Highway Driving

[toolguy1000]

......So in the same light if they can just manage to pull into your lane in front of you while going the legal minimum @ 40MPH rather than staying in the acceleration lane until you're past them, you think that's a good thing because they're entitled to do so? ........

i would like to respond to your commment, but i'm not really sure what comment or observation you are attampting to make. could you possibly rephrase?

[sailor55330]

while observing a stop sign at an intersection, with the cross traffic having NO stop sign, a driver stopped and motioned me throughs the intersection. so i politely got out of my car, walked over to him and asked what the heck he was waving at. he thought he was being nice, even though he had the right of way and had no reason whatsoever to stop. stupidity like that causes accidents.

.

No offense, but I don't understand how leaving your vehicle unattended at an intersection to ask a question is safe or smart. Seems like depending on traffic, you could have been the cause of an accident.

[cabinetman]

It is a shame that common sense and courtesy seems to have been banished on the highways. I try to help cars make it on the road from on ramps, by slowing down, speeding up or changing lanes. I think it is safer for them and for me.

Bill

Some drivers have no idea what common sense is. The merging from a ramp can have the same dangers as cars that have to fall into a line to get on a ramp, and there's always somebody bypassing a large group of cars to "duck in".

.

[toolguy1000]

No offense, but I don't understand how leaving your vehicle unattended at an intersection to ask a question is safe or smart. Seems like depending on traffic, you could have been the cause of an accident.

the roads, and situation, involved were consistent with this action on my part not creating a hazardous situation.

[Pappy]

I get both ends of the scale on 'courtesy'.

When driving a mail truck, people tend to let me into traffic from parking lots and at intersections when they would close the gap on a car. Part of my route is n a high traffic area and this helps. When I am trying to pull up off the shoulder or from a curb, it can sometimes be a problem. It's hard to tell if they are slowing to let me out or looking for something and could accellerate suddenly. We have also had times when a carrier was baited to pull out, then hit the other driver, for the $$$ in the setlement.

Riding a motorcycle, I see the opposite. For whatever reason, drivers will cut off a bike when they would wait for a car or truck to go by. I know sometime they truely don't see us, but other times it is either they assume we can get out of the way easier or they do it intentionally. Regardless of the reason, I am going to be on the losing end of a collision so I ride with the idea if it has 4 or more wheels it is going to try to hit me. (I kep a close eye on other bikers, too)

[radhak]

if we all drove according to the rules published by the municipalities which grant us our licenses, there would probably next to no accidents or frustration while driving. courtesy has nothing to do with driving a car. while observing a stop sign at an intersection, with the cross traffic having NO stop sign, a driver stopped and motioned me throughs the intersection. so i politely got out of my car, walked over to him and asked what the heck he was waving at. he thought he was being nice, even though he had the right of way and had no reason whatsoever to stop. stupidity like that causes accidents.

and my personnal favorite....... highway access ramps. i'm in the right lane @ the limit (55mph) and drivers on the ramp put their left signal on and assume that i will move left to provide room for them to enter the flow of traffic. the shocked look on their faces as they run out of ramp room and start drivng on the shoulder as i maintain my position and speed always gives me a chuckle. the idea that they DO NOT have the right of way isn't even on their radar screen.

I am sure you get great pleasure out that - but I wonder how you enter a main road from a ramp; do you come to a full stop waiting for the traffic to go by? Most likely you take advantage of the courtesy other drivers show you when they move over. As correctly pointed out, the 'yield' sign (not a STOP sign), and the length of the ramp, tells you that the purpose is not to have incoming traffic come to a complete stop, but to merge seamlessly.

In the larger context, courtesy makes for safety. I have seen drivers do what you describe, not allow merging traffic in, almost causing accidents, and always wondered what the thought process behind it was; now I know.

It might have been me that stopped at a cross-section to allow you to go past a stop-sign : I have seen umpteen cases where traffic backs up at some stop-signs because the main traffic does not let up, and then a mom-in-a-hurry makes an unsafe dash across. I have seen many complaints about lack of courtesy, but this is the first I example of mocking it when shown!

Following rules is a good thing, but using rules blindly (or even as a excuse to stamp a sense of 'winning!') only causes more misery.

[cabinetman]

Following rules is a good thing, but using rules blindly (or even as a excuse to stamp a sense of 'winning!') only causes more misery.

Or attempting to teach a lesson.

.

[dbhost]

Maybe I am being a jerk here, but if I am clicking along at 80 with the cruise control on, passing a line of cars doing 55 (in a 70 mph zone no less!) and somebody comes up on me I don't immediately drop my speed 30mph and change lanes. I will wait until I have a clear stretch of road to pull over into...

Generally speaking though, I try to stay out of the left lane if possible... But if I am already passing, and somebody wants to pass ME while I am already in the passing lane, they are just going to have to bear with it for a minute or so while I find a safe way to get out of their way...

[dbhost]

...
and my personnal favorite....... highway access ramps. i'm in the right lane @ the limit (55mph) and drivers on the ramp put their left signal on and assume that i will move left to provide room for them to enter the flow of traffic. the shocked look on their faces as they run out of ramp room and start drivng on the shoulder as i maintain my position and speed always gives me a chuckle. the idea that they DO NOT have the right of way isn't even on their radar screen.

To be blunt, that is the sort of move that causes wrecks. And at least here in Texas will get you a hefty traffic citation. (impeding merging traffic I believe).

The idea of the on ramp / right lane is so that traffic entering the flow of traffic on the main highway can do so as seamlessly as possible. I see people that will be in the right highway lane that will intentionally match speed and position with merging cars from the on ramp to block them. I always chuckle at those folks when they get nailed for doing that... It's EXTREMELY dangerous and irresponsible behavior.

I hope and pray that you at least hold your speed steady and not speed up / slow down to block other drivers. Of if you do, I bet you don't do it to somebody driving an old beat to snot most likely uninsured Suburban...

[toolguy1000]

To be blunt, that is the sort of move that causes wrecks. And at least here in Texas will get you a hefty traffic citation. (impeding merging traffic I believe).

The idea of the on ramp / right lane is so that traffic entering the flow of traffic on the main highway can do so as seamlessly as possible. I see people that will be in the right highway lane that will intentionally match speed and position with merging cars from the on ramp to block them. I always chuckle at those folks when they get nailed for doing that... It's EXTREMELY dangerous and irresponsible behavior.

I hope and pray that you at least hold your speed steady and not speed up / slow down to block other drivers. Of if you do, I bet you don't do it to somebody driving an old beat to snot most likely uninsured Suburban...

i absolutely DO NOT speed up. this isn't about dominance...it's about driving safely. my cruise control is set at 55 mph whenever i am on a parkway or expressway. and a few observations relative to my comment on entrance ramps: expressway entrance ramps do not have yield signs on them. where a "yield" sign is posted it means that a vehicle approaching a yield sign MUST relinquish the right of way to the vehicle that is already in the flow of traffic. if there is no safe way for that vehicle seeking to enter the flow of traffic, that vehicle is required to stop. too many times i've seen someone put on their flasher to indicate their intention to change lanes and they actually think that the driver in the lane they wish to enter is REQUIRED to make way for them. i've actually seen a driver try to be "courteous" to such a flashing driver, move to another lane hurriedly and cause an accident with other vehicles.

and i defy anyone to present proof from any federal, state, county or local authority of a traffic law using the word "courtesy" in their driving regulations. i am fairly confident that no such ridiculous term is used in any of our traffic laws/codes here in NY and i am fairly certain that legal authorities in other parts of the country adhere to the same conventions.

dbhost....i'd like to see that regulation posted on an official web site of any regulatory authority where a vehicle in the flow of traffic, and not intentionally trying to block another vehicle, by speeding up or slowing down, is supposed to yield his right of way to an entering vehicle.

[toolguy1000]

Maybe I am being a jerk here, but if I am clicking along at 80 with the cruise control on, passing a line of cars doing 55 (in a 70 mph zone no less!) and somebody comes up on me I don't immediately drop my speed 30mph and change lanes. I will wait until I have a clear stretch of road to pull over into...

Generally speaking though, I try to stay out of the left lane if possible... But if I am already passing, and somebody wants to pass ME while I am already in the passing lane, they are just going to have to bear with it for a minute or so while I find a safe way to get out of their way...

that's interesting. here in NY, driving at a speed above the posted speed limit is grounds for a traffic infraction. is Texas different? the police there don't have the right to issue drivers driving above a posted speed limit a traffic ticket?

[toolguy1000]

I am sure you get great pleasure out that - but I wonder how you enter a main road from a ramp; do you come to a full stop waiting for the traffic to go by? Most likely you take advantage of the courtesy other drivers show you when they move over. As correctly pointed out, the 'yield' sign (not a STOP sign), and the length of the ramp, tells you that the purpose is not to have incoming traffic come to a complete stop, but to merge seamlessly.

In the larger context, courtesy makes for safety. I have seen drivers do what you describe, not allow merging traffic in, almost causing accidents, and always wondered what the thought process behind it was; now I know.

It might have been me that stopped at a cross-section to allow you to go past a stop-sign : I have seen umpteen cases where traffic backs up at some stop-signs because the main traffic does not let up, and then a mom-in-a-hurry makes an unsafe dash across. I have seen many complaints about lack of courtesy, but this is the first I example of mocking it when shown!

Following rules is a good thing, but using rules blindly (or even as a excuse to stamp a sense of 'winning!') only causes more misery.

when i'm on an access ramp, i accelerate to the prevailing speed of vehicles in the flow of traffic. if there isn't any way to safely enter the flow of traffic, i never rely on other drivers in the flow of traffic to make way for me. if necessary, at the end of an access ramp, i STOP and WAIT until the flow of traffic allows for safe entry. i do this because a state trooper issued me a ticket once because i entered an expressway without allowing enough safe room between me and a driver in the flow of traffic. i believe it was referenced as "failure to yield to an oncoming vehicle". the officer, and the court i appealed to, pointed out that vehicles in that situation had the right of way, and that i could not impede their progress.

and i'm not mocking courtesy. i'm merely pointing out that it isn't part of the traffic laws/regulations here in NY. and i don't think the word courteous is used in any traffic regs, anywhere. again, if all drivers observed the traffic laws and regulations of their localities, there would be far fewer accidents since all drivers would adhere to the same conventions when operating their vehicles, and not relying on the nebulous concept of courtesy.

[Cochese]

when i'm on an access ramp, i accelerate to the prevailing speed of vehicles in the flow of traffic. if there isn't any way to safely enter the flow of traffic, i never rely on other drivers in the flow of traffic to make way for me. if necessary, at the end of an access ramp, i STOP and WAIT until the flow of traffic allows for safe entry. i do this because a state trooper issued me a ticket once because i entered an expressway without allowing enough safe room between me and a driver in the flow of traffic. i believe it was referenced as "failure to yield to an oncoming vehicle". the officer, and the court i appealed to, pointed out that vehicles in that situation had the right of way, and that i could not impede their progress.

and i'm not mocking courtesy. i'm merely pointing out that it isn't part of the traffic laws/regulations here in NY. and i don't think the word courteous is used in any traffic regs, anywhere. again, if all drivers observed the traffic laws and regulations of their localities, there would be far fewer accidents since all drivers would adhere to the same conventions when operating their vehicles, and not relying on the nebulous concept of courtesy.

You're going to get killed doing that. Then it won't really matter if you were right or wrong.

[JSUPreston]

For whatever reason, drivers will cut off a bike when they would wait for a car or truck to go by. I know sometime they truely don't see us, but other times it is either they assume we can get out of the way easier or they do it intentionally. Regardless of the reason, I am going to be on the losing end of a collision so I ride with the idea if it has 4 or more wheels it is going to try to hit me. (I kep a close eye on other bikers, too)

Pappy, when I first got my bike 3 years ago, the first thing I was told by another rider is that folks in cages are out to get us!

[JSUPreston]

and my personnal favorite....... highway access ramps. i'm in the right lane @ the limit (55mph) and drivers on the ramp put their left signal on and assume that i will move left to provide room for them to enter the flow of traffic. the shocked look on their faces as they run out of ramp room and start drivng on the shoulder as i maintain my position and speed always gives me a chuckle. the idea that they DO NOT have the right of way isn't even on their radar screen.

I don't know how things are in NY (never been there), around here few merge lanes tend to have Yield signs. It is common knowledge and encouraged that in your scenario, you should get into the left hand lane if reasonably possible. Around here, the merge lanes are also known as acceleration lanes, which means the folks in the lane are trying to get up to close to the speed of traffic to successfully merge. If traffic is too heavy on the highway, the car in the merge/acceleration will either speed up/slow down (or stop only if ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY) to match the flow of traffic.

What you are suggesting would probably get you a ticket for impeding traffic at the very least. Endangerment or wreckless driving might also apply. You may technically be in the right, but you're possibly risking someone's life with what you are doing. Just think, what if you're doing what you describe, a fully loaded rig is trying to get over, and the car in front of him slams on his brakes? The driver of the rig is going to swerve, and possibly take you out with him. Doen't matter if there was a yield sign or not, or if you were right or not when you're pushing up daisies.