[taibanl]

Jest get in front of them. Slow to make them move. Then continue!

[taibanl]

Originally Posted by KeepitClassy

Honestly, do you guys seriously think we can handle having a Autobahn in the US? I heard in Germany it takes longer to get your license. Realistically, do you think Americans can handle that?

Yes. It's much safer. Just have to Learn new norms

[Das_Stig]

love that nissan commercial

[alexwhittemore]

Originally Posted by taibanl

Yes. It's much safer. Just have to Learn new norms

It doesn't even have to be autobahn style unrestricted left lane travel, though. Two lane highways move much more smoothly. There are seriously diminishing returns to adding a lot of lanes.

[Benstuck]

Originally Posted by alexwhittemore

That's HYPER bullshit, and WILDLY incorrect from a legal standpoint. For one, driving at or just below 65mph (well, the speed limit, which in CA could be 65 or 70) is required to be in compliance with the law, period - there's no jurisdiction on this continent where you can break the speed limit "if everyone else is doing it," and they even question you as much on the two driving tests I've taken (Maine, CA).

As far as how SLOW you CAN go without getting ticketed - the minimum speed law in CA makes no specific definition, leaving it up to the officer and thus the court. But for guidelines, the trailer limit on most 65-posted highways in CA is 55, in which case it'd be totally impossible to make the argument that 55 is illegally slow, as there are other vehicles on the road which can't (theoretically) exceed this speed. And generally speaking, a good rule of thumb is that an officer will start to think about pulling you over for 10mph under the lowest posted speed limit, in this case typically 45mph (though there are certainly roads in socal, though not freeways that I know of, where the limit for cars is 65 and the limit for trailers over x weight is 45).

There are also plenty of places where minimum speeds are posted, I know in Maine and Mass there are places where highways are posted minimum 45.


Now, in practice, nobody (in socal anyway) is going to appreciate you doing 65. But then the people who will get really pissed off are the ones trying to pass on the right at 85 in the merging lane, so fuckem.

EDIT: Now, by that logic, you could also go 65 in the far left lane too, legally. Which theoretically is the case. But if there are people going faster to the right of you, most jurisdictions will say you need to move over. That they're breaking the speed limit is their problem. Just like if you're doing 80 in the far left with a clear lane to your right, you should still move over.

In Houston, 60 is the common speed limit on the highways, and I'm going 65 in the right lane and still getting honked at. So am I in the right or wrong for following the law? I don't get how following the flow of traffic makes sense if we have laws telling you the limits of your driving activity

[Benstuck]

^^ Isn't this logic contradictory of the laws set in place to punish speeding drivers? I'm curious

[Mavus]

Originally Posted by KeepitClassy

Honestly, do you guys seriously think we can handle having a Autobahn in the US? I heard in Germany it takes longer to get your license. Realistically, do you think Americans can handle that?

Yes with he following conditions:
1. Roads built and maintained for this speed
2. Strict rules for driver behavior (like in Germany)
3. Most important: comprehensive driving test w/min of 40 hrs of instructed driving and 100 question written test
5. Leave EGO at home

To give you an idea of one of the activities that my driving instructor asked me to perform in Europe is to drive backwards up the hill and parallel park on the actual road between the two vehicles without using the hand brake.

The first 10-20 hrs of driving training, out of 40, is with the instructor on the course to learn how to look at mirrors and give turn signals at the right time. If you pass this test then you can proceed to drive on the road with the instructor. When it's time to take the driving test you have an instructor and two evaluators with you in the car. It is very easy to fail. You have to be almost perfect to pass. You would not believe what they look for, i.e. location of where you stop at each intersection based on if you are making a turn or not in relation to the traffic signal etc. My instructor told me after I passed the test that I will not know how to drive until I drive 100K mi.

check out Texas 85 mi/hr test road:
http://jalopnik.com/5941587/why-texa...snt-a-big-deal

[calicolorado]

We had a Prius for four years, and I sold it to my brother to buy my 328. I couldn't be further from the stereotypical Prius owner and I always find this stuff hilarious. It was a great car from a functionality standpoint, but the ergonomics (of the '04-09 model) were designed with the JDM in mind. I'm 6'5" 280 so it eventually became an uncomfortable slog, not to mention that the car is soulless to drive and nearly dangerous feeling on highway overpasses as 65-75mph.

Nice things? The steering wheel had every convenience feature on it, you could fit a 9'5" surfboard inside and of course the fuel mileage. It makes sense when you drive 30-35K a year in SoCal and your wife works for Toyota. I also got to keep miles off of my fun cars...

[KeepitClassy]

Originally Posted by Smooth 330i

Yes with he following conditions:
1. Roads built and maintained for this speed
2. Strict rules for driver behavior (like in Germany)
3. Most important: comprehensive driving test w/min of 40 hrs of instructed driving and 100 question written test
5. Leave EGO at home

To give you an idea of one of the activities that my driving instructor asked me to perform in Europe is to drive backwards up the hill and parallel park on the actual road between the two vehicles without using the hand brake.

The first 10-20 hrs of driving training, out of 40, is with the instructor on the course to learn how to look at mirrors and give turn signals at the right time. If you pass this test then you can proceed to drive on the road with the instructor. When it's time to take the driving test you have an instructor and two evaluators with you in the car. It is very easy to fail. You have to be almost perfect to pass. You would not believe what they look for, i.e. location of where you stop at each intersection based on if you are making a turn or not in relation to the traffic signal etc. My instructor told me after I passed the test that I will not know how to drive until I drive 100K mi.

check out Texas 85 mi/hr test road:
http://jalopnik.com/5941587/why-texa...snt-a-big-deal

But would American auto manufacturers have to change the way the cars are built, due to this? Or would the cars as they are, be okay for cruising at dangerous speeds?

[elinstylez]

They seriously need to put up more signs that say "Slower traffic keep right."

Sometimes even with those signs people will ignore it... wish more cops would cite slow drivers as they do speeders.

[alexwhittemore]

Originally Posted by elinstylez

They seriously need to put up more signs that say "Slower traffic keep right."

Sometimes even with those signs people will ignore it... wish more cops would cite slow drivers as they do speeders.

DEFINITELY agree with this. Highways where people actually observe 'left only to pass' move SO much smoother.

[ken1137]

The United States Uniform Vehicle Code states:
Upon all roadways any vehicle proceeding at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall be driven in the right-hand lane then available for traffic ...
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology's website on "Keep Right Laws" points out that:
This law refers to the "normal" speed of traffic, not the "legal" speed of traffic. The 60 MPH driver in a 55 MPH zone where everybody else is going 65 MPH must move right..."[3]
It is also illegal in many states in the U.S. to use the "far left" or passing lane on a major highway as a traveling lane (as opposed to passing), or to fail to yield to faster moving traffic that is attempting to overtake in that lane. For example, Colorado's "Left Lane Law" states:
A person shall not drive a motor vehicle in the passing lane of a highway if the speed-limit is sixty-five miles per hour or more unless such person is passing other motor-vehicles that are in a non-passing lane...[4]
Other examples, such as Massachusetts (General Statute 89-4B),[citation needed] New Jersey, Maine, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and others, make it illegal to fail to yield to traffic that seeks to overtake in the left lane,[citation needed] or to create any other "obstruction" in the passing lane that hinders the flow of traffic. As a result, heavy trucks are often prohibited from using the passing lane.

[Dark_Knight_335]

Originally Posted by taibanl

Yes. It's much safer. Just have to Learn new norms

No- make people pay for their damn licenses just like over in Europe- That should cut down on the douchebaggery.

[///Mandy]

[Hops128i]

It's so simple, if you're not passing cars move right! After driving in europe for 2 weeks on vacation, it amazing how much less stress there is in NOT having to pass people on the right.

[Desert_Fox]

Prius? How about just FUCK TOYOTA... Crude, but I hate these damn cars. No soul in their design, with even less passionate drivers. Nothing makes my day like a Camry or Prius in the left doing 45-50mph...

[N8N]

Originally Posted by cultr3

Does PA have a law that says keep right unless actively passing?

Yes as do most civilized places... but they're never enforced in the US. Unfortunately. I don't know why, here in NoVA a cop could do nothing but write tickets all day. Balanced budget? Si, se puede!

[N8N]

Originally Posted by KeepitClassy

Honestly, do you guys seriously think we can handle having a Autobahn in the US? I heard in Germany it takes longer to get your license. Realistically, do you think Americans can handle that?

No, not a chance. But I'm also in favor of importing some German traffic cops with angry pens.

[Mavus]

Originally Posted by elinstylez

They seriously need to put up more signs that say "Slower traffic keep right."

Sometimes even with those signs people will ignore it... wish more cops would cite slow drivers as they do speeders.

It's a total anarchy on roads, but I see police not following the rules all the time, i.e driving in left lane without lights on and blocking the traffic like every other inconsiderate driver. According to law you can give them ticket as they are public servants but who wants to deal with that. If they are not setting an example how can we expect peasants to obey the laws or expect public servants to enforce them.

[walmark]

Originally Posted by Smooth 330i

To give you an idea of one of the activities that my driving instructor asked me to perform in Europe is to drive backwards up the hill and parallel park on the actual road between the two vehicles without using the hand brake.

The first 10-20 hrs of driving training, out of 40, is with the instructor on the course to learn how to look at mirrors and give turn signals at the right time. If you pass this test then you can proceed to drive on the road with the instructor. When it's time to take the driving test you have an instructor and two evaluators with you in the car. It is very easy to fail. You have to be almost perfect to pass. You would not believe what they look for, i.e. location of where you stop at each intersection based on if you are making a turn or not in relation to the traffic signal etc. My instructor told me after I passed the test that I will not know how to drive until I drive 100K mi.

That's true, I went through similar driver education in Europe. Much more strict. Applying these rules in US would mean less than half current drivers could actually get licensed.

And to imagine that there are still people who fail license exam as it currently is administered here... How bad must they be???

[keepittrill]

If you've ever driven on the Autobahn, you would know that everyone drives at relatively the same speed. No one drives crazy fast.

[roadkillrob]

The Prius is pretty high on my list of cars driven by idiots - it isn't the car itself but the people that drive them, if it wasn't for the prius, they would drive other cars. They other cars on my list lately driven by prius like drivers are gold colored toyota camry's and lately almost all subaru's (not WRX's) seem to be slow boating in the fast lane or generally just driven by people not paying attention or lost and then of course any grand marquis or town car.