interstate etiquette: a brief primer - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Brian Carlton · #16 09-22-2011, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cscmc1

I know of someone who was in a hurry and merged at the last moment at a construction zone. A state trooper saw him and pulled him over just past the end of the work zone, and had him wait until he said he could continue on. I think he delayed him for 30 minutes or so. Poetic justice.

I had some poetic justice of my own:

A DB was following me for at least 10 miles on a two lane road that leads to the north fork of Long Island. I generally run the speed limit or +5 at the most in these rural areas. There are cars and kids and pedestrians and the 30 mph limit is important if you need to stop in a hurry.

So, the DB is riding me for the entire distance............maybe 20-40 feet behind...........annoying as hell. No horn or lights, however.

Finally, at a traffic light, the DB moves onto the shoulder and disappears past the line of cars in front of me. In the distance, however, I see the brake lights come on the the vehicle come to an abrupt stop.

Traffic moves forward and, lo and behold, the DB is stopped with a state trooper vehicle right behind HER.

Ahhh...........Karma...........made my entire day.

cscmc1 · #17 09-22-2011, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

I had some poetic justice of my own:

A DB was following me for at least 10 miles on a two lane road that leads to the north fork of Long Island. I generally run the speed limit or +5 at the most in these rural areas. There are cars and kids and pedestrians and the 30 mph limit is important if you need to stop in a hurry.

So, the DB is riding me for the entire distance............maybe 20-40 feet behind...........annoying as hell. No horn or lights, however.

Finally, at a traffic light, the DB moves onto the shoulder and disappears past the line of cars in front of me. In the distance, however, I see the brake lights come on the the vehicle come to an abrupt stop.

Traffic moves forward and, lo and behold, the DB is stopped with a state trooper vehicle right behind HER.

Ahhh...........Karma...........made my entire day.

SOOOO satisfying, isn't it?

Another one of mine: we live in a college town, and every year it's the same -- when the kids are coming back in the fall, or after a break, you simply steer clear of the interstate and the access road to the interstate. A couple of years ago I found myself on the highway, though, and 2 kids zipped past ON THE SHOULDER, racing, easily doing over 100mph. I was doing 72 or so, and they passed me in no time.

Anyway, I couldn't believe anyone would be so foolish to do that in traffic, and on a narrow, sloped shoulder just before a bridge, no less. It was a small SUV of some sort following a Honda. Well, ~15 miles later, I get to my exit, which is a clover-leaf affair, and lo and behold, that little SUV is laying on it's side off the ramp, and has obviously rolled several times. I hope the kid(s) was alright, but geez... what a dumba$$.

Brian Carlton · #18 09-22-2011, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cscmc1

SOOOO satisfying, isn't it?

Anyway, I couldn't believe anyone would be so foolish to do that in traffic, and on a narrow, sloped shoulder just before a bridge, no less. It was a small SUV of some sort following a Honda. Well, ~15 miles later, I get to my exit, which is a clover-leaf affair, and lo and behold, that little SUV is laying on it's side off the ramp, and has obviously rolled several times. I hope the kid(s) was alright, but geez... what a dumba$$.

Absolutely.

I had one of those as well.

Entering an expressway the DB is directly behind me.

However, most folks entering at this location are immediately going to exit at the next ramp............about 3/4 mile down the road. Most folks remain in the queue lineup for this next ramp and are doing about 45 or so. Why bother accelerating to 65 when you're exiting anyway?

But, the DB cannot wait..........of course. He moves over into the center lane and accelerates his DB vehicle up to 65 and passes the line of cars in the right lane and when he gets to the point of no return, he shoves his DB vehicle back into line, just in time to make the exit.

Well..........

We follow around the ramp and merge onto the next expressway and, lo and behold, within 1/2 mile...........there is the DB on the left shoulder rammed into the cement divider wall with a shytebox parked about 300 feet beyond him.

Happened in two minutes.............EXCELLENT.

It then took 10 minutes of arguing with the GF NOT to go over there (cross three lanes off traffic on foot) to see if he is OK. She's an MD...........fortunately, I did win the argument. But, we had to wait until a police vehicle arrived............

lutzTD · #19 09-22-2011, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwampYankee

My father always waxes poetically about driving through parts of the midwest. People drive sanely, generally stay out of the left lane unless passing, routinely use turn signals and allow cars to pass and merge. When approaching construction zones, "Lane Closed Ahead" signals folks to move to the open lane miles ahead of the closure only slowing to the construction zone speed and then they're through, resuming highway speeds.

Here in the Northeast, it's a race to see which @$$hole can be the last one to merge in before taking out the cones or sign, forcing everyone behind said @$$hole to slam on their brakes bringing traffic to a halt, which in turn encourages more @$$holes to pass the stopped traffic to merge at the last possible moment before taking out the cones or sign and the process repeats causing a big ol' cluster flock and wasting everyones time while they sit in a traffic jam. And turn signals are a sign of weakness that merely signal to those next to you to speed up to prevent you from daring to enter their "territory."

I always thought the best way to rid us of these guys was to put up a sign, "left lane ends in 1000Ft", then put a big hole at 990 feet

MS Fowler · #20 09-22-2011, 12:06 PM

Brian,
It isn't often when the cause and effect are so clearly, and closely related. Enjoy the moment.

cscmc1 · #21 09-22-2011, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

But, we had to wait until a police vehicle arrived............

In order to give your statement regarding DB's actions, I hope?

retmil46 · #22 09-22-2011, 01:36 PM

One thing I noticed on the trip from SA to NC last week, is that all along the route, I-35/I-30/I-40, the gendarmes were out in force and not at all tolerant of the usual douchebaggery - more likely the result of a push to fill empty state coffers than anything else - but not to quibble with the reasons for the sudden increase in traffic enforcement, I was content to enjoy the results.

Coming down the Black Mountain grade on I-40 after dark, just as I hit the bottom of the grade, I come upon a semi doing 65 in a 70 mph section. Just as I'm looking to pull over and pass the truck, here comes a gent in a Chrysler Crossfire screaming up beside me in the left lane. Just as he pulls even with the Jeep, he slows down to match speed with me and the truck, trapping me in behind the truck.

This goes on for nearly 2 minutes, and I'm beginning to wonder what this guy is up to. Finally, he speeds up to 70 and starts going around the truck. When he's nearly past the front of the truck, I pull over to go around as well. As soon as he sees me pull over into the left lane behind him, he slows down and matches speed with the truck once again.

I stayed back clear of the truck, waiting to see what this idiot was going to do. After another minute, apparently this guy decides I'm not going to play his game, and pushes it on up past 70 and goes on past the truck.

I go on past the truck myself, the DB was at least 10 car lengths ahead of me in the right lane and pulling away. I move back over into the right lane as well and put the cruise back on 70, figuring good riddance to this idiot.

Not so fast. The DB slows back down such that I'm gaining on him at a good clip, so when about 4 car lengths away I move over to the left lane to go around him. Just as I get past him far enough such that his front bumper is even with my rear, he speeds up again to match speeds with me and drive in my blind spot. WTF?

By now I'm getting a bad feeling about this idiot - he's acting like he's trying to provoke a response so he has an excuse to road rage me, or perhaps even pull a weapon. I just leave it on cruise at 70 and pretend like I don't notice him.

After about half a minute he slows and drops about 3 car lengths back, then moves over into the left lane behind me and matches speed, and slams his high beams on.

I don't do anything for about a half minute, then move over to the right lane. The DB matches my manuever, same distance away, still matching speed, high beams still on. Another half minute, he closes to only about a car length off my rear bumper, high beams still on.

Another half minute with still no response from me, he finally tires of his game, pulls out and flies past me like I'm standing still, giving me the one finger salute out the drivers window. Thankfully he kept on going this time and soon was out of sight.

About 2 minutes after this, here comes a state patrol car roaring past me - no colored lights on, just his headlights blinking in an alternating pattern - and he also roars on off into the night. A passing thought goes thru my mind, and I think to myself "please let this be what I think it is".

Sure enough, about 10 miles down the road, here's the DB and his Crossfire pulled over by the same state patrol that had roared past me - he'd been sitting at the side of the road in the darkness and had observed the DB playing his "game" as we'd went by.

I swear, I had the widest feces-eating grin on my face for the last 100 miles until I arrived home.

Brian Carlton · #23 09-22-2011, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cscmc1

In order to give your statement regarding DB's actions, I hope?

Oh, hell no. I had no desire to remain there for even one minute.

She just wanted to be sure he had proper care.........her due diligence as an MD.

Brian Carlton · #24 09-22-2011, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MS Fowler

Brian,
It isn't often when the cause and effect are so clearly, and closely related. Enjoy the moment.

Oh.........I did...........it was perfect.

Balanced out ten future episodes that went without punishment.

cscmc1 · #25 09-22-2011, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retmil46

About 2 minutes after this, here comes a state patrol car roaring past me - no colored lights on, just his headlights blinking in an alternating pattern - and he also roars on off into the night. A passing thought goes thru my mind, and I think to myself "please let this be what I think it is".

Beautiful!

Brian Carlton · #26 09-22-2011, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retmil46

I swear, I had the widest feces-eating grin on my face for the last 100 miles until I arrived home.

Enjoy it.

I love it when a DB gets his deserved result.

MS Fowler · #27 09-22-2011, 02:12 PM

retmil46,
I had a very similar experience with someone alternately tailgating and roaring ahead only to power brake in front of me, and then return to tailgate me. I was able to maneuver him into the left lane as we passed an exit, and at the last possible instant, i hit the ramp and exited the highway. He was too far past it to exit too. I gave him 5 minutes before I re-entered the highway, and saw no more of him.

cscmc1 · #28 09-22-2011, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MS Fowler

retmil46,
I had a very similar experience with someone alternately tailgating and roaring ahead only to power brake in front of me, and then return to tailgate me. I was able to maneuver him into the left lane as we passed an exit, and at the last possible instant, i hit the ramp and exited the highway. He was too far past it to exit too. I gave him 5 minutes before I re-entered the highway, and saw no more of him.

I now own a Subaru Impreza WRX, which attracts all kinds of unwanted attention. Yesterday was a prime example; a college-aged kid in a Corvette purposely slowed to move me to the adjacent lane, then had to stomp on the gas several times in rapid succession when I got next to him, all the while scowling at me.

Not sure what I did to draw his ire, or why he felt the need to abuse his car like that (it was clearly at automatic, and it lurched violently forward with each rev), but to each his own. He kept this up (and tried his darndest to line up next to me at the two stoplights we had to pass through) for about 7 miles before I exited.

I suppose that it was at least clear that this kid just wanted to race. It's the interstate headcases who play lane-change and speed-change games that really keep me wondering.

The Clk Man · #29 09-22-2011, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retmil46

One thing I noticed on the trip from SA to NC last week, is that all along the route, I-35/I-30/I-40, the gendarmes were out in force and not at all tolerant of the usual douchebaggery - more likely the result of a push to fill empty state coffers than anything else - but not to quibble with the reasons for the sudden increase in traffic enforcement, I was content to enjoy the results.

Coming down the Black Mountain grade on I-40 after dark, just as I hit the bottom of the grade, I come upon a semi doing 65 in a 70 mph section. Just as I'm looking to pull over and pass the truck, here comes a gent in a Chrysler Crossfire screaming up beside me in the left lane. Just as he pulls even with the Jeep, he slows down to match speed with me and the truck, trapping me in behind the truck.

This goes on for nearly 2 minutes, and I'm beginning to wonder what this guy is up to. Finally, he speeds up to 70 and starts going around the truck. When he's nearly past the front of the truck, I pull over to go around as well. As soon as he sees me pull over into the left lane behind him, he slows down and matches speed with the truck once again.

I stayed back clear of the truck, waiting to see what this idiot was going to do. After another minute, apparently this guy decides I'm not going to play his game, and pushes it on up past 70 and goes on past the truck.

I go on past the truck myself, the DB was at least 10 car lengths ahead of me in the right lane and pulling away. I move back over into the right lane as well and put the cruise back on 70, figuring good riddance to this idiot.

Not so fast. The DB slows back down such that I'm gaining on him at a good clip, so when about 4 car lengths away I move over to the left lane to go around him. Just as I get past him far enough such that his front bumper is even with my rear, he speeds up again to match speeds with me and drive in my blind spot. WTF?

By now I'm getting a bad feeling about this idiot - he's acting like he's trying to provoke a response so he has an excuse to road rage me, or perhaps even pull a weapon. I just leave it on cruise at 70 and pretend like I don't notice him.

After about half a minute he slows and drops about 3 car lengths back, then moves over into the left lane behind me and matches speed, and slams his high beams on.

I don't do anything for about a half minute, then move over to the right lane. The DB matches my manuever, same distance away, still matching speed, high beams still on. Another half minute, he closes to only about a car length off my rear bumper, high beams still on.

Another half minute with still no response from me, he finally tires of his game, pulls out and flies past me like I'm standing still, giving me the one finger salute out the drivers window. Thankfully he kept on going this time and soon was out of sight.

About 2 minutes after this, here comes a state patrol car roaring past me - no colored lights on, just his headlights blinking in an alternating pattern - and he also roars on off into the night. A passing thought goes thru my mind, and I think to myself "please let this be what I think it is".

Sure enough, about 10 miles down the road, here's the DB and his Crossfire pulled over by the same state patrol that had roared past me - he'd been sitting at the side of the road in the darkness and had observed the DB playing his "game" as we'd went by.

I swear, I had the widest feces-eating grin on my face for the last 100 miles until I arrived home.

I admire your restraint man, I can't say that I would have been so patient.

cscmc1 · #30 09-22-2011, 03:51 PM

Interesting:

http://www.mit.edu/~jfc/right.html