What is too slow?

[Guest]

I am a new driver to the Ortega, well, I actually have only driven it once in the morning - to the OC. I was surprised that I did pretty well, not too scared and drove a little above the speed limit, mabye 40 to 45 mph. I felt the pressure to go faster than the posted speed limits, although I'm more concerned with being safe. What is the acceptable speed for driving the ortega during peak hours? I don't want to be the newbee that holds everyone up and I don't want to drive it too fast either - please let me know!

Thanks!

[livinrt]

I think you should drive at a pace that you're comfortable with and always respect the road and how dangerous it can be. Most commuters go with the flow of traffic. If you're holding up a line of traffic, then by all means turn out. Otherwise, as long as you're going with the flow, you're fine. The commuters seem to have more respect for the road than the weekend warriors do. Enjoy the drive! It sure beats the freeway most days.

[ortegadriver1]

I agree. I have been driving Ortega for the last 2 months. Before i use to use the 15, 91, 55, and the 405 to go to work from Lake Elsinore to Irvine.
Plus, enjoying the scenery and nature is much better than smog and a bunch cars crammed into a fwy. So if you go too fast you will miss out on the scenery. Just be curteuos in not slowing down traffic too much by using the turnouts. Saftey is always more important. Just flow with traffic.

[SanClemente]

I was surprised that I did pretty well, not too scared and drove a little above the speed limit, mabye 40 to 45 mph.

Are we interpreting the advice / suggested speed signs in turns as the "posted" speed limit for the Ortega. The posted speed limit for the highway is 55 mph. While there are sections that you may not be safe in driving that speed in a "cage" (auto, truck), it is 55 nonetheless. Speaking strictly of traffic laws, the other law that is unfortunately rarely enforced by the CHP, Sheriff, and park rangers (yep, sworn rangers can enforce state law) is a less-known law that is suppose to prevent someone from delaying 5 or more vehicles. The "intent" of this law is prevent aggression. Unfortunately, a number of motorcycles and (more recently) cages just decide to pass over the double-yellow to get around the slow driver; this act unfortunately, in my opinion, has established an expectation that if you see someone behind you, especially a motorcyclist, you expect them to pass you illegally at some point so why pull over...

To put it in very simple terms, please remember this: "If no one is in front of you, and someone is behind you, PULL OVER (when safe to do so)." It doesn't matter what your speed is...just pull over.

I happen to ride a motorcycle on most days when traveling the highway. I have no problem in maintaining a speed of 55 over the entire length of the highway, but when driving my truck I have to slow down in areas. If someone comes up behind me, I pull over when I can. When driving my motorcycle there are only a few circumstances that I'll pass someone illegally (but only when safe); 1) someone eating sunflower seeds and spitting them out with me behind them...nothing worse than getting a chewed shell on your face, and 2) someone who is smoking and letting the ash fly out the window...nothing like a burning ember in your eye.

Anyway, in summary, just be courteous and as others have said, enjoy the scenery and the break between work and home...but keep an eye on the rear-view mirror too

Have a great day.

[SanClemente]

The forgotten law From California Vehicle Code 21656:

Code: Select all

On a two-lane highway where passing is unsafe because of traffic in the opposite
direction or other conditions, a slow-moving vehicle, including a passenger vehicle, behind
which five or more vehicles are formed in line, shall turn off the roadway at the nearest
place designated as a turnout by signs erected by the authority having jurisdiction over
the highway, or wherever sufficient area for a safe turnout exists, in order to permit the
vehicles following it to proceed. As used in this section a slow-moving vehicle is one which
is proceeding at a rate of speed less than the normal flow of traffic at the particular time
and place.

[GUEST]

My concern is that is seems to be a free for all on the Ortega at night especially when the "Bullies" come out on Friday and Saturday nights. We drive the Ortega at night and are often blessed with the wonderful (ha ha) pleasure of the many inconsiderate a---hole drivers who are going way way faster than the posted speed limit even in the 55 mph zone. They must think it's funny to almost crawl up the rear end of a car, blind the driver with high beam lights and expect drivers to pull over even when there is no turn out. This usually happens in the most curvy dangerous parts of the highway where it's dark and the blinding lights make it so you can't see the turn outs safely enough to pull over.
I'd like to know why the Highway Patrol isn't out there more at night to catch these people who have no consideration for the law and safety of other people.
If it's a matter of a lack of patrol men/women, maybe someone should get together a private security task force to report the license plate numbers of these offenders before they cause more deaths/injuries of innocent drivers and their families.

[Guest]

anything slower than 65-70 is too slow