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AngloAustrian
New Member
24 Posts |
 Posted - 21 Jul 2010 : 14:48:58
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I’ve been slugging for nearly a year now, and I love it. I am grateful to all who drive, who pick up more (especially the lady who took 7 one time at 8:00 p.m.) and just love it. I'm also grateful to this community who take time to post responses to queries etc. on this board. I find most drivers and riders are polite, follow the rules, and have serviceable cars.
I have one little, teensy weensy little observation, though, and this concerns the largish number of drivers who tailgate. Having been rear-ended twice now, I am very sensitive to tailgating and find that a lot of the time, when slugging as a rider, I must just close my eyes and think of England when riding as many drivers like to drive waaaay too close to the car in front. So, I beg you drivers out there, please don’t drive so closely to the car in front. According to the Registry of Motor Vehicles, they recommend a “2- second” rule. Pick a landmark – a building, street sign or telephone pole. When the car in front of you passes it, start counting slowly. If you reach the landmark in your car before counting to two, you're driving too closely. The AARP advises members to count to three to be on the safe side. Another guideline says you should allow a car length's distance for every 10 miles of speed. For example, if you're driving 50 m.p.h., the gap between you and the next car should be five car lengths long. Yes, I know, someone might cut in front of you if you leave a gap, but safety should be the primary issue here, especially when you have passengers in your car, not being slowed down a few seconds.
So, that’s my gripe, I mean, observation. Please keep your distance. |
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CJ
Average Member
84 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jul 2010 : 18:05:17
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You must be new to DC. While I would normally agree about tailgating, I find that if you don't drive closer than normal you will continually be cut off by people trying to zigzag in traffic.
CJ |
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Pele
Senior Member Member
124 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jul 2010 : 20:30:54
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Could just do like one guy did today in the HOV lanes and pass a whole line of cars on the shoulder...
I was in the line of cars and I was clocking 70ish... I wasn't pleased with going that slow, but it was at least close to the speed limit... Could've been worse. But I'm still not gonna pull out onto the shoulder to pass people.
He was doing close to 90.
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Times to beat:
Horner Rd to/from Pentagon: 12 mins Without Slugs - 17 mins With slugs
Dale City exit to/from 3rd St Tunnel, D.C. 18 mins (No slugs - Holiday) |
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USA
Advanced Member
266 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jul 2010 : 09:53:34
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quote:
Originally posted by AngloAustrian
.... For example, if you're driving 50 m.p.h., the gap between you and the next car should be five car lengths long. Yes, I know, someone might cut in front of you if you leave a gap, but safety should be the primary issue here, especially when you have passengers in your car, not being slowed down a few seconds.
....
I agree with you in principle, but the problem is that if you take the proposition you've raised and carry it to its conclusion it means that you'll continually be backing off the entire time and you'll never get anywhere because people will constantly be cutting into the gap and you'll then back off to maintain your following distance behind that person, at which time another person will cut in. It becomes self-defeating.
With that said, people need to quit the tailgating crap. My windshield washers are pointed just the slightest bit high and when someone tailgates me, especially if I'm in any lane other than the left lane (which is normal, as I hate left-lane hogs), they'll get sprayed by my washers. It usually startles them and they back off pretty quickly. If that doesn't work, I'll happily go right on, or slower than, the speed limit. I'm not going to let some SFB tailgater think he can intimidate me. |
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AngloAustrian
New Member
24 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jul 2010 : 10:36:41
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Well, it is true that I am European (commuting three years now) and I am a riding slug, not a driving slug, and I avoid the rush hour as much as possible (as a driver), but I do drive all the time up and down the 95 and find that I am able to keep a safe distance and still get to where I am going no matter what speed I am driving at. I haven't rear-ended anybody yet!! I even watch my Nuvi to see how I am doing and usually get there as the nuvi says I will (and I keep my distance). And, yes, people cut in front of me, but not at such an enormous rate to slow me down when I am going at the speed limit. Yesterday, I saw four cars all driving within a car length of each other at 65mph. Yikes - all it takes is.....and boom. I often watch the "zig zaggers" and note that, after driving like crazies for half an hour, in and out of lanes, especially when the traffic is slow, they are most of the time not usually that far in front of me! I have also observed on the HOV that most cars are going at or close to the speed limit, so am not sure what the necessity is to be so close to the car in front. If a car cuts in front of you, if you keep enough distance it's not a problem, you just back off another car length or two and keep going. It slows you down maybe a second. So, if a hundred cars (highly unlikely - try it and see) cut in front of you during your at-the-speed limit commute, then it's only a minute or two added to your commute. I think that's a low price to pay for less accidents and more safety. I let the crazies get on with the job of killing themselves and somebody else (sadly), and keep my distance. My main issue is when people are tailgating at 60-70 mph with captive passengers. It's very scary and really not necessary, but I understand that it's a fact of life when slugging - I just wanted to remind people to be aware and to give them a tool to check to see if they are tailgating, if they wanted to drive more safely.
Maybe we can have a "count the car lengths and see if it really slows your commute down to be a safe driver" day! |
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trapps
New Member
10 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jul 2010 : 11:03:52
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I agree about the tailgaiting problem but we need to also follow some of the europen ways like if you want to cruise do it in the right hand land. Thats for slower drivers . That would stop a lot of the guys weaving in and out (some) not all.  I don't weave in and out but i do give a courtesy flash of the lights when i see drivers driving slow with no traffice in front of them for a good distance. Then some will not move and when you try to pass them on the right speed up
750LI |
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CJ
Average Member
84 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jul 2010 : 16:30:50
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The problem with people cutting you off (say 10 people do)and so it only adds a minute or two to YOUR commute, even at a safe distance you're going to brake and the person behind you will brake and so on, I watch it happen every morning, soon traffic is backed up miles. Now to be sure tailgating isn't the answer but the true problem are the complete tools who think they are more important than everyone else and cut in and out of traffic. The other big problem are the people who drive slow in the left hand lane which causes people to become frustrated and do said zigzagging (but that's another rant for another day!)
CJ |
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AngloAustrian
New Member
24 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jul 2010 : 08:13:44
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First question - what is "slow" in the left hand lane (just so I know - I obviously know what the speed limit is and the safe "over-the-speed-limit" speed, but maybe there is some unwritten law of what speed you must be driving at to be considered "slow." I'd hate to be driving at 74 in the left hand lane and still be considered slow! After all, I'm likely to get a ticket at 75 or over.
I hear all of your arguments, and did a little research. The general agreement is that other people cutting and weaving in and out of traffic is the real problem, but the rest of the driving community is tailgaiting to stop them doing this.
The following links are very interesting and attempt to prove that tailgating is a big part of the traffic flow problem. If cars are too close together, the first one brakes, and then must speed up again, while everybody behind him slams on their brakes to do the same. Keeping a safe distance allows for less frantic braking and more gentle adjustment of speed, thus allowing for constant movement of traffic. I also liked the articles talking about how less people than you think cut in front of you when you keep a safe distance from the car in front. It's just a thought, but wouldn't it be nice if everybody tried it just for one day.....
http://www.dctech.com/physics/features/0700.php
http://www.amasci.com/amateur/traffic/traffic1.html
http://trafficwaves.org/tfaq.html#18
http://trafficwaves.org/tfaq.html#five
http://arxiv.org/abs/cond-mat/9805025
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mycroftt
Advanced Member
379 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jul 2010 : 12:22:21
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quote:
Originally posted by AngloAustrian
First question - what is "slow" in the left hand lane (just so I know - I obviously know what the speed limit is and the safe "over-the-speed-limit" speed, but maybe there is some unwritten law of what speed you must be driving at to be considered "slow." I'd hate to be driving at 74 in the left hand lane and still be considered slow! After all, I'm likely to get a ticket at 75 or over.
If you are driving in the left lane and cars are lining up behind you, you are driving too slow for the left lane and you should move to the right. If those cars behind you start passing you on the right, you are driving too slow for the left lane and you should move to the right. If the cars behind you start passing you on the right and then pull into the left lane directly in front of you, you are driving WAY TOO SLOW for the left lane an you should move over to the right. There is no magic number that determines what is too slow - it is really just determined by what the other drivers want to do - if you are in the left lane and it looks like somebody wants to pass you then move into the right lane and let them go. |
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AngloAustrian
New Member
24 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jul 2010 : 13:48:57
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Well, then, it seems like it's not really a case of going too "slow" (if you're going at 10 mph above the speed limit in the left lane), it's more a case of getting out of the way of those going too fast!!! |
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trapps
New Member
10 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jul 2010 : 14:06:03
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I agree no one is forcing the slow drivers in the left lane to go faster or speed they want you to move so they can drive thru. Staying in the left lane and holding traffic does cause the weavers! Some of them anyway lol
750LI |
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USA
Advanced Member
266 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jul 2010 : 15:48:58
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Assuming traffic is flowing freely, if you're driving in the left lane for any reason other than to pass someone or to access a left-lane exit (Seminary Road or the Franconia-Springfield Parkway, for example), you're in the wrong and you need to move over to the right. The left lane is not the "fast lane." The left lane is the passing lane. There is no speed at which it becomes "OK" to cruise in the left lane. Also, it is not OK to park yourself in the left lane at the Pentagon in anticipation of exiting at Shirlington or Seminary. Stay in the right lane as you're supposed to do and move left shortly before you reach your exit.
Of course, as a practical matter there's often too much traffic for proper lane discipline to be viable in the DC area. But that's easily resolved too. If the right lane is going 60 mph and the left lane is going 70 mph, but you want to go 65, you either slow down to 60 and move right or speed up to 70 and move left. Tailgating people in the right lane to make them speed up is dangerous. Blocking the left lane to slow people down is rude (and it's illegal under Virginia law, too). Weaving in and out because you think both lanes are too slow ought to be prosecuted as reckless driving. |
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mycroftt
Advanced Member
379 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jul 2010 : 16:33:04
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quote:
Originally posted by AngloAustrian
Well, then, it seems like it's not really a case of going too "slow" (if you're going at 10 mph above the speed limit in the left lane), it's more a case of getting out of the way of those going too fast!!!
Exactly. Well said! |
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LedFooT
New Member
6 Posts |
Posted - 24 Jul 2010 : 18:01:39
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Wrong, wrong, and then WRONG AGAIN!
The left-hand lane is call the "overtake" lane for a reason. This is a simple, simple concept, people!!
1 - My drive home should not be like a pace lap at a NASCAR race. If you are in the left (read: fast, passing, overtake) lane and pacing the guy next to you, you are a JERK. Move over or taste my bumper
2 - If you are driving in the left lane and not keeping up with traffic (meaning there is a significant gap or no cars in front of you), you are a JERK. Move over or taste my bumper.
Two very, very simple rules with the same very, very simple consequence.
There is also a very appropriate quote to match this sage advice:
"Lead, follow, or get the hell OUT OF THE WAY! |
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Pele
Senior Member Member
124 Posts |
Posted - 25 Jul 2010 : 16:15:15
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^
Taste your bumper?
Tailgate me and you'll be tasting MINE.
I drive a fairly well beaten up truck and I will brake check anyone if I can not see their grille in my rear view.
If you're driving a car, you probably won't do much damage to the truck, but my trailer hitch will definitely take out your front end.
If you're driving a truck as well, you'll be liable for any damages you do succeed in causing. I welcome an insurance check, as it's money in my pocket.
I hate left lane hogs as much as the next guy and I've got plenty of weight in my right shoe as well... But I rank tailgaters AND people who drive at the speed limit when there are no cops around pretty equally.
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Times to beat:
Horner Rd to/from Pentagon: 12 mins Without Slugs - 17 mins With slugs
Dale City exit to/from 3rd St Tunnel, D.C. 18 mins (No slugs - Holiday) |
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AngloAustrian
New Member
24 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jul 2010 : 08:19:52
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My final note. After USA's post, I researched left lane driving. USA is right that it is ILLEGAL (I didn't know this) to hog the left lane EVEN IF THE PERSON BEHIND YOU DYING TO GET PAST YOU IS SPEEDING (in Virginia). Yes, you heard that right, even if the person behind you is doing 100, and you are doing 80 and are thinking, "What's his problem, I'm going fast enough and I'm not moving" etc., you have to get out of their way!! That pretty much blew my mind. The police say they'll take care of speeding motorists later down the road if they catch them - you do not take the situation into your own hands. Get out of their way if there is noone in front of you.
However, having said that, I still feel that, as long as you are going faster in the left lane than the rest of the traffic in the other lanes (i.e., passing) and keeping up with the flow of traffic in the left lane (no mile long gap in front of you), then you should be permitted (per safety recommendations) to keep a safe driving distance from the car in front (say a car length for each 10 mph) without being tailgated and flashed and being forced to slow down and move over for everybody who wants to tailgate the car in front of you and so on. Keeping up with the traffic in the left lane and not tailgating appears to be within the law.
So, some lessons learned all around. |
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Tailgating - just a thought....
