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The situations are quite different. While the guy in the F150 didn't know why you did it, just like I didn't know why the Acura did it - I didn't give any one fingered salute or even look at the guy. I just swung in the passing lane in a semi-evasive maneuver.
I would bet only .0001% of all drivers cut someone off because there is an emergency-mechanical situtation as you had. The other 99.9999% of the time it's done mostly because they felt like it, didn't have any respect for their fellow drivers or were in a hurry.
When someone cuts me off due to an emergency on the road, I can see it and help the person by slowing down or moving over. I will never stand my ground if someone is in a dire situation and must react accordingly. Most of the time however, it's done without any regard for fellow drivers.
You should not have waited until your lane had run out before you tried to dart over into her lane with only a couple car lengths to spare.
Instead, you should have slowed down, let her go ahead, and then pulled in behind her. In the future, that is what you had better do, unless you enjoy off-roading your Camry in the gravel.
No, I'd say the mistake made here was even using a blinker. If the two lanes were becoming one and the dotted white line ended with your vehicle in front of hers, just merge. There's no reason to bother with a blinker because you are already in that lane... If your vehicle is ahead, you have right of way.
For some reason some people think that a blinker is equivalent to asking permission. Nope, just there to inform them of what you are doing.
A two lane to one lane merge exists on my route home. Speed limit is 50. I get on the highway and there is a good amount of room until the right lane ends. I'm going 65 to merge, someone behind me will do 75-80 and try to run me into the guardrail. I let them have the space, because 1/4 mile ahead traffic usually slows down to 30.
The worst offenders by far are the Honda Civic types. Even though my car is faster, I just don't care enough to duke it out.
Maybe that's one reason my insurance premiums are a pittance, clean driver record for quite a few years.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Also, did this happen in West Virginia? You mentioned something about a toothy grin.
Regards,
Deanie
I am a slow driver who rarely goes over the speed limit. I am almost always in the right lane.
When I need to get in the left lane of our 4-lane suburban road, I find an opening and put on my left turn signal and start to pull over, just like you suggested. I almost never have a problem.
Snake, you asked how "far ahead of another vehicle we have to be before we can merge into their lane " In terms of car lengths, I have no idea. However, if you are having trouble merging into other lanes, you are probably not far enough ahead of the other car.
The trouble is as you give drivers notice by signaling, a lot of id-juts step on the gas to close the gap.
No that's not true. In NJ it's the law. You must signal x-feet before making a lane change. Your state might have a different law.
But here in NJ you have as much chance as being ticketed for the above offense as jaywalking.
If the other car is 5-6 car lengths behind and matching your speed (that was the described situation) you have as much right to that lane as he does, provided you don't interfere with his progress.
Yeah, that's exactly right.
After giving him a reasonable amount of time to merge right I merged right passed him and proceeded to merge left to pass slower traffic ahead. As I merged back into the left lane I almost sideswiped the car that was originally behind me. This idiot (and that is being kind) decided that he was going to pass the guy in the left lane on the shoulder.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
What could you have possible done to prevent something like that?
I am a slow driver who stays in the right lane on the D.C. Beltway. Occasionally I look over at the left lane and I see cars tailgating each other, changing lanes quickly, and doing other moves that require better reflexes and more confidence than I have. That area of the road ain't for the faint of heart.
Yeah, I guess the idiot driver you described is what you can expect when you choose to run with the big dogs in the left lane. I expect it will probably happen to you again.
Let's not split hairs just to be contrary - that's just what I suggested - turn the signal on and move over. By the time you switch on the turn signal and glance over your shoulder and move to the line at least a couple seconds have gone by.
My point (before we lose it in silly minutia) was that there is no need to give a 5-10 second signal before moving. To do so prolongs the maneuver to the point where you are, in effect asking permission. Hesitation invites unwanted responses - just do it. Not recklessly, not instantly but fluidly and with determination.
Lessee, what can we find wrong with that now?....
As for what you could have done, usually, one would see a maniac coming up that fast before the right hand pass...but prob you were paying attention to the LLC and the middle lane traffic (rightly) and didn't notice it.
OTOH, if you're doing 65, you only need 1.05 sec. Hey, one thousand...go! That's about right, IMO.
The progression of posts arrived to the same point with which I ended, though. "Asking permission" vs. "informing."
I don't know what's with some of the responses people have been getting in this thread. We're being rather harsh to each other.
I've decided to let my signals flash 2.5 times before I (quickly) make my move. Not just for this reason though; I also find it annoying when other cars leave their signals on for a long time, or seem indecisive about merging.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
The one that leaves me with a huge ??????????????? is when I am driving to Anchorage on the Parks Highway and I have someone pass me at about 1-2 mph faster than I (this is a two lane highway with SL of 65, so you drive in the oncoming lane when you pass). Suddenly, I get this burning sensation that someone is staring at me. I glance over and the driver is staring at me as he/she passes. What the....? Am I that interesting? Just pass and mind the road, not me! :confuse:
Honestly, unless the driver was being dangerously erratic or there was a pressing need, why would you look at another driver as you pass?
I usually don't notice it so much when I'm being passed, though. Seems like it's only when I'm passing. It's like they want to be nosey and see who's passing them, and give me a 98 point evaluation like I have a profile posted on Match.com or something!
Now, I'll admit that there is one time that I'll make it a point to stare at someone. If I'm coming up on a left lane camper, and have to pass them on the right, I'll make it a point to give them a good evil eye as I'm passing them. If they're on the cell phone, they usually don't notice, as they're already distracted. If they're elderly enough, they're usually only concentrating on the road straight ahead of them, and too afraid to look to the side. Sometimes, though, you'll get one that looks back at you, starts to feel ashamed, and then politely clears the passing lane so other cars can go. Or, sometimes you just get a finger! :P
"Now, I'll admit that there is one time that I'll make it a point to stare at someone..." And for an understandable reason.
I typically only make eye contact with someone when I see a problem like a severely under-inflated tire or something about to fall off their rig. Most of the time they don't have a clue what I am trying to indicate and are not curious enough to investigate on their own. Eh, I tried.
When it's a ToyHon with low tire, seat belt dragging on ground, keys hanging out of trunk lock, I just figure their cars are so high quality, they don't need to be told. :grin
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
A friend of mine lives in a development located at the bottom of a small hill. At the entrance to this development, there is a small creek, and you cross a bridge to enter. I visited him today, and right when I arrived he came out and asked if I saw the car at the entrance. I didn't. I went back, and saw this:
(pics taken with a cell, so excuse the quality).
I think he had to have been moving at a good rate to get down so far. The water appears to be about 3 feet deep where the car landed...the front end was hung up on the bank, the front wheels drooping into the water, and it looked like about a foot of water in the car. One less putrid-colored (kind of a pinkish red) F-Body Firebird, anyway. Apparently the driver fled on foot after the splashdown, about 15 minutes before I arrived.
I'm not a road rage type of person, and even the stupidest things done by drivers usually don't make me lose my head, but this guy was basically a murder looking for a place to happen. It's guys like this who give truckers a bad rep. I still get mad when I think of that a-hole!
Abou that trucker...I know it has been rehashed to death, but there seems to be a distinct split with truckers...either they are very skilled and competent, or they are complete reprehensible jerks. There's no middle ground. The vast majority are good...but the bad apples sure are bad. It's too bad you didn't have anything in your car to toss up at the windshield of that truck. Actions like that deserve some vigilante justice. Road rage isn't always the fault of the person who catches it.
It's infurating the police can't do anything in such situations.
But I agree totally with bottgers on cowboy truckers. Haven't seen so many in recent years, but we get our share of Canadian cowboys down the northeast corridor and they can be hardheaded for sure.
It's infurating the police can't do anything in such situations. "
And you are asserting that I am asserting something was " done wrong" by bottgers. A misreading on your part!! So I would agree, to quote you, "no such thing."
What the cops told bottgers is essentially true. If the trucker went to the cops complaining about bottgers, they would have told him essentially the same thing.
Again, it would have been bottgers fault had bottgers rear ended the truck even on the full on panic stop. Vice-versa, it would have been the trucker's fault had he rear ended bottgers. . However for ME, the key consequences in both situations would not have bode well for the occupants of the CAR. This is irregardless of who was at fault, who flung dung, right, wrong, or grey areas he said she said etc.!!
It seems that BOTH sides had more than enough rage!!???
What was abundantly clear: NEITHER liked the lesson, when the shoe was on the other foot.
So it seems to me that the after action kibitzing from a "lesson " point of view is what can be done differently to avoid such kinds of confrontations, if indeed the avoidance of confrontations is the goal.
Al Fox's option of operating the 4 way flashers is a pretty good one.