Why do Iowan's take it personally when you pass them while driving?

[hansenhawk]

Anyone else experience this?

Man, people in this state get pissy when you want to pass them. Most speed up, and take it real personally.

I don't get it.

Why does being passed hurt your feelings? Creates an unsafe situation too when they all speed up when you are trying to get around them.

People in other states don't seem to do this. Heck, in Texas, people will actually get over for you. It's great.

Not, Iowans. PASS ME WILL YOU!! YOU WILL PAY!!

 

[The Tradition]

There are two kinds of drivers:

(1) IDIOTS who drive slower than you, and;

(2) LUNATICS who drive faster than you.

 

[wyohawk]

I run into this quite a bit when everyone crowds one lane where theres an upcoming closure and I pass ahead to merge at the last possible minute.
So much road attitude.

 

[moral_victory]

I can't explain it but have experienced it myself. I will actually coast while in the process of getting passed just to end the situation a second fast.

Years ago I had someone speed up on me while I was passing them and had not even a second to dart over to avoid a head on. I don't think I have ever felt so sick to my stomach before.

 

[hansenhawk]

I think some of these drivers would rather you hit another vehicle head on and die, rather than pass them.

Seems reasonable.

 

[DrVenkman]

They are mostly Hawkeye fans and truly believe the whole world is out to get them..

 

[The Tradition]

Honestly, I think people are surprised that someone is passing them, then they think, "crap, I'm driving too slow, people are passing me," and speed up out of reflex without really thinking about what the hell they're doing.

 

[linkshero]

it's called butthurt, and it does happen in other states.

Human nature is to try and succeed, advance. When you are getting passed on the road, it's like you are failing. Someone else is running a faster race. When you get the right (or wrong) mix of vehicle and driver, it can end up pretty bad.

 

[HIWB]

I'd be willing to wager that a decent percentage of those angry drivers were tailgated for a few miles before the opportunity to pass was available. Creating a dangerous situation in either car is not acceptable.

 

[Big_Palooka]

Anyone else experience this?

Man, people in this state get pissy when you want to pass them. Most speed up, and take it real personally.

I don't get it.

Why does being passed hurt your feelings? Creates an unsafe situation too when they all speed up when you are trying to get around them.

People in other states don't seem to do this. Heck, in Texas, people will actually get over for you. It's great.

Not, Iowans. PASS ME WILL YOU!! YOU WILL PAY!!

-------------------------------
This bothers me too; but, I have experienced it far more frequently in other states than I ever did in Iowa.

 

[Hoosierhawkeye]

Don't spend a lot of time in Iowa but I never noticed this when I was there.

Now in the Atlanta area cars on your rear will try to bully you for having the audacity to only go 10 mph over the speed limit. 80 mph is too slow for people there.

 

[tarheelbybirth]

What pisses me off is those a-holes who pass me when there's a long line of traffic and I'm just giving the guy in front of me a couple of car lengths of space. People behind seem to think they should shoe-horn into that space so they can be one car ahead of where they were before. Barring that they get right on my bumper like, if I close that gap, traffic will magically clear.

 

[tarheelbybirth]

Don't spend a lot of time in Iowa but I never noticed this when I was there.

Now in the Atlanta area cars on your rear will try to bully you for having the audacity to only go 10 mph over the speed limit. 80 mph is too slow for people there.

Good god, Atlanta is a f'n nightmare. I get on the bypass, get all the way over in the left lane, and put the cruise on 70 (the speed limit is 55). Then it's "watch your six" the whole way through. The first time I drove through there I was in one of the middle lanes and there were multiple cases of cars flying by on either side and both trying to merge in the lane in front of me. I figured if I was against the inner wall they could only come at me from behind or the right.

 

[PerkyForHerky]

Good god, Atlanta is a f'n nightmare. I get on the bypass, get all the way over in the left lane, and put the cruise on 70 (the speed limit is 55). Then it's "watch your six" the whole way through. The first time I drove through there I was in one of the middle lanes and there were multiple cases of cars flying by on either side and both trying to merge in the lane in front of me. I figured if I was against the inner wall they could only come at me from behind or the right.

If you're driving slower than everyone else, you may be more of a danger than the faster drivers are.

 

[St. Louis Hawk]

Anyone else experience this?

Man, people in this state get pissy when you want to pass them. Most speed up, and take it real personally.

Agree with above, but I have seen just about as many examples of the opposite -- the guy who speeds up to 85 to pass you, gets 1 ahead, dives over, and slows down immediately to 0.5 mph slower than you were going before he passed you; just enough that you have to get on the brakes or kick off the cruise control.

I move over whether I'm doing 75 or 90 if someone is behind me and want to pass, but if you are going to pass -- pass and move on out. Passing just to get 1 car ahead in a line of cars is complete crap.

 

[Tom Paris]

There are two kinds of drivers:

(1) IDIOTS who drive slower than you, and;

(2) LUNATICS who drive faster than you.

I call the faster drivers "maniacs".

 

[naturalmwa]

Yep, I think they believe I'm challenging their manhood and they want to show they can still get it up.

 

[Vroom_C14]

Anyone else experience this?

Man, people in this state get pissy when you want to pass them. Most speed up, and take it real personally.

I don't get it.

Why does being passed hurt your feelings? Creates an unsafe situation too when they all speed up when you are trying to get around them.

People in other states don't seem to do this. Heck, in Texas, people will actually get over for you. It's great.

Not, Iowans. PASS ME WILL YOU!! YOU WILL PAY!!

Because we don't have a Pro sports team?

 

[St. Louis Hawk]

I call the faster drivers "maniacs".

 

[Vroom_C14]

Yep, I think they believe I'm challenging their manhood and they want to show they can still get it up.

I think you are challenging them to "get it up" you sly dog!

 

[beanerhawk]

I can't think of the last time I've passed someone other then on an interstate. Well other than a tractor. Not sure why people are always in such a hurry.

 

[unIowa]

I'd be willing to wager that a decent percentage of those angry drivers were tailgated for a few miles before the opportunity to pass was available. Creating a dangerous situation in either car is not acceptable.

Speed up asshole!

 

[Hoosierhawkeye]

Good god, Atlanta is a f'n nightmare. I get on the bypass, get all the way over in the left lane, and put the cruise on 70 (the speed limit is 55). Then it's "watch your six" the whole way through. The first time I drove through there I was in one of the middle lanes and there were multiple cases of cars flying by on either side and both trying to merge in the lane in front of me. I figured if I was against the inner wall they could only come at me from behind or the right.

One time I flew in there for a connecting flight but our flight was late taking off so we wouldn't be able to connect until the next morning. So the airline puts us up in a nearby hotel which picks us up in van.

Driver of the van is probably craziest driver I've ever been in the car with. Weaving everywhere and at different points going over 100 mph.

 

[Vroom_C14]

The older you get the faster everyone seems to go...

 

[Rustys Dad]

I live in Des Moines. I tend to drive pretty fast on the Interstate ... but stick to the speed limit inside the city limits.. Never fails that someone is tailgating me through residential neighborhoods ... Of course, that just makes me slow down more ... I am not a fan of single lane highways where you have to cross into the other lane to pass someone and thankfully, pretty much everywhere in Des Moines is 4 lanes ...

I don't think Iowans are any different to be honest... It depends on where you are at ... In Des Moines ... or in Webster City ... Des Moines is not Chicago-type traffic but during the rush hour I-235 is filled with crazy drivers ... I think people mostly get peeved if the person doing the passing is going like 85 in a 55 zone ... This is not just an "Iowa" thing ...

 

[bagdropper]

Prius drivers are the worst. I hate passing Prius'. They always speed up.

I used to own a Vette. I remember driving to DM from CR one time, Prius driving 70 on I80. Not much traffic, early morning and halfway there. I'm doing a leisurely 75 and go to pass him and the guy when I get even with him immediately speeds up and paces me. So, I bump it up to 80...he paces me. I drop it down to 70 and return to the right lane allowing him to pass me, and once I get behind him again in the right lane, he immediately slows down to 65.

 

[CarolinaHawkeye]

Prius drivers are the worst. I hate passing Prius'. They always speed up.

I used to own a Vette. I remember driving to DM from CR one time, Prius driving 70 on I80. Not much traffic, early morning and halfway there. I'm doing a leisurely 75 and go to pass him and the guy when I get even with him immediately speeds up and paces me. So, I bump it up to 80...he paces me. I drop it down to 70 and return to the right lane allowing him to pass me, and once I get behind him again in the right lane, he immediately slows down to 65.

Was it anything like this song?

 

[pepsicock]

Drive in South Carolina .

 

[Lone Clone]

Anyone else experience this?

Man, people in this state get pissy when you want to pass them. Most speed up, and take it real personally.

I don't get it.

Why does being passed hurt your feelings? Creates an unsafe situation too when they all speed up when you are trying to get around them.

People in other states don't seem to do this. Heck, in Texas, people will actually get over for you. It's great.

Not, Iowans. PASS ME WILL YOU!! YOU WILL PAY!!

I've only gotten a nasty look and gesture when passing somebody once, and it was in Minnesota by a Minnesota driver at the time Jimmy Carter was telling everybody it was OK to drive 55, but only if you were going to a fire or your wife was having a baby in the back seat.

I sometimes get nasty looks when I pass people on the right on the Interstate, but they're obviously left-laners, aka morons, so it doesn't bother me.

 

[unsubstantiated]

Almost every time I am being tailgated, I look down at the speedo and I am going 7-10 mph over the limit. When I realize that I am following someone closely, I am usually going 5 under.

And YES, if you are ahead of me in a line and you are NOT trying to safely pass the slow poke who is impeding all of us, I WILL pass you and everyone else -one car at a time if I have to- to try to get around them.

If you have spent the hours I have on US20 in NW Illinois or US52 in NE Iowa, you will totally understand where I am coming from!

 

[Hawk and Awe]

I can't think of the last time I've passed someone other then on an interstate. Well other than a tractor. Not sure why people are always in such a hurry.

So much this. I've got a 4 month old and an angry wife (no pic) at home and a psycho boss at work. Driving is often my favorite part of the day.

 

[The Tradition]

So much this. I've got a 4 month old and an angry wife (no pic) at home and a psycho boss at work. Driving is often my favorite part of the day.

LOL, been there, done that, brutha!

 

[tarheelbybirth]

If you're driving slower than everyone else, you may be more of a danger than the faster drivers are.

Never driven through Atlanta, huh?

 

[Lone Clone]

Never driven through Atlanta, huh?

I have. IIRC, 80 mph will get your doors blown off and nasty looks from the people who are in a hurry.

Had an interesting experience on the Interstate, headed south out of town. Not sure of the highway number, but it was six lanes. Anyway, there's a pickup in front of me driving about the speed limit, impeding traffic, also coming close to the line occasionally. So I'm a little nervous about passing him, but I do, and as I go past I look at him.

It's a man, with a cell phone at one ear and a spreadsheet of some kind, like house plans or something, on the steering wheel that he's looking at while talking on the phone.

 

[Herkmeister]

Try waving. They're nice. Just don't wave with your middle finger anymore.

 

[L. Wade Childress]

Iowans are pretty good at staying out of the fast lane while driving slow, but horrible at the zipper merge. Jesus Christ people, why do you think they built two turning lanes???

 

[Herkmeister]

Iowans are pretty good at staying out of the fast lane while driving slow, but horrible at the zipper merge. Jesus Christ people, why do you think they built two turning lanes???

Is zipper merge a real term? Or just something your family uses?

 

[binsfeldcyhawk2]

In Germany we have folks that like to blink their lights at you to get the f*&k out of the way on the autobahn. Pretty intimidating for autobahn newbies when they're overtaking you by 60-80 kph and don't hit their brakes till they're about 50 meters behind you.

 

[stout1]

In Germany we have folks that like to blink their lights at you to get the f*&k out of the way on the autobahn. Pretty intimidating for autobahn newbies when they're overtaking you by 60-80 kph and don't hit their brakes till they're about 50 meters behind you.

I was told there would be no metric units.

 

[ghost80]

Most people who pass are are speeding. Most speeders have an erect penis < 13cm (5 inches). Since my erect penis is > 13cm (5 inches ) I do not feel compelled to speed up (which would make me a speeder too).

I'm guessing the people who speed while being passed either haven't measured themself or are close to the 5" average.

Sorry stout1 for more metric.