Re: On Topic? Cars, anyway: 55 MPH speed limit...

In article <dNCdnWZ_cu4cahXVnZ2dnUVZ_rDinZ2d@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>,
 Brent P <tetraethylleadREMOVETHIS@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:

> On 2008-07-24, =?iso-2022-jp?q?Hachiroku_=1B$B%O%A%m%=2F=1B=28B?= 
> <Trueno@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> > On Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:57:25 -0500, Brent P wrote:
> >
> >> On 2008-07-24, =?iso-2022-jp?q?Hachiroku_=1B$B%O%A%m%=2F=1B=28B?= 
> >> <Trueno@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> >> 
> >>> I live in a rural area, but there are a few 'population centers'
where 
> >>> the
> >>> ramps have been set up less than ideal, and the rub is there's only
2
> >>> lanes. One of these ramps is almost straight, so people are doing
~60 mph
> >>> when they get to the end; the problem is, *THEY* think they have the

> >>> right
> >>> of way. 
> >> 
> >> The fact merge impaired drivers exist does not justify poor lane
usage.
> >
> > 2 lanes, a stream of cars on my left, and an idiot charging up the
lane
> > full bore: who's supposed to do what?
> 
> The fact that merge impaired drivers exist does not mean you can cruise
> in the left lane.  I drive in the right lane, I deal with all sorts of
> merge impaired drivers and guess what? I deal with it. The thing is,
> people who don't know how to merge properly are rarely coming down the
> ramp fast. Usually they are crawling and then pull out at a low speed.
> Those who actually come down the ramp fast at 'full bore' usually know
> how to merge. 


Yep, I've seen the same thing time after time. Leadfoot in the on-ramp? 
Chances are he pulls in as smooth as if he's the only thing on the road 
- not a brake light to be seen, or honk to be heard. Timid Tilly? Oh 
crap... Cover the brake and change lanes as soon as reasonably possible, 
and look out for brake lights - She's about to jam up the lane.

> It is generally advisible to come down the ramp such that
> one is going *FASTER* than the speed of traffic in the right lane to
> merge. The reason for this is that a car's brakes are more powerful than
> its engine. It's easier to slow down to match a gap than to speed up to
> match one. 

Agreed again. It's generally *MUCH* more precise to tap the brakes to 
slow down and "fall into" a gap than try to mash the throttle through 
the floor to catch up with one that's getting away.

-- 
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