Assume allowable braking decelleration of 0.5g (16 feet/second^2), and that "bumper to bumper" traffic would represent one vehicle every 16 feet. Reaction time is 1/2 second, and one vehicle enters a stretch of road every two seconds.
If all traffic is in one lane, the minimum and maximum safe speeds would be 16 and 32 feet/second (11 to 22mph). If the traffic is divided evenly among two lanes, the maximum and minimum safe speeds would be about 5 and 107 feet/second (3.5-73mph).
In the former case, at 32 feet/second, vehicles would be 48 feet bumper to bumper. A vehicle would travel 16 feet during the driver's reaction time, and would then take two seconds to stop. During that two seconds, it would travel an average of 16 feet/second. Total distance would be 48 feet.
In the latter case, at 107 feet/second, vehicles would be 412 feet bumper to bumper. The vehicle would travel 53.5 feet during the driver's reaction time, and then take 6.7 seconds to stop, going another 358.5 feet. Total distance would be about 412 feet.
Thus, in the presence of a 900 vehicle/hour traffic load, having everyone pull over to the right all the time would reduce the safe speed of the road from 73mph to 22mph.
Thus, in the presence of a 900 vehicle/hour traffic load, having everyone pull over to the right all the time would reduce the safe speed of the road from 73mph to 22mph.
Your given assumptions are flawed. You wouldn't need to slow down again after you passed a slower moving car. You would simply move over in front of him to fill the gap he caused by driving slowly. You would then continue on and outdistance him at a normal rate of speed.