Road Construction/My Hazard Flashers my new Best Friends!

You would have been far better off to move into the left lane to let the semis pass you. They pay a lot of money to drive on the hiways and when they get slowed down it costs them money. It's not so easy to keep changing lanes in a big truck. You actually put yourself in danger by "tapping" your breaks. Think of it, tens of tons of truck trying to react to a sudden break light!!! Not a smart think to do. The hazard lights though was a very good thought. All that being said, I get plenty enough better milage in my Prius than I did in my old cars so I don't feel the need to crawl around the hiways just to save another buck or two.

Buck

 

Thats interesting, I wonder what state troopers and your battery (from the lights being used) would think about this. If you think about when people see hazards flashing on the highway, they usually think blowout or something; I bet some people who don't know much about hybrids probably thought it might explode...I'd say its worth a try if your getting almost 60 mpg on highway. (I'm around 52-55/highway). By the way is your prius a touring?

 

They may pay a lot of money to drive on the highways, but they don't pay money to speed. If they are speeding, then it's too bad for them. They can slow down or pass on the left.

Here comes another rant: [rant] It's one of my pet peeves that drivers think they are entitled to speed. Speeding is illegal. If you think the speed limit is too low, then talk to your congressmen. [/rant]

Tom

 

I am exactly the same way. I drive the speed limit (not below), and even other Prius drivers turn in their seats to look at me as they pass me, giving me that WHAT ARE YOU DOING? look! Truckers are definitely some of the biggest offenders, but remember when in a stand-off with other vehicles, tonnage wins. Not saying that you should let them come up on your bumper at 75, just hold steady at whatever speed you are. Make sure you are in the right lane, though. I am always surprised people speeding by in huge trucks, etc. How can they be burning gas like that? Whatever!

 

Michelle, adding to your rules of the road, many drivers fail to realize that it is illegal to speed when passing another vehicle. If you are on a 55 mph road and you want to pass the car ahead, to do it legally you must never exceed 55 mph. It takes a long passing zone to pass a 50 mph car when you can only go 55.

Emergency vehicles are the only ones allowed to exceed the speed limit, and even they have rules regarding how and when.

Tom

 

I agree with the basic thread here. Drive the speed limit in the right hand lane, if the others want to speed, that is their problem! If the speed limit is 60 and somebody comes up behind you and doing 68 or 70 why should you have to exceed the limit just for them? I don't think an officer would accept that as an excuse. I am not in agreement with those that want to do 10 or more under the speed limit, unless the road is traffic free as I think you are asking for trouble from others. I think that at times it may be prudent to exceed the limit a little to truely keep with the flow of traffic, but I also try to just do the limit and get good MPG.

 

Just had an epiphany of sorts.

What if those of us who voluntarily limit our speed to the Posted Speed
Limit (PSL) displayed a distinctive signal to alert other drivers?

Red and blue lights belong to the police. Yellow is for warnings and
service vehicles. In the readily available colors that leaves...

You got it, GREEN. I'm thinking of a single green light displayed facing the
rear, and over taking traffic.


I'm sure this idea needs addition research to determine its basic legality.
But it has a certain attractiveness. If it were adopted widely, it would
contribute to safety, not just of the speed limited vehicle, but of other
vehicles nearby.

 

nice video
clearly states that people just drive to fast and there needs to be more control

 

Yes, and make it in the shape of an upraised middle finger, just to keep things friendly...

Tom

 

I get your point about driving over the speed limit is potentially dangerous, and against the law. However, by your own quote, you were driving dangerously. You claimed you at times were driving 48. Your own laws state you should drive with traffic conditions "as long as it does not surpass the maximum posted speed". You clearly did not do this, and should have been cited just as the folks that sped past you should have been cited. You can't go around moaning about people breaking a particular rule when you're breaking that very same rule.

 

i thought the park services used green lights....i could be wrong though

 

I agree. It is against the law to speed when passing. However, in this situation I personally make the judgment call and say to myself, "is it safer to pass on this two lane road 5mph over and stay to the left for 30 seconds, or is it safer to speed up to 65 (breaking the law) and get over that much sooner". I for one speed up and break the law. Yea, the law doesn't have room for my *own* judgment call so if I get caught doing it I'll take what's coming to me. Let me point out that I'd venture a guess that every single person on this thread breaks at least one rule of the road at least several times a month. Does it make it right? No, of course not. As long as you're driving smart that's what matters most. There are times when following the letter of the law will put a innocent person in harms way more and common sense fortunately will usually prevail if you were to be caught in the act.

Mike

 

I know this was not the case with freshmtt. In some states (like Mass) restrict trucks from the left lane of multilane highways. If the highway is very congested I have moved to the left to let large trucks by. As someone else stated, tonnage wins.
My .03USD
Chris

 

I agree with your post completely. In fact, everyone should be in the right hand lane and the left most lanes should be used for passing. Regardless of speed. Driving this way helps prevent traffic jams and keeps people off the brakes...

The speed limits in my commute are 65mph. I typically drive between 73 and 78 most of the way in the right lane just moving over to the left (usually middle lane) to pass. I typically average between 51 and 53mpg (that's with the A/C on in our Arizona triple degree heat) on my commute using very basic pulse/glide techniques when there are no cars behind me.