Anyone like traffic circles-roundabouts?

[plowhog]

Because the same people that drive the same set of traffic lights every day expect the same behavior.

The Defensive Driving course by the National Safety Council advises varying your "regular" route occasionally. (Such as commute to/from work.) This is to disrupt such a mindset setting in. (At least that was recommended back when I was a DDC instructor.)

 

[MossRoad]

...

With over 1,000,000 miles under my bumper I have seen some stupid stuff on the roads. And one of the most dangerous that I see everyday is the one that thinks he has the right to go as fast as they want.

With similar mileage under my bumper, one of the most dangerous things I see is people that purposely try to play traffic cop and hold up the flow of traffic by not moving over to let faster traffic pass. It causes more problems, anger and accidents than it resolves by sitting there in the left lane going exactly the speed limit. If you study traffic, you know that if there's a line of cars and the first on is going 60, no one behind than can go 60. Each car in the line will be going progressively slower. You get 5-10 cars back and they're going 55 in a 60 zone and getting ticked off.

By sitting in the left lane going exactly the speed limit, this is what you are causing behind you... watch the video.

That's why more and more states are requiring people to move over and let faster traffic pass.

 

[Jstpssng]

You'd get a ticket in Indiana for that. On multi-lane roads, you are required to move over as soon as safely possible to let faster traffic pass, regardless of the speed limit.

New Hampshire driver's manual says you should move over for tailgaters, too. Page 16.

https://www.nh.gov/safety/divisions/dmv/forms/documents/nhdm.pdf

That's a safety suggestion, worth noting. However, the infraction is for the tailgater. I have done as they suggest, if I feel the guy behind me may be a problem. More often I just leave more space between me and the car in front of me, to allow for longer stopping distance.
If you pulled over for every tailgater in some places I’ve been you may as well park and walk.

 

[MossRoad]

Recent trip indicated was consistently 3 mph slower than radar speed at 65 mph in Toyota.

I don't like looking in the rear view especially on an 800 mile leg so set the cruise at 68 and never pass anyone... well almost no one.

When we head east from here, we usually set the cruise at about 7-8 over and rarely pass or get passed.

Going south towards Indy, it's 9-10 over.

Going west towards Chicago, you're screwed. Can't use the cruise too often as too much traffic.

Going west towards OK from Indy, it's back to 9-10 over.

 

[MossRoad]

While I agree with the points made in this article I always find this type of comment amusing


The other option for those other drivers is to reduce speed... two wrongs don't make a right. It's not uncommon for me to park in the right lane watching a group of bunched up motorists in the left lane waiting for that one cruise control motorist who is driving 1 mile over the speed of the slower traffic.

In many states it's also illegal to speed up when somebody is trying to pass you yet that's almost impossible to enforce. I admit that I am occasionally guilty of this on the interstate... when somebody has been in the passing lane by my LR bumper for several miles they always seem inclined to speed up just as we overtake a slower vehicle... just long enough to block me in. I've learned to punch the gas, pass, then pull back in to the right lane 1/2 mile down the road.

Why don't you just tap your brake, let them pass, then resume on your merry way?

 

[MossRoad]

The Defensive Driving course by the National Safety Council advises varying your "regular" route occasionally. (Such as commute to/from work.) This is to disrupt such a mindset setting in. (At least that was recommended back when I was a DDC instructor.)

That's probably a very good idea. And I actually do that, but only because I don't like to do the same route over and over. It's that last light right before my employer that I occasionally curse!

 

[MossRoad]

That's a safety suggestion, worth noting. However, the infraction is for the tailgater. I have done as they suggest, if I feel the guy behind me may be a problem. More often I just leave more space between me and the car in front of me, to allow for longer stopping distance.
If you pulled over for every tailgater in some places I’ve been you may as well park and walk.

Yes, tailgating is an infraction. So is not moving over for faster traffic even if they are exceeding the speed limit here in Indiana. The State Police tell you move over and let the faster car pass. If they're tailgating you, driving at excessive speed, weaving in and out of traffic, etc., move over and let them pass, get a description of the vehicle, and call it in. Just let them go and don't try and enforce traffic laws yourself. It's not your job or civic duty. It's downright dangerous and can cause more problems than it resolves.

 

[Thomas]

Traffic roundabouts not handy towing trailer for there seems to be someone in hurry or not paying attention during rush hour than there icy conditions.

 

[Jstpssng]

Why don't you just tap your brake, let them pass, then resume on your merry way?

Most of the roads I drive would require me to find a safe place to pull over, preferably with no oncoming traffic.
We're talking apples and oranges though. If I'm on the interstate I do as you say. I also generally will speed up to pass a slower vehicle, if there's faster traffic coming up behind me.

 

[turnkey4099]

That's a safety suggestion, worth noting. However, the infraction is for the tailgater. I have done as they suggest, if I feel the guy behind me may be a problem. More often I just leave more space between me and the car in front of me, to allow for longer stopping distance.
If you pulled over for every tailgater in some places I’ve been you may as well park and walk.

Yep. Traffic in the open roads is usually 5mph over the posted and cars doing 65-80 with spacing not even enough for 40mph. String of acrs 10 long in a space tehre should be no more than 2. That is the cause of all those multiple rear-enders when the visibility suddenly drops. #1 hits brakes and 10 cars pile into him.

So if there are a bunch of people breaking the law then it is ok for you to do it also? I hope to God you never have to drag a body out of a tangled piece of metal that was once a car. Yes I have. It is all good until something goes wrong.

Try being one of the workers on a highway and the "I am better then the law" a$$holes speeds through the construction zone. It is frightening and dangerous.

Speed limits are set for a reason. And if by obeying the law I inconvenience you, tuff.

Should I only obey the laws that I think are right? When the speed limit is 20 mph in the school zone and some idiot runs it at 40 mph I should run 40 in the school zone too? And yes I have had to stop and hold a child that was on his way to school. He was run over by a speeding truck. And I watched people drive around him until I could block the road with my truck and trailer.

Did I tick off a bunch of people by blocking the road? Well, yes I did. And I do not regret making those people slow down and stop. The firetruck, the ambulance and the police blocked the intersection and took over the first aid.

With over 1,000,000 miles under my bumper I have seen some stupid stuff on the roads. And one of the most dangerous that I see everyday is the one that thinks he has the right to go as fast as they want.

By oeying the law in traffic when the 'flow' is above the limit you a causing a ripple in the traffic flow. Even the driving instructors and safety people say that the safest speed to drive on any highway is whatever the 'flow' is doing. Summary: your method os driving is againts all safety manuals. Bit os see from the posts after this one, you haven't learned anything.