I do attempt to stick to speed limits, even when I disagree with them, because not only is it expensive to be caught speeding, but the limits are there for a reason. I assume these limits are put in place by people who follow criteria, and doubt very much that these limits are selected at random.  

They are not put in place to inconvenience impatient commuters, or commuters with poor planning skills, and are LIMITS, not the minimal speed to be travelling.

Now, I know full well what it is to be running late, and how frustrating it is to be caught behind a slow driver. In fact, many's the time in my 30s that I drove myself to hospital during an asthma attack, so I am WELL aware of the importance of speed in some cases.  

However, there is absolutely no excuse to endanger lives by sitting so closely behind a car as to almost be one with it.  

Sure, if I am going slowly I am more than happy to increase my speed within the legal, or safe, limits, or pull over to enable overtaking.  

If I am driving at or around the speed limit, which is 80km for much of the stretch of the aforementioned road between the freeway and Daylesford, I am NOT going to be intimidated into going any faster. I don't care how safe the road may appear, or how late you are running, how safe a car you drive, or how good a driver you may be.  

Of course, we all make mistakes, have lapses of judgement, as well as absent-minded moments.  An increase in speed increases the likelihood of an accident in such situations.  

A 10 percent increase in speed causes a 21 percent increase in stopping distance.  A 20 percent increase in speed causes a 44 percent increase in stopping distance.  That is, an increase from 60km/h to a mere 66km/h adds over a fifth to the stopping distance.  This is under optimum conditions.  

Also, as speed increases, so does velocity, the force of energy release.  Excessive speed, even an increase of a mere 10-20km/h, can turn a near-miss into a hit, an injury into a fatality.  We are taught the safe distance to maintain between moving vehicles, and it is certainly greater than a handspan. If tailgating, even at 20km/h, a sudden brake will result in a collision.

Of course, a lack of awareness of basic physics, impatience, selfishness, recklessness, and so on are not the only factors contributing to poor driving practices.  There appears to be an element of complacency around driving.  

I used to smugly think Australian drivers were far superior to the Japanese after seeing some truly thoughtless driving there, but am often left cold by what I have seen in the past seven years, even locally.

No amount of scare tactics, alcohol and blood tests, or scare tactics seem to be enough to eliminate foolishness on the roads.  Besides which, how irresponsible are we that something like texting while driving needs to be unlawful, surely common sense, or mere observation of the functioning of the world around us should be enough to indicate how dangerous not paying full attention while driving can be.  

We seem to feel we have a 'right' to do as we please, including driving while intoxicated or tired, 'multitasking' while driving, bullying other drivers with speed, parking thoughtlessly, ignoring or choosing not to be aware of pedestrians or cyclists, and so on and on. This is an irresponsible, not to mention dangerous mindset.

Driving is a privilege, not a right.  It is something which can make our lives richer, and more convenient, but it requires responsibility.  

When you get behind the wheel of a car you have not only your own life, but the lives of others in your hands.

You do not have the 'right' to act as you please, but the necessity to be aware of others, and respect their lives.