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On foot this morning, saw a woman in a Mazda 3 turn right from a straight lane, and had a middle aged dope in a Prius breeze through a crosswalk against green, when I was in said crosswalk. I shouted what I thought of him and his car
In the latest issue of "The Star" (Mercedes Club magazine), there's a little piece encouraging MB owners to drive thoughtfully, in order to promote a positive image for the brand, and maybe work against the "bad guy" image the brand has, especially in the past. Kind of amusing. MBs seem to attract an overall more mature demographic than the other German highline makes, one of which has a real rep for jerky driving, with the other catching up.
Kudos to MB! Now if Audi and BMW (and maybe also anyone who makes pickups or large SUVs) would follow suit, the world might be a little better place for all on the highways and byways.
BMW and Audi could teach signal use, following distance, etc. Toyolex could teach situational awareness, especially for hybrid models. The list could go on and on. But how to teach it? Most of these these things don't attract enthusiasts who would read a club magazine, and probably 1:100 read the owners manual anymore.
Saw a Prius in a two-fer this morning - made a right turn from a straight lane, without stopping, against a red light.
Had an obnoxious flasher in medium goin' home traffic this afternoon. Lots of room to pass in other 2 lanes, but the snarky guy decided he wanted me to move out of my left lane going over the speed limit following other cars going same speed but leaving a few hundred feet between. He flashed a couple. Waited. Then flashed again. Then turned lights on bright.
Apparently his headlights were the only thing bright. He could have passed in the middle or right lane with the light spacing. He finally passed, moved back to left lane to show me he could drove about 1/2 mile and then moved to right lane to exit. Because the two exit lanes had cars going below speed limit, I went past him. I tooted, smiled, and son and I both waved at his silly SUV.
I never get it. Most Mercedes folks would have moved to middle lane or right lane, accelerated, passed, and been on their merry way a mile or two earlier instead of trying to force someone else to think their way. But the Muranos.... His appearance fit the snarky attitude of his driving. Son commented that folks around Columbus/OSU don't waste time flashing headlights, etc..
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
When you obey his flashing, he thinks he put one over on you & is a winner. My tactic is to raise the rear window curtain with just a press of the button. Remember that there are folks who don't appreciate LLC, but when in a line of cars as you were, LLC is not involved.
There were plenty of open spaces in the middle and right lane for passing if he had some medical or other emergency that necessitated his driving away from the hospitals and away from police stations at a higher rate of speed. Traffic was oddly spaced out at 4:30 pm 5 miles from the center city.
His appearance when I passed him as he slowed in the two exit lanes would have fit the type of character in a TV show for the aggressive but effete driver trying to something he isn't--a race car driver.
I'm usually in the right lane going 62 watching a few other people tailed by some of the left lane agressors (LLA's). It has become less frequent to see someone using the bright flash on that strip of road between Dayton and Cincy. Typically it's a large SUV driver or a BMW/Audi driver who must be wanting to show others their miracle ray HID beams or something. Most other drivers of premium vehicles just zip around in the other lanes. Maybe he'd just come from the doctor getting a testosterone injection to make up for his deficient level? :grin
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Here in NJ, its the law to stay right and pass left... but hardly anybody obeys and it is extremely rare a cop will pull someone over for it. I wish they would.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
It is truly the rule and the law, albeit implemented state by state. Obviously enforcement is from NEVER to the more "active"- seldom. Be that as it may, the realities are the opposite. Everybody knows it and the question is how to use the scenarios to drive safety, etc.
A man in a Murano...maybe he was...shall we say, whipped, and was overcompensating?
Maybe the car wasn't his choice. Might also be a rental, as those exist in a couple fleets.
I've never understood the logic of being annoyed at a car in front of you for going slow, when there are numerous cars in front of it doing likewise. What does the aggressor expect one to do, drive through the cars in front of them?
Passing on the right is an everyday thing in my area - it irritates people from places with a more disciplined driving culture, but here in race to the bottom land, it works well enough.
Yeah, I had a van tailgating me today in the HOV lane (single lane), but I was maintaining a safe distance from the car ahead of me and there was a line of cars ahead of him. Some people treat the HOV lane like it's the "high speed" lane because it's on the left. It's not. It's the HOV lane. If someone is going at least the limit, or a safe speed for conditions, that's fine with me. Heck, we're going a lot faster than the cars in the other lanes, so what's the problem?
But I had a new, fun experience today, never happened in 40+ years of driving. I was parked at the Post Office and ready to leave when this red Prius starts approaching my car from the rear. So I shift into R to let him know I'm backing out, maybe he'll back off and want to take my spot as it was close to the door. But he keeps coming--in effect parking behind me! Now, I have a small car, but really folks. I'm blocked in by a car to the left of me and curbs ahead and to the right. I'm not going anywhere but backwards. If I had a big ol' beater (ala Fried Green Tomatoes ), I might have thrown 'er into reverse. Instead I opened my door and made a "back off" motion, and the idiot finally backed up and found another spot.
That's quite odd. I've never seen something like that, either. Well, except for the one time in college when I blocked someone in that took my designated spot (which was clearly marked) so that they would be sure to be ticketed before scampering off. At least they weren't in the car when I pulled up.
A guy came within about two inches from bumping into me yesterday at a stop light. It was very strange because he did stop, but then after about another half-minute or so, his truck starts creeping forward. Then, it starts coming forward at a pretty good clip. I started to pull forward and to the right to bail out of there when he literally SLAMMED on the brakes to stop the truck. Honestly, though, he was drifting forward at such a fast clip at that point that I know he would have hit me had he not suddenly come to.
And, yes, he was on his cell phone - that makes it okay.
I'm unclear as to whether you were in the left lane or another one. While the other driver should have just used the open road to pass, if you were in the passing lane... everyone in the left lane not going at a rate of speed faster than the traffic to the right of them were the primary offenders.
That same sort of parking incident happened to me just this weekend. It was a Lexus, though, and he wanted my parking spot. Completely oblivious to the fact that, if one wants an occupied parking spot, on has to let the car occupying it enough room to leave it.
Well, you know... it's just so HARD to remember about putting the foot thingie on the brake pedal thingie! He was, like, using the phone! And that's just so COMPLICATED!!!
That reminds me of an annoying habit that so many local "drivers" have caught. They stop far behind the next car at a light, and then slowly creep up on red. I see it all the time.
No real bad ones on the drive home tonight or when on foot, but traffic was very slow and the lights were very horrible - red red red. Good enough for government work, perhaps.
I was in the left lane of 3. We were moving about 2-3 mph faster than the middle lane and about 5 mph faster than the right hand lane. We were above the speed limit. I decided the Murano could go pound salt, since he had room to move around on the right if he thought I needed to speed up to tailgate the people 200 feet in front of me going the same speed.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Well, then. You were using the left lane to pass.
And going faster than the traffic to the right of you.
Which is exactly what is supposed to happen (and far too often, doesn't).
Well, how are they going to only get 30,000 miles out of their brake pads if they simply stop and remain motionless? Sheesh, fin; you really didn't think that complaint through, did you? Hehe
Not inconsiderate but I have been just amazed at how many cars I have seen recently with a burned out taillight! It seems like one car out of ten that I've been behind this post week have had a light out. I followed a Caravan yesterday that only the center "third" light was working.
Maybe I should do a walkaround on our cars more often!
Actually that is very true. I am used to cars where the (batch) lamps used to last a LONG time over what it (the BATCH) does now. The ones to check closer obviously are the ones that can earn one a traffic stop and/or fix it ticket or even more complications.
I had a BMW Z4 behind me in traffic, letting me carve a path, that I think never used its signal once through a few turns. I couldn't help but chuckle...what is it with that? Stereotypes and reality...
How could someone not see a RED CAR in a parking spot that's immediately ahead of them on a bright, sunny day (no, sun was behind him)? The whole thing was just weird, like the guy was really spaced out (maybe on a Bluetooth phone, I didn't see a phone in his hand) or daydreaming or something. And it wasn't as if he could think I could exit the parking space by moving forward--the Post Office was directly ahead of me. Whatever it was, I'd hate to come across this guy driving in traffic.
sounds like: parking while texting. there are many people who text constantly in their cars. I see it every day on local/state roads as well as the open highway. no doubt these ever-texting-folks do it while parking too.
Took a ~150 mile drive in light rain today. Depressing amount of "drivers" without headlights, even on the interstate. Should be ticketable. A few LLCs come to mind - Corolla off in its own world, Lexus GS that would maintain about a 1000 foot following distance and then hit the brakes anytime anyone crossed into the path, and a Lexus RX also off in its own world with a huge following distance. I know tailgating in rain is bad, but one can overdo it going the other way too. If you're so scared that you want it so if the car in front of you stopped, you could simply let off the gas and coast to a stop without hitting it, get in the right lane and go as slow as you'd like.
I wonder if I did something was irritating to some truckers. 3-lane interstate outside Columbus and I was in right lane. I passed a semi going slightly slower than I was. After maybe 200-250 feet I moved back into the right hand lane in front to of him at about 3 mph faster than he was going, 63 vs 60 estimated. He immediately moved to the center lane. There were no other cars around, very light traffic Saturday around noon. Then after I was farther in front of him he moved back to the right lane where he'd been for the last 10-15 miles before I passed.
I wonder if he has the automatic braking system on that truck that slows it down if something is in front of it. I've heard the truck drivers mention those automatic braking systems in some phone calls on the late night ATN, American Truckers Network from WLW 700 Cincinnati radio.
I wondered if I tripped his radar braking so he moved to the center so I wasn't in the beam. Anyone know more about their radar braking?
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
"Adaptive Cruise Control" will cause a vehicle to slow down when another car pulls in front of it. Our MKS has 3 settings, Comfortable, Normal, & Close. Our setting is Comfortable which enables others to pull in front of us giving them lots of room. Question: Do the brake lights go ON when the Adaptive Cruise Control operates?
Yes, I believe it is a law that the ACC activates brake lights when it slows a car.
I rented an Audi in Germany with this feature, it did so there too - I seem to remember reading it in the manual.
It would appear you not only cut into his space cushion, but proceeded to slow down AFTER you cut into it, which defacto cut even more into it (not a wise move given if the slightest thing had gone south, as it takes a fully loaded tractor trailer much longer to stop than a car. .. . It is one thing to cut into his space cushion and accelerate away. It is a SAFETY issue when you cut into it, AND DECELERATE, making him have to alter his behavior, radar braking or NOT.
You're dead wrong on the deceleration. The cruise control was working perfectly. I was about 3 mph faster than he was. I have moved up on him slowly from behind, was tempted just to stay back a couple hundred feet by slowing a couple, but decided to pass.
I did NOT cut in front of him. I waited a good 250 feet: I always estimate in terms of a football field sans end zones for my distance. On the other hand, I have had tractor-trailers cut in front of me with 50 feet or so, sometimes substantially less than 50 feet. I always laugh at the signs that were up for a few years here in some Midwestern states about not cutting in front of semis. It showed leaving about the length of a semi plus its tractor, 70 feet perhaps, as the buffer. At the same time here on I-70&I-75 semis are cutting 4-wheelers off right and left, as well as crashing into them.
But I have a sweet spot for the physics of the semis. First, I ramp onto the interstate at a ramp with unusual topography making it harder for cars to see what is coming downhill with which we need to merge. The semis get over into the left lane of 2 95% of the time when there's a lane open. They will also slow to let some of the cars merge who should have accelerated better. To explain, the ramp is uphill merging with the downhill interstate until the ramp gores with the interstate, then the whole thing is a definite downhill. A little acceleration on the car pedal really speeds you up fast for merging. But many cars are timid about doing that. A second point is that there are many regular company semis traveling for FedEx and others who try to share the road between here and Columbus: there are two FedEx lots between here and there. There are only a few of the independent drivers who can scare me with their 80000 pounds at 75 mph. I'm the guy who flashes my lights when a semi probably is wanting to move back into the lane ahead of me because I'm only doing 63 in a 70 in the right hand lane.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
First off, I was not there. I am going (strictly) by the way YOU framed the scenario (presumably YOU were there) . BUT.... evidently, the truck YOU cut in front of, changed his behavior (which has its own inherent hazards) that sparked the question in YOU. So really, if you are not ready for the (range of) answers, don't ask the question !! Or, do a multiple guess format.
If you want to pull a Steve Urkal, and ask the punch line ? "DID I do that? " I am fine with that also.
I move over to the right ALL the time (in front of totally loaded tractor trailers, you know, keep right except to pass) and almost NEVER get the response (change of behavior) you did. But then, I make sure I do not decrease his space cushion.
So if you are not going to take the "hint" from (a probably) 80,000 # truck @ your six. I certainly and fully realize you probably will not take it from.... me.
I rarely use my cruise control. It just makes me uncomfortable.
"Adaptive" cruise control begs the question (for me anyway)....WHY?
It's very helpful in terms of driver laziness. I mean, who wants to interact with their car or driving environment, anyway?
(No offense intended to any posters here who's cars just happen to have this nanny feature. It's an annoyance of manufacturing.)
I use cruise all the time. Very useful in eastern WA or on lightly populated state highways.
Adaptive cruise is tech for the sake of tech. The low speed systems can be handy in stop-and-go low speed LA style traffic.
I just remembered something funny I saw yesterday - a bumper sticker. It said something to the effect of "RCW xxxxxx - slower traffic keep right". It was on a late 70s Volvo - not what I would expect to be a speeder, but something about the car told me it had a sleeper frankencar engine swap. I wonder if the LLC brigade would see that sticker and be offended.
LOL, NO !! They are asleep @ the wheel !!
Nappy time.
Good point, you can't hate what you can't see
Canada must be cracking down - drove about 30 or 40 miles on the dreaded 401 today and no one was acting like an idiot. The western side around Hamilton is probably a bit saner than the eastern side of Toronto but it was a pleasant surprise.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Perhaps that is WHAT that truck driver thought !! Only his response was probably for both his and YOUR safety. All the best.
I think it's more a matter of "planning ahead" for the trucker--were their any hills coming up?
Land was as flat as the glaciers left it during the ice age in that area.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Well maybe he was just cranky that day. Too much road food.
Maybe he wanted (his) the fast lane to pass more gas.
Not too bad lately, but did get behind a rental Legacy that was apparently confused, and came to a stop in the middle of a busy intersection, before turning with no signal. I try to give dumb tourists a break, but that earned a nice honk.
Also saw a dope in a late model (maybe 2010+) G-wagen with a phone to his ear. No excuse in vehicles with standard bluetooth - should receive a fine proportional to his likely unearned wealth, as we are all told such is gained through being smart, right? Oh wait, we know the truth, even if some are afraid to admit it.
A bit off topic, I know, but what really bugs me is inconsiderate folks in crosswalks. They saunter across slowly, often on a cell phone, sometimes not, without considering that people need to turn. I take it as a maxim that one can tell from how a person moves if they have a purpose in life. People like that generally are not going anywhere in life (or at least that is how it seems to me) - and their walking shows it...
It depends on the crosswalk and person - barring any physical challenges, of course. If the crosswalk has a signal - I think the crosser can saunter as slow as they want so long as they are in the duration of the signal. Those who dawdle across at unsignaled crosswalks are kind of annoying though, yeah.
Most all crosswalks in my area have a signal. When I am crossing, and an idiot enters and hits the brakes with no turn signal, I will sometimes slow my walking pace just because
Speaking of crosswalks, last night at the hectic intersection of NE 8th and 116th (known for clueless traffic as there's a Dennys, AMPM, Whole Foods, and a hospital in the same area) , an older man crossed against red not once, but twice - and took his time too. I was kind of surprised he didn't get hit. He probably thought he was OK because he was in a crosswalk - not on a major 6 lane arterial, buddy.
Today saw a RAV4 blunder into an intersection late on a yellow turn arrow, then got stuck blocking the road because the "driver" couldn't anticipate the traffic back up ahead of it. It was blocking a BMW E90 that just laid on its horn...I laughed. Both vehicles lived up to their stereotypes.
Got blindly pulled out in front of twice today while in the old car. First hy a woman in a Lexus ES, second by a woman in a Volvo. Maybe the dumbed down lowest common denominator that is so idiotically allowed to drive assumes an old car is moving slow, and that they can proceed without worry? Volvo driver was also weaving around like a drunk (but I suspect it was just age-related skills decline), and earned a honk from the old car's very loud horn when she crept around a turn.
Also saw a woman in a Toyota 4x4 going maybe 55 in a 35, weaving in and out of traffic - then got caught up in a couple of lights and didn't beat the back at all, when she turned into a strip mall parking lot. I wanted to follow her and impolitely ask what was wrong. Never a cop in sight, of course.
Saw a good example of inconsiderate driving this morning. Was tooling down an interstate, 3 lanes in each direction; I was in the right lane going the limit (Sunday morning, no traffic, no hurry). An old black Explorer enters the freeway behind me and tailgates really close for about a mile. There's no one in the middle lane, so it would have been easy for him to go around me at any time. No, he seems intent on forcing me to speed up to get him off my rear bumper. I'm going to exit soon so I'm quite content driving at the limit in the right lane. Finally he moves to the middle lane to pass me... or so I thought. But instead of passing me, he maintains his speed, matching mine, so his front bumper is about even with my rear bumper. He stays that way until I exit the freeway.
That's oddly uncomfortable, isn't it?
Two drivers w/in a mile or so yesterday were uncomfortably close to me. One did a similar deal to the Explorer driver you mentioned, backy, except he was in the right lane going about 50. I took to the left lane at 60, with my cruise on, and was quickly passing. Before too long, though, he speeds up to match me and is hanging at about the same distance you mentioned (except I'm in left and he's in right). I sped up briefly, signaled to the right lane, and settled back into the cruise. The other driver slows down a little to match speed with me and seems content to stay there.
A little bit later (again, this is all within a mile or two), this old Bronco II comes zipping up (70-75) in the left lane, passes me, then abruptly jerks the car into the right lane extremely close in front of me. A Short while later, he actually hits the brakes, slowing to probably 50-55, as he approaches an off-ramp (same one I'm taking, sadly), eventually forcing me to slow down behind him as I quickly closed the gap. Then, he dawdles (~35-40) down the long ramp, signals to take the right turn lane at the bottom (I'm going left, so staying in the left merge area), but stays to the left until the last possible moment before the two lanes diverge.
I'm confident that those actions weren't incidental (e.g., he was intentionally holding up me and the other driver behind me), but I'm really not sure what could have possibly motivated him to this end.