So this morning I hit a normally brisk part of my commute, but for some reason traffic is backed up for what seems about a mile. Stop and go...creeping along. I don't have to tell Prius owners about the psychological benefits of Prius ownership in this situation. The Prius is GREAT in traffic jams. Not to be smug, not to be superior but there is something great about inching along while almost everyone around you is burning fuel and belching smoke, and realizing that your Prius is actually turning off at stops and inching forward mostly on battery power. You still might be in a traffic jam, you still might be running late, but at least every minute isn't a gas burning proposition. Can I say I actually enjoyed the 8 minutes I spent going about a mile? Hey, I turned up the radio and listened to the commentary on sports radio about the NBA playoffs. Most relaxing traffic jam ever. Personal Pet Peve #26: When the road finally opened up? The source of the entire back-up, of over a mile? Was basically nothing but a little construction off to the side. Evidently the simple sight of a few pieces of earth moving equipment was enough to have everyone slow down. Why do people do this? There is nothing to see, and in this case there really was absolutely no reason to slow down. But evidently anything "different" is enough to have most people hit the brakes? If there actually is an accident? Then I'm fine with traffic being backed up. But it always bothers me to be in a back-up, and then discover that it's whole "cause" was a police officer giving a single ticket to single motorist OR in this case the simple appearance of a crane and a bull dozer off to the side of the road. Well I suppose human behavior isn't going to change, but at least as long as I own my Prius the traffic jams I do encounter can be a little more relaxing.
I do not see no smugness. That's the truth. I just throw in my Mahler Symp. No. 1 CD and smile at every other driver. If they drive a Prius they smile back.
Driving a hybrid, especially the prius, really helps you see the "silver lining" of many traffic situations. I dislike Stop and Go (but less so in a Prius). I used to dislike Slow and Go, but in a Prius, Slow and Go is the Way to Go! I do find that I hate wind more than ever (especially in the morning when the prevailing winds are headwinds....and they should be calm in the early am, not blowing a gale like they've been doing the last 2 - 3 weeks).
I agree...I was caught in a major traffic jam for two hours yesterday and still got 60 miles per gallon. I actually used the time to configure the Nav and Radio system in my new Prius. Sitting stuck in traffic, I did not miss my old car at all, with the rough idling and burning of gas. Toyota did a great job with this car!
Well said. I have a river bridge to cross on my daily commute. It used to ruin my day when I got caught with the bridge up due to commercial river traffic. Now it is roll down the windows and crank up the music to drown out all of the other running engines all around me.
I take a ferry to work. Waiting for the boat and riding it takes over a hour. It is so nice to sit with the AC on and the engine never comes on. With the diesel they would tell me to turn my car off. No problem in the Prius. SCH-I535 ? 2
When lived in the DC area, I used to tell my wife that the cops have a big blanket they throw over accidents so people won't slow down to look . . . she being one of them. More than a few times, she would say 'slow down I want to see.' I have long felt that someone in a clown suit, juggling in the medium would totally black up both lanes of most divided highways. Bob Wilson
I find I'm not bothered by traffic as much either for the same reasons. If traffic is moving, but slowly, I think I'm the only one not pissed off, instead I'm watching the HSI and my mpg go up and just cruising along. In the end, my commute drive time always remains constant. I know that the Prius has definitely improved my attitude toward an obscenely long commute and I only wish I bought one years ago!
