Final answer:
Adhering to the posted speed limit is both a legal obligation and a safety consideration. Despite the common speed of traffic being higher, exceeding the posted limit can result in tickets, increased accident risk, and other legal issues. Drivers should maintain safe driving practices, obey speed limits, and exercise patience.
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering how to behave on the road when the common speed is above the posted speed limit, it's important to recognize both the legal and safety implications. The de jure speed limit is the official speed limit posted on road signs, while the de facto speed limit may represent the speed at which traffic is moving or the speed at which police are likely to issue tickets. Despite knowing that others are speeding, you're expected to adhere to the posted speed limit to comply with traffic laws and ensure safety.
If you find yourself behind a driver adhering to the speed limit, as in Peter's experience where his impatience with a slow driver leads to frustration, it's still essential to maintain a safe following distance and pass only when it's legal and safe to do so. Exhibiting road rage, such as honking or tailgating, is both dangerous and counterproductive. Instead, consider the potential consequences, including traffic violations, accidents, or worse.
The speed limit serves as a legal boundary designed to keep roads safe, and drivers are supposed to follow this limit regardless of the flow of traffic. Exceeding it because others are can lead to traffic tickets, increased risk of accidents, and potentially more severe legal repercussions. For these reasons, it is recommended to drive within the legal speed limits and practice patience and safe driving habits.