That would be impossible for just about anyone...........with the possible exception of a professional racecar driver.

It takes a minimum of 1/2 second to move your leg from the accelerator to the brake...........and that would be very fast.

I've done it on a machine. One can move their foot as fast as their fingers. Actually the .2 includes moving the appendage and tripping the switch.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

It amazes me the risks people take to save 5 seconds. I've had this happen on 5 lane urban freeways - when I was in the 2nd slowest lane.

How many people here will accelerate to close the gap when they see someone coming up on the right to shoot a gap like this? I am not at all interested in playing traffic cop, but it does seem safer to shut down the risk taking driver than to enable the maneuver. (I'm assuming there's more time and space to react than Tom describes in his little adventure.) I'm sure Brian will have an opinion on the proper response

I will close up under some circumstances, but only if it can be done preemptively enough that it is not dangerous. I normally only do this if in a heavy traffic situation moving slowly where the intruder really is not gaining much but is stealing my comfortable following distance.

If they want to pass me and move on I have no issues with it. it does irritate if they pass then slow down once in front.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I have a personal abhorrence for those who must absolutely go at 80 mph in a 55 zone and utilize the right lane in conjunction with the left to maintain that speed. They do this because they do not wish to wait behind the pack that is doing about 70 in the left lane.

I don't travel with the pack in the left lane and prefer the center lane if the road has one.

So, I play the game of "pinch the DB".

If there is traffic in the right lane, I watch for the DB coming up on the right (several hundred feet back). If I can, I close the gap between myself and the right lane traffic so that the DB must slow to right lane speed and, finally, capitulate and move directly behind me, and finally off to the left lane where the DB belongs.

Of course, this game can result in failure if I time it wrong and the DB is really moving. The result would be a TW encounter as mentioned above. I would never do what he did however. If the DB clips the front end on the M/B, I'll be pleased to get a new fender and paint. I got $850 from the last DB after taking her to small claims court and I didn't even have a police report (after waiting 3 1/2 hours for the police to show).

It's a miserable game of avoid the DB's. I really don't enjoy any of it anymore.

I wouldn't EVER risk an accident at 70 mph on the highway if I can avoid it. No telling what all would be collected up in it. No matter whose fault it is if someone gets hurt I would much prefer not to be involved.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Question:
How did you not observe BMW's fast rate of closing in your rear view mirror? Where'd he come from? Were you on a 2 or 3 lane hiway? Even on a three laner I think he could have been seen in the rear view mirror closing up fast or lane jumping. I always try to monitor what's behind me as much as what's ahead, if not more so, depending on the circumstances.

In similar circumstances, I try to make sure the gap is closed before the DB gets to my 3 oclock, so there's no doubt in his mind he can't make it around me. Always watch your six.

Two lane interstate, a steady stream in the left lane behind me even though I am running 8 over, a space between slow moving semis, and I did not see him because of people behind me blocking my view and because he came so fast. I always keep an eye out behind too but I have to watch the front as well.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

If that individual you consider a DB is a half mile ahead of you and pulling away, what effect does he have on the progress of your journey? If he is behind you, wanting to go 80, and you're going say 60, what effect are you having on the progress of their journey?

There are some safety concerns with passing on the right, and it is illegal in some places. I would rather do all my passing on the left, but thanks to left lane campers, this is not always possible. Some suggestions from me:

Avoid the left lane unless actively passing.
Be prepared to be overtaken on either side, no matter how fast you're going.
If someone behind you wants to go faster, let them.
Always take appropriate action to avoid a collision.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 401,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 26,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.
99 Mazda Miata 183,xxx miles.

On Saturday I was driving my daughters 01 Mb 300e wagon to Nashville for my sister to borrow. I was cruising along in the left lane along with a whole group of folks. I got hungry and ate a banana. I opened the window and launched the peel out the window. (its biodegradable right?)....apparently the peel hit the car behind me and they got all hot and bothered about it. Came up on my right and honked and honked. After passing the semi I got over and they sped away honking as they passed.

I bet it I had done the same thing in my 3/4 ton Dodge diesel they would not have done any of that.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Seems likely he was in the queue of cars behind you then went full throttle in a gap between semi trucks on the right. He was probably only in the right lane for 10 seconds, so it's not like you would see him coming if scanning the mirrors every 30 seconds.

Exactly.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

My two eyed radar rotates faster than yours apparently. Probably every 10 or 15 seconds. The higher the speed the more frequently I tend to look behind me.
Course, I usually drive alone & don't text or yak on blue tooth.........or have a lovely wife next to me as a distraction.

I don't text even when sitting still and don't have Bluetooth. I will admit to having a lovely wife though.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Here are the fundamental problems with three of your suggestions:

1) This recommendation only works in areas where traffic is moderate. In congested areas such as the roadways around NYC, the left lane is a travel lane. It generally moves 5-7 mph faster than the middle lane and probably 10 mph faster than the right lane. In such a condition, there is traffic such as myself passing center lane traffic at 67 mph or so. However, there is a DB about six feet behind my rear bumper who doesn't understand the vehicle and traffic law and feels it is his god given right to go 80 in a 55.

So, around here, your suggestion doesn't work.

2) Naturally, this happens routinely around here. The problem with this approach is the fact that the DB is going 75 in the right lane and closing fast on traffic that is going about 60. His only option is to cut off the traffic in the middle lane or get stuck behind the slower traffic in the right lane. For a DB, this is simply unacceptable and he WILL cut off the center lane traffic, by a couple of feet if necessary, to avoid getting stuck in the right lane que.

My desire is to stuff him in the right lane que and force him to move to the left lane (way behind me) where the DB belongs.

3) A simplistic argument if there ever was one. Of course, if they want to go faster, they have every right to do so.........IN THE LEFT LANE.........

4) If it wasn't for the paperwork and the time, I'd really love to take some of these DB's to small claims court. I've done it twice already and won some money both times. However, the time and effort, and the real problem of "he said...........she said" doesn't bode well for this approach and I agree with your suggestion.