Cruise Control

[dmc]

I speed up and slow down depending on if there's cops hanging out...

 

[o3jeff]

A lot of times when people slow down for no reason I noticed they are talking on the phone(of course without a hands free device) so after I pass them I will drop right in front of them pretty close and drag my left foot on the brake pedal to wake them up.

 

[bigbog]

Maybe I spend too much time on the highways zipping between CT and VT...
Do you guys notice how inconsistantly people drive? .....

When you're in a rush to get through dense traffic...it all seems like a conspiracy, but that's often more "dreamt-up aggro" than in reality. As mentioned...people often lull-off or can be listening to ski/weather reports. When they're on a phone...they most always drive a little differently.
$.01

 

[Terry]

Maybe I spend too much time on the highways zipping between CT and VT...

Do you guys notice how inconsistantly people drive?

I can usually "set it and forget it" just north of West Springfield...all the way to exit 2 in VT. (same thing heading home). It amazes me how many times I will get passed...then pass someone in a matter of miles (leap frogged).

I don't have that problem. I have a 12 mile commute to work and always meet the same 2 cars. No one is going in my direction usually.

 

[riverc0il]

I am sure most of us are also guilty at some time or another of all the driving habits that annoy us. It is only when said habits seem blatantly intentional that it annoys me. When you are driving on the highway for a long distance, it is easy to zone out and not truly be paying attention to how your driving fits into the grand scheme of things. I know I have come up behind other people in the right hand lane, slowed down to match their speed, and hung out there for a few minutes before thinking "wait a second, why am I not passing?" We all get tunnel vision at times.

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 really enjoy taking advantage of this natural tendency. I tend to accelerate up hills and use them as passing opportunities. Then I will slide into the right hand travel lane on the down hill and maintain my speed knowing that I am probably going to be passed. I don't like or use cruise either.

There seems to be a natural tendency for "bunching" on the highway. I have often noticed that I will be driving without a car in sight for miles upon miles of open road. Then all of a sudden, a car comes up from behind and either parks it behind or in front of my car and stays there. Which makes no sense because if that car was going fast enough to catch up to me, then it should be going fast enough to pass me in no time at all. Miles and miles go by and cars just stick together for some odd reason. Eventually, if it is someone behind me, I will just drop down 5-10mph and force a pass.

 

[BeanoNYC]

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.

Fahrt doesn't mean "speed" in German? Just curious because Fart means speed in Norwegian.

 

[dmc]

Fahrt doesn't mean "speed" in German? Just curious because Fart means speed in Norwegian.

Farht means a few things... Mostly dealing with travel - like speed, journey, way, trip...

You'll see einfahrt(entrance) or ausfarht(exit) a lot...

 

[wa-loaf]

Fahrt doesn't mean "speed" in German? Just curious because Fart means speed in Norwegian.

fahren is the verb "to drive", ein Fahrt is "a drive", Einfahrt is an entrance you drive on, Eingang is an entrance you walk through. So lots of derivations all doing with driving.

 

[BeanoNYC]

fahren is the verb "to drive", ein Fahrt is "a drive", Einfahrt is an entrance you drive on, Eingang is an entrance you walk through. So lots of derivations all doing with driving.

speedbump....imagine the giggle I got the first time I saw that. If your doing something fart, you are doing it fast. Incidentally, utgang is an exit and ingang is an entrance in Norway.

Back on topic. I use cruise control as much as possible on my way up to Vermont. Keeps my speed in check. Is it really better for the engine and mpg, however?

 

[Geoff]

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"

I wish cops would write tickets for "Failure to keep right". Left lane bandits annoy the hell out of me. Most of the time, they should also be written up for negligent operation since they're also texting or talking on the cell phone.

Back on-topic:
I use the cruise control all the time these days. I have far too many points in New Hampshire and Vermont. I go exactly the speed limit on Vermont secondary roads. I keep it at speed limit + 9 on the interstate highway. If I encounter a left lane bandit when I have the cruise control engaged, I just pass on the right. When I enter the Commonwealth of Massholia, those rules of engagement change. Inside the 495 belt, I move with the traffic. That could be 90 mph depending on the road and the time of day. There's no way I'd use the cruise control with all the bad drivers. Outside the 495 belt, I'm more dialed back since there are far more speed traps where 75 mph will get you a ticket.

 

[jaywbigred]

Does that say something about Farts and Dumper Air?

I wish cops would write tickets for "Failure to keep right". Left lane bandits annoy the hell out of me. Most of the time, they should also be written up for negligent operation since they're also texting or talking on the cell phone.

Back on-topic:
I use the cruise control all the time these days. I have far too many points in New Hampshire and Vermont. I go exactly the speed limit on Vermont secondary roads. I keep it at speed limit + 9 on the interstate highway. If I encounter a left lane bandit when I have the cruise control engaged, I just pass on the right. When I enter the Commonwealth of Massholia, those rules of engagement change. Inside the 495 belt, I move with the traffic. That could be 90 mph depending on the road and the time of day. There's no way I'd use the cruise control with all the bad drivers. Outside the 495 belt, I'm more dialed back since there are far more speed traps where 75 mph will get you a ticket.

Lol...left land bandits...good name. Hate them. More dangerous to the overall traffic pattern than speeding, imo.

and the C'wealth of Massholia...lol.

After years of somehow evading the law, I've gotten tickets in both PA and VT since the middle of September. Sigh.

 

[wa-loaf]

I've stopped using my turn signals on the pike. (I know I live in Mass not supposed to use them anyway) If I let people know I'm going to change lanes they try to close the gap. You need the element of surprise.

 

[bvibert]

Does that say something about Farts and Dumper Air?

I think so, that should be my new avatar..

 

[drjeff]

I've stopped using my turn signals on the pike. (I know I live in Mass not supposed to use them anyway) If I let people know I'm going to change lanes they try to close the gap. You need the element of surprise.

The 3rd installment of McDonald's new commcercials for Newman's Organic Coffee so nails this on the head "turn signals.......sign of weakness!" LOL

 

[mondeo]

I've stopped using my turn signals on the pike. (I know I live in Mass not supposed to use them anyway) If I let people know I'm going to change lanes they try to close the gap. You need the element of surprise.

A big engine makes up for the use of turn signals.

 

[Glenn]

I'm with you on the left lane vigilantes. Have a little common sense. Now, if someone is there and they're slowwwwwwly passing someone..they probably have the CC on. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. But most of the time, it's someone not paying attention as cars on the right wizz by them...and there's a line behind them.

 

[hammer]

The 3rd installment of McDonald's new commcercials for Newman's Organic Coffee so nails this on the head "turn signals.......sign of weakness!" LOL

The term I know of is "giving information to the enemy..."

I actually use turn signals a decent amount...as a warning: prepare to be cut off.