That is flat illegal in most states. Yes, they were breaking the law just like others would be without them. Such behavior is not only ILLEGAL, but rude, arrogant, and dangerous.
Ever driven behind a road block?
- Thread starter LarryL
- Start date
- Status
I wonder what those three side-by-side idiots would do if a big piece of debris were to be on the road.
I do not like it when another driver wants to drive next to me and match my speed. Get the **** away from me. I don't want or need your company.
I do not like it when another driver wants to drive next to me and match my speed. Get the **** away from me. I don't want or need your company.
In Iowa I saw road signs that said to stay to the right unless passing. I've never heard of anyone getting pulled over for it because it is rare to have a lot of cars on the road in Iowa.
Here in California people tend to stay out of the way as road rage gets pretty bad. Out of the 15+ years I've been here I've only seen 2 people actually following the speed limit in the left lane. Those people got bashed pretty hard. One angry driver got in front of the slow guy - gave the slow guy the finger and then slammed on his brakes causing the slow guy to come close to spinning out trying to avoid him. See what I mean by road rage?
So, people here tend to stay out of the fast lanes if they arn't going 80+ mph.
Then again, we in California (210) usually have 6+ lanes so unless it is stop&go traffic, there usually isn't a problem.
Here in California people tend to stay out of the way as road rage gets pretty bad. Out of the 15+ years I've been here I've only seen 2 people actually following the speed limit in the left lane. Those people got bashed pretty hard. One angry driver got in front of the slow guy - gave the slow guy the finger and then slammed on his brakes causing the slow guy to come close to spinning out trying to avoid him. See what I mean by road rage?
Then again, we in California (210) usually have 6+ lanes so unless it is stop&go traffic, there usually isn't a problem.
I knew it wasn't going to be long before someone brought up the autobahn. A few of points about the autobahn.
1. From what I have been told, the miles of "no limit" roadway are growing ever shorter.
2. The autobahn has speed limits, especially in urban areas.
3. The autobahn is DESIGNED to handle higher speeds with banking and thicker concrete. Damage is usually repaired promptly. (History Channel)
4. The law is VERY strict regarding the pass on left only requirement. Obviously, higher speeds bring more danger so this HAS to be the case when closing speeds can be twice the speed of the slower traffic.
5. It takes a LONG time and a LOT of money to obtain a license to drive. Maybe people respect their PRIVLEDGE to drive more than we do. It is, afterall, not a right.
Education is definitely the key.
1. From what I have been told, the miles of "no limit" roadway are growing ever shorter.
2. The autobahn has speed limits, especially in urban areas.
3. The autobahn is DESIGNED to handle higher speeds with banking and thicker concrete. Damage is usually repaired promptly. (History Channel)
4. The law is VERY strict regarding the pass on left only requirement. Obviously, higher speeds bring more danger so this HAS to be the case when closing speeds can be twice the speed of the slower traffic.
5. It takes a LONG time and a LOT of money to obtain a license to drive. Maybe people respect their PRIVLEDGE to drive more than we do. It is, afterall, not a right.
Education is definitely the key.
Interestingly, I can trade my Virginia driver's license in for a German one (withing having to take a driver's test), were I to move to Germany.
Oh, you forgot #6 and #7:
6. On the autobahn, it's now becoming more common for people to drive in the left lane without passing.
7. Flashing your lights at these people is an offense.
There is a recommended speed limit of about 81MPH which applies to even the "unlimited" sections. Above that speed limit, you will not get a ticket but if you get into an accident the additional speed could cause the accident to be judged your fault.
Oh, you forgot #6 and #7:
6. On the autobahn, it's now becoming more common for people to drive in the left lane without passing.
7. Flashing your lights at these people is an offense.
There is a recommended speed limit of about 81MPH which applies to even the "unlimited" sections. Above that speed limit, you will not get a ticket but if you get into an accident the additional speed could cause the accident to be judged your fault.
Interesting. It seems the German Engineering is being reduced to American Standards!
Thanks for the additional info.
Thanks for the additional info.
Kestas
Staff member
8. Don't forget one big difference between Germany (and most of Europe) and the US is that you don't really need a car in Europe. They have excellent mass transit and people can live a full life without a car. Driving is a priviledge and reserved only for qualified drivers.
In the US, getting around without a car is like having no legs. Taking a driver's license away in the US would bring hardship to a person. Hence, that's why we have to share the road with idiot drivers.
I've driven in Germany, and it felt like driving at home (75-85 mph), except without the idiots.
In the US, getting around without a car is like having no legs. Taking a driver's license away in the US would bring hardship to a person. Hence, that's why we have to share the road with idiot drivers.
I've driven in Germany, and it felt like driving at home (75-85 mph), except without the idiots.
What the person I know in Germany told me is that the trains are heavily subsidized by the government but are slow and expensive (sounds like Amtrak to me) and he'd rather drive.
He also said that they have a large number of trucks on the road because their railroads don't carry much freight, unlike here in the USA where all most railroads carry is freight. (By the way, the freight railroad industry claims that one gallon of diesel fuel can carry one ton of freight about 450 miles).
He also said that they have a large number of trucks on the road because their railroads don't carry much freight, unlike here in the USA where all most railroads carry is freight. (By the way, the freight railroad industry claims that one gallon of diesel fuel can carry one ton of freight about 450 miles).
I lived in Germany for three years. I would say all the points about speed, training, and drivers discipline are correct.
Also, the points about seldom needing a car is correct. All except the smallest of towns has some bus or train service.
When you consider the cost of fuel, parking, buying a car, etc, I doubt train travel is more expensive than a car for the average German citizen. Perhaps for the US GI, who buys gas at 1/3rd the price of a German citizen, and has a more lax inspection program compared to the TUV that German owned cars must periodically pass.
I don't know about the freight trains. I believe that freight moves at night on the rail system, and people move during the day for the most part. So during the daytime, passenger trains have priority, and at night, it is freight that has the priority.
Also, city deliveries are going to be done in the daytime, so you will see lots of trucks during the day. Combine that with the fact that fewer people are using private cars gives the appearance that there are more trucks on the road. I suspect that, at least in the cities, the number of trucks is similar. I did not notice what appeared to be more over the road trucks on the Autobahn, compared to truck traffic on US interstates while I lived there from 1988 to 1991.
Also, the points about seldom needing a car is correct. All except the smallest of towns has some bus or train service.
When you consider the cost of fuel, parking, buying a car, etc, I doubt train travel is more expensive than a car for the average German citizen. Perhaps for the US GI, who buys gas at 1/3rd the price of a German citizen, and has a more lax inspection program compared to the TUV that German owned cars must periodically pass.
I don't know about the freight trains. I believe that freight moves at night on the rail system, and people move during the day for the most part. So during the daytime, passenger trains have priority, and at night, it is freight that has the priority.
Also, city deliveries are going to be done in the daytime, so you will see lots of trucks during the day. Combine that with the fact that fewer people are using private cars gives the appearance that there are more trucks on the road. I suspect that, at least in the cities, the number of trucks is similar. I did not notice what appeared to be more over the road trucks on the Autobahn, compared to truck traffic on US interstates while I lived there from 1988 to 1991.
I am told that truck traffic is so heavy that trucks are banned from the autobahn on weekends unless they have a special permit.
Define heavy?
Germany does have the tradition of not working on Sunday's and most Saturday's are half-days for the stores that are open.
It's been a long time since I've lived there, so things certainly have changed since 1991. However, I didn't really notice that there was more truck traffic on the autobahn compared to here.
Of course, one has to realize that West Germany was about the size of Pennnsyvania with about 1/4 of the US population at that time. So things were a fair bit more crowded compared to much of the US.
Germany does have the tradition of not working on Sunday's and most Saturday's are half-days for the stores that are open.
It's been a long time since I've lived there, so things certainly have changed since 1991. However, I didn't really notice that there was more truck traffic on the autobahn compared to here.
Of course, one has to realize that West Germany was about the size of Pennnsyvania with about 1/4 of the US population at that time. So things were a fair bit more crowded compared to much of the US.
So, it's OK for the barricade folks to violate the law (keep right except to pass) in their own misguided attempt to enforce law???
JHZR2
Staff member
I HATE when that happens... its as if they determine their speed by matching it with my car... either at the side, front or back.
I like to do a little weave to see if theyre payng attention... it usually works. Else I get out of their way either slower or faster. People who sit side by side with you, and people who use their brake pedal on the highway when its not a traffic jam are not deservant of a drivers license. I avoid both at all costs.
Labman, I agree with you, but feel that it is "arrogant" in and of itself to suggest that people driving one way or another are to be considered arrogant. Your suggestion that someone who thinks that the speed limit IS a hard limit and should be obeyed as the max one should drive on a road is arrogant is just as bad - might as well leave such comments out. IMO, ifo someone wants to play that game, then it is just as arrogant for someone to think that they know better or are above the law that they can exceed the posted limits, regardless of why they are there: safety or moneymaking). People can believe in the speed limit system as a set of hard rules if they desire, right?
The NJ Drivers manual states that it is the law to proceed with the flow of traffic. While it states that the speed limit is law, it also seems to supercede it with the need to keep with the flow of traffic.
When one is 10+ above or 10+ under, theyre as wrong as the next person if theyre not in the correct lane, postion, etc., or if they execute improperly due to their supposed superiority or simple road speed.
Education and understanding of physics (howevr uncool math and science is in pop culture) is the real key.
JMH
JHZR2
Staff member
And the angry driver who slammed on his brakes is the kind that frankly deserves to be shot by someone with an anger problem, and whom I look forward to seeing carted away in a bag.quote:
Originally posted by OriginHacker21:
One angry driver got in front of the slow guy - gave the slow guy the finger and then slammed on his brakes causing the slow guy to come close to spinning out trying to avoid him. See what I mean by road rage?So, people here tend to stay out of the fast lanes if they arn't going 80+ mph.
The roadways are cramped enough, and filled enough wth people doing incorrect things, whether due to lack of training, perceived superiority, mistake, rush, lack of attention, etc. We certainly do NOT need that kind of person making the roadway even less safe for all.
What if there was a side by side convoy of lane blockers coming up close behind those two jokers???
JMH
Very, very few speed limits are actually set by this method. In Washington, for example, the legislature simply said that freeway speed limits will be 60 in the city and 70 in rural areas. No speed study or anything. Those limits just sound good.
Most speed limits are set by what SOUNDS safe, not what IS safe.
I had an interesting observation last winter. I realized that the speed limits in the city of Olympia are absolutely spot on perfect.......if there's 6 inches of snow on the ground!
Yes, if they stay in the right lane except to pass. Once they delibertly start blocking others, they are a complete piece of trash.
Try setting your cruise control on the speedlimit and drive anywhere. I guarantee many more people will catch up to you than you will catch up to.
So how about a 70 max and a 60 minimum?
JHZR2
Staff member
But do you HONESTLY believe that people DELIBERATELY block the lane? I dont... I think that they ae just stupid and not paying attention. Their driving skills have been so poor for so long, that they have tuned out the sounds of horns and lights, and dont really care.
Unfortunately there is no real way to determine if someone deliberately is blocking a lane. And, if they are... whether they are doing it to everyone, or just doing it to annoy you for some reason. Then it turns from lane blocking to road rage aimed at you, and this is just their means.
Anyway, one way or another, there is a great deal of idiocy on both sides. Personally, I drive slow relative to some (CC set at 71 max in 65 zones in most cases, 73 in 70 zones), though most always over the limit... but I also drive to the right as much as possible, getting over at merge points when I can. Whether "the right" is in the middle or slow lane is nobody's business but mine - so long as there is a lane to my left (and preferably Im passing people in the far right lane), it is what it is... if the person in the left lane is passing me at a slower clip than you would like, too darn bad. And, if Im passing someone to my right, and Im doing it at a smaller delta, so Im passing by cars one by one, albeit not at a furious pace... Im in front, Im passing, and I have every right to be in the left lane, though the person behind thinks I should go faster. That stands true if the interstate is rolling at 40 and the fast lane is absolutely clear and Im rolling by at 45, just the same as if the speeds are higher.
Thats how I see it... I may be right, I may be wrong... I wish safety to those who are trying to be reasonable, and hope destruction for those trying to be aggressive and pushy.
JMH
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2002
- Messages
- 39,793
Sure he does JHM ..but he's just the symptom. The cause/trigger is the jerk impeding otherwise unencumbered drivers. He's JUST as antisocial ..just not a dangerous. He's making others experience inconvenience at their expense simply by being either ignorant or arrogent. That guy gave him consequences for his actions that otherwise would be endorse with pacivity and resignation.quote:
Originally posted by JHZR2:
And the angry driver who slammed on his brakes is the kind that frankly deserves to be shot by someone with an anger problem, and whom I look forward to seeing carted away in a bag.quote:
Originally posted by OriginHacker21:
One angry driver got in front of the slow guy - gave the slow guy the finger and then slammed on his brakes causing the slow guy to come close to spinning out trying to avoid him. See what I mean by road rage?So, people here tend to stay out of the fast lanes if they arn't going 80+ mph.
JMH
Yes, it's wrong ..but I don't really see that it's not going to occur again and again as long as people insist on being "numb" in a very serious situation.
Again, all road rage will evaporate if everyone either leads, follows, or get out of the way.
No other rule ..law ..ordinance ...penalty ..sentence ..NONE will save more lives that having everyone adopt that rule.
JHZR2
Staff member
These words sum up the cause of most of the world's problems... driving especially.
But we dont take regular, very deadly actions against other people for other similar numbness... why should it be any different when in vehicles? The interstate is NOT bumper cars.
People excersizing their 'superiority', e.g. passing by everyone in line at an exit only and pulling in at the last minute is another way of turning other people into poorly driving maniacs. I get ticked and stressed at them even just typing this. Bad driving like that is actually the #1 reason why I moved from Delaware and bought a house elsewhere - these peoples' stupid driving manners (in bulk) impeded on my safety. They couldnt drive right, and I was even rear ended and my car was destroyed due to their inattentiveness while driving aggressively.
JMH
- Status
