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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!seismo!hao!hplabs!sdcrdcf!trw-unix!suhre
From: suhre@trw-unix.UUCP (Maurice E. Suhre)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Freeway merging (mild flame)
Message-ID: <444@trw-unix.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 21-Sep-83 11:27:33 EDT
Article-I.D.: trw-unix.444
Posted: Wed Sep 21 11:27:33 1983
Date-Received: Mon, 26-Sep-83 03:47:57 EDT
Organization: TRW EDS, Redondo Beach, CA
Lines: 30

When following a very slow truck up (or down or whatever) an
onramp, how close should you follow?

I suggest not too closely.  I have seen situations where about
8 cars are following said truck, more or less bumper to bumper.
They are probably not following too closely as far as their speeds
are concerned (1 car length per 10 mph rule), but they are
improperly placed as far as being able to merge onto the freeway
is concerned.

What happens is a THING of length T+8C is trying to merge onto
the freeway at much less than customary freeway speeds.  This
usually causes the freeway traffic to brake abruptly, which is
always risky.

--FLAME--
This problem is not limited to slow trucks.  It is grossly improper
to whiz down an onramp without any thought whatsoever as to where
and how you are going to merge on to the freeway.  And I see a lot
of people doing just that.
--NO FLAME--

Naturally, I am careful about where I am going to merge on.  When
I had a GTO, I could jump right in and didn't have to be super careful.
With my Honda Civic, it doesn't jump very fast and I plan ahead more
carefully.

Getting off my soapbox with a word to the wise.....

					Maurice