Well...the trucker(s) know me.
 

I usually take the Chevy Metro on my 65 mile drive to work. Quiet backroad pavement. Sure I drive 45-50 or so in the 65. No one around at 4:30 in the morning. A trucker passes every once in a while. A herd of deer to look out for occasionally. Sip my coffee listen to the radio drive my drive. Don't bother nobody.

Drove the Cummins flatbed with my fairly new CB this morning. Gotta get grain and stuff for the horses 52 mph. same road, same time. Trucks coming from behind - a couple/3. Conversation more or less...(I just listen, not talking) "Doesn't he know this is a 65?!" "He's only doing 50!" "Well at least it's not that Geo. He does 45-50 down this stretch." "He's not doing much better." "Probably going for his morning stroll." "Working on his gas mileage probably." I'm still just going 52 mph along the fog line. Two mile stretch of road - you think any of them would pass? Nope. "I hope he doesn't turn on County Road 55." "Great now you jinxed us!". A couple minutes later I signal to turn on County Road 55. "BAAAAWWWWWWWW!". County Road 55 is a 55 mph speed zone. Yup, me still 52 mph. Not a word from the truckers. Not a word.

You know, I think there are some closet hypermilers in that bunch.

Had to share. Later.

so the moral of the story is that you're notorious for ruining people's day with your driving, and don't relent upon said realization?

I found you a bumper sticker : http://www.zazzle.ca/im_driving_this...92858382753002

That's a great little story. I love the silence after the jinx turns real. I bet you are right and there are some closet hypermilers among 'em.

Apparently I MUST drive over the speed limit to make everybody happy. I must redline the engine between gears to keep up with the stoplight to stoplight competition driving, and then do performance stops at the last second at the red. I must drive in the left lane and pass in the right lane. I MUST drive within one car length of the vehicle ahead at any speed. Do not stop at stop signs or you'll get rear-ended. The goal is to drive fast enough so that no one ever catches up with you. That is how I USED to drive.


That's not how I drive now. I don't drive like 99.9% of the people out there. That apparently makes me a dangerous driver? I practice DEFENSIVE driving. And no that isn't cowering in the corner in the fetal position poking a stick at whoever approaches.

Good story. Some truck drivers are like old women who just run their mouths constantly. The same roads, every day, gets boring. So they'll chat up anything.

The bumper sticker on the CTD ought to be: My other car is a Geo Metro

Nobody said you were dangerous. Nobody said you need to tailgate, accelerate super fast, slam on your brakes, etc.

Driving 15-20mph under the limit is very inconsiderate to others. Coasting to a stop with others behind you is also inconsiderate.

Blah blah blah. Don't like it, pass (safely) and hurry up to your stop light.

ProDarwin, I totally agree with you.

If there is no one around, and I mean no one, I will drive 15-20 under the speed limit. I am not leading or impeding. Colorado law says 5 vehicles and you must allow them to pass. I usually consider the one or two. If possible, I encourage passing by purposely make a move to the fog line in passing zones AND when it is clear ahead to pass.

Coasting, I won't irritate people. BUT, there are those who are irritated if I go from 45 mph to 43 mph coasting when there is a red light in front of me. You just can't please everyone. I try to time those greens so I can still do 40 in a 45 and just keeping putt-puttin' through the light without having to hit the brakes.

When I was in the Military it was "hurry up and wait". This still applies in the civilian world. Folks like to get to that red light as soon a possible so they can wait in line and be ready when it turns green. I guess I left that world behind and prefer just to keep moving. It's funny that Professional Truck drivers like to do that very thing in stop and go traffic. There is a huge difference between a truck driver and someone who drives a truck. Non-professional day truck drivers think they are driving a sports car and I swear they are on something. OTR drivers tend to be non-drinkers (can't risk their livelihood), professional and courteous to a fault.

I could be considered dangerous because I am not doing what everybody else around me is doing. I still think mob mentality is a bad thing. I want to live to be 100, not trying to end my life today.

Ok, I've jabbered enough. I told the wife I would quit drinking coffee and here I am with a hot one in my hand. Pretty obvious I have had too much caffeine!

An ecomodder, fuel saving, era of the high fuel cost, protest anthem: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIjZE4kcg_Q