warning, RANT inside...

[Bravnik]

Again, if you know how to drive in the rain, then you know that slower is better. Traction can be worse in a light drizzle than in a heavy downpour because of all the oil, rubber, dust and debris that remains on the road, where in a heavy rain it's washed away. How experienced a driver are you?

I don't care how good you think your car control is, that's not even the major issue. You only have control over what YOU do on the road, all the other drivers out there are completely out of your control. If they do something suddenly that you can't react to in time, you're screwed either way. Defensive driving isn't about how well you think you handle your car. And speaking of that, your car handling skills probably aren't as good as you think. Almost nobody's are. Take a few driving courses tailored towards emergency handling and bad weather, and you'll learn this real quick. Try a racing or rally course, too. You'll be surprised how "well" you handle your vehicle.

If it's wet and other people are driving slower because of it, there is a reason for it. A better approach is to deal with it until there is a good (safe) opportunity to pass, and then pass.You don't know why he sped up, and you're assuming, for one.If all it took to be a safe driver was checking your mirrors and using your blinker, almost everyone would be safe driver by default. That's not the case.

I'm not saying you're a bad driver or that the guy in the story wasn't an idiot, but the way you've described the situation, you're coming across as being just as guilty of bad driving as the other guy.

Well I would expect this type of post from a Bio-Polar person (Happy and Angry - Its just a joke so don't go postal).

Lets see. I grew up in Texas so I pretty much know everything there is about driving in Rain, Mud and Sand. If you don't think someone from Houston doesn't know how to drive in Rain, then I highly suggest you come down in June / July and take a little trip down 59 or 610 around 3pm when the Thunderstorms pop. Lets see how you handle driving 65+ when you can't see 50yards in front of you. Dangerous? You bet your Canuck ass it is, but it what driving in Houston is like.

Hmm...what else...Oh you're from Canada. So lets talk about Snow. I lived in Kodiak Alaska for 3 years and in Topeka, KS for about 3 as well. I think I even have the old Snow and Ice driving down pat as well. God help the bay area if it every snows these people would not even leave their house (shocked).

Anyway, thanks for slamming a fellow forum member over some tool on the road. Its really good to know we support each other.

 

[Bravnik]

Two questions. Would he have slowed down to prevent you from merging behind him? If he was driving that erratically, why would you want him behind you?

Hmm. I have no idea and really didn't want to find out. If he was willing to cut me off, then there was no telling how far he would have taken it. I usually would want to be in front of someone like that then behind them. Worst case I know I didn't have to worry about him break-cheaking me or something during his rage.

On the road the safest place to be is in front, not behind.

 

[ZoomVT]

i agree with the last statement. When i see an erratic or dangerous driver. i rather be in front than behind. I agree with bravnik in the sense that we shouldnt pass judgement. I hear what happangry is saying; i understand it. Yes there are things out of your control; and just how you were taking all precautions to stay out of danger; Bravnik had to make the same decision. He prepared early enough for a merge knowing that a truck was ahead. He sped to pass safely. the tool to the left sped up to stop him. the tool to the left put them both in danger in this case. It may not be safe to drive 80 mph in the rain; but its worse to aggresively try to shut him down.

 

[happy and angry]

I just don't think you made the right call in that situation. I think he did something stupid, you got annoyed by it, and responded the way most people would. But really, speeding up to make the lane change just escalates a situation. He was being a dink, I get that, and people do that around where I live, too. I could put them in their place if I really felt like it, but why bother?

And with someone driving dumb, I'd rather be behind them and in another lane. You can control space better with someone in front of you.

If you have as much experience driving in inclement weather as you say, you should have learned by now that faster is not better under those conditions. I've driven through everything, too. Space and time to react are what will save you if something happens. Going faster gives you less of both.

And don't think that because I disagree with you I don't "have your back." I just want to see more people make safe, smart choices on the road. The only thing you gained by stomping it was an angry man behind the wheel of a 3,000 pound car going 70+ mph riding your ass and driving erratically. I'm not seeing how that's a good outcome for your situation.

 

[SuperStretch18]

The moral of the story is that everyone does things that make them look like "bad drivers". You only have a split second to make that decision though, so don't use that as an excuse to be an a$$. Be aware, be curteous and don't throw coffee at other people's cars...

 

[Hirudin]

In the city, the right lane is the only lane people can use to enter the freeway. It is the WORST place to speed! In my opinion it's the worst lane to cruise. IIRC, it's the most dangerous lane statistically.

I firmly believe passing in the right lane should be reserved for certain, rare circumstances. So, understandably: I hate being passed on the right. If I'm in the center lane of a 3 lane highway and both the right and left lanes are open and someone decides to whip by me in the RIGHT lane I'll consider speeding up. I wont do it every time, but yes on occasion I will take it upon myself to help the right-passer learn the unwritten rule: The right lane is NOT for passing. I wont deny that it's an assholeish thing to do.

 

[CX-7owner]

In the city, the right lane is the only lane people can use to enter the freeway. It is the WORST place to speed! In my opinion it's the worst lane to cruise. IIRC, it's the most dangerous lane statistically.

I firmly believe passing in the right lane should be reserved for certain, rare circumstances. So, understandably: I hate being passed on the right. If I'm in the center lane of a 3 lane highway and both the right and left lanes are open and someone decides to whip by me in the RIGHT lane I'll consider speeding up. I wont do it every time, but yes on occasion I will take it upon myself to help the right-passer learn the unwritten rule: The right lane is NOT for passing. I wont deny that it's an assholeish thing to do.

I use the right lane to pass when there are no other options to pass someone going entirely too slow, you don't have many options when you have two slow assholes blocking you from passing in the left lane.

 

[ZoomVT]

haha. In VT all highways only have 2 lanes. so you can only pass through the left....

 

[chacon101]

Yeah, so if there is a three lane highway and there is this rediculous road block for a while....traffic is blocking up and you see an opening on the right..you better believe I am going to use all the ponies under my hood to blow by these nincompoops.

 

[Bravnik]

In the city, the right lane is the only lane people can use to enter the freeway. It is the WORST place to speed! In my opinion it's the worst lane to cruise. IIRC, it's the most dangerous lane statistically.

I firmly believe passing in the right lane should be reserved for certain, rare circumstances. So, understandably: I hate being passed on the right. If I'm in the center lane of a 3 lane highway and both the right and left lanes are open and someone decides to whip by me in the RIGHT lane I'll consider speeding up. I wont do it every time, but yes on occasion I will take it upon myself to help the right-passer learn the unwritten rule: The right lane is NOT for passing. I wont deny that it's an assholeish thing to do.

This is all fine and dandy and I typically don't like to pass on the right side. However, when all lanes are taken by people going UNDER the speed limit and REFUSE to move over for those people who wish to go the speedlimit, I will use the right lane.

In the bay area (as mentioned before) people seem to think that the left lanes are the crusing lanes. They immediatly get onto the freeway and head left. Then they go slower than the traffic in the lanes to their right and will not move over for anyone. They are in fact in the wrong here as the left lane should be a passing lane only. Meaning, unless you are passing someone you should not be in it. After passing you move over out of the lane and don't cruse in it. People in the bay area (in general) don't seem to grasp this fact much like Diesel trucks get into the carpool lane going 50MPH and screwing up the entire lane for everyone.

So, this leaves you with the only option of using the right lanes. The bay area is a very strange place to drive. The left lane is ALWAYS the first lane to backup and come to a stop. The right lane is always the last. I have yet to figure that out and I have lived here almost 10 years.

 

[javanc]

Depends on which freeways you drive, though the 101, 85 and 280 dont back up in the leftmost lane cuz they are carpool. Though i hate when some person decides to go the same speed in the carpool lane as the slowly moving traffic on the right when theres no cars in front of them for a mile, and thats on streches that dont have onramps every 1/4 mile.

 

[altspace]

Why did you yell back at him? I would have put him in his place by telling him how much I was admiring the car instead of retaliating with more negativity. That's how road rage escalates.

 

[Bravnik]

Depends on which freeways you drive, though the 101, 85 and 280 dont back up in the leftmost lane cuz they are carpool. Though i hate when some person decides to go the same speed in the carpool lane as the slowly moving traffic on the right when theres no cars in front of them for a mile, and thats on streches that dont have onramps every 1/4 mile.

Yah I live in Fremont and work in South San Francisco. I drive 880 to 92 to 101 North. The incident in question happened on the San Mateo Bridge after the toll plaza and before the hump.

Another thing that pisses me off with the traffic is when the Trucks use the Fast Trak lane and go 40mph and come to almost a complete stop when going through the booth. Kinda defeats the purpose of Fast Trak.

 

[boostdog]

You should have just said...i speaka no engwish....soooorwwy

 

[jbiird317]

Why did you yell back at him? I would have put him in his place by telling him how much I was admiring the car instead of retaliating with more negativity. That's how road rage escalates.

heat of the moment man, like they say, hindsight is 20-20

 

[3+5]

jbiird, I'm amazed at your restraint. You did the right thing, of course. You got his plate, turn the butthole in. His behavior is typical of a bully. Even if not ticketed, the cops will have a chat with him on his doorstep in full view of the neighbors, and best of all, he'll know they know where he lives. Maybe he'll think twice before he acts like a complete idiot to someone else.

I hate to pass on the right, I firmly believe the left lane should be for passing. Everyone knows this, I don't care where you're driving. It's universally called "The Fast Lane". When I have to pass on the right, it's only after I politely ask the sleeping person in the left lane to move his obstruction from my path. Politely asking is as follows: Match speed with the obstruction at around 30 ft behind it. Slowly move closer to the obstruction's rear bumper, positioning your drivers side headlight slightly left, in order to fully illuminate his drivers side mirror. No need for high beams, remember you're asking politely. If the obstruction is not removed from your path by around 15 feet closure, deliver one flash of high beams and wait.

Generally, asking politely produces the desired effect, and the obstruction moves to the right lane, allowing you to pass. If after 10 seconds the obstruction is still there, move right and accelerate in a deliberate fashion, utilizing leftmost section of the right lane. Remember, passing on the right is inherently unsafe, and can make the person being passed a bit nervous as you come through his/her blind spot, so be extremely careful not to damage your drivers mirror by making contact with his/hers. Return to the left lane as soon as you've cleared the obstruction. The exact distance by which you clear the obstruction to the front is a matter of personal judgment and depth perception, but be sure to leave sufficient room in rainy weather to allow for full rooster tailing effect. Proceed on at the desired rate, and refrain from giving the "thumb left" signal, as it's overkill at this point, not to mention it's a rude thing to do. See rear view mirror for obstruction operator's prudent decision to move his/her unconscious ass over before it happens to him/her again. Seems to work every time.

 

[Sierra117]

I hate passing on the right as well, but if I have no other option...

All my friends think I weave traffic to much, because as soon as I pass someone, as quickly and safely as I can, I get right back into the right lane. While the right lane may not be for passing, the left is not for cruising. I just wish it was as hard here to get a liscense as it is/was in Europe. We have to change our mentality first. We think its our RIGHT to drive. It doesn't say s*** in our Constitution that you have a right to drive. Driving is a Privlege. Until we change that mentality, its always gonna be a trip into hell when driving.

 

[chacon101]

As much as I agree that it would be cool if getting a drivers license was more difficult (more classes/testing), I also don't want it to cost as much as it does in Europe. It costs waaaaay too much.

 

[Sierra117]

Yeah, that part is a killer.

 

[B1GHAM]

Yeah, that part is a killer.

hey, if it means there are safer and more responsible drivers on the road, Ill pay the premium.

Think about it. Youd pay MORE for your license, BUT your insurance would be cheaper. Why? The amount of accidents would be less, there would be less road related deaths, and road rage would be less of an existance. Also, speeding and other traffic related incidents would go down.

Yeah, upfront cost may be more, but I dont really see a downside otherwise. Cheaper longterm cost and increased chances of survival sound way better to me.