🚀 go-pugleaf

sbartl@us.oracle.com wrote:

> DPH wrote:
>
> > Brad Houser wrote:
> >
> > > O Gato Gordo wrote in message <3639a852.6249285@news.xara.com>...
> > > >On Thu, 29 Oct 1998 21:07:32 -0800, "Pete MacPherson"
> > > ><macphersonp@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > > >
> > > >>Driving faster is safe if a few simple rules are followed.
> > > >>
> > > >>1. Always keep you car in excellent working condition for optimal
> > > >>performance
> > > >>2. Always always and always have good tires
> > > >>3. Know how to drive
> > > >>4. Always pass on the left, never never never on the right
> > > >>5. Always move to the right if someone is coming up behind you fast and
> > > >>you're in the leftmost lane
> > > >
> > > >You forgot:-
> > > >
> > > >6. Always leave a large gap between you and the car ahead.
> > >
> > > and
> > >
> > > 7. Keep right, except to pass.
> >
> > Yeah, its legal that way, but no, it's not a good idea.  If there's mostly no
> > one else around, the right lane can usually be found to be significantly
> > rougher because it's been beat up by trucks.  Also, the right lane is closer
> > to the edge of the road and therefore closer to the surprise deer attack.
> >
> > DPH
>
> How about: get the heck out of the leftmost lane if some one is coming up?

Well, yeah, you could do that... <G>

Know what happens when I do it and there is other traffic?  Unless the guy is
really coming like a bat outa hell, what happens is he creeps up past me on the
right until his rear bumper is even with my front bumper, then backs off, and paces
my cruise control.  Happens a _lot_.  Then, of course, we come to another car in
the right lane and I have to slow down, coming off the cruise, waiting interminably
for him to get around the car that we just caught, and chances are he'll pace that
one too so I'm eventually caught behind the both of them, going 5 mph less than I
want to.

No, even in spite of the "keep right except to pass", I often just stay in the left
lane and adjust my speed momentarily to provide the guy creeping up on me the
opportunity to pass on the right.  If he wants to simply tailgate, then fine -
that's less hassle than the above scenario.  If he really wants to pass, he's going
to have to go right and get a wiggle on to get it done before catching the next car
in the right lane that would otherwise be a bloker to him.  But at least it doesn't
end up impeding my travel, either way.

Of course, if someone is coming up behind at a +10 mph - +15 mph differential, I
just might get over, figuring he's serious and won't slow down and block me as the
guy that is +2 mph probably would.  Yeah, it ain't legal, etc. but it's a lot less
hassle and I do end up getting where I'm going significantly quicker after doing it
all day for 1000 miles or so.

DPH