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Isn't there a term for a poster who flies over a forum and deposits a dropping that he knows will stir up the audience, and then dissappears to watch the fray from a safe distance, never defending his stupidity? I'm thinking a "T" word...
PF Flyer
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I get back into the right lane as soon as I can.
It costs me nothing to be a little courteous.
Here in GA we don't get many people who move over, or even many who even seem to notice that there's someone trying to merge and speed up/slow down to let them in. I'm glad I've got a car with power enough to punch it hard and get into the space that's afforded to me.
alfox: we get plenty of that in GA as well, as my story attests.
cheers,
Phil
It's easier for you to slow down and allow someone to merge than it is for the merging driver to speed up. In essence, cars slow down faster than they can accelerate.
Of course those knuckleheads who try to enter a highway at 40 MPH drive me nuts. But I try to give them a break.
To merge, you match speeds with the flow of traffic and slip into an opening. Most people I've seen "merge" by slowing down or stopping and waiting for a sufficiently large opening in traffic for them to have time to pull in and get back up to speed. Retarded at best, incredibly dangerous at worst.
If you are in the through lane and slow down to let someone merge, odds are you'll just wind up doing a cha-cha with the merging person, who is likely already slowing down to wait for an opening.
Ugh, I'm choaking on my own bile here people ;-)
What's even more funny is that I've seen situations where an onramp becomes its own *real* lane on the through road- there is no merge required, you just keep driving- and where the onramp/new lane joins the main road, people STOP.
Astonishing.
For anyone who thinks moving into the left lane just to "block" someone is safe or prudent:
Deliberately going out of your way to impose your will on others by force is *very* aggressive behavior. Dangerously aggressive.
Therefore, in the World According to Kinley, if Kinley commits acts that others feel to be aggressive, they are not acts of aggression. If others commit acts that he feels to be aggressive, they are acts of aggression.
I love it... but it's the only time I wish I didn't have a 1.8L 4-cylinder Integra engine.
Foreigners here - you know, Ohio and Indiana people!!!! - they pause on onraps. It's very very very irritating, especially because a Camry 6-cylinder engine can go at quicker notice than my engine... I like to enter expressway at full speed, not 40 mph! Yikes! How am I supposed to play NASCAR games with Impala owners if the eai-diot in front of me on the onramp STOPS?!
Disagree with things that are said, but don't fall into namecalling and attack mode.
PF Flyer
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The day we practiced freeway driving (including merging on/off) we were in a brand new Nova with a 305 V8. The 2 other students had been, well, let's say just a bit tentative. My turn. Turn on to the on ramp, and floor it. Was up to 70 before the merge point, instructor had a slight smile on his face, made the other students try it again. All I knew as a 15 y/o hormone-enraged boy is I had a license, albeit briefly, to go fast. Fit into traffic and away we went. Been using that same method to merge now for 30 years, and it's still kind of fun.
I guess my point is that in the driving recipe, an occasional pinch of aggressive comes in handy. Notice I said occasional, and notice I said a pinch. Please return the flamethrowers to the pilot light position. Thank you.
Cheers!
Paul
I'm through arguing with you. Must be nice living in that fantasy world. Haven't you gotten the idea yet that not a single person on these boards agrees with you?
Phil
... probably have, and it's your own personal Gold Medal Achievement.
There are TONS of these types on the roads. The solution, ugh? "Deal with it!"
Note to Self: gotta go to the Autobahnen some day for some real driving!!!
TB
*Note, this is not a personal attack, but rather my not so humble opinon.
Truer words were never spoken.
-Jason
-Jason
ps - The guy works at the same company - I walked right past his car today. Yes, I kept my keys in my pocket!
On a related note to some of the posts I have read above, I think it is SO irritating when someone changes lanes right in front of you without making any attempt to match your speed, so that you wind up having to slow down a lot or change lanes. They could have waited until you passed to change lanes, they could have sped up to match your speed once they were in your lane, but they do neither. Better than both would be if they sped up to match your speed in their own lane, THEN changed. And how about some signals out there??
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
When I was working in Boston my office used to look over Summer Street where I could watch the intersection at Dorchester Ave. In heavy traffic, left turn traffic would block the thoroughfare, and when it in turn became blocked up by traffic on the block they were entering the lights would fail to control traffic. People would just jam the intersection until they could go, whether the light was red or green. The result was that for a time, traffic would be going on red and stopped on green. Then it would slowly reverse again.
People here drive the way pigs eat - with both front feet in the trough to keep the next pig out!
I often make great time driving mostly in the right lane, temporarily hopping to the middle when I pass on ramps and passing cars in the left and middle lanes as if they're standing still.
Also... I had someone do that other thing to me just the other day. Im doing about 80 in the fast lane coming up on two cars in the middle, one kind of close to the other's bumper. The car behind had plenty of time to get over before I got there, and there was absolutely no cars behind me. So what does he do? Waits till there's maybe two feet to spare and jumps in front of me.
When approaching a traffic signal that is not operating (dark, i.e., due to a power outage), you should:
a) Treat the signal as a stop sign;
b) If you believe that you have the right of way, proceed through the intersection normally;
c) Speed up;
d) Slow down (but only stop if necessary).
Now imagine this scenario: a six-lane, divided surface road, carrying heavy rush-hour volume, intersecting with several smaller but equally important cross streets. Think about your answer in terms of not only yourself but also from the perspective of your fellow motorists.
Also, indicate the state you live in, and how drivers there handle this situation. Later, I'll tell you about how drivers in Central Florida do.
(There may not be a satisfactory explanation, but I need a sanity check!)
better of my judgement. After all, how can I argue with more than 90 percent of the
motoring public?
Therefore, I am going to immediately fire off a letter to my representatives in Tallahassee demanding that the state's motor vehicle laws be rewritten, for as they stand presently, they do not meet the commonly-held beliefs and expectations of said motorists. After all, this is a democracy, is it not?
Among my recommendations will be:
The definition of "speed limit" shall be the MINIMUM speed at which a motor vehicle may
be operated; insurance points will be DEDUCTED for operators who routinely drive at the highest possible rate of speed without causing injury or damage.
Vehicles traveling in the same direction shall yield to traffic approaching from behind.
Lane markings and warning signage shall be considered guidelines and not rules.
High-speed tailgating and lane change maneuvers shall be recognized by the Department of Education as "arts," and be accorded an appropriate share of the state's educational
endowment for the advancement of said "arts."
A yellow traffic signal indicates "go fast." Red: "go faster." Signals are guidelines, not rules.
Motorists who complain in public forums about the lack of enforcement of the motor vehicle laws, and thereafter are found to be in violation of these same laws, shall be honored at an annual dinner to be hosted at the governor's mansion.
New public information campaign: "Patience is a virtue that we cannot afford."
Emergency vehicles shall be disregarded at all costs. Motorists found attempting to yield to emergency vehicles shall be fined one shilling and required to attend sensitivity training. Motorists who single-handedly manage to foul the progress of an emergency vehicle shall be given free tickets to a professional wrestling event of their choice.
[In case you haven't figured it out yet, this little dissertation is "tongue-in-cheek." If you take any of this too seriously, you may need a nap. And a hug. But not from me. In fact, I may need the nap and the hug myself.]
When facing apparent defeat in the heat of battle, motorists shall attempt to save face by immediately leaving the roadway and becoming presently mired in the muddy shoulder or median. The highway patrol shall dispatch a tow truck within four hours (or longer in the event of inclement weather).
New state motto: "To All Who Ply These Highways: May The Best Man/Woman Win"
Use of mobile communications devices (such as cellular telephones) is strictly permitted while operating a motor vehicle.
Use of child safety seats is optional if the child is operating the motor vehicle.
Pedestrians and bicyclists shall use the public roads at their own risk. No exceptions.
And finally: Honda vehicles with lowered suspensions, bazooka tailpipes and "No Fear" decals are exempt from any and all anti-cruising and anti-noise ordinances.
[There. I feel better now!]
My favorite is right across the street from my lot.. there is a left turn lane (This is on Lake ave in Maitland.. next to 17/92) where we have soem spectacular crashes.
Really amusing ones.
And, since I live in Golferville, err.. SW Orlando.. I get to take I-4 every day!
New Rules:
When merging into 65-70mph traffic into the passing lane, please do so as soon and as slowly as humanly possible. This will keep people on their toes. Also, this will compact your car, and as we all know, compact cars save energy!
If you vehicle is equipped with rear fog lights, please use them! After all, surely it must be foggy SOMEWHERE!
If you see a fender-bender on I-4 in Rush hour, please slow down to 10mph. After all, a Buick Century with a dented fender and bent bumper is a rare sight indeed.
Also, where was the big interesction with the lights out? If it was like Colonial at Semoran or 17/92 at Semoran or something.. that would be quite amusing to watch. Almost as amusing as if it happened on I-drive or something!
Bill in Bay Hill
Drivers must use turn signals to guess which way the car in front is going to turn.
I have to say my "favourites" are:
1.Women driving Expeditions at 50 mph while putting their make-up on. Get at least one a week coming up behind me. And I'm female!
2.Folks who think the gap I leave between me and the car in front is just for them to pull into - especially when I'm driving a 3/4 ton pickup. It gets even better when towing a 30ft boat/trailer rig!
3. Drivers who pootle along in the left lane of a 2-lane freeway for absolutely no reason at all. Came across one on I-15 between Las Vegas and LA. No cars on the road for miles, just this white minivan doing 60 in the left lane. Bizarre!
Anne in Las Vegas