One of the most frequent factors behind
collisions is the "jackrabbit" driver. He's
the guy who's constantly changing speeds, changing lanes,
tailgating, and otherwise not fitting into traffic. Other
often interrelated causes of traffic collisions are "disparate"
vehicle speeds (when one driver is driving much faster than
others), impatience, and frequent lane changes.
If
you observe traffic way out in front of you, you can
visualize what the "flow" of traffic is, as a
whole. Visualize traffic as a single, giant organism, like
a river. There will be vehicles within the overall picture
(or flow) that are traveling faster, and some slower, but
you can see what the overall pace of traffic is.
You may be surprised to know that the
actual pace of traffic is not that much faster than the
speed limit. One of the principles engineers use when setting
a speed limit is to consider what speed a normal, reasonable
driver actually drives on that particular stretch. Try to
match your speed to the overall flow (without exceeding
the speed limit by more than a few miles per hour). That
said, you must be willing to accept the fact that traveling
faster than a posted limit puts you at risk for a citation.
But usually, if you are within just a few miles per hour
of a speed limit, officers will not bother you, with some
obvious exceptions like school zones and construction areas
where a posted limit is viewed as an absolute.
Practice my "tortoise" style of
driving! Pick your lane, and stay in it. Bopping and
weaving from one lane to another, trying to pass every car
on the road doesn't gain you much, and every single lane
change you make increases your risk of collision. As
I commute each day, I know which lane is the best for travel
under normal circumstances. This may be the lane that I
know becomes my exit ramp 5 miles up the road, or it may
simply be the lane that flows better most of the time. Often,
I choose on the basis of safety. On my motorcycle, for example,
I ride in the far right lane (at a slower speed) or in the
"car pool lane" for its faster flow, and the "escape"
path afforded by the left (or right) shoulder. (In my state,
it is legal for motorcycles to use the car pool lanes).
Relax, resist the urge to make frequent
lane changes, use the two-second
rule, and stay alert to the dangers posed by the jack
rabbits around you! If someone needs to merge into the lane,
back off a bit and let them in smoothly. In doing this,
you are not only maintaining the flow, but you also set
an example that others will follow. When you refuse to allow
another driver to merge, the person behind you does the
same thing. When you act courteously, the driver behind
you ALSO will, and that helps keep traffic moving. I've
seen repeatedly how discourtesy causes many of the bottlenecks
that gridlock traffic every day.
Practice my "tortoise" style of
driving, and, nine times out of ten, you will arrive
at your destination just as quickly as the "jackrabbit."
You will also not be nearly as stressed by the trip, whether
it is a commute to work on Monday a.m., or a road trip to
Shangri-La!
Keep the shiny side up! Next week: Test for hydroplaning.
<Rule
#27: Get Rid on Tailgaters
Rule #29: Check for Hyproplaning>
