“Those driving 10 mph slower than the prevailing speed are six times as likely to be involved in an accident”, the Institute of Transportation Engineers Study has claimed. Slow drivers aren’t only annoying, but they’re dangerous too and can cause just as many, if not more accidents as fast drivers. An article by McCoy and Sparks, a law firm, states, “Driving below the speed limit or driving slower than the traffic around you may be as dangerous—and sometimes even more so—as those who drive with a lead foot”.  

In my experience, slow drivers are often one of three: elderly, young and inexperienced, or stoned. Most of the time, slow driving is annoying and unnecessary, but it’s understandable when there are specific conditions outside of a driver’s control that make it unsafe to follow the given speed limit. For example, Cole Heinrichs, a student at West Seattle said in response to when it’s okay to go slow is, “It depends on what the speed limit is, and the conditions are at the time of day. If it’s like really rainy or foggy and the conditions are dangerous, then it’s okay to being going slower, but if you’re on California Ave going 20 miles an hour, I will honk at you and get mad because you have no reason to be going that slow.” Many people have to deal with slow drivers, and there isn’t much one can do about them. Honking, while it sometimes gets a driver’s attention, may just provoke them. Going around them can sometimes be a safe bet, but it’s dangerous if there are other cars around, so sometimes you can’t avoid them.  

In the same article written by McCoy and Sparks, it says, “Slow drivers can affect the safe flow of traffic, and Kentucky laws have been put in place to prevent these dangerous driving habits from causing accidents.” Some states have already put laws in place for slow drivers, like Kentucky laws which state that drivers should merge around if safe and able to, and getting pulled over for driving too slowly can result in a $60 to $500 fine.  

Now, this isn’t an excuse to go and speed, but it’s a warning about how similar the fatality rates are around slow driving and speeding. There is a lot more negligence when it comes to slower drivers because it may seem like these drivers are exercising caution, but in reality, an article written by Arnold & Itkin says “Speeding is a factor in about one-third of fatal traffic accidents, but driving too slowly can cause problems as well. In fact, it can be just as dangerous as speeding.” And by Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson, “Driving too slowly can be considered a form of negligence if it leads to a motor vehicle accident. This negligence can result in serious injuries and significant losses”, showing just how dangerous slow drivers really are. While some states like Kentucky have put laws in place to limit slow driving, other states haven’t, which is why it’s so important not to be the person everyone’s tailing behind.  

Ruben Smith, another student at West Seattle, said: “Slow drivers need to retake drivers ed, and they are dangerous when it comes to the roads.” Lots of criticism is directed towards slow drivers, and for good reason! Ideally, the criticism against them can eventually turn into laws to help prevent slow drivers, as well as fast ones.