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Old 07-08-2011, 07:27 AM   #311 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Joenavy85 View Post
Today I let Karma take care of one. She was tailgating me, about 20-25 Feet back (maybe closer), for about 3 miles (in the slow lane). I was doing my pulse and glide from 50-60 MPH since the PSL is 55 MPH and the fast lane was doing about the same (minus P&G). My final glide was for about the last half mile to the stop light where I had to turn, once I was able to change lanes into the turn lane I did, at which point we exchanged "Middle finger salutes". Of course she was concentrating more on flipping me off than she was on driving (she had to open the sunroof of her Lexus) and proceeded to rear-end the Dodge Ram that had changed lanes into the spot I had previously occupied. I called the cops and waited around until they showed up and told them what happened (minus the part about me flipping her off), ticket for her, accident was her fault, and her insurance rates will likely go even higher than they already were.
This is not a criticism. I would not use P&G to maintain an average speed that matched the speed in the left lane. Instead I would extend my glide so the left lane traffic could move past me, assuming that was possible.

Sorry Ladies and gentlemen, my priority is safety. In very heavy traffic P&G starts a whiplash effect that goes back a considerable distance, where people are accelerating and braking far in excess of the one who originates the whiplash initially. In that situation I will P&G to maximise my mileage while I am in the whiplash zone behind the originator.

Here that is typically on the Interstates where one vehicle changes lanes without adequate separation between the two vehicles he has shoehorned his vehicle between. The following vehicles hit their brakes and in many cases the braking becomes much more severe as those who are already following too close overreact to the initial brake activity. This can go on for many hundreds of yards behind the first action.

I have found that in cases where the traffic is very heavy, and you really have no choice but to stay in your lane and match the speed of the rest of the traffic, or, at least here, you could get a lot more than a finger salute from another driver, possibly a multiple of PO highway neighbors each with their own choice of punishment, like pulling over in front of you and locking the brakes completely, or worse.

If your pursuit of mileage includes completely ignoring consideration for others around you then I think I will pass on that tactic. It's much too dangerous for me anyway.

Not saying the woman did not deserve what happened to her. If she was tailgating me and had other options I would have done the same, but it reads like the traffic was very heavy and that requires extra caution and predictable speeds and moves.

Regards
Mech

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Old 07-08-2011, 03:47 PM   #312 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Mechanic View Post
This is not a criticism...
+1 for what he/she tapped - if traffic means you get tailgaters then perhaps P&G is not the technique to use in those circumstances. Yes, other drivers SHOULD be paying attention but they don't.

Be safe first, save fuel second.
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Old 07-08-2011, 03:50 PM   #313 (permalink)
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In addition consider the innocent driver who was rear ended by the aggravated woman.
Did the punishment merit his crime of proximity?

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Old 07-08-2011, 04:25 PM   #314 (permalink)
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I had something similar happen to me. I was driving around 5 MPH under the speed limit on a wet road when this Triumph Spitfire gets right on my bumper. I just ignored him.
Several minutes later the kid races around me and is so mad that he swerves in front of the cars ahead of me.
There was a turn ahead and he slides sideways and into a telephone pole, completely destroying the car. ( He limped away )
I got to thinking about how that I caused that accident.
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Old 07-08-2011, 05:35 PM   #315 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cd View Post
I had something similar happen to me. I was driving around 5 MPH under the speed limit on a wet road when this Triumph Spitfire gets right on my bumper. I just ignored him.
Several minutes later the kid races around me and is so mad that he swerves in front of the cars ahead of me.
There was a turn ahead and he slides sideways and into a telephone pole, completely destroying the car. ( He limped away )
I got to thinking about how that I caused that accident.
No, that was an accident waiting to happen. You were simply the catalyst, unchanged by the reaction.
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Old 07-08-2011, 09:58 PM   #316 (permalink)
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A Triumph Spitfire is an accident waiting to happen anyway.
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Old 07-08-2011, 10:07 PM   #317 (permalink)
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Quote:
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A Triumph Spitfire is an accident waiting to happen anyway.
Certain types of cars seem to attract certain types of owner/drivers.

But cars don't cause accidents. Drivers cause accidents.
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Old 07-08-2011, 11:50 PM   #318 (permalink)
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When someone is that close, and aggressive; I will simply pull over any way I can to get rid of them. It's just not worth the grief!

I've had people irritate me to the point where I've had to pull into a parking lot, get out and do some laps around my car to calm down especially when I'm shaking mad, and feel ready to punch someone out! It works!!!
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Old 07-09-2011, 12:22 AM   #319 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Thymeclock View Post
Certain types of cars seem to attract certain types of owner/drivers.

But cars don't cause accidents. Drivers cause accidents.
Take a Spitfire out for a "spin" sometime- perhaps a cloverleaf would enlighten you that yes, the Triumph swing-axle rear end is evil.
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Old 07-09-2011, 12:35 AM   #320 (permalink)
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A vehicle may be unstable but it still takes a driver to push it past the edge.

Same thing happens in aviation, news says a "plane crashed bla bla bla". 95+% ends up being pilot error. I suspect the percentage would be higher for automobiles if it were tracked.

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