Road Rage, revisited.

[LD48750]

^ exactly. I don't feel comfortable tailgating, I desire control of my fortunes, and options for avoidance should a panic stop or road hazard situation arise. But it really F^&(ng sucks when you get cut off repeatedly from right lane passers, so, you have to close the gap sometimes and prevent the opportunity for this kind of behavoir.

If people are passing you on the right, YOU are in the wrong lane.

 

[deezler]

^ no, you misunderstand. I desire to go 75-80 mph just like everyone else on my local highways. But if you leave any safe following distance, someone will zip around you just to then go the same speed in front of you, rather than behind you. It's not because I or anyone else is going too slowly.

Like I said, our rush hour driving is like a 1000 car nascar race. Seems like nearly everyone wants to win.

 

[/pine]

Here's my road rage story...
...I think it was 2009 or 2010...Our town is divided by a major US highway 4 lanes with a center turn lane...the majority of the town is on the west side of the highway...the one chain grocery store is on the East side...on the west side is a road running perpendicular to the main highway and is directly across from the entrance to the grocery store parking lot...

...I was on the road waiting to cross the main highway to get to the grocery...I waited for a couple of cars ahead of me to cross or turn onto the highway...I had to wait for some light traffic to clear and as it did and I moved forward...sitting directly in front of me in the center lane was a woman in a pickup truck clearly texting on her phone...(she had it on the steering wheel and was going at it with both thumbs...) I could see a small dog jumping around in the cab..ironically I had the news on the radio and they were just stating that the new "hands off" law went into effect that very day (July first IIRC)...which meant if caught texting or using a cell phone etc. while behind the wheel you would lose your license for a year...

...North and south traffic had cleared so I moved out thinking the woman would see me and move out of the way...but she didn't...so I had to turn to the right and maneuver around the back of her truck and then avoid a curb on the far side...As I went around the back of her truck I tooted my horn...well she blasted back with her own horn...so I just flipped her off over my shoulder as I headed into the parking lot...

...As I was getting out of my car...here comes the pickup roaring up the lot...she stopped behind my car and said she didn't appreciate getting flipped off...I called her a stupid ***** and went on into the store...

...Well I was collecting what I needed in my cart and was approached by a couple of cops in plain clothes but obvious)...they asked for my ID and said I was involved in a "road rage" situation...

...Turns out that the woman was the wife of an officer...The cops were were being civil but obviously wanted to give me a hard time...so I did what I had to do and dropped my B.I.L.'s name (who happened to be the chief investigator for the sheriffs department of the county just to the south)...a large department where most of the local city cops got their start so everyone knew who my B.I.L. was...things cooled off immediately...they let me check out with my groceries but still had so show their authority...they ended up writing me a ticket for disorderly conduct...

I had to make an appearance in court but they dismissed the charge if I did not contest the issue...I could have went to trial and subpoena her cell records and using their own timeline I could have proven she was texting while driving but being in a small town where everybody knows everybody I decided it was best to not make waves (enemy s) and let it go...

 

[MossRoad]

Let’s say there’s a truck in the right lane going slower than other peoples’ liking. There’s a line of 10 cars in the left lane that wants to go round it, and more coming up from the back. Not one of those people in the left lane will move over to the right lane to let the faster car behind them go past, using the ‘wait your turn’ philosophy. And the lead car can see 10 cars behind it, but isn’t going to speed up because ‘I’m going fast enough, they can wait.” And then someone comes up in the right lane, the cars in the left lane will disregard the common sense of keeping a safe distance from the car in front of them, and all of them will bunch up to prevent the person in the right lane from getting ahead of them, putting all of them in danger of a chain reaction accident, all while traveling at about 100’ per second at 70mph.

That’s the American way!

 

[ultrarunner]

I find the incidence varies greatly depending on location...

The SF Bay Area has many freeways and the no truck freeway through Oakland has to be the worst...

All vehicle laws optional... Going 65 and every car will pass you and some like lightening fast weaving to shoulder and then to fast lane... like a stolen car police pursuit... just to get ahead... many are high HP Dodge vehicles...

 

[MossRoad]

Yep. Coming through Chicago at 1-2 in the morning you see some really high speed stuff as the roads are more open that time of night. During the day, any open space is soon occupied.

 

[deezler]

Let’s say there’s a truck in the right lane going slower than other peoples’ liking. There’s a line of 10 cars in the left lane that wants to go round it, and more coming up from the back. Not one of those people in the left lane will move over to the right lane to let the faster car behind them go past, using the ‘wait your turn’ philosophy. And the lead car can see 10 cars behind it, but isn’t going to speed up because ‘I’m going fast enough, they can wait.” And then someone comes up in the right lane, the cars in the left lane will disregard the common sense of keeping a safe distance from the car in front of them, and all of them will bunch up to prevent the person in the right lane from getting ahead of them, putting all of them in danger of a chain reaction accident, all while traveling at about 100’ per second at 70mph.

That’s the American way!

This is it, exactly. Every single day on our highways here. But often its 80 mph and 117 f/s instead.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

^ no, you misunderstand. I desire to go 75-80 mph just like everyone else on my local highways. But if you leave any safe following distance, someone will zip around you just to then go the same speed in front of you, rather than behind you. It's not because I or anyone else is going too slowly.

Like I said, our rush hour driving is like a 1000 car nascar race. Seems like nearly everyone wants to win.

So let them. You will get there just as fast.

 

[Jstpssng]

So let them. You will get there just as fast.

That's what I've finally realized. When things start backing up I back off.
Years ago I often traveled up Rte 89 through Burlington Vt on Sunday nights, on my way to work in New York. Often I would be virtually the only vehicle in the right lane, as everybody was trying to pass that one slow vehicle in front of me.
I would set the CC and maintain my speed; and play leapfrog with the same few cars which were going nowhere fast. Then when the left lane finally cleared I could step on the gas and proceed at my own pace.

 

[MossRoad]

What irks me most often on the highway is:
- I have the cruise control set.
- I come up behind another vehicle.
- Since I caught up to it, I’m obviously going faster than it.
- I look in my mirror, signal to change lanes, look over my left shoulder to check my blind spot, pull into the left lane, get my righ front fender about even with the other driver’s left shoulder, aaaaannnnnnnnd they accelerate and match speed.

So you’re sitting out there in the left lane and it never fails that someone else comes up behind you so you then have to accelerate to get around the car that you’re passing.

Then you get ahead, signal, look, pull in the right lane, the car behind you goes by and so does the car you just passed.

Then in a mile or so, they pull back into the right lane and slow down and you catch up to them again, repeat.

 

[ponytug]

What irks me most often on the highway is:
- I have the cruise control set.
- I come up behind another vehicle.
- Since I caught up to it, I’m obviously going faster than it.
- I look in my mirror, signal to change lanes, look over my left shoulder to check my blind spot, pull into the left lane, get my righ front fender about even with the other driver’s left shoulder, aaaaannnnnnnnd they accelerate and match speed.

So you’re sitting out there in the left lane and it never fails that someone else comes up behind you so you then have to accelerate to get around the car that you’re passing.

Then you get ahead, signal, look, pull in the right lane, the car behind you goes by and so does the car you just passed.

Then in a mile or so, they pull back into the right lane and slow down and you catch up to them again, repeat.

And when competitive road boulders start to irritate me, I stop for gas or food and let them get down the freeway and out of my hair.

All the best,

Peter

 

[MossRoad]

And when competitive road boulders start to irritate me, I stop for gas or food and let them get down the freeway and out of my hair.

All the best,

Peter

Ha! On our trips to OK and back, we usually stop west of St. Louis for gas and lunch bite, usually about 15 minutes or less. Get back on highway, and always seem to catch up to the people we passed a long time ago. GRRRrrr!

However, that’s a good illustration that if you’re driving 5MPH faster than someone, in 3 hours, you’re only going to be about 15 minutes ahead of them.

 

[Jstpssng]

What irks me most often on the highway is:
- I have the cruise control set.
- I come up behind another vehicle.
- Since I caught up to it, I’m obviously going faster than it.
- I look in my mirror, signal to change lanes, look over my left shoulder to check my blind spot, pull into the left lane, get my righ front fender about even with the other driver’s left shoulder, aaaaannnnnnnnd they accelerate and match speed.

So you’re sitting out there in the left lane and it never fails that someone else comes up behind you so you then have to accelerate to get around the car that you’re passing.

Then you get ahead, signal, look, pull in the right lane, the car behind you goes by and so does the car you just passed.

Then in a mile or so, they pull back into the right lane and slow down and you catch up to them again, repeat.

Ditto here. Or you are driving along with the CC on and somebody comes up in the left lane and camps out just behind you. After traveling a mile or so you come up on somebody who is moving slower... so the car behind will pull up so their bumper is by your RR tire... then slow again. You either have to speed up to pull out, or slow down so they can pass. I went 7 miles with a guy that way.

Years ago I was going down the interstate with my CC set at about 7 over the limit when a car pulled out behind me from the onramp.
She followed me for about 60 miles . At one point she flashed her lights at me when a state trooper had somebody stopped in the opposite lane but I didn't care; I've been driving that way for 40 years and never gotten stopped for it. (I've been stopped for going faster though. )
We both got off at the same exit, and she followed me into DD, where she got out all excited and said "That's the fastest that I've ever gotten here!"
I was just driving my normal, steady pace.

 

[5030]

Remember, the faster your speed, the lower your fuel mileage is. Myself, I drive 5 below the limit most times in the slow lane and I get 40 mpg. If I come upon a slower vehicle, I'll speed up to pass and then get back over in the granny lane. Always on cruise too. I just leave with ample time to get to where I need to go, on time.

Life is too short and fuel is too expensive to get in a hurry today.

What I find amazing is, most of the 'in a hurry and going like a bat out of hell' people are driving gas hog SUV's or large pickup trucks. They must have large wallets or no brains, or both.

What is nice is, usually at 5 below, you aren't surrounded by other idiots in a big hurry.

Far as I'm concerned the National Speed limit needs be lowered back to 55.

In a big hurry... Leave earlier. Speed kills, not only you but your fuel mileage.

55 and arrive alive with ample fuel left.

Also, keep in mind that on Interstates, the minimum speed is still 45 mph, last time I checked.

 

[deezler]

So let them. You will get there just as fast.

That's not really my concern.

I'm not down with allowing this kind of reckless, pointless, right lane passing. I don't enjoy having to follow someone closely at 75 mph to block it, but it's even less safe to let someone squeeze in front into a 3 car gap, IMO. People around here that drive defensively and maintain a full following distance in the left lane no matter what, will get cut off like this endlessly. Seems even more dangerous to me.

 

[deezler]

55 and arrive alive with ample fuel left.

Also, keep in mind that on Interstates, the minimum speed is still 45 mph, last time I checked.

Hey, you do you. You are certainly entitled to drive as calmly as you want.

But the rest of us are still going to drive 70-80 mph, because we can, and we want to. So keep in mind that your slow poking, if it is making other slow-ish drivers or semi trucks have to pass you, is creating real danger back behind you. Whenever a semi truck has to use the left lane to pass someone during high volume traffic times, it creates an accordian wave of slow-down braking for all the rest of us in the left lane. I've seen this cause panic stops and accidents numerous times. Not to mention all the wasted fuel for everyone having to slow down, then reaccelerate to normal speed.

All because some dude is determined to drive slowly for their own personal benefit. You might be saving your own fuel, but you're costing everyone else more and it's a net loss for the economy and environment. I'm not calling you selfish, but it's most certainly safer for all the rest of us if you go with the flow and match the normal speeds of the road. Again, this concept is in the context of rush-hour, congested commuting. Off hours, no issue.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Let’s say there’s a truck in the right lane going slower than other peoples’ liking. There’s a line of 10 cars in the left lane that wants to go round it, and more coming up from the back. Not one of those people in the left lane will move over to the right lane to let the faster car behind them go past, using the ‘wait your turn’ philosophy. And the lead car can see 10 cars behind it, but isn’t going to speed up because ‘I’m going fast enough, they can wait.” And then someone comes up in the right lane, the cars in the left lane will disregard the common sense of keeping a safe distance from the car in front of them, and all of them will bunch up to prevent the person in the right lane from getting ahead of them, putting all of them in danger of a chain reaction accident, all while traveling at about 100’ per second at 70mph.

That’s the American way!

100 ft./sec. at 70 mph is worth a second look, especially when tail gating. If you don't comprehend how far that is, just measure it off and take a look. You only have to be distracted for a second, and you can be in big trouble.
My daughter rear ended a car turning in front of her and totaled her Mazda CX 9. She was merging, looked to see if it was clear to merge, and she hit the turning car. In her defense it is a very dangerous T section where lots of accidents happen, but the point being at highway speeds you best pay attention and drive defensively.

 

[5030]

Hey, you do you. You are certainly entitled to drive as calmly as you want.

But the rest of us are still going to drive 70-80 mph, because we can, and we want to. So keep in mind that your slow poking, if it is making other slow-ish drivers or semi trucks have to pass you, is creating real danger back behind you. Whenever a semi truck has to use the left lane to pass someone during high volume traffic times, it creates an accordian wave of slow-down braking for all the rest of us in the left lane. I've seen this cause panic stops and accidents numerous times. Not to mention all the wasted fuel for everyone having to slow down, then reaccelerate to normal speed.

All because some dude is determined to drive slowly for their own personal benefit. You might be saving your own fuel, but you're costing everyone else more and it's a net loss for the economy and environment. I'm not calling you selfish, but it's most certainly safer for all the rest of us if you go with the flow and match the normal speeds of the road. Again, this concept is in the context of rush-hour, congested commuting. Off hours, no issue.

Really, but then you appear to be one of those speed of sound Michigan drivers. Your wallet, not mine. Maybe when gas gets to 10 bucks a gallon, maybe you will slow down...maybe.

I don't drive during 'rush hour' anyway. I'm retired. Glad I'm not a speed cop, I'd be needing numerous ticket books.

 

[deezler]

well then it sounds all good.

You're not wrong, we drive too fast here. But I'm used to it, and enjoy it, to be honest. Still get 32-33 mpg going 70+ in my beater VW. If I slowed down to 60 mph and tried to nudge closer to 40 mpg, I would save.... a few bucks a month? It's meaningless, financially. Even with $5 gas.

Now in my 2500HD, I do limit my speed on the highway to save a bit. Again the financial aspect doesn't matter much, but I just feel bad burning so much gas.

 

[5030]

Considering how bad Michigan roads are (I seem to remember one of Whitmer's campaign slogans was 'Fix the Dam roads', obviously she forgot about that (and other things as well) because the roads here are like bombed out runways. I don't need to be flying low and hit a hole some are so deep you cannot see the bottom).

I drive northbound and southbound 23 regularly and on some stretches, the berm (breakdown) lane is smoother. At 65, I can avoid the bad ones. At 80, no way. My F350 4x4 has become a garage queen. At 150 bucks a tank, no way Jose'.