🚀 go-pugleaf

DPH <rally2xs@csi.com> wrote:

>Patrick Lee wrote:
>
>> In article <36BC0FB8.CEA7FD23@hotmail.com>, The Traveler
>> <asphaltribbon@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> >Nitin Kibe wrote:
>> >
>> >[snip]
>> >
>> >> No surprise: it's the usual collapse of lane discipline.
>> >
>> >  Are they just barely figuring this out? How many times can the words
>> >"Slower traffic keep right" be seen on U.S. roads? Haven't you ever
>> >seen the motorist who is putting along in the left lane oblivious to
>> >their speed and the speed of the vehicles behind them? It's the total
>> >lack of proper training in how to drive a car, lack of vehicle code
>> >knowledge, and lack of driving discipline. Also, licenses are cheap
>> >here. Try going to Germany. A license to drive in Germany is rather
>> >expensive (the last time I heard), and the people that drive there
>> >are highly disciplined. That expensive license is damn precious to
>> >them, and they act accordingly. If you are coming up on someone
>> >on the Autobahn in the fast lane, chances are you will be seen way
>> >before you even get close, and person in front will move out of the
>> >way in ample time. Here on U.S. freeways, it is questionable whether
>> >you will be seen or not by the time you have closed the distance
>> >between yourself and the slower car. In short, a lot of the motorists
>> >on the road have no discipline, and it shows.
>> >
>> >--
>>
>> I was driving back to Miami from Key West last week and yet another
>> annoying habit was noticed...  It's a two lane road, no divider for most
>> of the way, but with several passing zones, clearly marked "Slower Traffic
>> Keep Right".  So what happens?  Well, that guy driving 50mph pulls over to
>> the right, and then instantly feels the need to accelerate to 80+ for the
>> duration of the passing zone, followed by, you guessed it, 50 mph.  If
>> you're going slow, and you bother pulling over for other people to pass,
>> what drives people to speed up?
>
>Its the "I wanna be an asshole" factor at work.
>
>This sorta thing is why I buy cars with 190 HP engines (Mutsibishi Eclipse,
>Jeep Cherokee) and 134 mph top speeds (Mitsubishi Eclipse).  That sucker
>woulda got passed, anyway.
>
>DPH

I had something like this happen in Europe, though without the
maliceousness...  I had a 1.0L Ford Fiesta from Hertz.  I was pushing that
little puppy for all she was worth on the motorway between Amsterdam and
Belgium on an early Sunday morning.  I came on a Ford Sierra 1.6L diesel. 
I was travelling about 10 KPH faster, but had to slow down as the Sierra
was also passing slower traffic.  (This was summer and there were a lot of
caravans on the road... Extremely good lane discipline in Holland/Belgium) 
He pulls back to the right when he can and then I punch it.  Not much there
on this little 1.0L motor, though...  :-)  Well he does too...  I gain a
little but not enough to get by before he again comes up on slower traffic
in the right lane.  He signals and pulls back out, slows to his normal
speed and passes...  then we repeat.  He did this about 3 times before
letting me around.  It was his way of making fun of my poor little Fiesta,
but it was all good natured.  When he finally let me by he stuck his
toungue out like he was panting, then grinned and waved.  I laughed and
went on my way.

On a separate trip I rented a BMW 316i.  When approaching cars from behind,
the twin kidney grill evoked much respect...  cars quickly pulled aside. 
But then the faster of them would see the 316 on my decklid...  and pass me
back!  :-)  "OH!  You're just a 1.6!"  Especially other evenly powered cars
like Audi 80 1.6s and Opel Senators.  Grand fun!  I think that is why a lot
of folks in Europe have the engine designations on cars like the BMW
3-series removed...  so as not to advertise their small engined version... 


Driving in Holland, Germany and Belgium was sooo much more fun that on the
interstates in the US...  <sigh>

---Steve Cutchen  O-  |   As published in Houston Chronicle Sports
scutchen@phoenix.net  |