Comments on: sog’s (Unconventional) Highway Etiquette http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2007/05/19/highway_etiquette/ because technology is just another ecosystem Tue, 02 Dec 2008 03:20:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: tecosystems » 2007: The Year in Review, from Macro to Micro http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2007/05/19/highway_etiquette/#comment-268214 tecosystems » 2007: The Year in Review, from Macro to Micro Thu, 03 Jan 2008 00:51:04 +0000 http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2007/05/19/highway_etiquette/#comment-268214 [...] I a few days later, and the summer in Maine was on. As a result of that transition, I commented on highway driving etiquette. Seeking a better phone, I upgraded my Cingular phone from an LG CU320 to a Nokia N75. Then it was [...] [...] I a few days later, and the summer in Maine was on. As a result of that transition, I commented on highway driving etiquette. Seeking a better phone, I upgraded my Cingular phone from an LG CU320 to a Nokia N75. Then it was [...]

]]> By: your mom http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2007/05/19/highway_etiquette/#comment-89568 your mom Wed, 23 May 2007 15:14:01 +0000 http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2007/05/19/highway_etiquette/#comment-89568 One other courtesy more and more frequently neglected on the congested sideroads of the suburban NYC area nowadays is driving me flippy. When making a left turn against oncoming traffic, please, please please pull as close to the center yellow line as you can, thus allowing the cars behind you to pass you on the outside and continue on their merry way. We will be most grateful. One other courtesy more and more frequently neglected on the congested sideroads of the suburban NYC area nowadays is driving me flippy. When making a left turn against oncoming traffic, please, please please pull as close to the center yellow line as you can, thus allowing the cars behind you to pass you on the outside and continue on their merry way. We will be most grateful.

]]> By: "links for 2007-05-22" by Bob Plankers, The Lone Sysadmin http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2007/05/19/highway_etiquette/#comment-88456 "links for 2007-05-22" by Bob Plankers, The Lone Sysadmin Tue, 22 May 2007 06:17:43 +0000 http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2007/05/19/highway_etiquette/#comment-88456 [...] tecosystems » sog’s (Unconventional) Highway Etiquette Not unconventional etiquette at all. I find myself driving at oddball times just to avoid all these behaviours. [...] [...] tecosystems » sog’s (Unconventional) Highway Etiquette Not unconventional etiquette at all. I find myself driving at oddball times just to avoid all these behaviours. [...]

]]> By: sogrady http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2007/05/19/highway_etiquette/#comment-87025 sogrady Sun, 20 May 2007 15:54:50 +0000 http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2007/05/19/highway_etiquette/#comment-87025 Geof: exactly. that was, actually, what i was trying to get at with this bit "You may also consider, particularly when larger vehicles such as trucks are involved, signaling the passing driver with your high beams when he’s achieved sufficient distance". it's a nice, common courtesy. Ryan: i second that practice - it's almost exactly how i do it. Alex: interesting. i've never actually seen that happen, but i'll keep it in mind. Mike: amen. as i tell people in Denver, NYC's interesting because of how it handles jaywalkers. in Denver, for example, you can jaywalk and drivers will slow and accomodate you. in Boston, you'll get an irritated honk, but that's about it. in NYC, drivers will actually speed up to try and hit you ;) Geof: exactly. that was, actually, what i was trying to get at with this bit “You may also consider, particularly when larger vehicles such as trucks are involved, signaling the passing driver with your high beams when he’s achieved sufficient distance”. it’s a nice, common courtesy.

Ryan: i second that practice - it’s almost exactly how i do it.

Alex: interesting. i’ve never actually seen that happen, but i’ll keep it in mind.

Mike: amen. as i tell people in Denver, NYC’s interesting because of how it handles jaywalkers. in Denver, for example, you can jaywalk and drivers will slow and accomodate you. in Boston, you’ll get an irritated honk, but that’s about it. in NYC, drivers will actually speed up to try and hit you ;)

]]> By: Mike Dolan http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2007/05/19/highway_etiquette/#comment-86978 Mike Dolan Sun, 20 May 2007 14:50:34 +0000 http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2007/05/19/highway_etiquette/#comment-86978 One other that drives me nuts is something I've only really seen in NYC metro areas. In NY, if you try to switch lanes (and there is no one in that lane by you) and out of courtesy actually use your turn signal indicator, most NYers in the other lane that you're attempting to enter will speed up and cut you off. It's an amazing nuance because they simply do not want you in front of them... but they weren't going that speed to begin with. So in NY, I've learned that to both obey the law and actually change lanes you have to master the flip and cut. Flip on your turn signal and cut over at the same time to avoid some moron 500 feet behind you from flooring it and cutting you off... it's a very odd survival requirement. P.S. I can't stand driving in CT. Utah and Nebraska are hands down the best state to speed through with Utah having some scenery and Nebraska being the absolute most boring drive in the world. One other that drives me nuts is something I’ve only really seen in NYC metro areas. In NY, if you try to switch lanes (and there is no one in that lane by you) and out of courtesy actually use your turn signal indicator, most NYers in the other lane that you’re attempting to enter will speed up and cut you off. It’s an amazing nuance because they simply do not want you in front of them… but they weren’t going that speed to begin with. So in NY, I’ve learned that to both obey the law and actually change lanes you have to master the flip and cut. Flip on your turn signal and cut over at the same time to avoid some moron 500 feet behind you from flooring it and cutting you off… it’s a very odd survival requirement.

P.S. I can’t stand driving in CT. Utah and Nebraska are hands down the best state to speed through with Utah having some scenery and Nebraska being the absolute most boring drive in the world.

]]> By: Alex http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2007/05/19/highway_etiquette/#comment-86947 Alex Sun, 20 May 2007 14:04:27 +0000 http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2007/05/19/highway_etiquette/#comment-86947 <blockquote>The lowest risk role, in terms of the likelihood of earning a ticket, is the middle slot, followed by rear, and finally point.</blockquote> A patrolman friend of mine in CA actually told me that the tail/rear position is the most vulnerable in many cases. If only one ticket is going to be issued, the last person in the convoy is the easiest to pull over.

The lowest risk role, in terms of the likelihood of earning a ticket, is the middle slot, followed by rear, and finally point.

A patrolman friend of mine in CA actually told me that the tail/rear position is the most vulnerable in many cases. If only one ticket is going to be issued, the last person in the convoy is the easiest to pull over.

]]> By: Ryan Tomayko http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2007/05/19/highway_etiquette/#comment-86728 Ryan Tomayko Sun, 20 May 2007 04:47:40 +0000 http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2007/05/19/highway_etiquette/#comment-86728 Amazing bit of insight here, sog. <blockquote>Highways are not Indy tracks, and quick cuts in and out of lanes are not going to win you any points.</blockquote> This drives me crazy. I get the impression that some people believe they have to move from one lane to the next as quickly as possible. Here's how it should work: turn on your blinker. Let it flash a time or two while simultaneously checking your mirrors and shoulder. (Don't be an idiot when checking your mirrors. If some part of your body that is not your eyes is moving then you've got a configuration problem.) Next, start guiding your vehicle into the next lane at a steady pace. You want to be sliding into the next lane at a rate that makes your intent obvious to other drivers but no faster. When you've fully arrived in the destination lane, turn off your blinker. There's many advantages to this style of lane change. First, people will be less likely to report you as intoxicated. Second, if you missed something in your mirrors, other drivers have plenty of time to alert you audibly - think of the other drivers's horns as a special mirror without a blind spot. Third, drivers in the destination lane will often open up a spot for you instead of trying to screw you by tightening up - you're respecting their space and safety and most people will reciprocate. Amazing bit of insight here, sog.

Highways are not Indy tracks, and quick cuts in and out of lanes are not going to win you any points.

This drives me crazy. I get the impression that some people believe they have to move from one lane to the next as quickly as possible. Here’s how it should work: turn on your blinker. Let it flash a time or two while simultaneously checking your mirrors and shoulder. (Don’t be an idiot when checking your mirrors. If some part of your body that is not your eyes is moving then you’ve got a configuration problem.) Next, start guiding your vehicle into the next lane at a steady pace. You want to be sliding into the next lane at a rate that makes your intent obvious to other drivers but no faster. When you’ve fully arrived in the destination lane, turn off your blinker.

There’s many advantages to this style of lane change. First, people will be less likely to report you as intoxicated. Second, if you missed something in your mirrors, other drivers have plenty of time to alert you audibly - think of the other drivers’s horns as a special mirror without a blind spot. Third, drivers in the destination lane will often open up a spot for you instead of trying to screw you by tightening up - you’re respecting their space and safety and most people will reciprocate.

]]> By: Geof F. Morris http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2007/05/19/highway_etiquette/#comment-86707 Geof F. Morris Sun, 20 May 2007 04:20:34 +0000 http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2007/05/19/highway_etiquette/#comment-86707 Hear, hear. I would add another: at night, when being passed, extinguish your lights briefly when the passing vehicle has safely cleared you. This will indicate to them that they can exit the passing lane. I noticed professional truckers doing this on one of my many late-night trips back from Nashville after a concert, and I've adopted it for my own. Every so often, a truck will actually pass me [far less often now that I'm driving an '07 WRX instead of my old '95 Nissan pickup ;)], and when I do it, I definitely feel the courtesy. Hear, hear. I would add another: at night, when being passed, extinguish your lights briefly when the passing vehicle has safely cleared you. This will indicate to them that they can exit the passing lane. I noticed professional truckers doing this on one of my many late-night trips back from Nashville after a concert, and I’ve adopted it for my own. Every so often, a truck will actually pass me [far less often now that I'm driving an '07 WRX instead of my old '95 Nissan pickup ;)], and when I do it, I definitely feel the courtesy.

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