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goosey65 t1_iuhzbs9 wrote

Reply to comment by WontArnett in Woman dead, 7 people sent to hospital after chain-reaction crash on I-95 by deathbeforeupvote

This! So many drivers have complete disregard for basic physics. To be truly safe, you should give yourself a car length for every 10 mph you increase (so at 60 mph you should have 6 car lengths between you and the car in front of you.) At this point, I’d just be thankful if people gave me 1.5 car length on the freeway.

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Drict t1_iuig92r wrote

The problem is the roads aren't designed for the volume they do get. Which is why this is literally not possible!

In the 1950s, guess what, it is 100% meant with those rule were created for and when.

That length is intended for the vehicle in front of you goes from full speed to 0 in an instant. (basically if they hit a parked car, barrier, etc.)

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goosey65 t1_iuigzor wrote

I get what you’re saying but the traffic here is not LA traffic or even NOVA traffic (thank god!) where it is literally bumper to bumper on the freeway. What I see more often then not is people tailgating despite the fact there is a fair amount of room on the road or an ability to switch to the passing lane. It feels instead that some people feel it is their god given right to go any speed they want and then are also too lazy to switch to the left, passing lane.

Also what you described in the last bit sounds like the very thing that caused this accident. An inability to stop in time either due to not enough room and/ or distracted driving.

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Drict t1_iuim2lm wrote

Not disagreeing in any way for the cause of the multiple vehicle crash.

As for the top yes 100% accurate. The issue is that as roads become objectively less crowded (what they are designed for!) people are willing to move into the areas that are connected because they have a shorter commute time.

There is a reason that NoVA is soooo terrible (same with LA). Mass transit would solve the problem, period, but that is aside.

People not following the passing lane laws is one of the most infuriating things possible to me. I ALWAYS assume the person behind me wants to go 100mph faster than I am going, if I am in the passing lane. I obviously don't cut off of the through lane or on/off lane, but I definitely avoid camping in the left lane as much as possible, when it is safe.

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WontArnett t1_iuihl1x wrote

Nah, people just drive aggressively, impatient, and just plain bad.

Traffic in other places I’ve been is much worse, and people don’t tailgate like they do here.

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Drict t1_iuim9im wrote

Uh, I have lived in 10 different areas while I am a driver. My god, Richmond is SO much nicer than Atl, NoVA, Fredericksburg, and NY for overall driving. Getting out of the passing lane usually solves most of the problems that you are citing.

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WontArnett t1_iuit4fu wrote

Not in my experience. People speed and ride your ass in all lanes.

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djeeetyet t1_iujbxqn wrote

It happens at least once but generally it's one car. I just let them go on their way. if it's really bad and they truly are reckless and I have a passenger I have them phone it in.

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WontArnett t1_iujr4la wrote

Yeah, every time I’m on the road out here people do it to me. It’s insanely dangerous.

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Drict t1_iuiuerr wrote

People speeding is just the way it is. Literally was taught to go 5 over the speed limit (and I was in a relatively less populated area; the greater Williamsburg VA area) and I almost always kept pace with everyone, until I am I-64, when most go 10mph+ or 80mph in the passing lane.

The 5 mph over applied pretty consistently throughout all of my driving everywhere when not on the interstate/highways. 10 actually is pretty applicable unless there is light traffic on almost all interstates/highways, and then it is 15 or a little higher (I was in bum fuck no where in GA and the slowest person was going 90 in a 70 and the fastest I estimated at 120; passed me like I was on a turn lane on a 35-40mph road waiting and they were driving)

That being said, NY varies greatly and areas around major cities you ALWAYS have a few people that drive like there is no speed limit that weaves through traffic. That is the person that I am not in the left lane for. I want them to go w/e they are going and not have to deal with many people changing lanes so the cops can snag them and they get their just desserts, plus they are less likely to slide when they lose control into some poor bastard that is minding their own business.

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