Tailgaters: Think about this?
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Tailgaters: Think about this?
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I have a theory of why people who tailgate and constantly complain about "slow drivers in the left lane" might be running into this problem so often. Tailgaters/speeders might be creating their own problem. This is just a theory, and I would like to know what you guys think about it.
Say you are on a highway with 2 lanes in each direction. The speed limit is 65, and you are going 75 nonstop. Chances are you are going faster than some of the other traffic. Since you are, the faster you go, the more vehicles you are going to come into "conflict" with in a short period of time, because you are passing a lot of slower cars and trucks. The more vehicles you pass as a result of going faster, the higher the chance of coming upon vehicles moving slower than you. Think about it, if you go faster you are covering more ground in a certain period of time. The more ground you cover, the more vehicles you will come across on the highway. The more vehicles you come across, the higher the chance that you will come across a slower vehicle in the left lane engaged in overtaking a slower vehicle. Simple probability suggests this would usually be the case. So my point here is that by speeding by a certain margin, you may be creating this problem of getting stuck behind slower vehicles yourself because your speed is causing you to come into conflict with a higher number of vehicles, since you are moving faster than some of the vehicles on the road.
If someone was going the speed limit, for example, they would still come across vehicles in the left lane going 5 under the speed limit eventually, but not nearly as often as they would if they were going 75 in a 65. The closer your speed is to the slower driver's speed (I'm not suggesting you have to go 5 under like they are), the longer it will take you to catch up to the slower vehicle, and therefore you will get 'stuck' behind them much less often. If you are speeding by a good margin, you will constantly be catching up to slower traffic, thus increasing the chances of running into one of these "left lane hogs". Think about it. I hope this makes some sense, since it is kind of hard to explain.
I'm not trying to change anyone's behavior; how you drive is up to you, and you take with it whatever consequences may arise from it. I just think that these fast drivers may be creating this problem for themselves, rather than the slower drivers always being accused of being idiots. Just a thought. Do you guys agree/disagree, or have anything else to add? I'm not looking to tick anyone off here, so if you have an answer to this question, please try to give a civil response.
Additional Details
Patrick W, notice I said in the question "if someone is currently engaged in passing a slower vehicle". This would mean they can't simply move over at the moment and get out of the way, because there is another vehicle to their right, which they are passing. So as soon as they finish passing, yes I agree they should move back to the right as soon as possible.
And you say the left lane is for faster traffic, well if someone is going the speed limit and passing someone going 5 under, the speed limit driver is considered faster traffic at that time. They are faster than the person they are passing, therefore, they are faster traffic. But you are right, as soon as they finish passing, they should move back to the right when it is safe to do so.
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Vince M
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The problem in your statement, as I see it is NOT in any innacuracy of your assesment of the situation that speeders bring on themsleves. In fact, I agree with you on this.
The problem is that speeders and tailgater aren't GOING to think about this, because they AREN'T THINKING, at all, about cause and effect and the consequences of what they are doing. If they did think along those lines, then they'd realize the folly of their actions.
In fact, most agressive drivers limit their thinking in a kind of "tunnel vision" manner. They only have consideration for their destination and how they intend to reach it. It is as if the other drivers and hazards on the road only exist as barriers in their way, between them and their destination. Their logic only applies to them and not to the real world. Many of them, after being interviewed in research, will actually tell you that by following closer to the vehicle in front of them, they will reach their destination sooner. They can't tell you "why" they think that it works this way, but they will firmly believe it. In many cases, they don't even believe that they are being particularly agressive. In fact, may will say that is it the OTHER drivers who are being agressive because they won't get out of their way. In one famous "road rage" case, a driver chased down a driver that he couldn't pass quickly enough. She, eventually turned off, the rager trailed her to her destination and pulled her out and beat her with a baseball bat. His excuse, when he got arrested was that he needed to "teach her a lesson." In other words, it was HER fault and he took no responsibility for what happened.
This example is extreme, but helps illustrate the level of thinking, or more accurate, the failure to think, that agressive drivers demonstrate. That's the problem with any kind of "if everyone" type of solution. |
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KB
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agree
i usually go 55
a lot of people pass me, cause they think going 60mph is gonna get to their place faster
yet once we hit the stoplights, i catch right up next to them
kinda pointless.. |
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Patrick W
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Do you get the simple point that the left lane is for faster moving traffic and if someone behind you wants to go faster you should let them by changing lanes for 5 seconds. Why would anyone not get out of their way? The pavement is the same and so is the direction. What's the big deal? |
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rafacarran10
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U CAN GO FAST OR SLOW AS LONG AS YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH IT AND UR NOT ENDANGERING ANYONE |
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Texas Underdog
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YES, I agree with your assessment of the situation.
And don't pay any attention to those people who tell you you are thinking about it too much.
We need more thinkers on the road.
I'm giving you a star on this question.
======================================... |
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OverRuled23
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I say bravo, you've got a point.
Not to sound like a Saint, but I'll go on cruise, set to the speed limit. Everyone else zooms past me in a group; that usually leaves me with less cars around me = less chance of an accident. I've created a cushion of space until the next bunch comes along, passes, then repeats that cushion of space.
I've seen tailgaters weave in/out of lanes, constantanly hitting their brakes, including when they're behind someone. No space cushion. Guess they'll learn when they rear-hit someone and their insurance goes up. |
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Foomis
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you're thinking way too hard about it. |
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bungee
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driving don't need to be this hard. chill out take a long walk before you have a stroke< |
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