Is going way below the speed limit illegal?

Question

recently me and my friends decided to have a little fun and go along a 2 lane road with a speed limit of 40 and go 25. Since it is a 2 lane road there is really no way to get around us unless you cross the double yellow line. i was wondering if i could get in trouble for this. when i turned off i was followed and i believe they took my license plate number.

Answer 1

There is no exact law saying that driving too slow is illegal (unless you are on a road where there is a posted minimum speed limit like on the highway. For example in my state the highway speed limit is 65mph, but there is a minimum speed limit of 45mph).  This is becuase it is dangerous to other drivers going fast to come up on a car that is going say 30mph slower, if they do not realize it in time, they could rear end them.

It might be fun for you, but what if the person that gets stuck behind you is a criminal with a short temper and decides to do something to you, or maybe there could be a psycho who is off thier medicines, or a drunk looking for any reason to retaliate.  Bottom line is, you never, never know who else is on the road, and should not f*&$K with people!!!

But even though there is no law if there is not a posted minimum speed limit, police officers could still pull you over for multiple reasons. 1st of all, they could charge you for reckless driving or driving to endanger, becuase technically going that slow could cause an accident of someone rear ending you, or someone passing you in an unsafe spot and getting into an accident.

They could also pull you over for the suspicion of being under the influence. Many people that are too impaired to drive are caught going extremely slow.

So although there is no law, you can still get pulled over, and possibly charged with something.  It is not a good idea, it is unsafe and can increase road rage.

Answer 2

I know its illegal on the freeway, I don't think it is on a surface street unless its a state highway.  In any case I wouldn't recommend doing that again, besides be inconsiderate to other people (possibly causing them problems, medical emergency maybe), its just an *** move.  Don't be d**k.

Answer 3

yes it is illegal in atlanta they have signs that say mimimum speed limit as well as maximum speed limits.

Answer 4

In Ontario, unnecessary slow driving is contrary to section 132 of the Highway Traffic Act:

132.  (1)  No motor vehicle shall be driven on a highway at such a slow rate of speed as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic thereon except when the slow rate of speed is necessary for safe operation having regard to all the circumstances.  R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 132 (1).

Other jurisdictions probably have similar provisions.

It's not fun.  You could easily have caused an accident and hurt someone.  You may want to consider getting some more mature friends.

Answer 5

In CA:

Minimum Speed Law

22400.  (a) No person shall drive upon a highway at such a slow speed as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, unless the reduced speed is necessary for safe operation, because of a grade, or in compliance with law.

No person shall bring a vehicle to a complete stop upon a highway so as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic unless the stop is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law.

(b) Whenever the Department of Transportation determines on the basis of an engineering and traffic survey that slow speeds on any part of a state highway consistently impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, the department may determine and declare a minimum speed limit below which no person shall drive a vehicle, except when necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law, when appropriate signs giving notice thereof are erected along the part of the highway for which a minimum speed limit is established.

Subdivision (b) of this section shall apply only to vehicles subject to registration

Answer 6

Yep.   What if someone tried to pass you and had a head on?   Most have a minimum of 40 mph.  If you go over the limit or under the limit, they'll think you're over the drinking limit and with all the cell phones in use, someone will call thinking you're drinking.  Then along comes a cop and he'll stay behind you until he can find something to pull you over for.

Doubtful that just taking your plate number will have any effect.  it's your word against theirs.   If you were in an accident or fight with them, that's another story.  

I wouldn't worry about it but I wouldn't do it again.  There's other ways of having fun.

Answer 7

yes you can get in trouble for this it is illegal to hinder the flow of traffic .

Answer 8

Yeah I would say so you could have at least been doing 35 your lucky I wasn't behind you otherwise I would have called the cops thinking you were a drunk driver.  You will find out if you get a ticket in the mail for unsafely driving probably reckless driving since you were reckless and didn't care about anything it would have caused to anyone behind you like someone on their way to the hospital.

Answer 9

It's called....Impeding the Flow of Traffic...and yes you can get a ticket for it. What if someone behind you had an emergency and couldn't get around you???....and maybe that person had someone who was injured and they died...would you want to be responsible for their death. Now what if that person was you needing to get to hospital...and some jerk was driving slow...just for kicks. How would you feel???

Answer 10

yeah, going too slow is dangerous as is speeding, so both are illegal.

Answer 11

If you were in front of me I would run over your stupid *** in my pick up. Get a life and use proper English.

Answer 12

Whether it's illegal or not depends largely on your reason for doing it.  If you're deliberately going well beneath the posted speed limit, for no apparent or explicable reason beyond simply trying to see how many people you can p**s off and posing a traffic hazard in the process, yes you're breaking the law.

If it's just a citizen taking your plate number, you'll get a nasty letter if they report it.  If it was a cop, you're screwed.

Remember, it's not nice to s***w with the general public, unless they really ask for it.

Answer 13

First off, what "fun" that sounds like. Something I definitely should do next time I'm bored because it's so cool and entertaining!! SARCASM. Yes, if you are holding up traffic by 15mph below the speed limit for no reason other than you wanted to be a jacka@@, you can and should be ticketed.

Answer 14

Yea, what they said............

Answer 15

Yes it is illegal to drive under the speed limit if you drive more than a certain speed under the limit.  Where I live I believe you will get a ticket if you drive more than 10 or 15 mph under the speed limit.  I don't about what laws other places have.  Believe it or not driving too slow can also cause accidents.

Answer 16

Typical kid. You are the reason incarnate (you know what that means? Look it the f*k up) that insurance companies don't give breaks to punks under 25. You are also the reason that I get on my knees every night and pray to God above that George W. Bush, in a final insult to the children of this nation, will find some way to reinstate the draft so that you can get a taste of the Middle East before the democrats pull us out. Frankly, you are safer in Iraq than you are pulling Jackass stunts on the highway.

Answer 17

Yes, this is illegal - and very dangerous.  Vehicles closing with you from behind won't be prepared for your unusually slow speed, and causing an accident isn't much fun - especially if you're part of it.  If you can't keep close to the speed limit, you are required by law to keep towards the shoulder and use your hazard lights (like heavy trucks on an upgrade.)  However, deliberately blocking traffic is illegal.

Answer 18

Driving unsafely is illegal.  Depending on the circumstances, driving too slow would be unsafe.

Answer 19

Your lucky I wasn't behind you.  Thats when I pull up beside and shoot out your tires.  I hope you do get in trouble for being a dumba$$

Answer 20

It is not illegal unless you are doing it out of malice.  Remember that bicycles, horse-drawn carriages, etc., have every right to use the road just like cars, and they can't go very fast.  Most states have a minimum speed for free-flowing traffic on freeways (for example, 45 mph in California), but there are no minimum speeds for surface streets.  There are "slower traffic keep right" laws on some streets.

It is a common myth that you can get pulled over for impeding the flow of traffic.  This myth is used by speeders who are annoyed by people driving at what they consider to be too slow.

But anyway, I agree, you should get new friends.