nonconformist
Miserable
Maybe he had to hit 88mph
It's not a passing lane!
- Thread starter dIZZyBlIZZy
- Start date
I remember not so long ago I was on a freeway that had a serious accident (they closed the freeway a couple of cars after we got onto it), and everyone voluntarily merged into one lane at least 10km before the crash site to prevent merging problems further along. This left the left lane (outside lane) entirely empty, but to stop someone from skipping the queue, there were a couple of big trucks that sat there (in the outside lane and on the shoulder) crawling along at the same pace as the single lane all the cars were in, tactically blocking the attempt of one guy to get past. It was kinda awesome.
I know that the shoulder on a few of the main motorways here has been interspersed with concrete barriers now, to prevent it becoming an extra lane for people in a hurry during the morning peak.
I know that the shoulder on a few of the main motorways here has been interspersed with concrete barriers now, to prevent it becoming an extra lane for people in a hurry during the morning peak.
It's illegal. And it's also dangerous. There tends to be more debris on the shoulder than in the traffic lanes. So more likely to hit something that will damage a tire. Or just send you off the road. There are fewer places to dodge to if you see something in your way. And the people doing it tend to be going too fast for conditions.
Around here in rush hour the cops occasionally set up to ticket these people. But it doesn't happen all the time.
Around here in rush hour the cops occasionally set up to ticket these people. But it doesn't happen all the time.
Formaldehyde
Both Fair And Balanced
On the flip side of the coin, two of my pet peeves are those who can't properly merge or those who have to stop and spectate at accident scenes.
If you have to merge from two lanes into one, is it so difficult to get to the merge point and simply interleave while maintaining a reasonable speed? It is amazing how many people will stop dead long before that point or those who refuse to let people in from the other lane on a one-to-one basis. This is particularly infuriating when it happens in acceleration lanes leading onto interstates. People typically have more than enough time to see what is about to happen and react accordingly.
And much highway congestion is caused by those who want to see what occurred in gory detail. There should be a higher-level fine associated with this activity. Unfortunately, the cops are usually too busy dealing with the accident to ticket the looky Lous.
If you have to merge from two lanes into one, is it so difficult to get to the merge point and simply interleave while maintaining a reasonable speed? It is amazing how many people will stop dead long before that point or those who refuse to let people in from the other lane on a one-to-one basis. This is particularly infuriating when it happens in acceleration lanes leading onto interstates. People typically have more than enough time to see what is about to happen and react accordingly.
And much highway congestion is caused by those who want to see what occurred in gory detail. There should be a higher-level fine associated with this activity. Unfortunately, the cops are usually too busy dealing with the accident to ticket the looky Lous.
NetGear
King
- Joined
- Dec 11, 2002
- Messages
- 729
People who slow down to watch accidents are the worst. If I was a tyrannical dictator they'd be all executed. I don't mind if you're slowing down because there's cops and people around next to your lane. Fine. But traffic without any valid reason infuriates me like nothing else
Disgustipated
Deity
I think if traffic is backed up, people should be allowed to make their own lanes. I also think they should drive in the dirt to get around traffic. If the road engineers won't make more lanes, create your own lanes.
And not to mention other vehicles making LEFT hand turns from the opposite direction who have been waived through by those people traveling in the actual lanes.
Formaldehyde
Both Fair And Balanced
That's a terrible idea in Florida to be courteous and wave at someone like that. If a car in a different lane then hits him after you signal him that you are intentionally leaving the hole, you are at fault for causing the accident.
Let's face it, there's a lot of bad drivers on the road. Texting or talking on the cell, drinking and drug abusing, selfish, careless or just plain ignorant. I hope most of us here will just practice safe and defensive driving. After all, cars will be all gone in a few decades so enjoy them now.
Leifmk
Deity
Almost every time I drive for any more than 15 minutes or so I see something that makes me wonder why there aren't MORE horrible traffic accidents than there actually are. People are idiots.
Oh, and any week now we'll be getting the first snows and the first hordes of idiots who figure they can put off changing tires. It's the same story every year. This is goddamn Norway, we have goddamn winter here, you'd think people would have figured it out by now instead of sliding off the roads all surprised-like, but noooo. And even if maybe 95% of us do have the sense to change tires in time, we get delayed and exposed to unnecessary danger because of the idiot 5%. Morons.
It's pretty well documented that high way congestion isn't eased by added capacity. If you turn a 4-lane highway into a 6-lane highway you won't reduce congestion by 50% and the increases you do see are lost within a few years. So your suggestion wouldn't actually lessen traffic.
woody60707
Deity
In a lot of ways, this makes sense.
Same here, but only if I'm driving my old SUV. Want to hit me? Sure, I need to replace this thing anyway, and if you want to blow it out of proportion somehow I can point to a 20-year accident-free driving record. (And if you REALLY want to blow it out of proportion, I have a .380 within reach.
)But by far the bigger danger, per capita and per road, is oblivious drivers. Too many times I've noticed someone driving oddly and when I pull up alongside them notice a cellphone held to their ear.
Thoughtful Thug
Deity
maybe he is a "risk taker"
I used to do those things. But having photos of car wrecks being updated on my facebook wall by my cousin (tow truck driver), made me wise up a little on the road.
I used to do those things. But having photos of car wrecks being updated on my facebook wall by my cousin (tow truck driver), made me wise up a little on the road.
Formaldehyde
Both Fair And Balanced
Cars will likely be around for centuries. But they won't be powered by fossil fuels.
It certainly eases current congestion even if it does help lead to more growth in many cases. The SF bay area foolishly decided decades ago that they would simply stop building the necessary infrastructure for the existing population because it would stop future growth. It didn't. Now, many people face 2 hour commutes instead of 30 minute ones. The obvious solution is to build viable mass transit in urban areas where the density is sufficient to warrant it, as well as providing highways that have reasonable capacity. New York City is an excellent example.
Thoughtful Thug
Deity
Well that isn't going to work well for certain demographics that believe owning automobiles is an American tradition = "Like a Rock" and all of those other silly commercials.
Link to video.
I don't think Bob Seger has a song for Mass Transit.
I am sure that the gorgeous JLO here, with her declining record sales and her lack of offers from Hollywood, have no problem finding someone to finance her video seen here.
Link to video.
Link to video.
I don't think Bob Seger has a song for Mass Transit.
I am sure that the gorgeous JLO here, with her declining record sales and her lack of offers from Hollywood, have no problem finding someone to finance her video seen here.
Link to video.
Formaldehyde
Both Fair And Balanced
There are indeed many posers who buy large pickup trucks instead of cars, just as their are those who buy 4WD vehicles and never take them off road or drive in snow and ice. But there are also many who use trucks for their intended purpose.
Access to affordable personal transportation is one of the reasons why the US economy did so well in the 20th Century compared to other countries. Owning an automobile is indeed part of the American tradition for most people, and there is no doubt we desperately need much better public transportation in suitable urban areas. But I'm sure personal transportation will be around in some form for a very long time to come. It provides great freedom to be able to go anyplace you wish any time you wish, instead of being at the mercy of public transportation. This is especially true if that public transportation is woefully inadequate, as it is in the great majority of places.
And the new Fiat 500 is hot. We definitely need more downsized vehicles like that. The problem is that a full-size pickup or SUV would squash it like a bug at highway speeds...
Access to affordable personal transportation is one of the reasons why the US economy did so well in the 20th Century compared to other countries. Owning an automobile is indeed part of the American tradition for most people, and there is no doubt we desperately need much better public transportation in suitable urban areas. But I'm sure personal transportation will be around in some form for a very long time to come. It provides great freedom to be able to go anyplace you wish any time you wish, instead of being at the mercy of public transportation. This is especially true if that public transportation is woefully inadequate, as it is in the great majority of places.
And the new Fiat 500 is hot. We definitely need more downsized vehicles like that. The problem is that a full-size pickup or SUV would squash it like a bug at highway speeds...
Thoughtful Thug
Deity
I think one of the major improvement left for automobiles is to implement a device that allows cars to drive you anywhere you want. If it is flawless, then there will be less traffic fatalities, tickets and no more DUI convictions.
http://www.ted.com/talks/view/lang/eng//id/1109
http://www.ted.com/talks/view/lang/eng//id/1109
Well obviously if you take it to an extreme, like say halving the size of the Kennedy Expressway in Chicago, you'll end up with a traffic nightmare. A much better investment is, as you pointed out, mass transit infrastructure.
noncon laughed at me for driving a Jeep Cherokee
But with snow possible for half the year, 4WD and a nice set of snow tires is a very worthwhile investment. Now of only I'd gotten something slightly more fuel efficient....The new Fiat 500 is really hot. I thought it looked stupid in commercials, and then I saw a convertible one driving and I wanted one bad.
