critique my freeway driving habits

In article >,
Magnulus > wrote:
> That pretty much proves, I guess, this group is inhabited by psychopaths.
>LLB's, MMFY's?

That's "Psychopaths, LLBs, and MFFYs".

> How about if everybody tried driving the posted speed limits.

> When you drive alone, you drive with Hitler. When you speed, you sleep
>with Osama.

I'll remember to bring a gun next time I drive, and shoot the
terrorist ******* when he appears. Don't worry -- I'll get some
Glasers to avoid overpenetration, and I'll do it when there's a decent
backstop. Hitler's just bones by now, if that much, seeing as he never
got a decent burial.

>Crap, at least think about the gas you idiots are ****ing away
>in your attempt to prove how macho you are.

Even assuming that speeding uses significantly more gas than driving
the limit, and even ignoring all the other concerns, my time is more
valuable than gasoline.

In article >, Usual Suspect wrote:

> Regardless, it's not enforced. I was once driving at night on a divided road
> with 2 lanes in each direction. The speed limit was 40 mph and I was going
> at about 7 mph over the limit, or so. I was driving in the left lane of
> course. Now an SUV comes out of nowhere and passes me in the right lane.
> Just as he or she does that, a police cruiser that was hiding in the dark
> turns on its lights and stops that speeder. Would he have stopped me if it
> were not for the SUV? I don't know, but I like to think that my LLB'ing, as
> you call it, paid off.

Came out of nowhere... not watching your mirrors. That's pretty
consistant with your other posts.

Late one night I was driving on a 6 lane arterial. I was doing about
48mph and the speed limit is 45mph. I was in the right lane minding my
own business when an SUV in the left lane that had been gaining on me passes
me. The SUV is moving at about 55mph. From a typical hiding place off the
right side of the road a police cruiser emerges and turns on the
rollers, pulling over the SUV driver.

If the left lane saved you, the right lane saved me.

Brent P wrote:

> In article >, Usual Suspect wrote:
>
>> Regardless, it's not enforced. I was once driving at night on a divided
>> road with 2 lanes in each direction. The speed limit was 40 mph and I was
>> going at about 7 mph over the limit, or so. I was driving in the left
>> lane of course. Now an SUV comes out of nowhere and passes me in the
>> right lane. Just as he or she does that, a police cruiser that was hiding
>> in the dark turns on its lights and stops that speeder. Would he have
>> stopped me if it were not for the SUV? I don't know, but I like to think
>> that my LLB'ing, as you call it, paid off.
>
> Came out of nowhere... not watching your mirrors. That's pretty
> consistant with your other posts.
>
> Late one night I was driving on a 6 lane arterial. I was doing about
> 48mph and the speed limit is 45mph. I was in the right lane minding my
> own business when an SUV in the left lane that had been gaining on me
> passes me. The SUV is moving at about 55mph. From a typical hiding place
> off the right side of the road a police cruiser emerges and turns on the
> rollers, pulling over the SUV driver.
>
> If the left lane saved you, the right lane saved me.

You missed the point I was trying to make. Given a choice between a LLB and
a [bigger] speeder, the cop chose the latter. Secondly, the word on the
street is cops really don't like lane-swervers, as they are the ones who
cause most accidents. Pick a lane most consistent with your speed, and
stick with it.

On 2/2/2005 9:52 AM, Usual Suspect wrote:

> Olaf Gustafson wrote:
>
>
>>>3. The left lane is typically faster than other lanes
>>
>>
>>Not with you blocking it, it's not.
>
>
> Again, you are arguing from some sort of communist perspective. My driving
> in the left lane does not slow it down FOR ME.
>
>
>>>4. I don't especially like changing lanes (to pass or whatever)
>>
>>Or obeying the law, apparently.
>
>
> What law? AFAIK "Slower traffic keep left" is a recommendation, even when
> posted. (If you think it's a law in CA, post a relevant reference).

Certainly it's law, just like 45 other states:

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/di...le=21650-21664

VC 21654
(a) Notwithstanding the prima facie speed limits, any
vehicle proceeding upon a highway at a speed less than the normal
speed of traffic moving in the same direction at such time shall be
driven in the right-hand lane for traffic or as close as practicable
to the right-hand edge or curb, except when overtaking and passing
another vehicle proceeding in the same direction or when preparing
for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or
driveway.
(b) If a vehicle is being driven at a speed less than the normal
speed of traffic moving in the same direction at such time, and is
not being driven in the right-hand lane for traffic or as close as
practicable to the right-hand edge or curb, it shall constitute prima
facie evidence that the driver is operating the vehicle in violation
of subdivision (a) of this section.

>
> Regardless, it's not enforced.

So?

> I was once driving at night on a divided road
> with 2 lanes in each direction. The speed limit was 40 mph and I was going
> at about 7 mph over the limit, or so. I was driving in the left lane of
> course. Now an SUV comes out of nowhere and passes me in the right lane.
> Just as he or she does that, a police cruiser that was hiding in the dark
> turns on its lights and stops that speeder. Would he have stopped me if it
> were not for the SUV?

He could have, if he wanted to. One for speeding, one for failing to
keep right. The other speeder was simply juicier bait, over the
officer's "stickable" ticket threshold.


--
~/Garth |"I believe that it is better to tell the truth than a lie.
Almgren | I believe it is better to be free than to be a slave.
******* | And I believe it is better to know than to be ignorant."
for secure mail info) --H.L. Mencken (1880-1956)

"Usual Suspect" > wrote in message
...

<snip>

> MY RATIONALE:
>
> 1. I like the left lane. Whereas in other lanes you have to worry
about
> traffic on your left and right, the left lane feels more tranquil.

You're an LLB

> 2. There is often a shoulder on the left, which I can use if required.

Again.

> 3. The left lane is typically faster than other lanes

Ditto.

> 4. I don't especially like changing lanes (to pass or whatever)

Yet again.

> 5. I'm already going at 10 mph over the limit. You want to go faster?
Well,
> that's your problem. I could imagine feeling a bit guilty if I was
doing 10
> mph below.

You're an LLB and a MFFY type.

> 6. By staying away from the on-ramps I reduce the related risks for
merging
> traffic and myself.

Well, you can always move over to the left to let merging traffic in and
then move back to the right when it is safe to do so. That is called
courteous driving....

> 7. I've never heard of anyone being ticketed for blocking the left
lane
> while doing the speed limit or more.

I think jaybird answered this one for you...

On Wed, 02 Feb 2005 12:02:43 -0800, Usual Suspect > wrote:

>You missed the point I was trying to make. Given a choice between a LLB and
>a [bigger] speeder, the cop chose the latter. Secondly, the word on the
>street is cops really don't like lane-swervers, as they are the ones who
>cause most accidents. Pick a lane most consistent with your speed, and
>stick with it.

Lane swervers are without a doubt the most dangerous drivers on the roads
todays. Lane changes are inherently dangerous and doing several hundred
every hour is just asking for an accident.

On 2/2/2005 12:02 PM, Usual Suspect wrote:

> Brent P wrote:
>
>>If the left lane saved you, the right lane saved me.
>
>
> You missed the point I was trying to make. Given a choice between a LLB and
> a [bigger] speeder, the cop chose the latter.

That doesn't make what you were doing any less wrong.

> Pick a lane most consistent with your speed, and stick with it.

Which should be the right lane - unless there is slower traffic to pass.


--
~/Garth |"I believe that it is better to tell the truth than a lie.
Almgren | I believe it is better to be free than to be a slave.
******* | And I believe it is better to know than to be ignorant."
for secure mail info) --H.L. Mencken (1880-1956)

Garth Almgren wrote:

> VC 21654
> (a)*Notwithstanding*the*prima*facie*speed*limits,* any
> vehicle proceeding upon a highway at a speed less than the normal
> speed of traffic moving in the same direction at such time shall be


Aha! If you read my original post in this thread, you will notice

"If I don't have to exit for another 5-10 miles and the freeway is divided,
I tend to get into the left lane and stay there, driving at 75-80 mph,
which usually puts me in the 70-90th percentile, or so, in terms of speed."

Thanks for showing that my behavior (other than speeding) is legal.


> driven in the right-hand lane for traffic or as close as practicable
> to the right-hand edge or curb, except when overtaking and passing
> another vehicle proceeding in the same direction or when preparing
> for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or
> driveway.
> (b)*If*a*vehicle*is*being*driven*at*a*speed*less*t han*the*normal
> speed of traffic moving in the same direction at such time, and is

ditto

> not being driven in the right-hand lane for traffic or as close as
> practicable to the right-hand edge or curb, it shall constitute prima
> facie evidence that the driver is operating the vehicle in violation
> of subdivision (a) of this section.
>

"Usual Suspect" > wrote in message
...
> My driving
> in the left lane does not slow it down FOR ME.

Read MFFY

Usual Suspect wrote:
>
> Given a choice between a LLB and a [bigger] speeder, the cop chose
> the latter.

What car do you drive? If cops have a choice of several cars
to pull over, and no great reason to prefer one over the other,
then they choose the most expensive car (because they are more
likely to be able to pay the fine).

> Secondly, the word on the street is cops really don't like
> lane-swervers, as they are the ones who cause most accidents.
------------------------------------------^^^^^
Why did the guy lane-swerve? Because you were blocking him.
Therefore you were the cause of the chain of events.