ROTD: being too nice while driving

[Pete_G]

Rant of the Day:

What the hell is with stopping 20 cars just to let one person out onto the roadway? Or even worse the guy who sticks his nose out to stop an entire line of traffic. Do you realize cars burn the most fuel while accelarating? Do you enjoy supporting terrorists, wasting the gas, and burning the brakes of 20 vehicles behind you just to let 1 person out who could have pulled out easily AFTER the train of vehicles passed? I don't get it. If I'm trying to make a difficult left or right I just wait my turn.

I'm tempted to go on a tear about jaywalkers being responsible for half the traffic in Newport too, but I'll save that for spring when the tourists return.

My favorite bumper sticker I've seen in Newport so far this year: "I'm not on YOUR vacation"

[spence]

Pete,

I think you really should have got out of your car, and jumped on their hood screaming they were a terrorist.

You could pull it off, I know you have it in ya.

-spence

[vineyardblues]

I have to agree with Pete, And I think it's against the law in Ma to stop on a main road to let someone pull out! Any copper J's out their to chime in ? Uncle Matt ? Anyone!
VB

[Krispy]

I hate the people on the highway who need to squeeze into the 1 & 1/8 car length I leave between me and the car in front, esp. when theres no-one behind me for a 1/4 mile.
They get the most uncomfortable car ride of their life for 5 min.

[Redsoxticket]

Rhode Island is probably the only state where motorist pull out in main traffic and stop expecting you to give them the right of way. Little do they know they do not have the right of way.
I see this all the time. There are motorist in every state but why this driving behavior only in RI.
Could it be that there was no mandatory insurance ( or just plain mentality of RIders) at one time and people developed bad driving skills and generations that followed practiced the same habits. I think that if MA and RI were one state then motorist of RI would see better driving habits.

At least in MA they don't pull out and stop then just pull out and continue in good timing.

[hank8001]

Originally Posted by Redsoxticket

I think that if MA and RI were one state then motorist of RI would see better driving habits.

I take it you haven't driven in MA lately....

Originally Posted by Krispy

1 & 1/8 car length I leave between me and the car in front.

That's not enough space, especially on a highway. If he stands on his brakes you're kissing his bumper.

Brings to mind my biggest driving gripe - when somebody comes roaring up to your rear bumper on a highway and just sits there tailgating, when there's other lanes there if they want to go faster. As an experiment, in this situation I've pulled into the lane to the left and the person will pass you then, in the lane they are in. Other times I just take my foot off of the gas and start going slower and slower, to see at what point the person finally will pass. Sometimes I've been down to 20mph on the highway before the person will pass.

Are they too lazy to change lanes? Do they think that their car is a train (on one track)? It drives me crazy. It's interesting that it's mostly women that do this. Herd instinct?

[Raven]

Originally Posted by Pete_G

My favorite bumper sticker I've seen in Newport so far this year: "I'm not on YOUR vacation"

thats rich Pete.....and thanks for posting it....you made my day
and its been a rough one.... thats for sure...

in fact i have to change my signature now...... too.

[basswipe]

Pete,
Gotta love Newport!

My favorite sticker is still the oldie but goodie "Welcome to Newport,Now go Home" or "Tourists.They're not just for Breakfast anymore".

[Mike P]

Aw, stop your griping---move to Lawn Guyland where you'll REALLY have a reason for grumpage

[Backbeach Jake]

I love it when you're doing 85 in the left lane and the jerk that you're towing flashes his headlights for you to move over. That's when he gets to see what 35 looks like. I slow down gradually so everyone on the right is wizzing by and flashy can't pass. He soon learns that I'm driving the car in front of him and not he. Only happens once a year, word gets around... I used to flash a blue light in reply to their headlights, that was fun but I figured it was only a matter of time before that trick backfired.

[Raven]

quote: Sometimes I've been down to 20mph on the highway before the person will pass.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
i just put on my emergency flashers.....works much better and i loose no time.....or if i am driving my 20 year old car i slam on the brakes.

[hank8001]

Originally Posted by Raven

quote: or if i am driving my 20 year old car i slam on the brakes.

I only reserve stuff like that for the really flagrant, aggressive tailgaters. A lot of the time it's more of a passive thing, when the person clearly was going about 15 mph faster than you until they get up to your car. Then, rather than taking a little bit of initiative and passing you, they just hang behind you at the same distance. You speed up, they speed up. You slow down, they slow down.

[Krispy]

If you guys are in the left lane and tried that "slow down" %$%$%$%$, youd have a real fun time with me.
If someone wants to go faster, get the %$%$%$%$ OUTTA THE WAY!!!!!
Who do you think you are?

LIers are a pleasure compared to the a-holes I run across in New England.

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by Krispy

If you guys are in the left lane and tried that "slow down" %$%$%$%$, youd have a real fun time with me.
If someone wants to go faster, get the %$%$%$%$ OUTTA THE WAY!!!!!
Who do you think you are?

LIers are a pleasure compared to the a-holes I run across in New England.

I'll second that Krispy, the "high speed lane" is actually a passing lane. EVERYONE should basically stay out of it unless you're passing or really flying down the highway. There isn't any good excuse for riding up on someone in a slower lane though. Unless of course someone is roadblocking the passing lane.

If you're in the high speed lane, matching the speed of the vehicles to your right, effectively creating a roadblock, there's going to be trouble.

Slower traffic to the right. It's always been that way as far as I know.

I'm going to ASSUME we all have somewhere we'd rather be then driving, observing basic traffic laws generally would get us there quicker.

[fishaholic18]

Originally Posted by hank8001

when somebody comes roaring up to your rear bumper on a highway and just sits there tailgating

Drafting
Saves gas...

[Redsoxticket]

I would draft 18 wheelers in my younger days until someone descibed the meaning of decapatation. You would have to get pretty close to feel the vaccume. I most say I have a good head on my shoulders now.

[BigBo]

Originally Posted by Pete_G

I'll second that Krispy, the "high speed lane" is actually a passing lane. EVERYONE should basically stay out of it unless you're passing or really flying down the highway. There isn't any good excuse for riding up on someone in a slower lane though. Unless of course someone is roadblocking the passing lane.

If you're in the high speed lane, matching the speed of the vehicles to your right, effectively creating a roadblock, there's going to be trouble.

Slower traffic to the right. It's always been that way as far as I know.

I'm going to ASSUME we all have somewhere we'd rather be then driving, observing basic traffic laws generally would get us there quicker.

That's fine, but I don't want to drive 50 mph in one lane nor do I want to drive 80 mph in the other. That seems to be your only choices lately.oke:

[Pete_G]

I suppose there is center lane abuse going on also on your average 3 lane highway, but if the passing lane was open you could just pass and then settle back into the center lane. But I agree, there are as many center lane hogs as there are in the passing lane.

Germany has drving figured out. Only recently have most German cars received cup holders. You're in the car to drive and get from point A to B. And you're harrassed mercilessly if you sit in the passing lane. It might even be illegal.

[Thom]

I"m pretty sure in Mass if you are in the passing lane and driveing to slow they can and will give you ticket depending on the time of year and where you are driving. ThomT

[The Dad Fisherman]

Originally Posted by Krispy

If you guys are in the left lane and tried that "slow down" %$%$%$%$, youd have a real fun time with me.
If someone wants to go faster, get the %$%$%$%$ OUTTA THE WAY!!!!!
Who do you think you are?

LIers are a pleasure compared to the a-holes I run across in New England.

So If I'm driving in the fast lane and going faster than the other 3 lanes but you feel the need to go 90 mph.......I'm just supposed to get in a slower lane so you can get by.....I think not.

I agree that if I'm in the fast lane and driving the same pace as the rest of the traffic I should move over but if I'm going faster and just waiting to pass the slower traffic....then the guy driving up my ass and hitting the brights can basically pucker up and Kiss mine....I'm not moving.

Its like George Carlin said "Everyone going slower than you is an idiot, everyone going faster than you is an a$$hole"

[Krispy]

Originally Posted by The Dad Fisherman

So If I'm driving in the fast lane and going faster than the other 3 lanes but you feel the need to go 90 mph.......I'm just supposed to get in a slower lane so you can get by.....I think not.

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thats exactly what you are supposed to do!!
The left lane is not "the fast lane". ITS THE PASSING LANE

[The Dad Fisherman]

Originally Posted by Krispy

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thats exactly what you are supposed to do!!
The left lane is not "the fast lane". ITS THE PASSING LANE

If I'm going faster than the other 3 lanes then am I not Passing them?

And aren't you just doing the exact same thing as me....I'm just not doing it as fast as you would like me to. so you ride up on my butt and expect me to move....again....not happening.

When I get past the slower traffic I'll move....Flashing your brights is'nt going to get me to a) Go Faster or b) Move out of the way.

[BigBo]

You got it TDF.

[hank8001]

Originally Posted by Pete_G

I suppose there is center lane abuse going on also on your average 3 lane highway, but if the passing lane was open you could just pass and then settle back into the center lane. But I agree, there are as many center lane hogs as there are in the passing lane.

I wholeheartedly support the "get out of the passing lane if there's someone who wants to go faster" concept, but I have a hard time understanding the "center lane abuse" concept.

If A) I'm in the center lane and B) going at least the speed limit, which is hard not to do, and C) the lane to the left is clear, then I'm going to sit there all day if I please. If somebody else is going faster behind me in the same lane, they're free to use the lane to the left to pass me, as I would do in a heartbeat if I was in the center lane and coming up on them. If they want to make some kind of power game out of it where they're going to tailgate me until I get out of "their" lane, then let the games begin.

Incidentially, the grump I wrote about earlier (people come roaring up and then won't pass) most often happens when I'm driving in the rightmost lane, so that has nothing to do with being a passing lane (or even center lane) hog.

As far as the leftmost lane, like I say I completely support getting out of that lane to let somebody who wants to pass do so - when I can do so without screwing myself over. And when the person behind can maintain a respectful distance until that's possible it's a beautiful thing. More often than not, though, the person behind is a pushy A-hole who tries to intimidate you into getting out of the lane with tailgating. Again, turns into a power game at that point.

[Backbeach Jake]

Originally Posted by Krispy

If you guys are in the left lane and tried that "slow down" %$%$%$%$, youd have a real fun time with me.
If someone wants to go faster, get the %$%$%$%$ OUTTA THE WAY!!!!!
Who do you think you are?

LIers are a pleasure compared to the a-holes I run across in New England.

If I'm passing everything in sight and you glue yourself to my back bumper, who do you think you are? You think I'm gonna get stuck in the middle lane behind Ma and Pa Kettle just for you?

[Krispy]

To clear this up. Im not talking about moving out of the center lane to pass the car in front of you and moving back to the center lane. (unless you do it as Im coming up or you squeeze in when there is not enough room) Its the folks doing 75mph in left and sit there, thinking their Speedy McSpeed and wont move when I come up on them, because they are "already going fast".
The courteous thing to do is move into the center for those who are faster, and back into the left lane to pass.

Otherwise you could go from Boston to Miami in the left going a little faster than the center lane.
In traffic, alls fair..

[Krispy]

If I'm passing everything in sight and you glue yourself to my back bumper, who do you think you are? You think I'm gonna get stuck in the middle lane behind Ma and Pa Kettle just for you?

Who do think you are? I gotta get stuck behind you?
Thats why we love you Mass guys down here.

[MoroneSaxatilis]

Over the course of say... 50 miles, the difference between going 75 MPH and 95 MPH is gonna be what... 10 or 15 minutes? With much shorter distances, significantly less. It is also unlikely that anyone is going to maintain the higher speed for the entire length of the trip. I suppose such a small difference in time is important if you're on your way to work, and you work at one o' those places with really strict attendance rules, or if you're trying to get to some store or something that's going to close if you don't get there on time.
You could always leave a little earlier.
And let's not forget those skyrocketing gas prices that we all b*tch about.

[Backbeach Jake]

Originally Posted by Krispy

Who do think you are? I gotta get stuck behind you?
Thats why we love you Mass guys down here.

Ya know I think that you'd fit right in with the Mass crowd. You've got the basic philosophy down pat.
Now this thread is a great example how the driving situation gets out of hand real fast. I'm hoping that you realize that I'm not advocating reckless behavior and just horsing around. A vehicle going 80 mph will eat your butt like a pride of lions if it gets out of control. No offense meant or taken..

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by hank8001

I wholeheartedly support the "get out of the passing lane if there's someone who wants to go faster" concept, but I have a hard time understanding the "center lane abuse" concept.

If A) I'm in the center lane and B) going at least the speed limit, which is hard not to do, and C) the lane to the left is clear, then I'm going to sit there all day if I please. If somebody else is going faster behind me in the same lane, they're free to use the lane to the left to pass me, as I would do in a heartbeat if I was in the center lane and coming up on them.

Doing what you're describing isn't the problem, people who crawl in the center lane create the problem. They are the reason a lot of people are unwilling to get out of the high speed, which is really the passing lane. Then that of course frustrates those who are traveling faster.

People seem afraid to pass these days. Or maybe they're just lazy, I don't know. I always try and travel in the center lane and then just pass as needed.