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critique my freeway driving habits



 
 
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  #11  
Old February 2nd 05, 05:57 PM
N8N
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jaybird wrote:

(a bunch of stuff)
finally a post from Jaybird that I can 100% agree with!

nate

Ads
  #12  
Old February 2nd 05, 05:58 PM
Usual Suspect
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jaybird wrote:

> Therein lies the problem.**You're*keeping*your*own*interests*in*min d.


Everyone does. Some people (libs, communists) just lie about it.
  #13  
Old February 2nd 05, 06:37 PM
Magnulus
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That pretty much proves, I guess, this group is inhabited by psychopaths.
LLB's, MMFY's?

How about if everybody tried driving the posted speed limits. The guys
doing 80- that means the other drivers are doing 90-100.

When you drive alone, you drive with Hitler. When you speed, you sleep
with Osama. Crap, at least think about the gas you idiots are ****ing away
in your attempt to prove how macho you are.


  #14  
Old February 2nd 05, 06:52 PM
Usual Suspect
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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).

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.

  #15  
Old February 2nd 05, 06:55 PM
Daniel W. Rouse Jr.
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"Usual Suspect" > wrote in message
...
> There seems to be a lot of talk in this newsgroup about how it's immoral

to
> stay in the left lane. Well, guess what, I do just that. I'll explain my
> reasons for doing it in what follows.
>
> 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. If I
> see a cop I would usually slow down to about 70 and I might change lanes

to
> let them go and chase the real speeders. (There is a 65 mph speed limit in
> San Diego). If someone else is blocking me I follow them at a safe

distance
> and don't pass them on the right unless they are really slow, like 60 mph,
> which is rare.
>

Personally, I'd choose a center lane--either lane 2 or lane 3--depending on
whether there are slow big rigs in the number 3 lane. If there are, stick
with lane 2. Either way, unless I am exiting the freeway soon, I get out of
lane 4 as soon as possible after merging onto the freeway.

But with the number of bunched up tailgaters in the leftmost lane--due to a
single supposed LLB and the other drivers' inability to follow at a safe
following distance--it makes that leftmost lane the worst choice of lanes to
travel in, since a multi-car pileup is inevitable. At best, the number 1
lane is useful for passing signficantly slower traffic in the number 2 lane,
but I wouldn't recommend remaining in the number 1 lane unless it's a long
drive where all the upcoming freeway junctions are in the left
lanes--someone is bound to want to go faster than you, with all the
unskilled/leadfooted street racer types out there.

> Now, every once in a while someone would come up from behind and follow me
> very closely, trying to "make me go faster", which, needless to say, never
> works. They would typically keep at it for a while and then, realizing

they
> are being preposterous go lane-swirving (good luck).
>

Lane swervers are funny--especially if I'm doing 75mph in the number 2 lane,
the number 1 lane is completely empty, and they pass on the right using the
number 3 lane just to make their statement. I just laugh and keep my speed.

> 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.
>

The number 2 lane is probably an even better choice.

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


True, but most cars give some sort of symptom before breaking down, they
just don't spontanously stall. Get the vehicle serviced at the first sign or
mechanical or engine trouble.
>
> 3. The left lane is typically faster than other lanes
>

And it also has the most frequent tailgaters.

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

Pick a middle lane and stay in it unless an exit is near or a freeway
junction forces a lane change. I don't find that a significant number of
drivers are making frequent merges into the number 2 lane, they either merge
there and stay there, or move one more lane left into the number 1 lane.

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

merging
> traffic and myself.
>

Which is just as valid in the middle lanes.

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

That's because despite conventional wisdom on this newsgroup, the speed laws
(in the states that do have them) are still the law governing the roads,
even though the majority of drivers speed due to "popular demand". But the
speeding ticket doesn't ask the driver if they agree with the speed limit as
being safe, or whether they think it's underposted! So until such time as
the speed limits are increased by the legislatures, the speed limits are
still signed as the legal limits on the roads. And actually the speed limits
really should be DECREASED so that the perpetual speeders are slowed down
too--bringing the limit back down to 55 should theoretically slow the
speeders down to 80mph instead of 90 to 100 mph as they do now. Fast drives
may be fun and thrilling for many, but slower drivers are more controlled
and there is more time to gradually react to a road hazard without
overcorrecting and rolling/spinning the vehicle.

> Now, I don't claim this to be the best strategy for everyone, or even the
> optimal one for yours truly, but this is the best one I've come up with
> with my own interests in mind.


I won't go any faster than 75mph, since my fuel economy drops above that
speed, and I usually stick to the middle lane(s) on any freeway with three
or more lanes going the same direction.

These are my opinions, of course, but I don't believe there's any benefit to
"owning the road" any more than if someone takes the right of way when they
aren't legally entitled to it.


  #16  
Old February 2nd 05, 07:00 PM
Robert Briggs
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Sam O'Nella wrote:

> Basically it usually doesn't matter which lane you're in UNTIL
> someone comes up from behind.


Well said, Sam.

IMO, there *are* often reasons to *prefer* to be in a "faster" lane
than a strict application of the standard rules dictates: the road
surface is often better; it can substantially reduce the number of
lane changes; it reduces (as the OP says) the number of directions
from which the idiots can attack you; etc.

Using a "faster" lane in such circumstances DEMANDS close attention
to the mirrors.

Except when I *am* actively passing slower traffic (and am, therefore
in the *correct* lane) other drivers simply CANNOT[*] "come up from
behind and follow me very closely" (as the OP put it), as I'll be out
of the way in plenty of time.

[*] Well, I suppose Andy Green in Richard Noble's "car" just *might*
be able to approach unnoticed if they hadn't dismantled it:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/uk/30471.stm
  #17  
Old February 2nd 05, 07:33 PM
Arif Khokar
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Daniel W. Rouse Jr. wrote:

> Personally, I'd choose a center lane--either lane 2 or lane 3


The problem with that is that you have to keep track of traffic on both
sides of you.
  #18  
Old February 2nd 05, 07:38 PM
Usual Suspect
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Nate Nagel wrote:

>
> You're an asshole.**Please*cut*up*your*driver's*license*now.
>
> you'd actually using exactly the same "logic" as Aunt Judy, just at a
> higher speed.**That*makes*you*no*better*than*she.**Please ,*either*drive
> considerately or not at all.**There's*no*place*for*your
> passive-aggressive driving games on a public road.


Please, allow me to retort. If the speed limit was enforced and followed by
the majority of drivers, I'd happily obey it. If you want to drive at 90mph
on a busy freeway with 65mph limit and the traffic going at 65-75mph, you
are an asshole, and you deserve every inconveniece I may create for you.
  #19  
Old February 2nd 05, 07:57 PM
TCS
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On Wed, 02 Feb 2005 10:38:06 -0800, Usual Suspect > wrote:
>Nate Nagel wrote:


>>
>> You're an asshole.**Please*cut*up*your*driver's*license*now.
>>
>> you'd actually using exactly the same "logic" as Aunt Judy, just at a
>> higher speed.**That*makes*you*no*better*than*she.**Please ,*either*drive
>> considerately or not at all.**There's*no*place*for*your
>> passive-aggressive driving games on a public road.


>Please, allow me to retort. If the speed limit was enforced and followed by
>the majority of drivers, I'd happily obey it. If you want to drive at 90mph
>on a busy freeway with 65mph limit and the traffic going at 65-75mph, you
>are an asshole, and you deserve every inconveniece I may create for you.


Sorry. But you're the asshole if you can't behave with a reasonable
level of curtesy. Wether the person you've just cut off was doing 70mph
or 90mph really is irrelevent.

The highways were designed to handle traffic at 70mph when cars would wobble
like mad at that speed. These same highways in a modern automobile in good
condition can easily be driven at speeds well over 100mph. The fact that speed
limits are set for a nearly blind inexperienced driver driving a car on three
wheels doesn't change anything. There are of course exceptions like the
horrible highway system in Hartford CT, but most highways have grossly
underset speed limits.

If the speed limits were truly set to a speed where the roads were unsafe,
then more people would respect them. Right now, they are set so that the
most incompetant drivers can feel that they are "really good drivers" driving
at a speed more suitable for a two lane highway that isn't limited access.

If you're not passing somebody, get the **** out of the passing lane.
If you have to pass somebody, try to use the passing lane so that you
don't cut anyone off and then get out of it when you're done.



  #20  
Old February 2nd 05, 08:02 PM
Sam O'Nella
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> Please, allow me to retort. If the speed limit was enforced and
> followed by the majority of drivers, I'd happily obey it. If you want
> to drive at 90mph on a busy freeway with 65mph limit and the traffic
> going at 65-75mph, you are an asshole, and you deserve every
> inconveniece I may create for you.


You're on a downward spiral to this level of insanity:
http://www.identitytheory.com/insight/zackel2.html

Also read
http://www.driveandstayalive.com/art...dly-threat.htm

"What Prompts Road Rage?
....
She wouldn't let me pass."

JUST pull over dude!


 




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