Here you go making me dust off that GED I worked so hard for and do the math.
Google “safe driving distance” tells me that the generally accepted rule is the “2 second rule.” The safe distance to follow is 2 seconds behind the other car regardless of speed.
Two seconds at 80 mph is 234.67 feet. Two seconds at 70 mph is 205.33 feet. 10 feet is safe at 3.41 mph based on this rule.
Of course I would agree that the rule probably doesn’t follow a straight line on the speed to distance graph, but the variance between 80 and 70 is insignificant for a 10 foot gap in my estimation… as is the difference between 80 and 85 to take you out of the dangerous situation sooner.
Or, you could slam on the brakes and get it all over with quickly
As it happens, the thinking distance at 80mph is around 10 feet longer than at 70mph. It makes that 10 foot gap very significant indeed.
Also, a car is carrying nearly a third more kinetic energy at 80mph than 70mph. Again, very significant.
I did this once and it worked great. A truck with a horse trailer was passing 2 semi trucks and I was behind the truck w/trailer. I wasn’t tailgating him, I always follow the 2-second rule. I was driving an armor plated jeep that had a flat upright windshield. Some speed freak in a shiny red Camaro got on my bumper and started flashing his lights and honking his horn to intimidate me into pulling between the 2 semi’s so he could pass me and tailgate the horse trailer.
Ticked me right off, it did. I knew from experience that using my windshield washer at 60 mph would spray washer fluid all over the place so I hit the button and held it down. I could see the front of the assholes car drop as he slowed down and got off my bumper.
When the truck with trailer finally passed the semi’s, it pulled back into the right lane. I passed it and pulled in the right lane. Speed freak flipped me off, but I didn’t care. I got him off my ass and that’s really all I wanted.
Seriously though, I think we all practice some form of Defensive Driving and every situation is different. We may lose in the words the feel for the road, the sound of a close engine, or the attitude and the the actions of the other driver… but in the end, can we agree that we are All trying to get from A to B without a claim to Allstate?
To be fair, it takes a lot to PO me on the road… but to also be fair, there are occasionally people out there in the world who look forward intentionally causing trouble.
I just do what I can to keep myself out of the wreck that they seem to be late for.
If you have two lanes merging into one, whether it’s a striped merge or one created by construction, the effects are going to be the same.
I have no clue why you’re bringing exits into the question. My original response was in regards to the comment, “People who zip to the head of the line when lanes merge and expect to be let in at the very last moment.” It has nothing to do with exits.
+1 on this. Additionally, I hate drivers who putz around going 35-40 mph on the entrance ramps to merge onto expressways in which the traffic is flowing at about 80 mph. I always seem to be behind these folks on the ramps.
I will concede to your argument about kinetic energy increase of a third more. Actually 30.6% more but close enough. I’m not sure though that this would be the only factor to consider unless you are both crashing into a brick wall at these speeds… but again I’ll give you this one.
“Thinking distance” though, I assume means the difference in the distance traveled during the reaction time at 70 v. 80. Not everyone has the same reaction time so I don’t think that can possibly be calculated. Also, ten feet is not nearly enough time to stop if you decide to slam on your brakes for some reason at either speed. Basically it means you will get rear ended a fraction of a second later going 70 than you would at 80.
My point is that I’d rather spend 30 seconds in the “danger zone” by speeding up than 90 seconds in the “danger zone” by slowing down. I’m not saying that I’d speed up to 110 just because that is what the jerk behind me wants to do… just that I’d rather speed up a little and try to get to where I can pull over sooner to let him by rather than slowing down and increasing the jerks frustration level and potentially more risky behavior for a longer period of time.
I really doubt the jerk who is tailgating is going to suddenly have an epiphany and be thankful that the guy ahead taught him the error of his ways by slowing down so he can’t get past.
I don’t necessarily disagree with you here, I don’t expect them to learn but I do trust my own judgement on what is the safer course of action in any given situation.
Each case has to be judged on it’s merits. If it is a long queue of traffic and I’m one in a line of overtaking cars and I’m still getting tailgated then I’ll definitely slow to give myself room from the car in front of me. That means I don’t have to slam on the brakes should anything happen and therefore I’m not relying on the reactions of dick-head behind me to keep me safe.
If it is a matter of a quick blast and it is all over seconds? that’s what I’ll do.
(bear in mind that I do spend a lot of time on German Autobahns and fast, crowded UK roads…I’m used to high speed and large speed variations.)
My favorite is when I’m on a multi lane road and need to move from one of the left lanes to the right. I signal and the person behind me to the right decides to speed up to stop me from changing lanes rather than letting me in.
To counter this when I see them speed up so do I. They go faster and while they are doing this I look behind me to see how much room I have between me and the car behind me. Then if I have enough room I slow quickly but not too quickly so the person who is blocking me passes me then I get behind them.
I see this type of behavior almost any time I’m in Tulsa. I’ve heard people who do this referred to as “lane enforcers”. If behind they will speed up to get beside you and if ahead they will slow down to get beside you. They will then aggressively match your speed until you’re safely past the exit you needed to take.
Oh man! I love road rage! One of my favorite pastimes. Here are some events/people I like to direct streams of profanity toward:
-When dude rolls through a Stop sign so s/he can make it onto the road in front of me, and then proceeds to drive five to ten under. Love it. You are my favorite friend.
-Dudes who can’t parallel park and insist on trying on the busiest roads downtown, or just anyone who can’t parallel park…or regular park, for that matter. Why can’t you park? You have likely had to do it THOUSANDS of times by now. What have you been doing all this time?
-Stealth turners! People who sit in the left lane at the stop light and wait until the light turns green before turning on their left turn signal. You led me to believe you were going straight! I would not be behind you had you let me know! You are a liar and will certainly burn in some circle of hell, the specifics of which elude me at this time.
-Anyone who drives a Pontiac sedan. You are all bad and should feel bad.
-Dudes who sit in a lane other than the one they need to be in until the last possible second. Bonus points for being multiple lanes over. M-M-MEGA bonus points if I recognize your vehicle as one that drives this route every day.
-People who stop at green lights. (I had never seen this before moving to the Midwest. Now I see it at least once a month.) What are you doing? WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!
-Dudes who wave you to go when it’s their turn at a four-way stop. NO DUDE. NO. You are defiling the sanctity of the four-way-stop! You are not the maker of the rules! Are you trying to get me killed? I’m on a motorcycle! (Don’t you know those things are dangerous?)
-People who believe that putting on a turn signal means everyone else should slow down or speed up to let them in. No. It is not my job to let you in, especially when I see you pass up multiple chances. Of course I will let you if you have been trying and everyone else is being a dick, but if you just turn on your signal and expect everyone to move out of your way…I assume life is one big disappointment for you. I’m betting you’re going to reply to this and tell me how wrong I am. I’m sure I will find your arguments very persuasive.
-Dudes who drive five under and then speed up when I go to pass. If you drive a Monte Carlo chances are this is you. Usually the gold ones. What is with you people?
I’ve lived in the heart of the Midwest for 53 years and have never seen this. I have no idea what you are ranting about. It is definitely not part of normal driving in the Midwest.
Yes, I remember that. I lived at 14th and Downing for a couple of years and there was at least one accident there every day with people riding the yellows down 14th.
