GRA said:
Dave, what's the speed limit where you normally drive 55? What's the free-flow of traffic speed? I suspect both are far lower than in exdeath's case. Texas has the highest speed limits (and probably the highest actual freeway/tollway speeds) in the country. Relative overtake speeds (deltaV) do matter for safety, in both reaction time and severity of accident, which is why California has minimum speed and impeding traffic laws. Besides, while you may be comfortable having people come up on you with a 25 mph or more overtake, exdeath obviously isn't (neither am I), so slowing down to 55 isn't an acceptable option for him.
FWIW, I lived in Western WA (not Dave's exact region, but rather the Seattle area) for ~9 years. People drive slow in WA. On the highways that were near me, the speed limits were a mere 60 mph. It wasn't unusual for people to hog the fast lane going below the speed limit for no apparent reason in clear, dry weather and be unwilling to move over.
In contrast, in Nor Cal, the highways around me are 65 mph limit and doing ~68 to ~73 or so is just keeping up w/traffic.
I've never driven in TX, so I can't comment on that but it sure sounds like they drive fast there, like the LA area. http://abcnews.go.com/US/speeding-texas-85-mph-highway-opens/story?id=17549839#.UcZIsdj-N8E" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; mentions an 85 mph limit highway there and "Texas already has 80 mph limits on some highways, 75 mph on others, yet the speeds are a sedate 55 to 65 mph on through cities and towns."