Cruise Control

[dmc]

In South Dakota I had the cruise control set at 95...

 

[marcski]

I've been a daily commuter by car in and around the NYC metro area for almost 20 years. I don't get annoyed easily or often while driving. Driving as much as I do, I do see a whole hell of a lot of people that do. At times, I have found myself to be the target of their aggressions. When this occurs, I try to usually get to the middle lane and of course, they're passing me on the left...cursing me giving me the finger or what have you..and I turn my head and look over at them with a big shit-eating grin wave to them with a big smile.

 

[snoseek]

I've been a daily commuter by car in and around the NYC metro area for almost 20 years. I don't get annoyed easily or often while driving. Driving as much as I do, I do see a whole hell of a lot of people that do. At times, I have found myself to be the target of their aggressions. When this occurs, I try to usually get to the middle lane and of course, they're passing me on the left...cursing me giving me the finger or what have you..and I turn my head and look over at them with a big shit-eating grin wave to them with a big smile.

This is the best approach I think. 20 years driving NYC and your not angry and jaded, I'm impressed!

 

[billski]

I've been a daily commuter by car in and around the NYC metro area for almost 20 years. I don't get annoyed easily or often while driving. Driving as much as I do, I do see a whole hell of a lot of people that do. At times, I have found myself to be the target of their aggressions. When this occurs, I try to usually get to the middle lane and of course, they're passing me on the left...cursing me giving me the finger or what have you..and I turn my head and look over at them with a big shit-eating grin wave to them with a big smile.

The situation is often diffused by taking our you cell phone an clicking a picture or movie (or feigning thereof!) Once the aggressor realizes he's gonna be in the movies, he (yes, usually a he) usually clears the area...
I think the smile (which I sometimes do) can tend to aggravate them even more, though it calms me down!

 

[marcski]

The situation is often diffused by taking our you cell phone an clicking a picture or movie (or feigning thereof!) Once the aggressor realizes he's gonna be in the movies, he (yes, usually a he) usually clears the area...
I think the smile (which I sometimes do) can tend to aggravate them even more, though it calms me down!

Yes, I agree, Bill..the smile has multiple purposes. I'm also always thinking when I smile at them with the big poop eating grin...."you're such an asshole!". O.k. I'm off to fight the foils of the NYC metro roads now. Just going to the office today...so not going into Manhattan.

 

[drjeff]

Fell victim to some mass-hole this AM in a silver c-class mercedes with the tailgate hard then don't pass when I moved right maneuver. Had my cruise set at my normal 75 as I do on the highway on my way to work. Mass-hole closes up on me pretty quick, I get out of the way as soon as I cleared the car to my right. Mass-hole then stays the same equivalent distance behind me and I ended up getting boxed in by the 18 wheeler that was in the right lane infront of me since mass-hole decided that with open road infront of him it was better to go 75 than the quicker speed he closed up on me at when I was leading the way in the left lane :uzi: :uzi: :uzi:

Then the topper is my other mega car related pet peave that happened when I stopped at my local convienent store to pick up a snack for my daughter (since I forgot it at home this am ). I'm pulling to the parking lot at the convienence store. ALL of the parking spaces immediately next to the store (atmost 20 feet from the front door) are free, and some 300+ pounder pulls up and parks IN THE FIRE LANE right infront of the door so they can go in and buy their 2 packs of Marlboro Lights for the day :smash: USE a REAL PARKING SPACE!!!!!! God only knows they could have benefitted from the extra 20 steps they would have taken in parking in a real spot instead of the fire lane!!!!!

 

[billski]

Fell victim to some mass-hole this AM in a silver c-class mercedes with the tailgate hard then don't pass when I moved right maneuver. Had my cruise set at my normal 75 as I do on the highway on my way to work. Mass-hole closes up on me pretty quick, I get out of the way as soon as I cleared the car to my right. Mass-hole then stays the same equivalent distance behind me and I ended up getting boxed in by the 18 wheeler that was in the right lane infront of me since mass-hole decided that with open road infront of him it was better to go 75 than the quicker speed he closed up on me at when I was leading the way in the left lane

I tell ya Jeff, I'm honestly ashamed to have Mass plates. (shades of boarder stereotype!) You didn't say how many travel lanes there were. When they use the tailgate try and force me over, I just stay in the lane until he passes me, then I move over. I'm already 10mph over the limit. Pass me on the right, left, shoulder, I don't care, bullying ain't appropriate. then when they get home they can tell buffy and fluffy about the idiot slow driver in the left lane.

Did you hear about the state that took down the "keep right except to pass signs"? They claim it confused drivers - everyone thought they should drive in the right lane and the left lane had no speed limit. It was causing huge traffic jams. I guess driver education is not an option.

 

[drjeff]

I tell ya Jeff, I'm honestly ashamed to have Mass plates. (shades of boarder stereotype!) You didn't say how many travel lanes there were. When they use the tailgate try and force me over, I just stay in the lane until he passes me, then I move over. I'm already 10mph over the limit. Pass me on the right, left, shoulder, I don't care, bullying ain't appropriate. then when they get home they can tell buffy and fluffy about the idiot slow driver in the left lane.

Did you hear about the state that took down the "keep right except to pass signs"? They claim it confused drivers - everyone thought they should drive in the right lane and the left lane had no speed limit. It was causing huge traffic jams. I guess driver education is not an option.

This AM: 2 lanes, interstate highway way, light traffic.

I know all too well about CT's "no passing on the right" law as I had the pleasure a number of years ago on the Merit Parkway one night of seeing the flashing lights in my rear view mirror after being stuck behind someone locked in the left lane who refused to go above 50 (55mph speed limit) and after about 5 minutes I finally had an opening to the inside and went for it - DOH!!!! Cop (who was 2 cars behind me the entire time) was atleast cool about it and just issued me a warning and said that if he was riding behind the car I was stuck behind, he would have flipped the roof bar lights on to help encourage the 50mph driver to "keep right except to pass"

 

[Warp Daddy]

I feel for you guys i effing hate tailgaters and pokes alike . one of the GOOD things about living up here is we don't have population density and thus our morning /evening commute ( which i no longer have ) was a nice drive in the country except during Whiteouts

The 17 mile commute took me 17 minutes but in a whiteout with mostly open pastureland and whipping winds it was challenging run with snowbanks sometimes over the top of the car creating a tunnel effect with snow whipping evey which way

 

[severine]

This AM: 2 lanes, interstate highway way, light traffic.

I know all too well about CT's "no passing on the right" law as I had the pleasure a number of years ago on the Merit Parkway one night of seeing the flashing lights in my rear view mirror after being stuck behind someone locked in the left lane who refused to go above 50 (55mph speed limit) and after about 5 minutes I finally had an opening to the inside and went for it - DOH!!!! Cop (who was 2 cars behind me the entire time) was atleast cool about it and just issued me a warning and said that if he was riding behind the car I was stuck behind, he would have flipped the roof bar lights on to help encourage the 50mph driver to "keep right except to pass"

Interesting. I'm pretty sure Brian looked that up sometime in the last year and it said that as long as there was room, you could pass on the right.

 

[drjeff]

Interesting. I'm pretty sure Brian looked that up sometime in the last year and it said that as long as there was room, you could pass on the right.

"Sec. 14-233. Passing on right. The driver of a vehicle may overtake and pass upon the right of another vehicle only when conditions permit such movement in safety and under the following conditions: (1) When the vehicle overtaken is making or has signified the intention to make a left turn; (2) when lines of vehicles traveling in the same direction in adjoining traffic lanes have come to a stop or have reduced their speed; (3) upon a one-way street free from obstructions and of sufficient width for two or more lines of moving vehicles; (4) upon a limited access highway or parkway free from obstructions with three or more lanes provided for traffic in one direction. Such movement shall not be made by driving off the pavement or main-traveled portion of the highway except where lane designations, signs, signals or markings provide for such movement. Violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction"

Short version, it's a no-no on a 2 LANE limited access highway in CT (hence why I got bagged for it on the Merit)

 

[severine]

Short version, it's a no-no on a 2 LANE limited access highway in CT (hence why I got bagged for it on the Merit)

I've only been on the Merit once and didn't remember that it was 2 lanes. Makes sense then, although it's still stupid. If someone is hogging the passing lane, you shouldn't be penalized for passing them in the travel lane.

 

[bvibert]

Interesting. I'm pretty sure Brian looked that up sometime in the last year and it said that as long as there was room, you could pass on the right.

Short version, it's a no-no on a 2 LANE limited access highway in CT (hence why I got bagged for it on the Merit)

Yup, that's what I found when we had this discussion last year. As long as it's 3 lanes or more (not counting slow vehicle lanes) on a limited access highway it's okay, otherwise no.

 

[bvibert]

I've only been on the Merit once and didn't remember that it was 2 lanes. Makes sense then, although it's still stupid. If someone is hogging the passing lane, you shouldn't be penalized for passing them in the travel lane.

Agreed!

 

[billski]

This AM: 2 lanes, interstate highway way, light traffic.

I know all too well about CT's "no passing on the right" law as I had the pleasure a number of years ago on the Merit Parkway one night of seeing the flashing lights in my rear view mirror after being stuck behind someone locked in the left lane who refused to go above 50 (55mph speed limit) and after about 5 minutes I finally had an opening to the inside and went for it - DOH!!!! Cop (who was 2 cars behind me the entire time) was atleast cool about it and just issued me a warning and said that if he was riding behind the car I was stuck behind, he would have flipped the roof bar lights on to help encourage the 50mph driver to "keep right except to pass"

Come to Mass. not only is it legal, you can pretty much do anything you damn well please. :evil: They don't fund the cops well enough to enforce anything. :evil:

 

[Marc]

If I'm being tailgated... generally I try to remember the hazards associated with such a situation... and slow waay down. Sure it makes the 'gater follow closer, but it's safer at a slower speed. I pull over and let them pass when I can. It's safer for yourself to do that then to try and tailgate in return. I guarantee the a*hole driver is not going to stop tailgating because you do it back to them. It'll just piss 'em off. Life is too short for that shiat, and if I'm going to kill myself, it's going to be on the mountain, not on the way to the mountain.

In general I try to drive as defensively as I can. It's important to remember the danger involved in letting road rage get to you... if you just let that thought float through your head when you start getting heated, it often helps to bring you back to your senses.

 

[drjeff]

Come to Mass. not only is it legal, you can pretty much do anything you damn well please. :evil: They don't fund the cops well enough to enforce anything. :evil:

Oh yah Bill! As soon as I cross into MA, I'm 4 wheeling down the medium at about 85 (and still getting passed!) :lol: Or when you hit the breakdown lane on 128 right as it opens up and becomes legal to use at 3PM

Just can't beat my trips to VT (I use the Mass Pike between I-84 and I-91) when you get in the pack in the left lane on the pike going 85-90, just cruise by a couple of cops, never once hitting the brakes and not getting stopped! I've had a couple of trips in that scenario where I've covered those roughly 30 miles of Mass Pike in 22/23 minutes

 

[ctenidae]

If I'm being tailgated... generally I try to remember the hazards associated with such a situation... and slow waay down. Sure it makes the 'gater follow closer, but it's safer at a slower speed. I pull over and let them pass when I can. It's safer for yourself to do that then to try and tailgate in return. I guarantee the a*hole driver is not going to stop tailgating because you do it back to them. It'll just piss 'em off. Life is too short for that shiat, and if I'm going to kill myself, it's going to be on the mountain, not on the way to the mountain.

In general I try to drive as defensively as I can. It's important to remember the danger involved in letting road rage get to you... if you just let that thought float through your head when you start getting heated, it often helps to bring you back to your senses.

A properly executed brake check can work wonders.
Especially if you need a new car.

 

[redalienx11]

i was gonna invent a light on your bumper that turn on when cruise control is on. that way yo-yo drivers might realize how much of an ass they're being

 

[jaywbigred]

Says "and who's driving?".

I never use cruise. Don't like it plus I pay more attention to whats going on without it. I find a lot of people tend to slow down unintentionally going up slight hills, accelerate going down. I think I'm pretty good at maintaining my speed, but I know when the kids are quizzing me or asking for something I'll slow down some.

Amen. I hate cruise. Takes you out of focus and I feel like I have less control of the vehicle/less reaction time with my foot flat on the floor.

I will use cruise frequently, but if I'm tired, I won't... I find that not using cruise keeps me more involved in driving and thus, more alert.

-w

Agreed. Long trips, it def. keeps you more alert to forgo the CC.

The situation is often diffused by taking our you cell phone an clicking a picture or movie (or feigning thereof!) Once the aggressor realizes he's gonna be in the movies, he (yes, usually a he) usually clears the area...
I think the smile (which I sometimes do) can tend to aggravate them even more, though it calms me down!

I use the fake cellphone picture all the time in NJ. Works wonders.

My signature is a grimace accompanied with a bicep-flex and then a point (repeated 3 or 4 times) at the other driver, as if to say "Oh you very strong man, well done, you've shown me Mr. Macho!"

You see everything in Jersey, but I constantly thank the lords of highway driving that I don't live in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, or Massachusetts. Worst states for drivers, imo.