Yeah it's amazing how quickly things get sideways.
Mini Rant - Drive right, pass left!!
- Thread starter Ματθιας
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kamloops67
Member
Jim Watson
Member
I don't try to stop speeders, I just wonder why one law is important and the other one isn't. Most of my 4+ lane driving these days is on what you might call urban expressways, and ALL the lanes are well traveled.
I'm not going to lie that's just always the way I've driven. I get out of the way if somebody's coming up behind me but other than that I stay in the left lane.
Now that we've moved the nearest Interstate is about 50 miles from here and I'm pretty sure I haven't started my car in a week.
So I'm probably not going to impeding a bunch of Interstate traffic.
I think there's more to it than that. Mankind evolved to be a social animal. Most of the time we feel safer and more comfortable when we're a part of a group. If there are one or two big guys who can help defend the group, all the better. I think that is one of the reasons that a huge percentage of drivers slow down when they are passing another vehicle; and the bigger the vehicle they're passing the more they slow down. It's their limbic system telling them to form a group.
Of course, any small amount of rational thought will tell you that lingering next to a vehicle that's going 60-something miles per hour is just STUPID! And the bigger the vehicle, the stupider it is! Hence, the smart thing to do is get on past expeditiously, not to slow down. But this is another case of people driving while oblivious -- they're not thinking rationally, they're not thinking at all! They're just cruising along in a quasi-stupor, barely even aware of what's around them. So the limbic system takes over, and they slow down to pace the larger vehicle for a while.
At least, that's the theory that I come up with when I over-think this.
Jim Watson
Member
I think the highway engineers call that "statistical clustering" and a rational reason is going to be hard to find.
ridewv
Member
Yeah the worst scenario is someone slowing down then driving beside in all the spray when passing an 18 wheeler in rain. And rather than speed up they turn their wipers on fast and just stay there pacing the truck. Anymore when behind someone I actually stay back in this scenario until they have completed their pass before I proceed because so many seem to do this.
LVSteve
Member
On this basis, then what my wife says is true, I am from another planet.I think there's more to it than that. Mankind evolved to be a social animal. Most of the time we feel safer and more comfortable when we're a part of a group. If there are one or two big guys who can help defend the group, all the better. I think that is one of the reasons that a huge percentage of drivers slow down when they are passing another vehicle; and the bigger the vehicle they're passing the more they slow down. It's their limbic system telling them to form a group.
Of course, any small amount of rational thought will tell you that lingering next to a vehicle that's going 60-something miles per hour is just STUPID! And the bigger the vehicle, the stupider it is! Hence, the smart thing to do is get on past expeditiously, not to slow down. But this is another case of people driving while oblivious -- they're not thinking rationally, they're not thinking at all! They're just cruising along in a quasi-stupor, barely even aware of what's around them. So the limbic system takes over, and they slow down to pace the larger vehicle for a while.
At least, that's the theory that I come up with when I over-think this.
venomballistics
Member
Yup, nope .... Ill be that set of tail lights about a quarter mile ahead.I think there's more to it than that. Mankind evolved to be a social animal. Most of the time we feel safer and more comfortable when we're a part of a group. If there are one or two big guys who can help defend the group, all the better. I think that is one of the reasons that a huge percentage of drivers slow down when they are passing another vehicle; and the bigger the vehicle they're passing the more they slow down. It's their limbic system telling them to form a group.
Of course, any small amount of rational thought will tell you that lingering next to a vehicle that's going 60-something miles per hour is just STUPID! And the bigger the vehicle, the stupider it is! Hence, the smart thing to do is get on past expeditiously, not to slow down. But this is another case of people driving while oblivious -- they're not thinking rationally, they're not thinking at all! They're just cruising along in a quasi-stupor, barely even aware of what's around them. So the limbic system takes over, and they slow down to pace the larger vehicle for a while.
At least, that's the theory that I come up with when I over-think this.
No point in forming groups if we can't drink and have a rolling kegger party
Stupidity on the road will never change, just do the best you can and drive defensively. Some states enforce the left lane pass only , Alabama has the law but does not enforce it .
LOL at "cuddlers"...
I've always called them 'followers'... they have to be latched onto someone, and if they get separated and are alone, they either catch up and latch onto your blind spot, or speed up as you pass them to stay in formation.
And a pox on adaptive cruise control and all the other crutches that teach people they don't need to pay attention.
I call them herd animals. They are more comfortable traveling with the herd.
I resemble that remark!
For me it isn't as much as what the speed limit is as obstructing the flow of traffic. If everyone is moving along at 72 in a 65 except one motorist, that is a distraction and a larger deterrent to flow than one guy weaving in and out at 80. Both are dangerous but the slow one puts more people passing than the other. That is why large and wide loads get placards,
