Quick Driving Lesson
I commute 70 miles a day. I know, I'm insane.
However, this commute gives me ample opportunity to see our society on the freeway. I've got a few helpful tips for your friends (since if you're reading this blog, you're already smart enough to know this).
First, freeways are typically divided into two or more lanes delineated by paint stripes that may be solid yellow, solid white or dashed white. You should drive between the paint stripes. Now, if you are in a lane, you should know that all lanes have an implied traffic purpose. Lanes closer to the right side of the freeway are for traffic moving more slowly than lanes closer to the left side of the freeway. When traffic is flowing, if you are constantly being passed on the right, you are in the wrong lane. Move to the right. Even if you are already exceeding the speed limit, move to the right. It's not your job to enforce traffic speed rules. If your car won't go the speed limit, don't even think about moving out of the rightmost lane. Bad idea.
Next, when entering the freeway, you should not try to get from the entrance ramp to the leftmost lane as quickly as possible without checking for traffic. No matter how cool you (or you in your car) are, first get into the first lane. Then move to the next. And so forth. Dashing across all lanes is a bad idea. This rule also applies if you like to drive in the leftmost lane and cut to the exit ramp at the very last minute. Bad idea.
Third, freeways have exit and entrance ramps. Associated with each is a section of the road called the gore point. You're not supposed to drive through it ever. Bad idea.
That's all for now.
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You mean bad/rude drivers aren't indigenous only to Utah? ;-)
You know, we Idaho-trained drivers are PERFECT (tee hee hee)...
Posted by: Laura Bybee | June 29, 2006 08:17 AM
Bad drivers may not be limited to only one area, but Utah stands at the top of the list for all the driving things mentioned in this article. Arkansas is the only other place were I experienced anywhere near the same level of bad driving around a metro area. And of course Laura is right because I'm sure Idaho drivers are generally perfect - now if I could just get the law enforcement officers to believe that they'd take back my 46 mph speeding and red light ticket! LOL
Seriously though, the one thing that kills me most in driving is how many people assume they're the ONLY one who has a schedule, needs to be somewhere, etc. and thus they should be allowed to do whatever stupid stuff they do because of it. NOT!
Posted by: Holly | June 29, 2006 08:41 AM
Man, if you haven't driven in the SF Bay Area, you ain't SEEN bad driving.
SUVS: Since I drive a small car, I take these gasguzzling tank as a personal affront. Plus, when behind one, visibility forward is nil.
Sockermoms: Most often seen here in SUVs or the SUV crossovers. They don't drive much, and are just bad drivers. Sad.
Yappers: upwardly-mobile young stuff, with a cellphone on their ear, and one-and-a-half eyes on the readview mirrows checking their hair and/or makeup. Often seen doing 45 in the left lane on a 5 lane Hwy.
Breaklights: Apparently, a breaklight in the Bay Area means "whoa, up front is a major decelleration, and whatever you do, FIRST step on your own brake - nevermind that the car in front of you is actually not slowing down much. Ignore the traffic flow, and make sure YOU step on your brakes." Makes for nice, random slowdowns without any actual impediment.
Motorcycles: OK, you're somewhat crazy if you lanesplit along a BayArea Hwy, but OK. Live and let live. So when you see a motorcycle in your review mirror, show them you care: drive as much toward the side on which the bike is, so they have to work themselves around you. Bonus points if you can abbruptly drift toward them when they are 5 feet behind you, and going 15MPH faster than you. Good thing you can't hear what is uttered under that helmet.
Merging: whenever lanes merge, which, with the mindbogglingly ingenious traffic architecture int eh Bay Area, happens a lot, here is how you do it: at the first incling that lanes might be mergine, step on the brake. Even when your lane is not merging. It's just good etiquette. Next, wait as long as you can to actually merge. Bonus if you can stay strong and end up outside the lane. If done correctly, your speed should now be 15MPH or 20% of the flowing traffic, whichever is lower. Now is the time: move into the merged lane, traffic, horns etc be damned. Kudos if you hear squealing tires, or possibly a satisfying thump as the drive 2 cars back slamms into the one you just cut off.
On ramps: Contrary to popular belief, in the Bay Area, the way to enter a HWY is to CRAWL onto it, regardless of the flow of traffic. Especially when it's not stop-and-go, slow down as you enter the onramp, postpone your decision to merge until your at most 50 feet from the end of your lane, and slowly move left. If you see cars behind you suddenly moving over a lane to avoid rearending you, you've done it right.
The say the East Coast is bad for driving. Give me a place where drivers DRIVE anyday.
Posted by: sven | July 2, 2006 10:37 AM