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Parallel parking becomes an untested skill in Maryland (washingtonpost.com)
Here's a way to make lines even shorter - no testing at all. We're headed there, apparently.
Parallel parking isn't critical, but its a piece of the competency puzzle. Granted, I think being able to merge safely onto a freeway at appropriate speeds even if your driving a Toyota Echo is more important, but I'd like to see BOTH tested. I think we need to INCREASE the testing times, not decrease them. If they want to get rid of something; get rid of the written portion of the testing. That will work to allow LEO's to write more tickets as people might not have read the DMV handbook as thoroughly as they would have liked.
Of course, the CA DMV handbook has been known to have some misleading "teachings." It's always advocating for new drivers to go SLOOOOOW.... when it should be teaching about the conditions where slowing down is advisable; such as during extreme heavy traffic, heavy rain, snow, when your car has 4 passengers in it (extra weight), when your tires are $59 and made in China, when you haven't changed your brake fluid or performed any maintenance checks for that matter in over 4 years.
Live expectancy?---maybe two weeks.
I wonder how little traffic there'd be if there was western European style testing here - half the "drivers" wouldn't be able to get a license, no doubt. Or even if automobile tests were as stringent as motorcycle tests here (still much less than in Europe).
I am in an area where driving tests have been privatized, and are now administered by the driving schools. I fear this is an open door to corruption - buy a license, just like buying residency. I would be surprised if there are any real audit or oversight controls.
Parking ability is definitely something of value in densely populated areas - I bet those who can't parallel park also straddle the line in other parking situations. Merging seems to be a dying art, and might get one lesson in driver's training, nothing in a test.
Don't get me wrong. I think it's a neat thing to do, but just like cars that park themselves, brake for you, or whatever... YOU need to be AWARE of what's around you.
I know... losing battle... technology is slowly strangling the brains out of us
I bet she didn't pay that tax
Regarding LLC, for this weekend, mass state cops have announced they will be enforcing the keep-right law for LLCs at $105 per citation. Sounds like they might let MLCs slide, but I hope they get cited too.
NH state cops announced they will be going after aggressive drivers and 'distracted' drivers. (distracted = texting).
Just returned from another boston to orlando 3000 considerate miles... via the inland/truck route 84/81/77/95. We did not see much speed enforcement, but lots of stealthy enforcement against aggressive drivers.
Most of the observed extreme-aggressive crazy LLC speed-varying drivers were apprehended by state cops including one in SC. The other was in Virginia. It was refreshing to see. Rejoice.
On this trip again all the observed egregious/LLC/speed-varying drivers were young females. Before getting nabbed by state cop, one went 100 mph in an duct-taped chevy cavalier to prevent any passing on the right, with oil and small engine parts spewing out the tailpipe. This greatly amused my better half. Cavalier must have had a V6, but was not the Z24 model.
My car's mpg was excellent, 25 mpg with real gasoline. 23 mpg on E10. i used 89 octane when the price-spread for 91+ resembled 'gouging'. The car was flawless as usual (2005 GTO M6, 120k miles) . (mpg driving around orlando was around 21 mpg) .
I'm still trying to plan my next cross-country considerate drive. Looks like it won't be before 2016.
Better half is OK with Boston<->florida drive but not with cross-country.
Another observation from the east-coast drive is that there are certain areas where everybody tailgates. these areas seem to be near cities - where speed limits are enforced while rampant aggressive driving is allowed.
Aggressive driving is defined as the commission of 3 vehicular civil infractions within a ~mile or a ~minute. (That's the definition in at least one state.)
There are many cars where driving beyond 5 or 6 tenths of a car's capabilities is illegal on any public road due to 'exhibition of speed' laws, or 'failure to maintain control' laws, etc.
CTS-V for example. Camaro ZL1. Hellcat can't turn, but buy one and try straightline acceleration beyond 6 tenths in front of a cop and you will get cited any where any time any state in USA.
Similarly, any spinning of the tires or drifting/screeching tires is illegal on public roads, everywhere in USA, even if you are an expert driver claiming to have full control of the vehicle.
This "no income tax" in Washington is a sacred cow and we still get taxed to death on everything else.
When we sold a condo last month we were charged a 2% Excise Tax so we had to pay over 4500.00 just for that. Then we will have to pay something like 25,000 in Capital Gains next year.
Property taxes are through the roof too!
I was once witness to an accident and gave testimony to the cops on it. A car swerved to avoid an open door and went into the other lane, sideswiping a car coming the other way. The first car's defense was that "I had to swerve" but of course going into the opposing lane is the ultimate no-no. A tough spot for Driver #1--"should I hit the car's door or hit the car coming toward me?"
Actually the correct answer is "slam on the brakes and hope for the best".
I'd hate to rip off someone's door and possibly their arm but I sure wouldn't trade that for a head-on with a truck.
Enjoy that condo windfall, those tend to appreciate poorly - my old one which finally sold in 2006 is still worth about 20% less than then.
Today's fun - slowpokes. I don't know what mentality makes someone creep along til they hit somewhere around the limit, then tap the brakes. I got behind two of these today, one had several cars backed up when it finally turned.
And of course no signals, because no enforcement, why not.
I think the good news are those conditions will present themselves again, AND one will wish one had 5 to 10 to sell ! The banks have been mandated AGAIN to loan monies on less than 20% down to almost ZERO down.!!! I have read in passing risky car loans are way up also.
Glad I stayed home today....
However, the Audi S4 manual does state on the page where launch control is explained in a big SAFETY WARNING CAUTION BOX: "DO NOT annoy other drivers with your LOUD & RAPID Acceleration."
Rapid.... no doubt.... loud.... well; not nearly as loud as the old 4.2 V8.
so far, I've found that AWD reduces all aspects of performance, except traction while accelerating. so I prefer to avoid it even during new england record-setting winters, where FWD and snow tires do great.
AWD won't prevent a brief conversational detention or exhibition-of-speed citation, if you try a 4 second 0-60 in front of a cop. or 3 second 0 to 50 on a state highway, let's say. been there done that.
a citation for doing a quick 0 to 60 burst probably wouldn't get by a clerk or judge; it would be worth contesting with lawyer or whatever, but who has time/$ to deal with that?
German auto manuals are hilariously detailed if you ever take the time to read one, as you apparently did, A3.
Amusing about the idea that a road was built to carry max traffic and that occurs at about 55 in heavy areas.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
It'll hurt congestion in the middle and left lanes a lot though since no one in those lanes will find enough breaks in traffic to take their exits.
Tenured traffic "engineer" types and their well-funded consultant friends have lots of ideas, but they usually can't even get stoplights to flow properly.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
RLC just doesn't have the same ring to it though.
* Steer clear of someone who doesn't know how to merge onto a freeway.
* Give vehicle(s)/people on the shoulder a wide berth.
* Avoid something lying on the roadway that you'd rather not hit.
* Get into a lane that's safer to drive on. This takes different forms. In winter, some lanes can be relatively clear while others are icy. On some older highways, the right lane is in such bad shape that it's punishing to drive on it for any length of time, so if traffic is light I sometimes switch to the left lane if it's smoother--and keep watch for cars approaching from the rear so I can move over.
All three lanes are meant to be used. It's ridiculous to think the extreme that is pushed that the left lane should be empty of vehicles except for a few who choose to speed and don't think they should make lane changes in and out of the more right lanes.
The MLC concept is simply extending the LLD philosophy more in that on 3 or more lane roads the left 2 should be barren except for the speeders? As Judge Judy says, "R'diculous."
Before flaming, remember I'm in the midwest where the lanes are not full most times I'm driving. However, my opinion is that if 3 lanes are moderately heavily populated, as in leaving Columbus at 3:30-4:30 pm, all lanes should be used. The lane changes cause that self-amplifying wave to pass backward through the traffic often causing stops behind the one lane changer.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Just at the end of the video at the beginning of the news story you can see the Ford cut to middle lane.
Then he allegedly pulled in front of the gray Blazer in the #3 lane and stopped. This caused the Blazer driver to lose control, flip (twice?), and both occupants in front to be ejected (no seat belts?). One died.
The part of the scene caught on the ODOT camera shows the truck coming up fast from behind. It does not show any possible earlier interaction between the Blazer and that driver.
I am sure this is not the kind of passing any way possible anyone here would use.
I suspect the car in the middle lane has given their report to the police but their existence has not been mentioned in any news story.
http://www.abc22now.com/news/top-stories/stories/Police-Investigate-Apparent-Road-Rage-Crash-In-Moraine-136146.shtml
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
But it is getting to a point of ,...so what? So what was your point ? When folks insist on complicating the obvious, now they are surprised things are now more ....complicated? Three lanes one way and working HARD to create and execute an accident now felony situation !!! ???