There’s an interesting new species of Clover out there. It’s the Clover that likes to drive fast – but is afraid to pass. Here’s the scene, which you have probably already seen:
You are driving along when you notice a vehicle is gaining on you. Shortly, it’s right behind you – and sometimes, it’s right on your bumper, too. The person driving clearly wants to drive faster than you’re driving, which is fine. We all have places to go and we all drive at speeds that feel right for us, unless there’s a cop around.
That brings me to what probably explains this situation. The fast driver won’t pass – even though he clearly wants to go faster than you. Even when he could legally pass – because there’s a legal passing zone and no traffic in the other (opposing) lane. Yet he won’t pass. Instead, he hangs on your ass.
It’s fascinating – as Mr. Spock used to say.
Well, I think the reason why is that it is effectively impossible to perform a legal pass without “speeding.” Not unless you have a mile or more of passing zone. You’re doing say 60 on a road with a 55 MPH speed limit (as I was doing). If the guy behind you wants to pass, he will have to increase his speed to at least 65-70 ti get around you in decent time, before the end of the passing zone. It is safer to punch it – and get around the car you’re trying to pass as quickly as possible, because it isn’t safe to be dawdling in the opposite lane when oncoming traffic might soon be coming at you and because the passing zone isn’t a mile long.
But it is illegal “speeding” to pass safely, quickly. The guy behind you does not want to be in the middle of trying to pass you and – damn it! – there’s a cop coming the other way or parked off by the side of the road. Getting busted for 70 in a 55 is a couple hundred bucks out of pocket and that’s just for openers. Once the insurance mafia finds out you were convicted of “speeding” you can expect what you’re forced to pay for “coverage” will go up dramatically. Never mind that you caused no harm to anyone and never mind that it is safer to “speed” to quickly pass a slower-moving vehicle than it is to legally attempt a slow-motion pass at (or just slightly faster than) the speed limit.
This understandable dread of getting what they call a “ticket” – such benign terminology for something that isn’t – is why highways are rolling roadblocks. You have probably found yourself stuff behind a Big Rig trying to pass another Big Rig. The trucker tryin to pass is moving just barely faster than the truck he’s trying to pass. He dares not go any faster, because if he gets pulled over for “speeding,” he’s likely to get fired – and absolutely will end up having to spend a lot of money to pay for fines and “coverage.” 
The guy who would not pass me probably hoped I’d drive faster – so that if there was a cop up ahead, it’d be me that got “pulled over” for “speeding” and ended up paying.
In Vietnam, this was called walking point. The guy in the lead was the guy who’d take the bullet, in other words.
The situation is exasperating. People are afraid to drive – and pass – at reasonable speeds unless there’s someone ahead of them, to take the bullet. But if the person ahead of them isn’t willing to increase his speed, then the ticket-shy “speeder” gets annoyed and tailgates the car he wants to pass but is afraid to pass.
Saaaaaaaaaaaaaafety First!
. . .
If you like what you’ve found here please consider supporting EPautos.Â
We depend on you to keep the wheels turning!Â
Our donate button is here.Â
 If you prefer not to use PayPal, our mailing address is:
EPautos
721 Hummingbird Lane SE
Copper Hill, VA 24079
PS: Get an EPautos magnet or sticker or coaster in return for a $25 or more one-time donation or a $10 or more monthly recurring donation. (Please be sure to tell us you want a magnet or sticker or coaster – and also, provide an address, so we know where to mail the thing!)
If you’d like a Baaaaa hat or other EPautos gear, see here!
I think that the non passers just don’t want to get caught. It could be for a variety of reasons. I have behaved that way at times, especially after a speeding ticket was fresh. What used to frustrate me even more was when I would clear the way for people to drive faster, they would continue to plod along at 55-60 instead of letting me take the lead at 75 or so in the good old 55 zones.
Thank God, speed limits are back to where they were 50 years ago (or better). I don’t drive quite as quickly as I used to in urban zones, but I still let her rip outside cities and with little traffic. I’m only breaking the limits by 25 mph instead of by 45 or 50.
I wouldn’t classify the non passer as a clover if he’s staying right behind. I classify anyone who drives less than 70 in somewhat free flow conditions on an urban interstate or a rural 2 lane road as a true clover in the truest sense of the word
I get that every long highway stint in my old CUCV blazer. The thing having a 3 speed, 3600 rpm redline diesel, and no tach cruises comfortably at about 60-65 before it feels like the space shuttle re-entering the atmosphere. I always go that speed no matter the speed limit on the highway, and I’m almost always in the right lane. Ill have people tailgate me for miles with 2 open lanes to the left and a 65 or 75 mph speed limit. It is so strange, but if they want to sniff unfiltered diesel exhaust for 20 or more minutes that’s on them. The hybrid and EV hyper milers also like to hang in my wind wake I’ve noticed.
Then there’s the guy that won’t “speed” unless they can follow someone.
When I used to have a company car (Plymouth Reliant wagon) I’d be cruising along at 65+ (55 era) I’d come along another car on the interstate after dark. I’d pass then they’d latch on to my bumper like a booger on your thumb. I’d ratchet it up to 80+ and they’d still be there. Only if I could get some distance and then trap them behind another car would they then return to their dawdling ways.
It’s only gotten worse.
I think the non-passers just like to be in a crowd. You’re talking about this behavior on a two lane road, but it happens all the time on interstates too.
As for the truckers, most of them have governors installed that have a hard limit. One limit might be ever so slightly faster than the other, so they have little drag races to keep the drive interesting.
THe latest trend on I70 is the s-l-o-w passer. They’re running along in the left lane at 80. Then they come up on a semi in the left lane. Instead of just maintaining speed, they slow way down to one or two MPH faster than the semi, emulating the governor drag race. Then when they finally get past they’ll move over into the right lane (because now there’s a line of tailgaters behind them) and speed back up to 80. What, exactly, is the thinking? That by passing a semi at cruising speed they will cause some sort of damage? That the (nonexistent) cop will notice them? Are the kids trying to get the truck driver to honk the horn?
I have encountered that as well, RK. Or, there is that left-lane lugger that refuses to pass a slower vehicle on the right (on a two-lane highway), and refuses to move over to allow others to pass. Oh, but wait, they suddenly need that right lane to exit somewhere, and have no problems veering to the extreme right and cut everyone off trying to make their exit. Never mind they were sitting there for miles on end. WTH are they doing in the left lane for, then? Oh yeah, never mind. Their mind set is “I am going the speed limit, & have every right to camp here”.
I have encountered this more times than I care to admit, Eric. Then add in snowy, icy roads, and one ends up behind a long conga-line of cars. All want to pass the slower, lead vehicle, but are too scared to try and do so. Never mind all are tailgating one another, so if the leader had to slam on the breaks suddenly (Moose, etc.), they would all be screwed. I inevitably end up being the bad guy, and will pass. One time, I got stuck behind a said conga line this past Winter. Once I reached a long, straight stretch, I passed all five vehicles safely at once, and on my way I went, leaving the tailgate party behind. Many a time, that seems to wake the other drivers up (or give them courage, I do not know?), that it is “okay” to pass, even if the roads are not clear and dry. I have also had that lone driver who refuses to pass me, and yet will not get off my ass, either. The times I have pulled over to let them go ahead, hell, they are not driving any faster than I was! WTH??