how often do you try to beat people off the line?

Yup, starting somewhat quickly from a stop isn't necessarily a bad thing in a hybrid. On the other hand, going quickly into a stop is a pretty good indicator of a hybrid owner who complains that they don't get the EPA estimates...

I drove a minivan for 10 years. Compared to most SUVs, it was the practical blend of better fuel economy, more passenger/cargo space and flexible seating for kids. Of course, it also carried the "soccer mom" stigma. Since my wife already had the Prius, I felt I had paid my dues and bought a Highlander Hybrid. Now, I can boast about 0-60 times a hair above 7 seconds, towing capability and AWD, even though I don't actually need any of them lol.

 

"Rolling Roadblocks and tailgaters are opposite sides of the same coin, both are self centered twits that mess up the flow of traffic. A pox on both of them"

Beautifully well put. Compliments!


Read more: http://priuschat.com/threads/how-often-do-you-try-to-beat-people-off-the-line.113001/page-2#ixzz23Bf3Jd2W

 

Agree...I hated the run flat tires. Every imperfection in the road was felt, and I sometimes thought the car was going to explode when going over larger bumps or pot holes. The run flats are getting better. My 2011 5 Series rode very smooth, but the tires were 17 inch with normal size versus low profile tires.

 

i like that 650. my basic rule is that if they are driving the speed limit, then i don't blame them, and if i want to go faster, i'll have to pass. but if they're going under the speed limit, then i call them bad names inside my car and blame them for being pricks on the road.

 

thanks for worrying about my stress levels. I keep them in check. we have some basic rules, called common courtesies, that people in a society generally follow. holding up traffic by driving too slow is not an example of common courtesy. if you have no reason to go that slow other than you want to, then pull over and let people around. that would be common courtesy.

 

The times I try to beat traffic off the line is when I've screwed up and gotten in the wrong lane and need to change to the other one to make a turn soon or something.
That's not as exciting as the reasons some folks have, but there you are.

 

If you are going the speed limit at a steady pace, is that road blocking?

 

On a two lane road I try to travel a speed where I am passing as many vehicles as pass me. (I primarily pass farm equipment) 61 in a 55 is common. On a 4 lane road I travel the speed limit and let them pass to the left.

 

I asked because I don't agree with "go with flow of traffic" BS. For the record, I don't stay at the limit so I can preach or look down at speeders from some ivory tower. I wanna maximize efficiency and not look out for cops, which is very relaxing. And I have every right to do so. If more people had the courage to not cave in, then there wouldn't be a collective mindset that +10mph is "okay."

There are many ways to be courteous on the road and I exercise many of them. Exceeding the speed limit just because everybody else does is not one of them.

 

Only if there's a lane to the right you can move into.

Road blocking occurs when you could go faster or move out of the way.

markabele's "punitive" deceleration when being tailgated could be road blocking, for example. The recommended action, as least in Maine, is to wait until the tailgater has a passing opportunity and then gradually declerate to encourage them to pass. I've done that and once ended up going a 30 mph in a 55 mph zone with a VW glued to my rear license plate.

Back on topic, I almost always beat people off the line because a combination of paying attention and an electric motor do wonders to get the car going. Then they floor it and accelerate away from me.

 

I did read what you wrote and it's clear that you edited in the condition. I don't care if PriusChat says that you haven't edited it all, I am perfect and therefore I'm not going to apologize for misreading.

 

Where I live (Walmer, Central Victoria. We put Maldon on our address because no one knows where Walmer is.) there are no traffic lights. No one told me that those lights in the city weren't drag racing lights (seen them on telly) so I always race away first.

Waddaya mean yu do not know where Maldon is eether?

 

There is a difference though - rolling roadblocks aka observing the posted speed limit (and perhaps going about +5 over the posted when law enforcement allows) is legal and proper in a polite society. Tailgating is illegal and far more dangerous.

After having paid the price for having a heavy foot in my younger days in both fines and increased insurance costs - and higher stress levels - I will enjoy doing what the law requires untill those that want me to drive faster pay my traffic fines and increased insurance costs.

 

What is missing from the discussion is what roads we are talking about. In my commute route, they are two lane roads. So no chance to pull over for those that want to shave a few minutes in their drive time. Highways are a different issue.

In Virginia it is not just a simple speeding ticket any more. Virginia Speeding Ticket Fines

It is a "gift" that can keep on giving for some time.

The only thing I lament is that budgets have reduced the ability for the police to enforce the traffic laws as the years go on. I am not talking about zero tolerance like the town of Vienna Va has - but reigning in those that even feel that 10 mph over the posted are too slow for them.