Why I Tailgate

Date: Fri, 08 Nov 1996 19:36:46 -0500 Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving But, you make it sound like the right lane is the only place to be when driving. If I am 5 MPH faster than the guy on MY right, then I have every right to be left of him. Just because you are 5 MPH faster than me, doesn't mean that I have to deny myself the passing, just so you can go by. You 'rights' end where mine begin. I would consider passing at a speed differential of only 5 mph to be borderline dangerous. The passing process should be shortened to avoid spending time in blind spots, blocking any possible emergency maneuvers the other car might have to perform, and holding up traffic to the rear. People who refuse to accelerate, or override the damn cruise control for a few seconds, to pass really are not good drivers IMHO. If you are going 65, and need to pass a car going 60, speed up to 70-75 for the pass. If you can't make that pass without holding someone else up, you shouldn't pass. Any time you impede the progress of the car behind you in the left lane, you violate the "slower traffic keep right" axiom. Your rights end where mine begin? I'm sorry, but we share the right to use the highway. Some are apparently not willing to make the effort to share by altering their speed to accommodate other traffic, even for a few seconds. My rights end at your doorstep, not the left lane. Please be courteous, safe, and speed up to pass! Happy motoring! Date: Fri, 08 Nov 1996 17:05:39 -0600 Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving Chris Chubb wrote: But, you make it sound like the right lane is the only place to be when driving. If I am 5 MPH faster than the guy on MY right, then I have every right to be left of him. Just because you are 5 MPH faster than me, doesnt mean that I have to deny myself the passing, just so you can go by. You 'rights' end where mine begin. As much as possible the right lane (at least not the left) IS the place to be driving. If someone is going 5mph faster than you, and it is safe for you to get out of his way, then yes you are obligated to, whether you are passing or not. However if it is not safe (not enough distance in between cars, you are in mid-pass too close to the other car to get over, etc.) then he is obligated to back off and wait until he can get by safely, IE until you are finished passing. Now, often I am the slowest car on the road. One of my cars is almost 30 years old, and I dont consider speeds above 60 MPH safe. But, if I am passing a truck on the upgrade, then I am passing, I will be done in a moment, then you can get on your way. Would you attempt to tailgate a Model A on the highway, if it were passing a Model T? I also have a car that is fast enough for anybody. But, I do not 'intimidate' them when I want to pass. I come up behind them and wait. If I see a few sizable right lane openings, and I am not approacing a left exit, then I flash my highbeams. After two tries, I back off, and figure some other method. I will not risk my life or the life of others for 3.4 seconds of improved time. Excellent. I'm always glad when I see that there are others out there who also know the correct proceedure. That by the way is exactly what I do as well, flash lights, and again if it doesn't work, and if it still doesn't work pass on the right when it is safe to do so. Date: Fri, 22 Nov 1996 08:22:17 -1000 Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving Leon James, aka Dr. Driving, wrote this: I agree with the argument that tailgating puts you at a greater risk. However, the risk is still so small that we can tailgate for years (even decades) and never crash into the other car. This is why many drivers keep on tailgating. They just don't feel the risk to be very probable. However there is another issue about tailgating which is also important, because though it doesn't create crashes directly, it pollutes the mental atmosphere on the road, and indirectly causes most of the crashes (5 million of them last year). Thus it is important. This is the aggressiveness and hostility that motivates tailgaters to tailgate. It's easy to tailgate in response to frustration and helplessness -- even irresistible under many conditions. However, though easy, it isn't fair or nice or legal or safe. So that's my point. Every time tailgating is mentioned, the argument instantly comes up about safety and risk. I think the argument of sanity and fairness also deserves mention, perhaps even more so!! Are you prepared to declare to the world that tailgating is unfair and mean???????? I am. So carrying a loaded pistol would be bad also right? You're from Hawaii dude....I was there for a while (Honolulu).....King St. is about 8 lanes going both ways and the speed limit is what.....25mph (or 30mph). no wonder traffic is packed during rush hour. And if you're from the other islands....then you really don't have to go through what we all go through here....Wash DC. But what you say is correct though. Dr. Driving's reply: Thanks for recognizing the moral idea that tailgating is unfair. Every time I tailgate -- or follow too close -- (I stop myself as soon as I realize it!) I show frustration and helplessness. Tailgating is my bullying response to the helplessness I feel when I'm dislocated from the traffic flow. I then feel like it's me against everybody else. So I learned to quickly put a stop to it and compel myself to re-integrate with the traffic flow. I then feel that driving is something we all do together -- a coordinated act like marching or dancing or playing a game. It's fun and up-beat and healthy! See my musings on the road which I recorded while driving. You mention the differences between Honolulu and Washington, D.C. Last week I was guest on a call in radio show in Pittsburgh and I listened to people calling in their driving story or complaint. The problems drivers have everywhere are quite similar in the psychological sense -- feeling hostile and aggressive, ridiculing others, expressing anger, making mistakes, not paying attention, etc. Of course there may be differences, like the custom of honking all the time (Chicago, Tokyo, Rome, etc.) or how close you follow at high speeds (Southern CA will indeed be different from Hawaii). Yet even here we get this phenomenon in a miniature way (one traffic witness described himself as hitting 100 mph for a two minute stretch on H1).

Fast driving

Date: 5 Nov 1996 18:29:37 GMT Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving In article <326bf1dd.78ce@aloha.net>, Leon James wrote: In the meantime, try this trick which I advise to my students: Drive at speed limit wherever you are and frequently glance at the side of the road just ahead of you. You'll get the sensation of speed even at 45 or 50. My students report that it satisfies some of their craving for speed. Has anyone else tried this?? that doesn't work for me, but this did. 1)get a small, poorly handling underpowered car with a stick (my example: ford festiva, i had it for 2 years and it was a blast). 2)dart around the city late at night (this worked for my 100,000 pop city, i guess it depends on where you are if there are too many people around to have fun).. make everything a race. 3)you may be going 40-55, but it feels like 80+ because of the crappy car! it's a blast. squeal around turns, etc.. and you're still going under the 'safe limit'. 4)stay out of races with real cars, the feeling goes away quicky..(but you can light the tires for a laugh...) or, take the car to a local field or something and go offroading.. but that's a whole different story. ("son, how did grass get embedded between your tire and the wheel?")

Jekyl & Hyde Syndrome

Date: Sat, 9 Nov 1996 05:18:26 -1000 Hello Dr Driving: I remember a classic cartoon from The New Yorker of a meek, milquetoast kind of man walking out of his house to his car. With each step towards his vehicle, a transformation was occurring until he was behind the wheel, when the Mr Hyde character had totally emerged (you know, fangs, evil grin, etc). The sad part of it is that I know a person LIKE this. I guess psychologically there is the illusion of power when one is in control of a two ton sedan. Now if we're talking about the driver of a SPORTS UTILITY VEHICLE...WATCH OUT !!! Drivers of those things are even worse!! The sad part of all of this is it's very dangerous! Not just for the OTHER drivers or pedestrians, but for the driver who is on this "power trip." All it takes is some OTHER lunatic on the road, and you have the makings of a real tragedy (as the News media have been reporting lately).

Peeves

Date: Mon, 18 Nov 1996 11:11:30 -1000 Dr. Driving: Here is my contribution: Pet Peeve #1: People who drive in parking lots as if the rules of the road were suspended (e.g., speeding across lanes to get ahead, disregard of right of way, etc.) Pet Peeve #2: People at four-way stops who think that because they stopped when they were two cars back have fulfilled their stopping obligation when they reach the stop sign and barrel through. Thanks for the outlet.