How to accept momentum from other drivers

[Frank Lee]

It's kind of fun- yet at the same time sad- to watch the vain efforts of the Common Traffic Darter. They weave back and forth, in and out, gassing it and braking, tailgating all the while... and after about 5 or 10 miles of that nonsense, 9 times out of 10 I pass them after they've just cut someone (or me) off to barely make that exit...

[actwithclarity]

Well it's a dumb argument, but... he might have to stop at 3-4 lights, but eventually the faster driver/accelerator will make one that you don't, even if he is a dumb driver. If he's a smart driver, and perhaps even slows down as necessary to glide through lights as you do, then he will get ahead all the faster. And finally, if you've memorized the route because you drive it every day, then for the sake of fairness we should assume that he's also memorized the route, in which case he should leave you in the dust. Naturally it all depends on how the lights fall, and over a longer distance of city driving the chances of him getting through where you have to stop are greater.

[Odin]

^^^all the city lights here are timed so if you stay at 25 you hit every light green- I think its like that in a lot of places and if you do 25 you always end up passing the guy who floored it to get to the red light

[actwithclarity]

They're all random here.

[user removed]

In some areas here they actually post signs telling drivers that the lights are timed for certain speeds. What bugs me is when they set the timing for just over the speed limit, which is a recipe for wasted fuel, or I guess since everyone speeds anyway maybe it works out for the greater percentage of drivers.

I used to live at Tyson's Corner west of DC and commute to a Mercedes Dealership in Arlington. I would take route 123, Chain Bridge Road to work. It was 35 MPH and the lights were timed perfectly. Many days I would look over at the Interstate and see the bumper to bumper madness while I was cruising along in my 84 CRX and averaging 44 MPG, 27 years ago.

Even when lights are not timed properly you can still time your arrival to avoid stopping completely. It's when the cars trip them at just the wrong time that it really sucks and you totally waste your momentum.

regards
Mech

[Thymeclock]

Originally Posted by Old Mechanic

In some areas here they actually post signs telling drivers that the lights are timed for certain speeds. What bugs me is when they set the timing for just over the speed limit, which is a recipe for wasted fuel, or I guess since everyone speeds anyway maybe it works out for the greater percentage of drivers.

Well, you live in the 'Old Dominion' of Virginia, the only state having an (unconstitutional but) unchallenged law where radar detectors are illegal.

So how is setting "the timing for just over the speed limit... a recipe for wasted fuel"? Or is your local government so astute and all-knowing that the posted speed limit is unquestionably best for everyone at all times?

Maybe "since everyone speeds anyway" the posted limit is unreasonably low?

"I used to live at Tyson's Corner west of DC and commute to a Mercedes Dealership in Arlington. I would take route 123, Chain Bridge Road to work. It was 35 MPH and the lights were timed perfectly. Many days I would look over at the Interstate and see the bumper to bumper madness while I was cruising along in my 84 CRX and averaging 44 MPG, 27 years ago."

By you own admission you were speeding.

What a crime and a danger to society! How shocking! Jail time! No bail!

[Frank Lee]

Originally Posted by actwithclarity

Well it's a dumb argument...

Pretty much. :/

[Joenavy85]

Originally Posted by actwithclarity

and over a longer distance of city driving the chances of him getting through where you have to stop are greater.

Until he gets pulled over, which then negates any possible advantage, either way, if he beats you there it likely won't be by very much. 5MPH faster average over a 10 minute drive will only get you there about a minute sooner(that's at highway speeds). At city speeds - 30MPH for 5 Miles = 10 Minutes. 35MPH for 5 Miles = 8 Minutes 20 Seconds. If you're in that much of a hurry you should just wake up 10 minutes earlier.

[Christ]

Hoped someone would mention that...

[UFO]

Originally Posted by Thymeclock

So how is setting "the timing for just over the speed limit... a recipe for wasted fuel"? Or is your local government so astute and all-knowing that the posted speed limit is unquestionably best for everyone at all times?

Because most people obey the limit most of the time, and they end up stopping at every light. It's very frustrating. In my area, for one route the only way to hit a string of lights is to exceed the limit by more than 10mph, that's not acceptable. It not only wastes fuel to try to hit the lights, but most people will not speed to make them, and slow everyone else down.

The person setting the timing on the lights should know better. I wonder what sort of education or thinking skills are required for traffic design.....