I drive to squeeze as many mpg as I can out of my '95 Camry: I accellerate gradually, I coast down hills, if I see a red light ahead, I coast up to it. By doing this I average around 35 mpg (not exceptional, but good). However, I seem to invoke road rage in a lot of people who are in a hurry - has anyone else experienced this - how do we diffuse this aggression?
Moderation and Context--I like it!! I had a driver's ed teacher years ago that stressed driving defensively and he would often say that you needed to be aware of what was going on around you at all times, because you could say as righteously as possible "but I had the right of way," but what good would would it do you if you saying it from a hospital bed in a body cast?? Great for the personal injury lawyers, but not so great for you, if it seriuosly/permanently affects your quality of life! About keeping up with the traffic flow, there is the 2-edged sword of doing so, because on the one hand, you are going with the flow and not impeding traffic, but on the other hand, if it involves speeding, how do you know that you won't be the one, coming around a corner, that gets nailed by a trooper? My state does not allow radar detectors, and there are some places known to be radar traps, with troopers just waiting to make your day with an expensive ticket. I actually got saved once by an "inconsiderate slow poke"--he was driving right at the limit, I was right behind, looking for a chance to pass, when he waved at me and pointed up ahead. A minute later, around the bend, there was a trooper who had one car pulled over already, and his partner flagged down the car just ahead of us. This motorist saved me, in the long run, time(from not waiting after being stopped), money, and an increase in my insurance!! Now if I know there's a speed trap in the area, I'll do like the truckers do and flash my lights, slow down, or do something to pass the favor along. If people want to speed, as others have said, that's their business, but with public safety and the price of gas these days (the more we can save, the more there is to go around--supply and demand and all that), I'll think twice about cursing slowpokes, unless they really are going too slow and not in the right lane, then I'll pray for them instead! Better for the blood pressure, too! Happy motoring, y'all!!
It really depends on where you live. If you live in New York City or Miami where people are rude, you can expect this kind of thing. If you live where the people are polite and friendly, not so much. Just make sure you keep to the right and when someone flashes the bird, smile and wave to them like they are long lost friends.
I agree. In the US it seems everyone feels they have rights to what they please and will do so if they think they are in the "right". Other parts of the world people simply move to the side to let you pass or if an oncoming car performs essentially illegal pass with oncoming cars, the other cars move over to let the passing car through.
Really?? I've lived in Mexico, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, Brunei, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Italy, Belgium and Indonesia and I've rarely experienced people simply moving to the side to let someone pass. Where have you seen this?
Driving too slow w/r/t traffic flow is dangerous. Sometimes you hit the lottery out of a group of ten getting a speeeding ticket .In Europe there are laws against passing on the right and not letting a "flasher" pass. Be aware of those among you and let them pass you on the left. Many posted speed limits are originally based upon what "normal" traffic flow is.Go with the flow.
That is dumb, then you will never get anywhere. Mentality and driving psychosis shows that people are followers with a grudge. They love to follow then bitch that they can't push you faster.
Like it says on the signs: "slow traffic keep right". You are not the "Keeper of the speed". Don't impose your will on the poor suckers stuck behind you. Get out of the way of traffic, and then save all the fuel you like. If there's a lot of traffic behind you and a lot of open space in front of you, you're a rolling road block, and you're bound to infuriate everyone behind you. Being energy conscious doesn't give you the right to do that.
Personally I HATE those people who like to get in front of the line and then SLOW down so "They can be in control." It's like they lives have no meaning that they need to give it some meaning by trying to CONTROL other people. There's a road near me that has a speed limit of 45...and it's all NO-PASSING for about 5 miles. You get these DWEEBS on the road...and the minute someone pulls in behind them they slow down to 35....then when the passing lane comes along.....they speed up to 60 so you can't pass...then it's back to no passing and they slow down again to 35. I can't tell you how many times I wished I had a shotgun in my truck.
Some people slow down to 35 MPH because they are being tailgated. If you have some bully on your rear bumper, slowing down to 35 makes the whole situation safer. Sometimes you can be going 15 MPH over the speed limit and still be a rolling road block. It is kind of like a heard of bison walking off a cliff. If one bison leads the way, all of them will follow to their death. Think for yourself and operate your car as you see fit, and don't do something stupid, like speeding, just because there is a line behind you.
2ndtiming, it sounds like you are a leader, not a follower. Keep doing what you are doing. If anyone else doesn't like it, suggest to them that they drive their car and you drive yours. Unless they bought your car or pay you a salary to drive, nobody has any business telling you how to drive your car.
No, but there are rules of the road that EVERYONE has to follow. Not just the so-called "followers". Everyone else so far has made good suggestions that are reasonable and moderate...labeling "this is how i drive so go pound salt" behaviour as leadership is rediculous.
If you're being tailgated, don't slow down even further and exacerbate the situation. Pull over, let the car pass, and move on with life.
I've been driving your way for years. Most people are cosiderate enough to pass me with decent distance betwen us. But there are a number of folks who just can't stand that others have different priorities. They ride my bumper until the traffic to the left provides ehough room to squeeze in. Then they cut in front of me with less than a car length between us. I don't know how thay can tell tht there is space. And it doesn't amtter how fast you go. Someone is always faster and aggresive enough to get bent at you. Just do what you think is right and don't let the fools get to you.
When you putz along well below the prevailing speed it suddenly becomes everyone's problem. If it's just you on the road in light traffic then it's not an issue. When I'm accelerating away from a red light I do so in a sporting manner as respect to those behind me since I realize that most people don't appreciate being held up by some sloth.
In my experience, those who think they are being held up by someone driving safely and legally should have left five minutes earlier. The so-called sloth isn't the problem. The impatient driver's inability to manage his or her time is the real problem. Some folks are always running late, and they look for someone else to blame for their own lack of time management. I guess that is what happens when a society raises its children to think the world revolves around them.
When you have a line of cars behind you, twenty deep or so in a no-passing zone it's not society's fault. It's the sloth that can't be bothered with the fact that other people have places they need to be and perhaps if they kept up with prevailing speed they wouldn't be getting honked at and gawked at. We had to take the keys away from my grandmother because she couldn't/wouldn't keep up with traffic when driving.
05/30/2008 10:17:26 AM
