Rules of the Road

[Gregg2]

Did they have a turn arrow by chance? I know we have a big problem here with people understanding when to yield in those situations.

Just in the last year, we are now seeing flashing yellow left turn arrows. It certainly has confused people. Basically, the solid green arrow still means "you're the only one who can go now". But when the cars coming from the opposite direction get a green light for all lanes, that left turn arrow changes to flashing yellow. It's supposed to mean "you can go, but yield to oncoming cars". Many people hesitate to go at all.

As for two cars turning, yes, the left turners are supposed to yield. In a two lane situation, most of the time people will take turns, because they don't trust the other driver to turn into the nearest lane. I force them to do that, or to hit me. So far, I haven't been hit.

Also love how people merging onto the freeway think that they can drive whatever speed they want, then the cars in the right lane should adjust their speed or move over so they can get in at the end of the merge lane. Way back in the last century, I was taught in Driver's Ed to maintain my speed on the freeway, and the merging driver should adjust his/her speed to match the flow of traffic. Good luck with that one! Sometimes you can't move over because of traffic. You're not required to do that either.

 

[mack is RF]

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[quagmire]

Also love how people merging onto the freeway think that they can drive whatever speed they want, then the cars in the right lane should adjust their speed or move over so they can get in at the end of the merge lane. Way back in the last century, I was taught in Driver's Ed to maintain my speed on the freeway, and the merging driver should adjust his/her speed to match the flow of traffic. Good luck with that one! Sometimes you can't move over because of traffic. You're not required to do that either.

Oh yeah I love the people who try to enter the highway going 30 MPH and act bewildered when you don't let them merge with them still going 30 MPH......

When everyone else is going at least 55 MPH( most doing 60-65 MPH), how in the hell do they think it is safe to merge going 30 MPH and no real attempt to accelerate to speed or because they want to maximize their fuel economy accelerate at a snails pace because that nickel worth of gas you saved is worth getting rear ended because you had a more than 20 MPH speed delta between you and the other driver you had to cut off to merge.

 

[Gutwrench]

@Gregg2 & @quagmire - I share your frustration with slow drivers on the on ramps. It’s an acceleration lane for crying out loud and why they aren’t adjusting their speed to the traffic flow on the freeway (70 mph!) is baffling.

Sometimes I wish freeway driving was like posting in a forum.

I’d judiciously choose to ram one car every six months sending it to the ditch in a flaming heap and gladly accept my mod warning.

 

[BarracksSi]

Whenever I see a merging driver pulling himself forward and staring into the side mirror, I know he’s not going to accelerate enough.

Somehow they try to merge “backwards” into a spot somewhere behind their left flank. I don’t understand it either.

Where I grew up, out in the Great Plains, you had to hammer down the interstate ramps or else the 18-wheeler behind you will roll you over. It was always a habit for me to come off the ramp at least at the speed limit, if not 20 mph faster.

It was in Pennsylvania where I first encountered somebody who decided to STOP DEAD COLD ON THE GODDAMNED ON-RAMP. Holy ****. We had both turned off the same street to get onto the ramp, and he was maybe a hundred yards ahead of me.

“No worries,” I thought, and I revved my little Honda as high it would go, shifting from 2nd to 3rd. I still had a quarter-mile before needing to merge, so I took a look over my shoulder to see what the traffic was like.

I turned my attention to the front again, and I swear to ****ing God, that ************ had stopped in his tracks, right there where the merge ramp started blending into the roadway.

I blasted past on the shoulder (moving at a maniacal 60 mph, I’ll bet), merged into almost-nonexistent traffic, and checked my mirrors. That damned fool was still sitting there, hopefully traumatized into never ever driving again.

A couple years later, I met a coworker’s friend who was a Pennsylvania native. I asked him, Do they teach Pennsylvania drivers to stop on freeway ramps? He said, “Well, sometimes you have to stop to get a good look...”

Okay. That’s actually stupid.

I had been going down to one of the local dragstrips — a real, NHRA-sanctioned strip, with timing lights and safety crews and everything — and had timeslips (like, paper receipts detailing your run) showing that it takes a car like mine at least an eighth of a mile to get to highway speeds.

An eighth of a mile from a dead stop, driving my Civic like a crazed hooligan, to reach a speed that would allow an easy merge with minimal disruption to existing traffic flow. If I really had to, I could squeeze into a slot maybe thirty feet long.

For that Nittany Lion Knucklehead to merge without forcing other drivers to jam their brakes and swerve, he’d need to wait for a gap that’s at least 700 feet — over three football fields in length. And that’s if he floored the gas in his stupid ass Chevy Cavalier.

Bottom line: Our driver education system, and the standards for getting a license, all SUCK.

 

[Huntn]

Whenever I see a merging driver pulling himself forward and staring into the side mirror, I know he’s not going to accelerate enough.

Somehow they try to merge “backwards” into a spot somewhere behind their left flank. I don’t understand it either.

Where I grew up, out in the Great Plains, you had to hammer down the interstate ramps or else the 18-wheeler behind you will roll you over. It was always a habit for me to come off the ramp at least at the speed limit, if not 20 mph faster.

It was in Pennsylvania where I first encountered somebody who decided to STOP DEAD COLD ON THE GODDAMNED ON-RAMP. Holy ****. We had both turned off the same street to get onto the ramp, and he was maybe a hundred yards ahead of me.

“No worries,” I thought, and I revved my little Honda as high it would go, shifting from 2nd to 3rd. I still had a quarter-mile before needing to merge, so I took a look over my shoulder to see what the traffic was like.

I turned my attention to the front again, and I swear to ****ing God, that mother****er had stopped in his tracks, right there where the merge ramp started blending into the roadway.

I blasted past on the shoulder (moving at a maniacal 60 mph, I’ll bet), merged into almost-nonexistent traffic, and checked my mirrors. That damned fool was still sitting there, hopefully traumatized into never ever driving again.

A couple years later, I met a coworker’s friend who was a Pennsylvania native. I asked him, Do they teach Pennsylvania drivers to stop on freeway ramps? He said, “Well, sometimes you have to stop to get a good look...”

Okay. That’s actually stupid.

I had been going down to one of the local dragstrips — a real, NHRA-sanctioned strip, with timing lights and safety crews and everything — and had timeslips (like, paper receipts detailing your run) showing that it takes a car like mine at least an eighth of a mile to get to highway speeds.

An eighth of a mile from a dead stop, driving my Civic like a crazed hooligan, to reach a speed that would allow an easy merge with minimal disruption to existing traffic flow. If I really had to, I could squeeze into a slot maybe thirty feet long.

For that Nittany Lion Knucklehead to merge without forcing other drivers to jam their brakes and swerve, he’d need to wait for a gap that’s at least 700 feet — over three football fields in length. And that’s if he floored the gas in his stupid ass Chevy Cavalier.

Bottom line: Our driver education system, and the standards for getting a license, all SUCK.

My comment is that people entering the highway from an on ramp do not have the right away, although they frequently act like they do.

And I frequently see drivers operating on the premise/assumption that someone slowing down for a turn would not stop prior to the turn, but if they did stop, the chances are high someone would plow into the back of them. This of course is compounded inadequate following distances and electronic distractions in the car.

 

[Gregg2]

I frequently see drivers operating on the premise/assumption that someone slowing down for a turn would not stop prior to the turn, but if they did stop, the chances are high someone would plow into the back of them. This of course is compounded inadequate followingbdistances and electronic distractions in the car.

On my drive home from work, the place I turn (right) off the main artery into my neighborhood is a long block, skipping one street that doesn't come through. I signal as soon as I pass the previous street, giving the tailgating demon behind me ample time to move over.

 

[Gutwrench]

I signal as soon as I pass the previous street, giving the tailgating demon behind me ample time to move over.

I have to do the same thing. I stare in my mirror to see if the person is paying ample attention to adjust and slow down.

Conversely, I have to say it’s frustrating as hell following someone who rides their brake through their entire turn.

Here’s a safety tip. When stopping in traffic always leave 1/2 - 1 full car length between you and the car in front. You’ll see LE do this because its part of the driving training.

(1) This gap can be used as an escape route or to roll forward in if someone is screeching to a stop behind you.

(2) if rear ended it limits being crushed between two vehicles, and

(3) it gives you an avenue of escape if someone tries to walk up to your car to commit a crime such as a robbery or car jacking.

Most people stop bumper to bumper and they are pretty much sitting ducks. Not to seem sexist, but teach your wives and daughters this. It may have them.

 

[D.T.]

Somehow they try to merge “backwards” into a spot somewhere behind their left flank.

Just wanted to quote this because I laugh every time I read it

On my drive home from work, the place I turn (right) off the main artery into my neighborhood is a long block, skipping one street that doesn't come through. I signal as soon as I pass the previous street, giving the tailgating demon behind me ample time to move over.

I don't even worry about which street I'm turning on, I start the signal/slowdown process a whole block street before my turn.

However, around here, specifically on A1A - and this is just ***** crazy - people pass cars turning _on_the_right_. So it's a 2-lane road (N-S), someone is headed north, turning to the west (left), and if they can't immediately make the turn, drivers go around on the right, in the bike lane, partially in people's yards on occasion. I usually fudge to the right a little, especially in the 4Runner, but that's insanely dangerous, and I can tell, nobody ever checks the bike lane, and there's been a few accidents (one where a guy got too far to the right, lost control in the soft sand and just plowed into the dunes).

Here’s a safety tip. When stopping in traffic always leave 1/2 - 1 full car length between you and the car in front.

Yep, great tip, I've always done this, for the same reasons. Especially being able to quickly bail around the local roads, where there are alternate routes, longer, but at least _moving_ vs. sitting in traffic just waiting.

Side note: #3 is also why I like my family car (the one my wife drives) to be a 5000lb, AWD, V8 powered SUV, my suggestion to her if anyone ever stops in front if you and things "look wrong", run through/over them