>>Hey, if you look at my post I said I use the left lane for passing purposes, not that I drive in it all the time at 55. Actually, I drive pretty fast on the highway, about 70 or so. But if I'm passing someone at 70 and there's a car on my right, and some meathead comes roaring up behind me at 85 and wants me to go 90 just so it gets me to where I can get to the right a nanosecond earlier, he is the one that's out of line.
>>
>>You ragers can rage your way up the highway at 90 mph all you want, I'll be the one going at the 70 mph I'm comfortable with and blowing kisses at you! I'm not going to stomp on the gas just because you flick your lights.
>>

In other words, "Passive Passing".

 

then again, a car is better than some 130 mph Ducati that comes out of nowhere.

 

>>then again, a car is better than some 130 mph Ducati that comes out of nowhere.

Amen.

Sheesh, how'd you know I own a couple Ducs? I _RACE_ my bikes on the track, _RIDE_ them on the street (unless I'm having a personal emergency)...

 

WOW! Lots of anger out there. Where's the mods when we need 'em?

_________________
Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose (Francais)

 

>>The gov't puts in a lot of effort (studies, statistics, etc) coming up with the speed limits. They are there for your safety. Your speeding is what creates the unsafe situation. If you cannot see that, then you have no reason driving on gov't regulated roads; take it to the speedway.
>>

Lots of anger...a little humor as well...
Oh...and I don't work for the government....

 

Yes, but you are a choreographer for them it looks like!

 

for the record: not THIS silk green. we are from washington state...

yep, bad drivers are bad no matter what the car. i wouldn't do that to our car anyway -- we like it tooooo much.

curt and jamie

'03 silk green with white top wheels, premium and cold weather packages, GPS, profile leather -- yes, we went all out.

 

Every year, over 3-million Americans will die from various causes. Only 1% will die in motor vehicle crashes. You are 8,000 times more likely to die from medical malpractice than from speeding. You are three times more likely to die from heart attack or stroke from routine physical exercise during traditional sporting events, especially basketball, swimming and football. You are more likely to be murdered than to die in a car crash. Most fatal "accidents" occur in the home - no speeding required.

Gary Baldwin, traffic officer and accident investigator for Thames Valley Police, England, and motorcycle safety instructor with Rapid Training, SUPERBIKE Magazine, London, England, March 2000:
"Speed is not dangerous, nor does it cause accidents. The single factor consistent with every road accident isn't speed but bad driving and riding. People don't concentrate or simply don't think. They fail to see an oncoming hazard in time and they crash. More accidents happen below the speed limit than above it. The anti-fun party is in power and loving it. If they get their way, we'll be back to blokes walking in front of us with red flags. I'm all for reducing accidents, that's my job, but most occur in towns where 30mph limits are enforced. Making motorways slower serves no other purpose than to turn otherwise decent people into criminals. They'll be wanting sharp knives banned in the kitchen next, just to be safe."

Right now, someone is driving down the German Autobahn at 120 mph—and doing it far safer than we ever imagined at 75 mph—or 55 mph....

The problem with the Silk Green wasn't the speed...it was the way he drove....

 

>>Hey that looks like ME!

I wouldn't have mistaken you for any of those three

 

 

Living and working in the city (Chicago), you see this type of behavior not only on the roads, but on the sidewalks as well. There are many people who refuse to adjust their speed to be in concert with that of those around them. It is not only a safety issue, but a common courtesy.

Yes, traffic on the Kennedy frequently goes at 80+ mph. For safety's sake, it is important to adjust your speed accordingly. If you are going 55, you just might get rear-ended, or perhaps contribute to tie-ups. If you are not comfortable at that speed, you might need to find a different route. It stinks, but that is a viable option. However, if everyone else is going 65, and you're going 80, it is just plain inconsiderate if you need to weave in and out of traffic to keep from slowing down. If you are running late, then it might be a good idea to set your alarm a little earlier. Essentially, be self aware and be environment aware.

In Chicago we have a beautiful biking/walking/running path along our lake shore. This path is shared by people using various forms of locomotion/transportation. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen bike riders hit or nearly hit someone who is walking. More often than not, it is because the biker did not adjust their speed. (I am an avid bike rider, with both mountain and road bikes, so I am not anit-cyclist). Might the walker be partially to blame? Yes. Is the cyclist responsible as well? Absolutely!

In a number of posts I've seen references to "staying out of the left lane". I agree that's a good idea if you're not passing, but LRC13 did not make any mention that s/he (or anyone else) was in the left lane, causing the offender to behave in such a way (did I miss this somewhere?). Some of the responses seemed to make the assumption that the offender was forced to behave as s/he did because of the behavior of others. Frankly, everyone is ultimately responsible for their own actions. No one can force me to change lanes erratically or not use my turn indicator. And when I see someone who is clearly driving wrecklessly, I call 911 on my cell (right on, Yucca Patrol!). Mind you, this is not about wanting to get someone in trouble, it is about doing my little part to help ensure our roadways are safe - we are all responsible for that.

My theory about this "get out of my way" behavior, whether on the road or sidewalk, stems from the uber-competitive nature that is so highly valued in the US. If I remember correctly, a major part of the MINI marketing campaign focused on bucking that and being kinder to others on the roads, taking the long way, slowing down and enjoying the experience. And, when appropriate, open her up and enjoy the twisties. One of the reasons I'm purchasing a MINI is because there is something in the company's values with which I identify.

I also identify with and believe in the guidelines that we all agree to use when posting on MCO. It is possible to disagree and to have lively debate and to do so in a respectable manner. I do not find it acceptable, however, for some posters to repeatedly find the need to use inappropriate language and personal attacks.

Just one final thought: it's not about the destination, but the journey.

I thank you in advance for respecting my opinion.

 

What's a head?

 

I can not believe that someone here liked the way the Italians drive! I spent a few weeks in Italy back in the 80's. Drove from the top of the boot to the heel and that saying about the first rule of Italian driving being "What's behind you is of no importance" as you rip the rearview mirror off the car, is sooooooo TRUE.

They might pass correctly, but have you ever been stopped at a red light and have 5 cars crowd around yours to get off the line first?

And this tidbit ""Speed is not dangerous, nor does it cause accidents." is like saying the fall doesn't kill you, it's the rapid deceleration that gets you. Speed is dangerous, it reduces the time you have to react to the ever changing situation on the road.

I'm not a speed prude, just ask the officer that stopped me last week, I was clocked doing 70 MPH, 250 feet before the speed limit changed from 55 to 70 at the bottom of one of our mountains on I-40 here in NC (I will be going to court to fight this). But weaving and darting in and around traffic is foolishness.

For our Atlanta friend: The interstate is called I-85, that's not the speed limit.

 

The Italians do this correctly?????? In what part of Italy did you drive. Having just returned from living in Europe for three years, I can say without hesitation that the Italians are the absolute worse drivers in Europe.

 

It's my B-Day today, so I'm stepping in for a new thought beyond this current thread of American driving habits, good and bad.

When I got my Harley, years back I discovered the unwritten rule that motorcyclist do when they pass each other from opposite directions, it's a simple, subtle hand wave.

Given this phenomena, what will we as MINI motorist do when we pass each other. Let's set the future and make a decision. Keep it clean.

 

Ryokosha you are correct in your assertion, RUMINI stated, back on page 1, that they pass correctly, but I hope you can tell from my post I don't hold the same opinion as he does concerning this.

I spent 5 years overseas, drove from northern Germany to the heel of Italy and with some possible compition from the French agree that the Italians are right up there.

However my year in Korea, south of Osan, has caused years of nightmares and deep therapy!

 

"The gov't puts in a lot of effort (studies, statistics, etc) coming up with the speed limits" - PLEASE!!!! The government puts in a lot of effort to raise revenue. When lowering speed limits and shortening yellow-light intervals raise revenue, then they do this.

Please read the following report:

http://www.motorists.org/issues/speed/fhwa_report.html

Then ask yourself why that report is UNAVAILABLE from government sources. Even if you give them the document number, the DOT can't find the document. Why? State goverments, and more importantly, insurance companies make tons of money enforcing speed limits that almost nobody obeys. In Massachusetts, a speeding ticket gives you an extra 14% increase of your insurance bill for SEVEN YEARS. But yet everybody speeds - so it's just an arbitrary revenue increase for the insurance companies and the government.

How carefully chosen are those speed limits, again? Very carefully chosen - to maximize revenue.

*edited for spelling. Dah!

 

"I can not believe that someone here liked the way the Italians drive! I spent a few weeks in Italy back in the 80's. Drove from the top of the boot to the heel and that saying about the first rule of Italian driving being "What's behind you is of no importance" as you rip the rearview mirror off the car, is sooooooo TRUE"


I had just the opposite experience. I was in Italy last Spring, mostly in Tuscany. People always signaled, always flashed when they were going to pass, always put on their hazard lights when a traffic jam occurred, and never crowded around to be the first off the line. I got back to Boston and was horrified at the driving.

However, driving in Italy tends to be very darwinistic. If you screw up, you're going to have a flaming wreck (I saw more than one of those). However, I only saw one speed trip in over 1000 kilometers of driving, and that was in a heavily touristy area in Chianti.

 

>>Actually it is the speeder creating the unsafe situation. The gov't puts in a lot of effort (studies, statistics, etc) coming up with the speed limits. They are there for your safety. Your speeding is what creates the unsafe situation. If you cannot see that, then you have no reason driving on gov't regulated roads; take it to the speedway.
>>

You need to do your history homework, dominicminicooper.

The 55mph national speed limit was mandated during the OPEC oil embargo as a fuel conservation tactic, not as a safety measuere. It was only after after the price of gas came back down, and law enforcement realized the revenue potential of speeding tickets, that "safety" became the official reason behind speed limits.

There is no reason that, traffic permiting, a modern automobile cannot safely cruise an interstate or highway at speeds far beyond the posted limit of 55mph. Some forward thinking states, such as MI have already acknowleged this by raising the speed limit to 70mph, but even that is conservative increase.

 

>>My theory about this "get out of my way" behavior, whether on the road or sidewalk, stems from the uber-competitive nature that is so highly valued in the US. If I remember correctly, a major part of the MINI marketing campaign focused on bucking that and being kinder to others on the roads, taking the long way, slowing down and enjoying the experience. And, when appropriate, open her up and enjoy the twisties. One of the reasons I'm purchasing a MINI is because there is something in the company's values with which I identify.
>>
>>I also identify with and believe in the guidelines that we all agree to use when posting on MCO. It is possible to disagree and to have lively debate and to do so in a respectable manner. I do not find it acceptable, however, for some posters to repeatedly find the need to use inappropriate language and personal attacks.
>>
>>Just one final thought: it's not about the destination, but the journey.

here here! Couldn't have said it better myself!

 

Colorado is at 75 mph on the open interstate.

 

>>The Italians do this correctly?????? In what part of Italy did you drive. Having just returned from living in Europe for three years, I can say without hesitation that the Italians are the absolute worse drivers in Europe.


You have spent significantly more time over there than I, so your cinclusions is (probably) accurate. I just know that on the Auto Strada, they respected the passing lane "rules", and were generally MUCH more heads up drivers than we are in the US. I was on a rented Duc, so my experiences may have been different that those while traveling in a "cage" (car).

I was frustrated for a couple weeks with "Passive Passers" when I got back to the states after my last visit.

 

>>It's my B-Day today, so I'm stepping in for a new thought beyond this current thread of American driving habits, good and bad.
>>
>>When I got my Harley, years back I discovered the unwritten rule that motorcyclist do when they pass each other from opposite directions, it's a simple, subtle hand wave.
>>
>>Given this phenomena, what will we as MINI motorist do when we pass each other. Let's set the future and make a decision. Keep it clean.
>>

When I see another Mini I give them a subtle finger or two wave. On my
bike the Hawaiian good luck wave with 2nd and 4th finger extended.
On the matter of speed and state....talk about silliness..here in St. Petersburg,
FL. they have "school zones" posted at 15mph which I strictly adhere to...I
think I am the only one who does. The ridiculous thing is that these 'school
zones' are sometimes 30-40 feet wide so folks rushing to work put the foot
down as soon as they see the sign "End School Zone." Screw the kids outside
the school zone......
Speed doesn't kill....stupid drivers do.

 

>>You need to do your history homework, dominicminicooper.
>>
>>The 55mph national speed limit was mandated during the OPEC oil embargo as a fuel conservation tactic, not as a safety measuere.

Yes, I have to agree that for the highways the 55MPH was mandated to help fuel economy for many years. Going further back into history, the limit was 75 MPH on the interstates, placed there for your and my safety.

{ soap box mode -- on }
{ flame retardent suit -- on }

However, the 55 MPH national speed limit is now gone and it has been up to the state gov'ts to regulate their interstates. Montana, just after this ruling, changed to an unlimited speed limit (oxymoron intended) during daylight hours. After an increase in fatal accidents, they revoked much of their decisions on the unlimited speed limit.

Non-interstates have varing speed limits. Notice in residential areas the speed limit is 20-40MPH varing upon conditions (school zones, proximity of property lots to the road, sighting distance, etc.). Notice in industrial areas also vary upon conditions. Notice speed limits when crossing brigdes vary with the particular conditions they're in. All of these MPHs VARY upon conditions they're in. Who sets them? The gov't does.

{ flame retardent suit -- off }
{ soap box mode -- off }

 

dominicminicoopers, you should read this (and everyone else too)