Inconsiderate drivers and tractor operators, bad mix...

[Jstpssng]

Don’t think anyone is really saying anything about gridlock situations, more discussing a flowing open road. By the way I am purity old myself but that still doesn’t mean I can go tie up the roadway going slower than the posted limits and cutting people off. I actually would hand over my license if I get to the point I can’t drive safely amongst the traffic on the roads I travel.
Going 65 on a highway where everycar out there is going faster to me would actually make me the dangerous one as I would be causing a disruption on the road. Might not be right but I see it that way and find driving with the flow of traffic makes it a lot more relaxing and uneventful. When I do try and slow down to the speed limit I am constantly crowded by other traffic and almost without fail some person who hasn’t a clue starts jamming on the brake excessively causing some more confusion to the mix.
My father told me years ago when they first put the interstate in that he felt drivers should have to pass a special test and have thier cars display a special tag showing they are capeable of operation on a freeway. The longer I live and drive the more I tend to agree with him and think those who can’t handle free flowing traffic, speed matching and are unable to reasonably estimate speed of approaching or traffic they are approaching should not be allowed on the interstates.

Not trying to insult anyone but it is honestly how I feel. I have told many friends and family members straight out that they have no business ever getting on an on ramp, be it out here in the boonies or worse yet in and around the cities.

PS
One thing tha makes a driver not make a hole for a car to merge is when they are going way slower than the traffic. Coming in at the same speed makes it easy to create the hole for you. Having to brake hard to create that opening actually causes more havoc for everyone else.

The problem arises with people who speed up to keep you from merging. When you're going down the onramp at 65 and suddenly lose that slot you plan to pull into things get dicey fast... especially when the car behind you is already on your bumper. And some people will intentionally block you...
I mentioned Massachusetts drivers in another post. Years ago I was on a 55 mph road with little chance of passing, and several cars in front of me all travelling at about 45. We came to a truck lane, the only one for 50 miles, and everyone kept travelling in the passing lane so I passed them in the driving lane. The first car in line, with Mass plates, so me coming so he pulled over and straddled the two lanes; he was doing 45, I was doing around 60. WTF?
On another occasion, headed down the interstate with both lanes full and someone on my bumper when a car came down the onramp and pulled in well under the speed limit; causing me to slam on my brakes and take evasive action to keep from getting rear ended. I couldn't believe it when they rolled down their window and flipped me off, while everybody behind them slowed to a crawl. Again, Mass plates on the car.

 

[paulfun9]

The speed limit is suppose to be the max not the min.

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but if your the only one doing 55 your going against things and always going to have issue.

I honestly don’t care if I am doing 65 or 80 as long as we aren’t bumper to bumper and cars aren’t whipping in and out of lanes trying to get around that one car or truck going slow compared to the rest. That is more dangerous than if everyone was doing 95!

Right or wrong it seems the majority goes faster so you have 2 choices. Be the obstickle causing turbulence or stay off the highway!

I remember how sad it was when my grandfather handed me his license and admitted he wasn’t able to safely drive out there anymore. I was only about 21 at the time and had to pick up all the transportation needs for him and the family but in the grand scheme of things it was the best thing he could do. Our neighbor at the time was about the same age as him and ended up under a triaxel truck full of coal. So I don’t think about this from a standpoint of what is right or wrong but having my grandfather with us for a lot more years made me realize it’s a matter survival in a world gone mad!

Good luck going against the flow.

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^^
Our neighbor when I was growing up was in his seventies, and I don't believe that he ever drove over 15 mph. At the time it was a rural area, although just a few miles from the grocery store and that's as far as he drove. I remember him telling of a friend who told him "Well I gave up my independence today, I surrendered my driver's license." At the time I couldn't understand but now I do.

 

[paulfun9]

The problem arises with people who speed up to keep you from merging. When you're going down the onramp at 65 and suddenly lose that slot you plan to pull into things get dicey fast... especially when the car behind you is already on your bumper. And some people will intentionally block you...
I mentioned Massachusetts drivers in another post. Years ago I was on a 55 mph road with little chance of passing, and several cars in front of me all travelling at about 45. We came to a truck lane, the only one for 50 miles, and everyone kept travelling in the passing lane so I passed them in the driving lane. The first car in line, with Mass plates, so me coming so he pulled over and straddled the two lanes; he was doing 45, I was doing around 60. WTF?
On another occasion, headed down the interstate with both lanes full and someone on my bumper when a car came down the onramp and pulled in well under the speed limit; causing me to slam on my brakes and take evasive action to keep from getting rear ended. I couldn't believe it when they rolled down their window and flipped me off, while everybody behind them slowed to a crawl. Again, Mass plates on the car.

Yes there are some real A holes out there, then there are the people who misread things also.
Many times I speed up at a ramp to open up a hole behind me and see the driver think I was making it harder by thier reaction but in reality if they had just held thier course they would have been able to file in right behind me with no issue what so ever. Now if the driver behind doesn稚 see that We are working to let you in at speed and closes that gap he is the A hole we all want tarred, feathered and stuck to the roadsign as an example.

Sorry can稚 help with that because even though I think I might enjoy tarring and feathering some of the jerks I致e encountered I think they would frown on it a little more than traveling a little above the speed limit.

 

[Jstpssng]

Yes there are some real A holes out there, then there are the people who misread things also.
Many times I speed up at a ramp to open up a hole behind me and see the driver think I was making it harder by thier reaction but in reality if they had just held thier course they would have been able to file in right behind me with no issue what so ever. Now if the driver behind doesn稚 see that We are working to let you in at speed and closes that gap he is the A hole we all want tarred, feathered and stuck to the roadsign as an example.

Sorry can稚 help with that because even though I think I might enjoy tarring and feathering some of the jerks I致e encountered I think they would frown on it a little more than traveling a little above the speed limit.

At the end of the day it all comes down to another comment I inferred earlier; if everybody drove the way that I think they should...

 

[ultrarunner]

Several friends age 90 to 100 legally driving... they are carful and accident free.

They also live alone and just drive local.

Others simply decide too many crazy drivers and glad to no longer deal with it.

Except for the school district mower or street sweeper not much slow moving in the city... but plenty of young wild drivers and most drive without license which also means insurance and nothing happens.

 

[mred2]

How far does it take to stop from 55mph and how far from 80mph. With the rural roads being 2 lane, little or no shoulder, curves and narrow bridges there is a reason it was set at 55. I haven seen many one car accidents because of speed.

And on the interstate, the most big trucks drive very well. But I had one past me the other day and I was doing 75. He was doing 78 or so. When he was half pass, he came over on me. Good thing I had a shoulder. He went back to his lane and hit his shoulder. Almost lost it. He slowed down a little. I stayed behind him and over the next few miles, he went off the road on both sides at least 3 times. Good drivers and bad.

 

[paulfun9]

How far does it take to stop from 55mph and how far from 80mph. With the rural roads being 2 lane, little or no shoulder, curves and narrow bridges there is a reason it was set at 55. I haven seen many one car accidents because of speed.

And on the interstate, the most big trucks drive very well. But I had one past me the other day and I was doing 75. He was doing 78 or so. When he was half pass, he came over on me. Good thing I had a shoulder. He went back to his lane and hit his shoulder. Almost lost it. He slowed down a little. I stayed behind him and over the next few miles, he went off the road on both sides at least 3 times. Good drivers and bad.

Every time we have a one car accident they want to blame it on speed. Most I see are not speed related but the lack of a driver that pays attention!
Don’t do as the cop does and put it in the easy to blame catagory!

Your use of stopping distance could be helpful to raising speed limits as most of those limits were imposed using cars that simply put are inferior and antiquated compared to today’s modern vehicles. Let’s put it this way my truck with a 10k trailer attached will outstop most of the cars used back when those speed limits were introduced an it will actually hold the road better and take turns at a much higher rate with just an average driver. Now imagine if we actually started to really teach people how to drive and stopped handing out licenses like they are candy?

 

[Jstpssng]

Often it isn't the crash itself which is caused by speed. Rather, the impact at higher speeds makes a crash worse.

Think how much safer the roads would be if everybody drove 20mph.

 

[paulfun9]

Often it isn't the crash itself which is caused by speed. Rather, the impact at higher speeds makes a crash worse.

Think how much safer the roads would be if everybody drove 20mph.

I think they would just pay less attention and actually end up having more accidents. Ever watch the same goofball from out on the byway when they get into the Wally World parking lot:confused2: