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From: aeq@pucc-h (Sargent)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Highway driving
Message-ID: <426@pucc-h>
Date: Mon, 9-Jan-84 23:04:38 EST
Article-I.D.: pucc-h.426
Posted: Mon Jan  9 23:04:38 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 11-Jan-84 03:24:00 EST
Organization: Purdue University Computing Center
Lines: 57

It figures....  I come back from vacation and immediately post to net.flame.

In past months we have seen considerable flaming about the low quality of
drivers in various cities (notably Boston).  Having logged 4000 highway miles
in the last 3 weeks, it is time for me to say some similar deserved unkind
words about drivers on the interstate system.  There are several phenomena
I observed for which I have varying degrees of detestation.

                             <<< IGNITION >>>
                        <<< WE HAVE A LIFT-OFF >>>

1. Drivers who run with their bright headlights on when they are close enough
   to other vehicles for the excess light to cause discomfort.  Take note:
   The mere fact that you have a median between you and oncoming traffic does
   not (usually) make you invisible!  And there is NO excuse, absolutely NONE,
   for having your bright headlights on when you are within several hundred
   meters of a car in front of you.  Many's the time I've wished I had a pair
   of headlights (or floodlights) mounted facing backward on my car so I could
   kick them on if some bozo was following me with his brights on.
2. Drivers who park on your tail and follow you, at highway speeds, at a
   separation of about 1 car length when the highway is not crowded.  Several
   times on my journeys, a vehicle caught up to me, then slowed to my speed
   (usually around a fairly conservative 60 mph) and stayed right behind me.
   I have a psychological trick I use to get such people off my tail:  I slow
   down gradually.  Eventually they usually give up and pass me.  But I do not
   like to have to slow down my progress just to get rid of an inconsiderate
   driver.  (It is especially inconsiderate for drivers to follow me thus at
   night, and UTTERLY inconsiderate when it is combined with #1 [brights].)
3. Those who drive pickups and vans (this is net.flame, so I can get away with
   saying this).  Most drivers of such vehicles are the greatest speedsters on
   the roads.  The remainder should attach red triangles to the back of their
   vehicles as a warning that they are slow-moving vehicles.  Also, at night,
   the high-placed headlights of these vehicles are in a position to cause
   maximum discomfort to drivers of small cars (I have a VW Rabbit).  And in
   addition, big vehicles are what are known (if a film in my driver's ed
   class told the truth) as "billboards", i.e. large, opaque objects which
   serve the purpose of blocking (perhaps dangerously, and certainly
   annoyingly) the view of other drivers.
4. Those states (e.g. Missouri) which post "Keep Right Except to Pass" signs.
   I like to travel in the left lane when traffic is light (e.g. 3 a.m.).  It
   gives me a feeling of power and importance; also, the left lane is often in
   better condition than the right.  Obviously the idea of the signs is to
   keep the left lane in good condition to save on road repair costs; but
   surely my little car won't hurt the left lane too badly (not like a 40-ton
   semi).  I want my constitutional right to travel in whatever lane I like!
5. In defense of Missouri, let me say that it has good rest areas...except
   the one closed for remodeling!!  That should be illegal.  It's not nice to
   make drivers wait an extra hour for a rest area: a) they may be waiting for
   a nice, safe rest area to check something on their car; b) they (or in some
   cases, their kids) may not be able to "hold it" that extra hour.  Surely
   the rest area could have been left open even with the remodeling.
   (Fortunately, I was able to make it to the next one without a burst
   bladder....)

                             <<< LANDING >>>

-- Jeff Sargent/...pur-ee!pucc-h:aeq