Texting while driving

[roadhunter]

I just got a car with adaptive CC. it's pretty nice. You can set the number of car lengths you want to keep between you and car in front. It will come to a complete stop if needed. It will then accelerate back to speed when car it front is out of way or back to speed. The steering wheel will also vibrate when activated if you move out of Kane without signaling. Takes a little getting used too, but works great and I can use all the help I ca get sometimes.

That should be illegal IMO. I can't stand followers. There is absolutely no reason that in the middle of nowhere there should be a car 2 seconds behind you going 65 for an extended period of time. People from Colorado are the worst about doing that here.

But I do see how this would work in heavy traffic areas for people who struggle with driving a vehicle safely.

 

[turnkey4099]

That should be illegal IMO. I can't stand followers. There is absolutely no reason that in the middle of nowhere there should be a car 2 seconds behind you going 65 for an extended period of time. People from Colorado are the worst about doing that here.

But I do see how this would work in heavy traffic areas for people who struggle with driving a vehicle safely.

Out on hte open road I "follow" a car that is doing whatevr I am comfortable with, mostly 65 in 60mph zones. However, I will be back a hundred yards or more.

I often wish I had a flip up sign for the tailgaters "BACK OFF OR I WILL SLOW DOWN". I do not understand the mentality of the 'herd instinct' Slow driver, i.e., one doing less than the customery flow speed followed by up to 10 cars all crammed into a tight tail with #8 being back about where #2 should be distance wise at 60mph.

 

[ovrszd]

I'm halfway between KC and Des Moines on I-35. I see clusters of 6-10 cars all the time. That can't be coincidental. At least 75% of the pack had to deliberately choose to be there. What is going thru their thoughts to do that?

 

[smstonypoint]

I'm halfway between KC and Des Moines on I-35. I see clusters of 6-10 cars all the time. That can't be coincidental. At least 75% of the pack had to deliberately choose to be there. What is going thru their thoughts to do that?

Thinking that they are less likely to be pulled over for speeding if they are in a group?

Steve

 

[ovrszd]

Thinking that they are less likely to be pulled over for speeding if they are in a group?

Steve

Most times they aren't speeding.

The speeding groups are usually 2 or 3 vehicles 50 feet apart. Were I a cop I'd get em all.

 

[the old grind]

Texting means never having to be bored when you're just driving somewhere.

Meanwhile, modern freeway mentality is alive and well. 'Course made good' is a matter of passing more vehicles than pass you, IOW everyone you pass ... you beat getting there. Never mind that no one is going where you do, or didn't leave 'late', but keep score just in case.

Proper speed seems inversely proportional to driver's age or size of commuting student's 4-cyl w/car-seat, but directly proportional to size of pickup truck. When in doubt about the latter, we can go by diameter of exhaust pipe, 'lift' increment, or % of tire(s) outside the wheel wells. :thumbsup:

Old-school advice was to allow 1 car-length for each 10mph you're traveling, but anymore that can vary widely by whether one is typing or reading at a given moment. (you have to tell someone you're on your way or they'll just keep asking ...)

Obviouslyt, ~10% of drivers recognize that the other 90% of us are only on the road to get in their way, and the Smart Phone is the 'new cigarette' when behind the wheel. :confused2: (after 50+ yrs of riding motorbikes I haven't fully grasped those concepts yet)

Speed on, Brother, H_ll ain't half full! (I'll text for you that you're on your way)

btw, IMO 'texting is for girls'...

 

[turnkey4099]

Thinking that they are less likely to be pulled over for speeding if they are in a group?

Steve

Or somehow thinking they will get there faster if they tailgate?

 

[turnkey4099]

Texting means never having to be bored when you're just driving somewhere.

Meanwhile, modern freeway mentality is alive and well. 'Course made good' is a matter of passing more vehicles than pass you, IOW everyone you pass ... you beat getting there. Never mind that no one is going where you do, or didn't leave 'late', but keep score just in case.

Back in the 50s, 60, 70s, while in the AF I made many trips coast to coast and N to S. Mostly pre interstate. Get on the road after eating about 6, go to about 11pm with nothing but fuel up and grab hamburg. One day left Chicago and was pushing the speed limit by about 10%. Early in the day a car passed me going about mach 10. During that day until about 6 that same car passed me 4 times. They were 'making good' but losing it by stopping.

 

[Redneck in training]

In many countries, when passing, you can go over speed limit. In fact in many countries passing is possible only if you go over speed limit. In the US you can't do it without risking a fine. So if you catch up a car or cars going speed limit or only slightly over you get stuck behind them.

 

[Bird]

In many countries, when passing, you can go over speed limit. In fact in many countries passing is possible only if you go over speed limit. In the US you can't do it without risking a fine. So if you catch up a car or cars going speed limit or only slightly over you get stuck behind them.

Reminds me of when I took Drivers Ed in school when I was 16 years old. Of course we had no Interstates, or even roads with more than 2 lanes around Marlow, OK, in those days. And the instructor told us that when we wanted to pass another car, to check rear view mirror, and look to our left (no outside side view mirrors in those days), watch for any vehicles coming to meet us, then if it was clear, move over to the left lane, FLOORBOARD the gas pedal, sound the horn to alert the driver we're passing, and keep the pedal to the floor until you could see the car you were passing in your rear view mirror.