Why Are We Stopping? This is a Freeway.

I understand traffic. When you have a lot of people on the same road, going in the same direction, in different sized vehicles, at different speeds, with different driving styles, there will always be congestion. However, some of the reasons for congestion are completely unwarranted. And I mean completely.

For example, as I was traveling today, traffic suddenly slowed from its normal breakneck pace to a snail's pace and then a complete stop. I began wondering why and as we crawled forward at less than 25 miles an hour, I began to realize the reason for the slowdown: a sign. Like this.

Image Link

Yes, a sign. For some reason, many drivers cannot read a DOT readerboard at any speed faster than 25 miles an hour. But of course, as soon as we were out of view of the sign, traffic resumed its freakish speed. Soon, drivers were back to passing, cutting one another off, and doing other things that should only be attempted in video games.

But back to the point, when you are traveling down the road and you see a sign, please continue at your normal speed. After all, the problem was 14 miles ahead of us anyways, and had no immediate effect on traffic. Remember: they're called freeways for a reason.

Be safe wherever the road takes you.