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#1
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Team Driving - Rule of Thumb - Do you agree?
Don't you find it irritating when driver's think that they are -or seem to
forget that they are not- the only one on the road and they completely mess up your flow or momentum (not to mention causing a traffic jam)? If these drivers only followed this rule of thumb: NEVER BREAK UP THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. Here's a few specific reminders to help keep the flow going... 1a) When merging onto a freeway, highway, expressway, etc., always make plans EARLY as to where you will position yourself in traffic. 1b) When merging with other vehicles onto the freeway, give yourself enough space between you and the merging vehicle ahead of you so that it doesn't slow down freeway traffic by having the traffic modify their speed in order to allow a block of vehicles to merge (i.e. so the vehicles already on the freeway can let you in without slowing down the flow of traffic). 2a) If you are on the freeway, it is best to stay out of the far right lane until you are a half mile (up to a mile, depending upon traffic) from your exit. This way merging vehicles will not affect your flow, and they can merge freely without negotiating with other cars while their merging. 2b) If you find yourself in the far right lane next to an onramp, try to offset your position from the merging vehicles. 2c) Make a point, when at all possible, to avoid being side-by-side with another vehicle in case you have to manuver in a panic situation or simply if the driver next to you wants to get over all of a sudden. Also when changing lanes, again, when at all possible, try to give yourself a two-lane cushion from other cars so that you don't get caught changing lanes into the same lane as another vehicle two lanes over from you. 3a) When making a turn, make the turn as promply as is safe to do so (even if you're not sure where you are going), so that you don't mess up the momentum of the vehicles behind you that may be trying to make the next light or series of lights that are timed in sequence. 3b) When turning onto a busy street, make sure you give yourself enough time to accellerate up to speed before the coming vehicle arrives, thus not disturbing the coming vehicle's momemtum and the flow of traffic on the street. As you know, there are pleanty of other driver errors that can effect the flow, but these are the types that came to mind from one recent normal day of driving. We are all guilty of mistakes in our driving, especially nowadays with the added distractions of cell phones, but the more aware we are of our participation in keeping the flow of traffic running smoothly, the less provocation to incite drivers to be aggressive on the road. |
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#2
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I think all of those sound good. Everyone has to adjust though and
following those rules will not always be applicable, or at times safe. They are good guidelines though. |
#3
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WENW wrote:
> Don't you find it irritating when driver's think that they are -or seem to > forget that they are not- the only one on the road and they completely mess > up your flow or momentum (not to mention causing a traffic jam)? If these > drivers only followed this rule of thumb: NEVER BREAK UP THE FLOW OF > TRAFFIC. Here's a few specific reminders to help keep the flow going... > > 1a) When merging onto a freeway, highway, expressway, etc., always make > plans EARLY as to where you will position yourself in traffic. > 1b) When merging with other vehicles onto the freeway, give yourself enough > space between you and the merging vehicle ahead of you so that it doesn't > slow down freeway traffic by having the traffic modify their speed in order > to allow a block of vehicles to merge (i.e. so the vehicles already on the > freeway can let you in without slowing down the flow of traffic). > > 2a) If you are on the freeway, it is best to stay out of the far right lane > until you are a half mile (up to a mile, depending upon traffic) from your > exit. This way merging vehicles will not affect your flow, and they can > merge freely without negotiating with other cars while their merging. > 2b) If you find yourself in the far right lane next to an onramp, try to > offset your position from the merging vehicles. > 2c) Make a point, when at all possible, to avoid being side-by-side with > another vehicle in case you have to manuver in a panic situation or simply > if the driver next to you wants to get over all of a sudden. Also when > changing lanes, again, when at all possible, try to give yourself a two-lane > cushion from other cars so that you don't get caught changing lanes into the > same lane as another vehicle two lanes over from you. > > 3a) When making a turn, make the turn as promply as is safe to do so (even > if you're not sure where you are going), so that you don't mess up the > momentum of the vehicles behind you that may be trying to make the next > light or series of lights that are timed in sequence. > 3b) When turning onto a busy street, make sure you give yourself enough > time to accellerate up to speed before the coming vehicle arrives, thus not > disturbing the coming vehicle's momemtum and the flow of traffic on the > street. > > As you know, there are pleanty of other driver errors that can effect the > flow, but these are the types that came to mind from one recent normal day > of driving. > > We are all guilty of mistakes in our driving, especially nowadays with the > added distractions of cell phones, but the more aware we are of our > participation in keeping the flow of traffic running smoothly, the less > provocation to incite drivers to be aggressive on the road. > > I agree with all but 2a. You *should* be in the rightmost lane unless actively passing. I wish more people would do all of the other things you suggest, however. Unfortunately IME most people do *none* of them... nate -- replace "fly" with "com" to reply. http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel |
#4
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One thing that REALLY helps with team driving is cooperative use of turn signals for lane changes. Lead car signals but DOES NOT change lanes. Chase car sees lead's signal. Chase car signals, changes lanes and creates space ahead for lead car. THEN lead car changes lanes. Really very simple, but surprisingly few people figure it out, and lane-change chaos results. |
#5
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"Scott in the ArkLaTex" > wrote in message
... > Actually, many people seem to EXPECT that other drivers will slow down > and make room for them to merge when they flip on their turn signal. Only first-time visitors to California or DC do this. When I'm in CA, I've found that while on the freeway, it's best not to signal a lane change or even turn your head to see if the lane is clear. You can't even cock your head a little to check your rear-view mirrors. The driver in the lane beside you will see that and dash up to claim the space, out of principle. They must think it's an indignity and/or an insult to allow someone to change lanes. And all this happens at 75 mph. |
#6
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"Scott in the ArkLaTex" > wrote in message ... > > No way, Jose. I'm not gonna go with the molasses flow of a bunch of > rolling roadblocks - I've got a life to live and a short time to live > it. As far as I'm concerned, THEY are disturbing MY flow. Perhaps you should buy an airplane, then, and learn to fly, if speed is your concern. You don't have a right to get anywhere fast if it compromises the safety of other drivers or incurs extra costs on society to pay for your crash at 100 mph. |
#7
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> "Scott in the ArkLaTex" > wrote
>> No way, Jose. I'm not gonna go with the molasses flow of a bunch of >> rolling roadblocks - I've got a life to live and a short time to live >> it. As far as I'm concerned, THEY are disturbing MY flow. Magnulus wrote: > You don't have a right to get anywhere fast if it compromises the safety > of other drivers or incurs extra costs on society to pay for your crash at > 100 mph. Which it doesn't; that's why insurance is compulsory. |
#8
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On Fri, 18 Mar 2005 23:36:00 -0800, John David Galt
> wrote: >> "Scott in the ArkLaTex" > wrote >>> No way, Jose. I'm not gonna go with the molasses flow of a bunch of >>> rolling roadblocks - I've got a life to live and a short time to live >>> it. As far as I'm concerned, THEY are disturbing MY flow. > >Magnulus wrote: >> You don't have a right to get anywhere fast if it compromises the safety >> of other drivers or incurs extra costs on society to pay for your crash at >> 100 mph. > >Which it doesn't; that's why insurance is compulsory. Insurance does indeed increase the cost to society when an idiot crashes. To think otherwise is evidence of not understanding the basic principles of insurance. It spreads the cost of such crashes over the driving society. Otherwise, that idiot would be responsible for the total cost of his stupidity, rather than whatever deductible applies, and his premiums. -- Bill Funk Change "g" to "a" |
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