Are we all heavy footers now when it comes to driving?

[exdeath]

A common thing I've noticed is something I call "the race horse syndrome".

It's when you have someone tailing you or on the side of you, then they pass you and slow down. This happens all of the time to me...someone is always in a hurry to get by me, then they slow down in front or on the side of me. Then I pass and they do it again.

It drives me nuts that people can't just maintain a certain speed, and feel like they always need to be in front of the person they have in their line of vision.

+1

Or people who ride out the ending lane trying to speed past all the people who got over in time to wait in line. I take special joy in working with other commuters to fuck those guys over.

 

[Linflas]

A common thing I've noticed is something I call "the race horse syndrome".

It's when you have someone tailing you or on the side of you, then they pass you and slow down. This happens all of the time to me...someone is always in a hurry to get by me, then they slow down in front or on the side of me. Then I pass and they do it again.

It drives me nuts that people can't just maintain a certain speed, and feel like they always need to be in front of the person they have in their line of vision.

That works both ways. I can't tell you how many times I come up on someone with the cruise control on, move over to pass and suddenly I am no longer overtaking them. I speed up to pass, move back over and drop back to the speed I was originally traveling. Obviously I was going faster than them or I never would have come up on them in the first place.

 

[SphinxnihpS]

Protected left turn arrows are NOT for telling people when it's safe to go.

They're for allowing left turns at all at intersections where there is consistently heavy traffic.

I drive through several intersections every day in my commute where a left turn would take 15-20 minutes or more without the protected arrow because there's just so much cross traffic that there would not otherwise be a break.

The links you show to "prove" that lacking signs is safer only show than when you re-pave the road with cobblestones that will rattle your fillings out if you go over 25 mph everyone drives so slowly that there are is little need for traffic signs because it's basically just a parking-lot. When you're dealing with a stretch of road that's basically deserted (as the video in your link shows the example roads to be) you don't need controls because there are plenty of gaps. Combine that with the cobblestones that will rattle your teeth out if you're moving at more than a crawl and it's easy to see why it seems to work in those very limited situations.

ZV

lol, no. Try actually reading the content instead of looking at the pictures.

 

[Aikouka]

Gawd-damned rude speed demons. Get behind me and wait your fucking turn!

I'll be past these slow-pokes in another 5 miles or so.:whiste:

I've made up a few rules for myself when it comes to driving, and I think those are applicable here.

My thought is that it should only take about ten seconds to pass another vehicle. Now, larger vehicle such as semis will take a bit longer (obviously), but for most vehicles, taking any longer than that means you're probably barely going faster than the vehicle that you're overtaking. Now, if no one is behind you, that's not a huge deal, but if someone is behind you, that is being a little inconsiderate. Normally, if someone ends up trapped behind me while I'm passing and I feel like I'm passing a bit too slowly, I'll accelerate a few MPH to finish my passing manuever a little bit faster.

I also have a similar ten second rule for judging whether to remain in the left lane. I've grown pretty good at guesstimating distances and determining approximately how long it will take to close a gap. So, if I determine that it will take me less than ten seconds to reach the next car, I won't move over yet. Now, there may be some extenuating circumstances that make me move over or even speed up slightly.

Ultimately, as I mentioned, I try to take others into account, but if someone seems to be driving rather ridiculously (say 15 over or more), I may not worry so much about immediately letting them by. Although, you have to consider that someone going that much faster than you will also pass you rather quickly! So, you can move over and then move back almost immediately.

It drives me nuts that people can't just maintain a certain speed, and feel like they always need to be in front of the person they have in their line of vision.

Ugh, I hate it when people can't maintain their speed. Fuck, aren't 'muricans supposed to be lazy, fat bastards? Why aren't they being lazy and using cruise control!?

Just pay attention and accelerate at a reasonable rate. And if you are behind someone, you should follow close behind the guy in front (not tailgate) so that as many people can clear the intersection within that light cycle. Again, fucking pay attention. That's more important than the acceleration rate.

Yep. The onus is really on the first person in line to pay attention, since I've always found it takes more effort to watch the stop light than it does to watch someone's brake lights. Although, watching someone's brake lights doesn't help around here that much, because people love to leave huge gaps at stop lights and then gradually move up. That usually grinds my gears, because there have been times where I've sat there at a green light because there was no room in the next section of road between the intersection in front of me and the next one. If people ensured they were using space efficiently, that wouldn't be as bad.

I'll post a photo that I took when I saw a rather egregious example of this:
http://i.imgur.com/kQy1ADE.jpg

(To note, there was just as much room behind that Miata as there was in front of it. )

I bet you're one of those guys that sees an open spot in the left lane approaching a red light and changes lanes from right to left and then when the light is green accelerates more slowly than the guy in the right you didn't want to be stuck behind. Almost as bad as asshole truck drivers that move left and pull up next to a truck in the right lane so they can have a snail race from the light.

Ugh, I hate it when cars do that. Especially since I'm pretty good at determining when lights will change (I tend to pay attention to light timing) that I can avoid having to come to a complete stop. Unfortunately, if people take up every lane, I can't do that. :\

Speaking of light timing, there are some really annoying lights around here. When I go to work, I have to take a left at the first intersection, and I've found that whenever that first intersection goes red, the next one that I hit will ALWAYS change if someone is waiting to turn left. I'll normally look over at it while I'm waiting, and if I see someone there, I will not even accelerate past 20 MPH. There's no point, because even in a supercar, you would never make it. The worst part is even if someone isn't waiting, but comes up to that second intersection after the first one has changed, the second intersection will IMMEDIATELY change. Ugh, I hate braking and wasting gas.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

accelerating is fun, but i agree sometimes its pointless

 

[Raduque]

I hate it when those damned miners get in car accidents...doesn't matter how minor they may be.

lol. I fixed it.

 

[Midwayman]

I accelerate quickly because its what I expect of other drivers. If you take several blocks to hit 30mph and 5 seconds before even moving at an intersection it means that everyone has to waste more time at red lights. It always sucks just to barely miss a light 'cause the guy in front of you can't be bothered to pay attention.

I guess if you live in an area with less traffic isn't not such a big deal, but it is a constant problem here.

 

[wirednuts]

I drive like a grandpa. My biggest pet peeve is how close people follow each other on the road. Give some damn space.

THIS THIS THIS. i dont even care if people drive fast. just get off my god damn ass. if i cant even see your headlights, you have no idea how close i am to locking up my brakes ard ruining your day.

 

[wirednuts]

I accelerate quickly because its what I expect of other drivers. If you take several blocks to hit 30mph and 5 seconds before even moving at an intersection it means that everyone has to waste more time at red lights. It always sucks just to barely miss a light 'cause the guy in front of you can't be bothered to pay attention.

I guess if you live in an area with less traffic isn't not such a big deal, but it is a constant problem here.

yup this too. if the speed limit is 30, it shouldnt take you 3 blocks to get there. you dont just let off the brakes and expect to reach 30 whenever the torque converter wants to. fuck your hypermile, it means nothing when you have to sit at every single light because you throw off the traffic timing.

 

[Midwayman]

That works both ways. I can't tell you how many times I come up on someone with the cruise control on, move over to pass and suddenly I am no longer overtaking them. I speed up to pass, move back over and drop back to the speed I was originally traveling. Obviously I was going faster than them or I never would have come up on them in the first place.

Yup. See it all the time. People who drift 10mph below the 'limit' and immediately speed up when passed. Pretty much the only time they manage to drive the limit is when passed, but they still see themselves as driving that speed in their head. Usually they'll ride your ass for a few minutes while angry about being pass, or even attempt to pass you back. After awhile their attention wanders or they get too nervous about the speed they need to keep up with you and they slowly drift back.

 

[wirednuts]

+1

Or people who ride out the ending lane trying to speed past all the people who got over in time to wait in line. I take special joy in working with other commuters to fuck those guys over.

those people just need to be shot. my rusty old truck is a great deterrent for those assholes, its usually someone in a pretty little car and i just 'accidentally' cut them off. then they try to sneak in where i was, but i dive right back in. it freaks everyone out, but the pretty little asshole is the most pissed off. they never do anything about it more then flash their lights or honk their horn though. nobody wants to fuck with a grown man in a rusty old ford.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

When we first moved to California, I was a slow, easy-going driver who rarely exceeded the posted limit. It didn't take long commuting for that to evaporate...and I rarely (if ever) drove slower than 5-10 MPH over the posted limit. (yet never got ticketed)
Now that we're out of California, I'm back to being a slow, easy-going driver who rarely exceeds the posted limit...but it's not easy. I chafe at the ridiculously slow posted limits here...but I do my best to keep myself in check. <breathe...relax...take your foot off the accelerator...breathe>

Yup that's Cali. Far left lane on freeways has the unwritten rule of 80 mph and slower as you go right.

What I hate is people who honk at me the moment the light turns green. It just makes me take extra time just to piss them off.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

those people just need to be shot. my rusty old truck is a great deterrent for those assholes, its usually someone in a pretty little car and i just 'accidentally' cut them off. then they try to sneak in where i was, but i dive right back in. it freaks everyone out, but the pretty little asshole is the most pissed off. they never do anything about it more then flash their lights or honk their horn though. nobody wants to fuck with a grown man in a rusty old ford.

Why? Make use of every available lane and there will be less traffic.

 

[Aikouka]

THIS THIS THIS. i dont even care if people drive fast. just get off my god damn ass. if i cant even see your headlights, you have no idea how close i am to locking up my brakes ard ruining your day.

Wouldn't your newly-remodeled rear-end also ruin your day?

 

[Paul98]

Why? Make use of every available lane and there will be less traffic.

One person having to stop or slow down majorly because the lane is ending because they wanted to pass a couple more cares... This slows down everyone and you end up with the lane that isn't closed totally stopping because of idiots trying to pass all of them.

 

[Paul98]

THIS THIS THIS. i dont even care if people drive fast. just get off my god damn ass. if i cant even see your headlights, you have no idea how close i am to locking up my brakes ard ruining your day.

That is a terrible idea as they will rear end you and who knows what will happen to the cars behind that car and you have to pull over because your car is wrecked. Then wait for the police,...

 

[Midwayman]

One person having to stop or slow down majorly because the lane is ending because they wanted to pass a couple more cares... This slows down everyone and you end up with the lane that isn't closed totally stopping because of idiots trying to pass all of them.

You're really supposed to merge when the lane is ending, not before. People getting over early aren't doing anyone any favors, and just causing angst when someone zooms up the empty lane. If it's free flowing get over when there is an opening, but bumper to bumper...

 

[Exterous]

BUT I'M PASSING THEM!!

Just because you are old, retired and have nothing worthwhile to do during your 'golden years' doesn't mean the rest of us don't have important worldly things to accomplish at our destination!

:hmm: Weren't you a semi-truck driver though? If thats the case I give you a pass for hating us 4 wheels given how many act like assholes around semis

 

[wirednuts]

That is a terrible idea as they will rear end you and who knows what will happen to the cars behind that car and you have to pull over because your car is wrecked. Then wait for the police,...

thats why i dont do it, but i think someday i will snap and just lock the brakes up- fuck whatever the consequences are.

 

[dbk]

I was doing something similar recently down in Florida, passing everyone in the right lanes in pretty heavy traffic, in a fairly good amount of time. But it just wasn't good enough for this one person tailgating me, flashing their lights, and flipping me off through their sunroof. In a VERY dangerous move they managed to pass me on the right, and slip in front of me clearing my front bumper by only about 3 feet, while still holding up the finger. I said out loud, "well congratulations pal, only another 500 cars to go".
BTW, I was doing 84 in a 70, when this happened.
I also don't like being honked at for being 1 second late leaving the line when the light turns green. 4 + seconds sure, but 1 second?? srsly?? dude you got issues.

why didnt u let him pass you then drive behind him? you couldnt just stay in the right lane for few secs to let that guy go by you?

 

[JackBurton]

Funny story. I just got on the freeway and looked up ahead to see this Camry holding up traffic on the left lane. Right behind him was a big Ford F250 riding him basically letting him know, get to the fuck to the right. Well the Camry like some attitudes in this thread thought, "hey, I'm doing the speed limit. I'm not going any faster." Well the pickup driver went to pass on the right and sure enough the Camry sped up. That apparently didn't mean anything to the pickup driver though because he was getting into that lane whether the other driver liked it or not. He then proceeded to slowly merged into his lane and essentially forced the Camry off the road and onto the shoulder (it was greatness). The Camry then pulled back, then behind him and then to the right and attempted to pass him (I'm sure to try and get in front of him to most likely brake check him). When he went to pass him though, the pickup sped up and got close to the car in front of him to keep him from getting in front. Once the Camry saw he couldn't cut him off, he pulled back in an attempt to tail gate him. At that point I pulled right behind the truck to block him. It was great and the Camry guy was FUMING!

I fucking hate people that ride the left lane.

 

[McLovin]

The freeways here are posted at 60 MPH max. (some areas are only 40)
If someone is in the right lane doing 50-55, I'll go into the left lane and pass them at 60...if you're going faster than that...you're just gonna have to cool your jets and wait until I'm done passing the slow pokes...and I don't care if there's a hundred of them...I ain't moving back over until I pass them all...

I usually go by the train of thought that if I go 5 over the speed limit, I am going to have a better chance of separating myself from the people who drive at or below the speed limit and the people who just do whatever fucking speed they want. Thus allowing me to proceed unencumbered.

I will never do more than 5 over unless the flow of traffic deems is safer to do so than becoming essentially a road block. If the posted limit is 65 but I am the only one doing 65 and just about everyone else is doing 75-80, I see myself as more of hazard. I guess it is like the red light cameras and when people quickly slow down right before the cameras. While it may reduce the number of speeding tickets, I can just imagine how many rear end accidents that's caused.

I just wish more people were conscious of others than themselves.

 

[xanis]

That works both ways. I can't tell you how many times I come up on someone with the cruise control on, move over to pass and suddenly I am no longer overtaking them. I speed up to pass, move back over and drop back to the speed I was originally traveling. Obviously I was going faster than them or I never would have come up on them in the first place.

Sweet Jesus, this. This happens to me every single time I get onto the highway. Typical scenario: Speed limit is 65, car in front of me in the rightmost lane is doing about 60 (my cruise control is set for 65). Pause the cruise, speed up a little (to maybe 70mph) and look over to see the other car suddenly doing the same speed as I am.

 

[McLovin]

Sweet Jesus, this. This happens to me every single time I get onto the highway. Typical scenario: Speed limit is 65, car in front of me in the rightmost lane is doing about 60 (my cruise control is set for 65). Pause the cruise, speed up a little (to maybe 70mph) and look over to see the other car suddenly doing the same speed as I am.

I use CC just about every time I drive as I've found it to be way better on mileage (and to aslo help me keep my foot out of it ).

Even if some retard is trying to do 80 in a 50, I'd rather just let them pass me than try to block'em out and potentially cause more of a problem than it would have been to just let them go by.

 

[Zenmervolt]

lol, no. Try actually reading the content instead of looking at the pictures.

You mean the content that explicitly says they replaced smooth roads with higher speed limits with cobblestones to make people drive slower? Or where they explicitly point out that these are small towns (less than 15,000 people)? Or where they mention that this is only in very small sections of the roads (typically only a few hundred yards of central-town area)?

Your lack of substantive responses to my points is noted. We're done here.

ZV