The present application discloses systems and methods for adapting the rate at which the packets are transmitted. In one embodiment, the method includes: (a) receiving a packet; (b) determining whether the packet is high priority packet or a low priority packet; and (c) determining whether a transmission rate value, which defines the maximum rate or maximum average rate at which the node should transmit the low priority packets, should be adjusted, wherein the determination is based, at least in part, on whether at least some number of high priority packets and/or bits was received since a point in time; and (d) adjusting the transmission rate value if it is determined in step (c) that the transmission rate value should be adjusted.