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Not easy to match route and hours, especially since every other week I am not sure when I will be leaving work in the first part of the week.
using public transportation
Ah turn my 30 minute commute to an hour and a half commute.
leaving for work before or after the rush?
I can only come in so soon and/or so late. No matter if I can in early or late I would still have the heavy traffic.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Public transportation? I'd have to drive to the park and ride lot (exactly in the opposite direction), ride the bus, then walk a mile at the arrival end. It would take at least double the time, not counting the walk.
Time shift? No again. Someone already at work waiting for me to arrive to relieve them.
The good news is that I'm swimming upstream - the vast majority of commuter traffic is going the other way. And I get to drive home outside of rush hour, so it's only getting there that is the headache at times.
Now, about trying to dodge construction zones? Save that for another post
For me, carpool won't work - I am the only one who works my hours. Transit would easily add an hour a day onto my short drive. But, I live fairly close to work and commute in the morning before the rush, so I am not complaining.
A similar situation will apply to my next tour of duty stateside.
There have been a couple times where a crash or an insufficient off-ramp exacerbated the situation, but it doesn't take those things to cause the traffic to crawl.
It is the improper mergerers and LLC's that make brake lights go up and speeds go down. I realize eventually there are just too many cars, but I think the limits are well beyond what is typical day in and day out.
Why should everyone move other to the right 3+ lanes, regardless of traffic volume and regardless of the congestion in those lanes, just so a few people (including you of course) can whiz buy them at 65+ mph? Where is the sense in that?
You can get something like this however with HOV lanes. But there's some price to pay for being able to drive in the HOV lane--more passengers, or pay a fee, or ride a motorcycle for example.
However if you have been behind that single person Prius with the single driver sticker going 53 mpg in a 65 mph HOV "commute" lane, that has to be frustrating also.
HOV lanes aren't "fast lanes" although many people think they are because they are normally on the far left. Some HOV roads are dual lane, which solves that problem. So would having James Bond's Aston Martin DB5 with the machine guns in the fenders.
P.S. Most Priuses I see are moving at a pretty good clip. Probably because they can go super-legal speeds and still get 40+ mpg.
After I finished my pass I moved back over and resumed my normal speed the BMW shot passed me and got maybe 1/8th a mile then slowed down.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Right, the #2 lane now becomes the defacto FAST/PASSING lane.
Out here I see the range or gambit on the Prius issue.
My wife yelled to say he's coming over. I blow my loud horn. He blows his horn back. I'm beside the trailer and partly into left lane and he's still coming over.
It turns out there's a state trooper off the right side of the road with another arch criminal speeder. So he apparently wanted to clear the right lane so he didn't have to slow down.
When I talked to his safety director at his company, I asked her why he didn't use his brakes. I pointed out he blew his horn back at me; I felt he could hear my fairly shrill Buick horns inside his cab and felt he blew his horn at me rather than at something in the right hand lane.
Safety director indicated she would check both computer records of location for trailer and tractor. I wonder if the GPS system shows that he did slow down at that milepost. She was very interested in whether the state patrol officer was out of the car and witnessed the tractor squeezing us out of the center lane.
My son said there was nothing in the right hand lane that would have forced the trucker over, other than the officer on the berm up ahead. Safety director said this report was very serious.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Oddly, the trucks in some cases were going slightly faster passing in right lane and occasionally one was slightly below my speed at that time. So I don't recall the speed of this particular truck as being remarkable as faster or slower.
If I was in his blind spot, he wasn't blind to my presence when he blew his horn at me as he continued to push me out my properly traveled lane. I thought he would go back into his right hand lane, but instead he kept coming over and would have hit the roof of our car with the side of the trailer because I was slowing down--note I was already a couple of feet into the 3rd lane. Luckily there was no one in the 3rd lane.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
We just started that "move over" law here in NY and that situation is what I fear.
On my regular commute on I-87 I go through a series of sharp turns before and after a bridge. Our glorious state troopers chose these turns as places to pull over speeders. This leaves them parked in the blind spots on either side of the bridge on the turns.
As you round these turns you suddenly see the trooper and unless you were very vigilant you may be sideswiping a car in the center lane if you try to merge left. You can slam on the brakes and risk getting rear-ended or you can stay in your lane and risk a ticket.
In a perfect world people would be constantly checking mirriors, no one would be riding in your left merge blind spot and people would never tail-gate you. Because this is not a perfect world I'm not sure this law is a good one.
EDIT: I almost forgot the real reason I was posting was to complain about the woman driving across the same bridge yacking on her cell phone and slowing down to 35 in a 55. Cars swerving all over the place to avoid hitting her. It annoyed me to the point that I tooted at the two troopers sitting 1/2 mile down the road and motioned for them to look at the car I had just passed (cell while driving is now a $250 fine in NY). As near as I could tell the troopers let her pass yacking away all the time.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
And that ain't fun. I had the luck to see a semi jackknife on the highway right in front of my car a few years ago. Fortunately, I was far enough back to have enough stopping room.
One question, though. How long had you been beside his trailer? You referenced that this was on a rural 3-lane stretch of highway, so traffic couldn't have been a concern.
As Gogogodzilla has said, one really does not want to be in the blind spots nor "kill zones". It really pays to try to understand the view from the truckers point of view. If one does not know where those are, one might engage a trucker and actually ask him/her to tell and/or show one. I can describe it, but it is a bit like trying to tell a class how to properly adjust ones 3 set of rearview mirrors.
At the time, fuel was about $1.50 per gallon, which was still a tough pill to swallow for a pair of recent college graduates. In order to balance time and fuel economy, I chose to drive the truck at 65 for the duration of the trip. In some areas, that speed was at least on par with traffic. In other areas, especially once I crossed the Rockies, that speed was way under par.
That put me in league with truckers and, in many cases, slower than them. Frankly, from what I saw, the inconsiderate ones on the road only had four tires on their vehicles. It might seem different from the seat of the passing vehicle, but there was plenty of room on the road for all sizes.
Interestingly, one night at about 0300 somewhere in southern Wisconsin, I happened upon a UPS tractor-trailer that was drifting badly from right to left to right, just barely staying inside the fog lines on each side of the road. As the truck drifted right, I bolted by on the left side, got in front of him, and started honking the horn in short bursts. It took a few moments, but the truck suddenly stabilized, the driver honked briefly back and flashed his lights, then took the next exit off the freeway another mile or two down the road. I suspect the driver needed a little shut eye... without the truck moving down the road! :surprise:
Good luck to all and stay safe.
jensad
That's a pile of malarky. He was moving over slowly. If he had time to honk, he had time to move his rig back into the proper lane.
>sharp movements now might result in the semi jackknifing.
Since he wasn't moving over sharply, he could just have moved back gently.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I set the cruise control to 65 at times and at other times I was doing 63 following some trucks at their pace rather than passing.
I get the feeling some posters are trying to make this my fault because I was beside the truck. I frankly don't recall if he was moving faster, slower, than myself; he was unremarkable until he nearly crashed us out of our lane.
I don't know how the laws work in other states if it's the fault of 4-wheeler drivers for "being in a trucks blind zone," but in Ohio I suspect it's up to the truck driver to check his blind zones. This one didn't.
Interestingly, his safety officer didn't question whether I had somehow caused him to move over into my lane.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I really don't use cruise control.
As for posters saying its your fault, I did not get the feeling that was implied.
For most states, most of the laws are similar in that most states take federal monies and along with that comes a "certain compliance " if you will.
An unsafe lane change is an unsafe lane change. The laws of physics are of course on the side of the 80,000 + # vehicle/s (tractor trailer) vs the 5,000 # vehicle (your SUV).
I think it is far more rude to LLC as that causes those "speeders" to navigate there way rightward, which puts the law abiding slower drivers MORE at risk.
Unless I drive so fast that you get a ultrasonic sound shockwave blowing your windows out, I won't consider it rude how fast I'm going.
I think LLCing and improper merging are bigger problems than speeders pose on the road.
The other time I will vary speed is if I am approaching a vehicle ahead and need to change lanes to pass, but there is an approaching vehicle in that lane. I will speed up enough to avoid interfering with that vehicle's speed (unless, of course, the driver decides to change speed once I have switched lanes - in that case, I don't care if they feel inconvenienced as they created the conflict themselves). Once the pass is complete, I reset the cruise and continue onward.
I'll do that too, but only up to a point...I'm not going to increase my speed by 10mph just to prevent someone from having to slightly slow down for a few seconds while I'm passing.
It never works out every time, but that's just life.
If you don't CUT THEM OFF, then you shouldn't have to speed up by 10 MPH to avoid causing a problem. You may indeed have to slow down a bit from your "cruise controlled" speed for a few seconds, let the faster car past FIRST, then proceed to speed up to pass the slower poker. I'd recommend staying in your lane if you can't reasonably speed up when changing lanes. You are supposed to speed up slightly when passing or changing lanes.
Unless they are speed demons doing 80+, or they think you shouldn't have moved over gun it then ride your rear.
You are supposed to speed up slightly when passing or changing lanes.
Since when?
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Where did you get that law?
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I don't see any rule that says you can cut people off because they are going 80 or more MPH. I do agree that there is no reason or CAUSE to gun it and speed up when someone cuts you off.
I never do that. I often just keep my same speed, and will only hit the brakes at the last second to make my point on how badly they cut me off and/or misjudged their passing abilities.
What they most definitely shouldn't do however, is slow down even more and make me pass on the right!
Actually in the handbooks I have read and the classes I have taken never mentioned that are "supposed" to. They do say that in some circumstances it is suggested. However in most situations its not needed.
I don't see any rule that says you can cut people off because they are going 80 or more MPH
Who says cutting off? When someone is doing 80+ they can come up on someone doing a more reasonable speed very fast.
I often just keep my same speed, and will only hit the brakes at the last second to make my point on how badly they cut me off and/or misjudged their passing abilities.
Admitting to agressive and inconsiderate driving? Just because someone is ahead of you and not doing your excessive speed doesn't give you the right to tailgate.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
It's funny in this forum that the folks driving the safest are perceived by those wanting to speed as being "inconsiderate."
I do agree that those who drive in the left lane and never move back are wrong.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I find it amusing that the folks who want to drive slow in the passing lanes and block others who are driving safely at higher speeds consider themselves to be 'driving the safest' and 'considerate', when they are neither. If you're not law enforcement (or making a left turn in the next block or so), move to the right and stop blocking faster traffic. It's really that simple.
You'd have to define "slow." Does "slow" mean any speed slower than the guy coming up behind you?
If the speed limit it 65mph and I'm in the left lane passing a truck or string of trucks going 60mph, then I don't consider myself to be driving "slow" if I'm going 65mph in the left lant while passing, as long as I'm not pulling into the left lane directly in front of a car going 75mph cutting him off.
Now if as I'm passing the truck or string of trucks, a car that was way back has now caught up to me while I'm in the left lane because he's going 80mph, I'm not going to speed up to 80mph just because of him. I'll continue passing at my current speed until it's safe to go back into the right lane.
I don't though think it's correct just to sit in the left lane, unless you're passing or about to pass a slower moving vehicle.
Let's be clear that for many people who want to determine who and at what speed the left lane of "their" interstate may be used are left lane dominators.
I watch and many of the people running up on and tailgating people who dare to use the left lane that's reserved for "them" alone stay in the left lane after they get around someone daring to go the speed limit and above in the left lane. The speeders don't move over into the right hand lane as they would probably dictate to all the lesser drivers who should be in the right hand lane.
It's really just a psychological power game to the speeders. All that's needed is for them to realize that if someone else is on the highway, they have a right to use any lane. They certainly have much more right to use the lanes than the dominators have the right to endanger lives with speeding.
The speeding and aggressive driving are clearly connected. It seems to be a mental state. The people sometimes buy a car as an extension of their psyche, large and dominating or a car that has an aggressive "face" that's supposed to intimidate the "lesser" people on the road with its aura.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
So normally, I give a LLCer 3 seconds to bust a move (normally NOT) . If he or she doesn't, I normally look to pass on the right. Passing on the right (This is fully within the law) is almost the natural consequence of someone NOT passing in the left lane or being the LL dominator .
No, I'm admitting to demonstrating how inconsiderate their lane change was, with poor timing, poor merging, and poor judgement all on display in clear fashion. I'm not aggressive, AGGRESSIVE would be hitting the accelerator as you LLC's all stated the "speed demons" do when you pass someone. I just maintain my speed, like you guys like to claim is all you do. If maintaining my speed means running them off the road, then that means that they made an unsafe lane change.
You are mistaking the "safest" with the slowest. The two are not related.
Agreed that slow subtle movements are a good way to be safe, but when you pass someone, and you've caused the car behind you to "let off the gas" then you need to move over quickly.
Yes, having to let off the gas for 10 seconds is much less offensive then having to hit the brakes because someone has bad timing, but it's better and preferable that you speed up enough/sufficiently so that you can make your pass safely and not make other traffic alter their speed at all.
Not always. If I'm in the right lane going 65mph approching a line of trucks going 60mph, then when I pull into the left lane (still going 65mph) I look to see if anyone is in the left lane close enough that I'd be cutting them off. If not, then I'll move into the left lane to pass, still going my 65mph. Now if you come up to me at 85mph, I don't think you're going to be able to "maintain your speed." And if there's a long line of slow moving trucks to pass, then you'll have to slow down when you reach me.
Now if I can see you coming up in the left lane at 85mph, I'm not going to pull out right in front of you to pass, but if you're pretty far back I'm not going to wait for you to catch up if it's going to cause me to run into the back of a semi.
Sound fair?