War Wagon wrote:Papa Willie wrote: always go at LEAST 5 mph over the limit
Correct, especially during rush hour, or you will get steam rolled. Better to be at 10 over.
even if a cop pulls up.
Incorrect.
Never pass a cop and if you see one coming from behind, let him pass you, no matter what lane you're in.
Funny, I spent the first 48 years or so of driving basically trying to push the envelope:
- How fast can you drive without getting stopped?
- 10 mph or so over the limit when possible. Even more if feeling like it's safe.
- Weave in and out of traffic to try and "make up time"
- Get right up behind somebody until they move over or a lane opens up
- Ultra competitive with other drivers - get pissed off if somebody gets in front of me or takes that open lane first
- Eyes constantly scanning mirrors (not a bad thing) and able to spot a highway patrol car more often than not from 1/4 mile or more ahead or behind
- Used to scare the OL shitless, because she wasn't in control, to the point where she was tightly grabbing the door handle and pressing her feet up against the floor
That all changed, or at least started to change, last March when I got this hybrid. It provides shitloads of feedback on average and instantaneous mpg, battery levels, electric motor vs. gas engine operation, regenerative braking efficiency, etc. Also an awesome cruise control system that allows very good control often without using the accelerator or brake pedal.
An engineer's dream. And I now find myself treating driving, not as a competitive race against all other drivers, but as a challenge to operate a large expensive machine as efficiently and safely as possible while still getting to my destination on time and in a relatively good mood.
- I usually drive on the interstate at the speed limit, or up to 5 mph over if the traffic is moving much faster than the posted limit.
- I set the cruise control at my desired speed and leave it there if possible. I'll use the "+" and "-" buttons to make minor adjustments.
- I will use the accelerator if necessary to pass and not get in anybody's way.
- I have found that if you drive just slightly slower than the majority of the traffic (there's always a mixture of fast and slower drivers) you almost never have to adjust the speed. I can use the cruise control in pretty heavy traffic because I rarely come up behind anybody. If I do then I can make any necessary adjustments.
- I won't change lanes if it looks like I'll be in somebody's way, and I try to be accommodating if somebody comes up behind me but, if they get all aggressive on me, then fuck them.
- On surface streets I pretty much stick to the speed limit. At stoplights I try to time things so I use as little braking as possible. The ultimate goal at each light is not to stop completely if at all possible.
I still have to fight the urge to drive ultra-aggressively but I'm getting better. I play the the Grateful Dead channel or Real Jazz and keep my eye on the mpg, which gets better the more smoothly I drive. Stay relaxed. It's amazing, some of the observations you can make when you change the way you drive.
- I never have to worry about getting a speeding ticket because I basically don't speed. This really makes driving a lot more pleasant.
- I might piss a few people off by driving this way, but I think I piss off a lot fewer people now than before.
- If there's a big pack of cars on the interstate it's much better to hang back and wait for it to break up than to fight your way through.
- It's generally better to stay in one lane in heavy traffic than to constantly jump lanes. By the time you get into the lane that was moving faster, that lane has often stopped and your previous lane is moving.
- Racing between lights is one of the dumbest things that you see a whole lot of people do. I take off gradually and brake gradually. I see people go flying by me only to see them at the next light. They race off the line and then I pull up next to them at the next light, or even in front of them because if I'm driving from behind I can pick the best lane at the next light.
- People take really stupid risks just to make up a car length or two.
- I get where I'm going just as fast, and a lot more relaxed, than I used to.
- If I see Diego coming up behind me, splitting the lane on my left, I might stick a golf club out the side window.
So, that's just me. Tear it apart at your leisure.