Why do people unconsciously speed up when you try to pass them?

[NuclearNed]

So I'm coming back to work from lunch, and I came up pretty fast on an SUV being driven by an older woman. As soon as I got in the fast lane to pass her, she started speeding way up. I eventually had to go really fast to pass her, and then suddenly her speed suddenly dropped off - I bet that she looked at her spedometer and realized just how fast she was going.

She was the grandmother type, so I don't imagine that she was playing road games with me. Other people including myself at times also seem to do this without realizing it. I wonder what the psychology behind it is.

 

[cjgallen]

It's not unconscious, they realize they're going slow and speed up.

 

[NuclearNed]

Originally posted by: cjgallen
It's not unconscious, they realize they're going slow and speed up.

Nope - read my post again, and more slowly this time. She was going around the speed limit, sped way up when I tried to pass her, then suddenly slowed back down to the speed limit.

 

[cherrytwist]

Originally posted by: NuclearNed
So I'm coming back to work from lunch, and I came up pretty fast on an SUV being driven by an older woman. As soon as I got in the fast lane to pass her, she started speeding way up. I eventually had to go really fast to pass her, and then suddenly her speed suddenly dropped off - I bet that she looked at her spedometer and realized just how fast she was going.

She was the grandmother type, so I don't imagine that she was playing road games with me. Other people including myself at times also seem to do this without realizing it. I wonder what the psychology behind it is.

You're racing and she doesn't want to lose.

Next question please.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: NuclearNed
So I'm coming back to work from lunch, and I came up pretty fast on an SUV being driven by an older woman. As soon as I got in the fast lane to pass her, she started speeding way up. I eventually had to go really fast to pass her, and then suddenly her speed suddenly dropped off - I bet that she looked at her spedometer and realized just how fast she was going.

She was the grandmother type, so I don't imagine that she was playing road games with me. Other people including myself at times also seem to do this without realizing it. I wonder what the psychology behind it is.

Because they're stupid.

 

[FoBoT]

that rarely happens, she must be a spy or something and was messing with you

 

[blackdogdeek]

ego

 

[meltdown75]

They do it because they're crazy like that.

 

[Firsttime]

they don't want you in your 89' civic thats about to fall apart to pass their 05' Benz so they speed up

 

[se7en]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser

Originally posted by: NuclearNed
So I'm coming back to work from lunch, and I came up pretty fast on an SUV being driven by an older woman. As soon as I got in the fast lane to pass her, she started speeding way up. I eventually had to go really fast to pass her, and then suddenly her speed suddenly dropped off - I bet that she looked at her spedometer and realized just how fast she was going.

She was the grandmother type, so I don't imagine that she was playing road games with me. Other people including myself at times also seem to do this without realizing it. I wonder what the psychology behind it is.

Because they're stupid.

I was going to say something but.. ..I agree pretty much with what they said.. ..

 

[laurenlex]

They tilt their head to the left while looking in the side view mirror.

This moves their center of gravity slightly off-axis.

The body unconsiously moves the pelvis to the left, which results in the right leg moving forward, thus speeding up the car.

 

[dullard]

It is fairly universally known that you just pissed them off by going way over the speed limit and driving in a very unsafe mannor. So they speed up to make your life worse for a few seconds in protest.

 

[Viperoni]

They can't handle not being ahead.
Most of the people I encounter on the road find out they can't beat me

 

[aplefka]

I dunno, sometimes I speed up because it's a dick I already passed and they're trying to prove something.

 

[Linflas]

I wouldn't be surprised to find out it is some subconscious thing that we all do, maybe a competitive thing or perhaps some hidden herd type thing where we subconsciously try to keep up with the ones around us.

 

[MagicConch]

I don't think it's unconscious. I think they try to prevent you from passing by speeding up. When they figure out your commitment to doing it, they fall back and act like they didn't realize what was going on.

 

[Nevada]

i hate when that happens

 

[pclstyle]

i speed up to the point where their forced to get back behind me, or slam into another car, wall, tree, etc.

 

[Pliablemoose]

You judge your speed with your peripheral vision, when you see something coming up alongside you, your brain assumes it's because you've slowed down & you give the car more gas.

That's why people speed in the fog/rain, the usual cues for your rate of speed are screwed up & the default is to speed up...

 

[NutBucket]

I do it to fvck with people who are driving like assholes. So if I see someone cutting though traffic, heck ya i'll block him. However, if I realize I'm just going slow, I'll change lanes.

 

[scorpmatt]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
I do it to fvck with people who are driving like assholes. So if I see someone cutting though traffic, heck ya i'll block him. However, if I realize I'm just going slow, I'll change lanes.

QFT

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: NuclearNed
So I'm coming back to work from lunch, and I came up pretty fast on an SUV being driven by an older woman. As soon as I got in the fast lane to pass her, she started speeding way up. I eventually had to go really fast to pass her, and then suddenly her speed suddenly dropped off - I bet that she looked at her spedometer and realized just how fast she was going.

She was the grandmother type, so I don't imagine that she was playing road games with me. Other people including myself at times also seem to do this without realizing it. I wonder what the psychology behind it is.

Because old people are annoying?

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Originally posted by: NuclearNed
So I'm coming back to work from lunch, and I came up pretty fast on an SUV being driven by an older woman. As soon as I got in the fast lane to pass her, she started speeding way up. I eventually had to go really fast to pass her, and then suddenly her speed suddenly dropped off - I bet that she looked at her spedometer and realized just how fast she was going.

She was the grandmother type, so I don't imagine that she was playing road games with me. Other people including myself at times also seem to do this without realizing it. I wonder what the psychology behind it is.

I've found that far tom many people don't know what hte cruise control button is for. I usually get by them and slow down.

 

[PingSpike]

Because they want to be shot to death at the next stop light.

 

[imported_Phil]

Because other drivers are idiots.