OT...why..?

[Britcheflee]

Why is it that even though there are signs on the freeway telling you Road work ahead - lane closed...merge left/right...along with flashing lights more signs, arrows, and cones there is always one or more who literally wait until they are at the final point where the lane closes to try to merge over into the rest of the traffic?

Also, why cant people in the USA merge onto a freeway properly? Over in the UK there never seems to be a problem, but here you get people creeping down the on ramp and then even stopping before getting on the freeway, zooming down the on ramp and then jamming on their brakes just before getting on the freeway...and, the best yet, the guy who speeds up/slows down so he perfectly matches your speed so you both end up jamming on your brakes....just some questions I have been pondering over in the last week or so.


Lee

 

[JMOR]

(quoted from post at 14:53:46 08/16/11) Why is it that even though there are signs on the freeway telling you Road work ahead - lane closed...merge left/right...along with flashing lights more signs, arrows, and cones there is always one or more who literally wait until they are at the final point where the lane closes to try to merge over into the rest of the traffic?

Also, why cant people in the USA merge onto a freeway properly? Over in the UK there never seems to be a problem, but here you get people creeping down the on ramp and then even stopping before getting on the freeway, zooming down the on ramp and then jamming on their brakes just before getting on the freeway...and, the best yet, the guy who speeds up/slows down so he perfectly matches your speed so you both end up jamming on your brakes....just some questions I have been pondering over in the last week or so.


Lee

in computer lingo, ID ten T

 

[rustyfarmall]

(quoted from post at 11:53:46 08/16/11) Why is it that even though there are signs on the freeway telling you Road work ahead - lane closed...merge left/right...along with flashing lights more signs, arrows, and cones there is always one or more who literally wait until they are at the final point where the lane closes to try to merge over into the rest of the traffic?

Also, why cant people in the USA merge onto a freeway properly? Over in the UK there never seems to be a problem, but here you get people creeping down the on ramp and then even stopping before getting on the freeway, zooming down the on ramp and then jamming on their brakes just before getting on the freeway...and, the best yet, the guy who speeds up/slows down so he perfectly matches your speed so you both end up jamming on your brakes....just some questions I have been pondering over in the last week or so.

I've been pondering those same questions for 20 years or longer. It's only getting worse, and the use of cell phones by folks who already do not know how to drive only adds to the problem. The only solution I know is to avoid interstate highways and freeways whenever possible.


Lee

 

[Dell (WA)]

Lee........several reasons. Hi-way putts the signs out too soon so some self-important people don't believe they need to merge just yet.

As fer the STOPPING on the freeway on ramp, dumm idjits. They were NOT taught how to MERGE with trafic by gittin' up to speed first.

I was once atta BMWACA meeting LA where Sterling Moss (formula-1 racecar driver) commented positively on the freeway discipline in LA. I've driven in Europe and they are sloppy at least in Italy.

What buggs me is these 5-lane hi-ways where they gitt out into the middle lane and STOP 'stedda' accelerating and matching traffic speed and merging. dumm idjits. ........Dell, who just made a banzai 1200mi drive to Farmington New Mex dodging idjits all the way

 

[elmersooner]

too busy texting and driving.
public education system gone wrong.
weenie cars with no HP.
lack of common sense and or civility.
no insurance so they drive more carefully.
---------Why I choose to reside in rural america.

 

[trucker 40]

All real good questions.One thing is,all of this got worse since most women had to get jobs back in the 1980s.Other things are that they never were taught what to do,maybe were taught but werent paying attention(a lot of that) and rich people think that everybody has to wait on them.Like they are more important than everybody else.So they block the lane until the last minute because they dont want to go fast,but they want to be in front of you.The more in your way they are,the better they like it.

 

[valhallareject]

I can't speak for anywhere else but Texas....but it sure seems like a lot of our insecure driver issues started with the end of formal driver's education taught in the high schools. I can see no better way to propogate bad driving habits then by having a bad mom or dad driver instructing a son or daughter. Couple that with the almost indestructible attitude and the "I'm the most important person on the road" mentality and this is what you get....once again....we reaps what we sows.

 

[Rick Rowlands]

On a road project in the Pittsburgh area signs
actually say to use both lanes to merge point. PADOT
doesn't want drivers to merge into one lane too soon
for some reason.

Also, on I-376 everyon drives 75 until they get to
the Squirrel Hill tunnel, then its 45! Its a
straight shot, why does everyone have to slow down?

 

[pikewi]

Sounds like ya need to move. Biggest problem here is getting around the Amish buggies and deer

 

[Bob Purinton]

Thank you all for those words. I drive a tractor/trailer for a living and have wondered those same exact questions.

People have no respect for 80,000 lbs. of tractor/trailer either. They come down the ramp at a rediculously slow speed and put on their turn signal as if doing so will make it safe to merge.
Everyone just has to pass that truck before cutting over in front of him to slam on their brakes to get off a ramp that will still be there if they don't pass me.
I'm waiting nervously for the day that I'm not looking in the right direction or a tad slow coming down on the brakes. I hope the idiot doesn't have his kids with him like so many of them do.
BTW--80,000 lbs. don't stop on a dime and spit out 9 cents change. remember that if nothing else.
I drive coast to coast hauling furniture to Seattle and Produce back to Philadelphia. It happens everywhere and (I'm sorry to say) more truck drivers are driving this way too.

 

[Caryc]

Well, about coming up on roadwork where one lane ends and everybody has to merge into one lane, there is always one idiot that keeps on going in that lane until they can't go any further.

Want to know why? It's because they know that some all too polite schmuck at the head of the line who will feel sorry for them and let them cut into the lane. What ticks me off is that they wind up getting through the jamb ahead of me who merged into the other lane when I saw the sign and is now stuck in the slow moving line. Sometimes doing things right actually gets you crapped on.

 

[Colin King]

The SUV and AWD/4WD has made this a country of sloppy and inconsiderate drivers.

My pet peeve is the improper and all too infrequent use of the turn signal. No, the turn signal is not there to indicate intent. It is there to indicate lateral motion, and must remain in the "on" position until that lateral motion is fully completed.

That's my soap box for the night

Colin, MN

 

[Richard from SE AZ]

When I took drivers ed in '63 we were told to try to reach freeway speed when coming up an on ramp and merge onto the freeway as soon as safely possible. I still do that but I was stopped by a trooper a while ago because I merged onto the freeway before I came to the broken line painted at the end of the on ramp "V". He said that I could not cross a solid line for any reason .I don't understand why I have to wait until the last minute to try and squeeze onto speeding traffic. What has changed??

 

[JMOR]

(quoted from post at 20:12:13 08/16/11) Well, about coming up on roadwork where one lane ends and everybody has to merge into one lane, there is always one idiot that keeps on going in that lane until they can't go any further.

Want to know why? It's because they know that some all too polite schmuck at the head of the line who will feel sorry for them and let them cut into the lane. What ticks me off is that they wind up getting through the jamb ahead of me who merged into the other lane when I saw the sign and is now stuck in the slow moving line. Sometimes doing things right actually gets you crapped on.

aryc, I have disagreed with you before and this time, NOT..........they can merge into my lane right behind me! I read the signs a mile back, so could they. :evil:

 

[grhouse]

Good questions all and I have a really strong dislike for the inconsiderate people who run up the lane to the end and beg to get in and will almost run over you if you don't let them in as if it is your responsibility to give the road to them.

But, on a lighter side, I have another question. Why do people turn the radio down when they are driving down the street looking for an address?
Gene

 

[Anonymous-0]

Bob know how you fell. I retired a year ago after 38 years of driving tractor/trailer. One thing that buged me was the cars that came down the berm and tried to cut in from the other side. If there were 6 or 8 of us ,one of us would run partly on the berm and stop them.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Gene they have to turn it down because their brain can't multi-task.

 

[JMOR]

(quoted from post at 23:30:09 08/16/11) Bob know how you fell. I retired a year ago after 38 years of driving tractor/trailer. One thing that buged me was the cars that came down the berm and tried to cut in from the other side. If there were 6 or 8 of us ,one of us would run partly on the berm and stop them.

sed to be a place here for years that merged 3 to 2 & this crap always annoyed me (last minute, run up to the end because "I" need to be ahead of everyone else), so I figured out that if I found a big truck to just stay even with, that this held off all the A.H.s that just wanted to cut in front of him & stop his 'rolling', that he was appreciative enough that when it came to the final squeeze down, he would always provide a hole for me......usually with a thumbs up sign.

 

[lonestarjeff]

Every generation since WW2 has spawned a higher
percentage of self-centered ingrates. I don't know
if the progression is linear or exponential, but
either way it's not a pleasant thought.

Then you've got more crowded roads filled w/ the
above mentioned folks....it's a miracle there's not
way more violence on the roads than there is.

Jeff

 

[Fuddy Duddy]

I don't know about what was taught in '63. You were 10 years ahead of me. But then I didn't ever take drivers Ed. I do know the law says not to cross the solid white line. I don't know how long that has been in the book. I'm guessing it was there in '63. However, you are the first I had heard of someone get stopped for it.

 

[MDFord8N]

One of the problems is, people are not taught proper driving Etiquette and think they are the only one on the road. When merging lanes, the flow would be slow but consistant if everyone would slowly merge before getting to the end on the lane. The problem is the non common sense people think that if they stay in that lane they will get infront of some cars. I typically don't let them over, they can just sit and wait.
Next the on and off ramp. Those coming on are accelerating and should not have to dodge some knucklehead that has to cut over in front just to brake and get on the off ramp....Oh and signals let everyone know what you want to do.
And as a police officer it is a royal PITA to get a re-exam for a poor/terrible driver....No matter how young or old. I could write stories all day about this...LOL

 

[Jerry Kirkpatrick]

"I was once atta BMWACA meeting LA where Sterling Moss (formula-1 racecar driver) commented positively on the freeway discipline in LA. I've driven in Europe and they are sloppy at least in Italy."

Stirling Moss! Holy Moly, Dell! You must be nearly as old as I am!

JK

 

[Jerry Kirkpatrick]

(quoted from post at 17:06:27 08/16/11) On I-376 everyon drives 75 until they get to
the Squirrel Hill tunnel, then its 45! Its a
straight shot, why does everyone have to slow down?

My guess is that, when the walls of the tunnel close in, folks become a whole lot more aware of just how fast 75 really is, plus much less margin of error when the walls of the tunnel are just a few feet away.

JK

 

[JMOR]

(quoted from post at 09:51:55 08/17/11)

(quoted from post at 17:06:27 08/16/11) On I-376 everyon drives 75 until they get to
the Squirrel Hill tunnel, then its 45! Its a
straight shot, why does everyone have to slow down?

My guess is that, when the walls of the tunnel close in, folks become a whole lot more aware of just how fast 75 really is, plus much less margin of error when the walls of the tunnel are just a few feet away.

JK

ot the best argument for this driver!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-45p_rKMKsw

 

[tim(in)]

The reason some people stop on the ramp is some states dont have merge, they have yield so the person on the ramp must yield to the highway traffic. As a semi driver i see it every day. People also think ,due to the idiocy of a few that the traffic on the highway must move over and let them on! This is wrong and a reason traffic gets tied up.the traffic should stay a steady speed and it is the duty of those who want on or off to match speeds and merge.Same way with letting people in and out of parking lots. They are supposed to wait until traffic has cleared. I see idiots let them out and then they only come out partially because the want the inner lane [even tho they are supposed to take the inside lane ] or theyare trying to go the opposite way. Ive seen people who thought they could get thru the intersection with a trailor or just their car get stuck in the middle because someone needed their little pat on the head from their fake manners and an ambulance trying to get thru the intersection but cant because it is blocked by someone who should have been able to clear the intersection. But they are the ones who will unfairly get a ticket!

 

[John Schmincke]

Right on! Other day I saw a woman in a Honda on the beltway. Traffic got thick, we all slowed down to 30 or less. The time delay now caused her to call someone from the cell to tell them ( my understanding as derived from hindsight ) she would be late for whatever. She had a front drivers side tire that was almost on the rim - Im guessing from a slow leak but not noticed by her when entering the vehicle? SO, 3 things are happening at one time,
A) traffic slowed
B) I noticed her tire was down a good 95%, almost on the rim.
C) She dialed the phone
D) I got beside her, beeped 3 times to get her attention. Pointed down at her tire, she didnt understand.
E) She tells the person on the phone...wait a moment, someone is trying to tell me something.
F) She looks, doesnt understand the pointing down at her tire so I motioned her to roll the window down so I could verbalize what I saw.
G) At that instant, traffic in her lane stopped and at 25- 30 mph, she hit the van in front of her.
DAMN I felt bad but........my lane was moving at 10mph so I slowed as I saw steam coming from under her now buckled hood but figured there were enough witnesses around, she didnt need me and probably wanted to shoot me by now anyway.
I thought...why was it so easy for me to coordinate warning her about her tire while keeping my car in check? Took me a good 24 hours to relax afterwards. Only answer can be multi task thinking I guess. Seems so simple especially when in really heavy traffic such as what comes out of Washington DC at 530pm on any given day.

I have a method of driving that I got from an older Jag with a V12 I loved dearly. No ETA no matter where I'm heading. I'll get there eventually feeling better than if I had tried to get in front of everyone else and stressed out over the challenge of giving up minutes. AND its a good feeling to know I'm not in the same class as the a$$holes...at least in my mind...and thats where it counts!
So, all I can say is enjoy your trip from A to B by not letting anyone take something away from you...after all, it's your trip.
John

 

[John T in VA]

You must have been in Lynchburg Virginia recently?

John T

 

[pete black]

personally i think the point of merge should be as
close as possible to the work site. why let the
other lane go unused? go to the lead, merge and go
on. as for blocking the other lane, its not your
place to try and control traffic, just drive and get
on out of the way. and to the truck drivers, if you
can"t stop them on a dime, then why do you drive
like you can?

 

[Caryc]

(quoted from post at 16:40:57 08/18/11) personally i think the point of merge should be as
close as possible to the work site. why let the
other lane go unused? go to the lead, merge and go
on. as for blocking the other lane, its not your
place to try and control traffic, just drive and get
on out of the way. and to the truck drivers, if you
can"t stop them on a dime, then why do you drive
like you can?

They try to get you to merge into one lane when the cars are a decent distance apart, not when they are five feet apart all backed up in those two lanes. That's why they start the merge signs so far back. Trouble is that some idiots just don't get it.

 

[Kevin in MN]

In Minnesota most Construction merges now have signs to use both lanes and take turns at merge. I've sen several with troopers standng by because of all the road rage because people are following the instructions.

 

[Caryc]

(quoted from post at 18:58:40 08/18/11)
In Minnesota most Construction merges now have signs to use both lanes and take turns at merge. I've sen several with troopers standng by because of all the road rage because people are following the instructions.

That's kind of like a busy 4 way stop. When people follow the rules it works out OK but there is always some jerk that is in too much of a hurry to follow the rules.

As for myself, I haven't had a traffic ticket in 30 years. Most people that I tell that to are shocked and ask how I could possibly do that. I tell them "It's simple, I obey the law". Believe me, it works. :wink:

Once you get used to driving like that, it comes easy. I'm just not in such a hurry to get anywhere that I need to risk traffic fines and high insurance rates.

When I was working I could never understand people who were habitually late for work. All you have to do is get out of bed on time. Some people just can't seem to do that.