-phone idiot trying to pass her, forgetting what he was doing, and creating that annoying barrier, below the limit. i like this idea, and have thought it many times when im stuck in this situation.

I am one of the few people left in this country who actually pay some attention to speed limits, although I stay out of the left lane. Since 99% are already speeding, I doubt that a difference of 5 mph is going to help. Here in California, speed limits are meaningless at rush hours.

If in a hurry, leave earlier. BTW, increasing fuel costs will eventually force us all into smaller vehicles, which will require lower speed limits. The insurance industry will see to that.

I suspect 90% of the drivers on the road think of themselves as "better than average". I've never driven a VW van and even riding in them scares me. The only races I've ever won were the ones where you're allowed to hit the other cars. I'll bet the drivers going slow are either uninsured or somehow impaired (physically or mentally) and that those drivers exceeding the speed limit are more watchful and generally safer.

Anybody who thinks greater speed equals greater safety is mentally impaired.

Would you rather ride with someone doing 10mph over the speed limit and constantly on the look out for the cops or obstructions to progress, or with someone doing 5mph under the speed limit, oblivious to anything outside the car and occupied with trying to figure out how the GPS works and talking to somebody else on their cell phone?

I never said speedier is safer, you missed that, I said drivers that speed may be more alert. There is a difference. As for the idea of different speed limits for different lanes, that would probably accentuate the difference in speeds between cars resulting in less safety. If a speeder intends on exceeding the speed limit by 10mph and the difference in speed limits between the fast and slow lanes is 10mph, that's a 20mph difference which is possibly too great for safety.

I would like to point out that it has been statistically proven that Germanys Autobahn has less accidents and deaths per year than any U.S. highway. Although, the autobahn does enforce variable speed limits in the more congested areas, generally the rate of travel is in excess of 80mph. It is also manditory that a person aquiring a drivers license take over 45 hours of professional instruction and rigorous driving evaluations, as well as paying hefty licensing fees upwards of $2000. The point is, speed does not kill, a persons lack of ability to operate a vehicle at those speeds does. It has also been proven that speeders are not the main cause of accidents on the road, but those who tail gate, improperally change lanes, don't signal, and follow the basic rules of driving. If speed limits were increased, manditory relicensing with more stern driving evaluations, in conjunction with law enforcement being more strict with those who do not follow the basic laws of driving, would create less vehicular fatalities per year and safer highways.

I totally agree. Like here in New Mexico, the fast lane should be 75 and the right lane should be 70 out in the country. While in the city the highways at 65 in the left lane, 60 center, 55 right lane. This allows slow traffic to merge, and encourages people to stay to the left and keep merging traffic open and spaced out to reduce stoppage.

And the fast lane should NEVER ever merge to the right. Slower lanes should always merge to the left. That way the traffic doesn't bottle-neck so bad.

Wont everyone just use the fast lane?