Driving in the U.S. is regionally different. East-coast, down in the
southern states, up in Or and WA, ... each has its own peculiarities.
Driving styles are different even in different parts of the SF, CA bay
area: Silicon Valley'ite mouse-clickers drive differently than the SF
Peninsula and East bay blue collar types, and different than the North
bay types. And the highway you are on also has an affect.
Highway 101 near the SF bay is four lane: with the left most the
carpool/hov during peak traffic, the right lane avoided because of poor
on & off ramp planning (its not only the slow/slower lane but the more
dangerous one, full of crazed types and the mentally infirm).
Whereas Highway 280 can be a much more leisurely drive, except during
peak traffic times. On the East bay side, the ol' Highway 880 is full of
terrors. Not only drivers either on deleterious chemicals, or hopped up
on energy drinks because of their use of them the night before (in
either case they are not in their right mind). Also, the actual road can
be a horror: potholes, debris, +more).
[Sidebar: years ago when driving the company ice to a customer site, I
was in the right most middle lane (slower than others, but allows for
queuing to change to the messed-up right lane to take an exit). Long
story short, a LOUD THUMP and then a ding-a-ling chiming sound was
occurring. This happened right when I was dickering to merge into the
crowded right lane who did not want to budge me an inch. Once in the
right lane, the lane was so beaten up from heavy trucks (ruts, pot
holes, +more), a WHOMP from going over a large pothole at ~65mph shook
loose what ever was under my company car. I briefly saw what it was in
the rear view mirror before it went under the car behind me. I got hit
by a tow truck hook. It must have fallen off a truck, was laying in the
lane when my company car ran over it and flipped it just right so as to
put enough English on it to drive it into the underside of the company
car right under my driver's seat (so said the mechanics). They were
surprised it did not drive its self up high enough into my butt. Scary
(from that point on, I knew I was driving a puncture vulnerable beer
can).
/Sidebar]
Since losing my EV in an accident, I rarely drive the ice I have (I
hoping for a Production EV that fits my needs). And when I do, I drive
it the same as I did my EV: in the right lane going 55mph so as to
pollute less. It means it takes longer to get from point A to B, and I
have to leave lots of accommodating room for wacky drivers, but I have
had few issues/near-misses.
If I could drive a Leaf, I would drive it at 55mph for maximum range =
less pollution, but that is just me (whether ice or EV, I drive at
55mph). And Yes, I get plenty of flying-eagles, but I am in the right
lane, they really should not complain.
{brucedp.150m.com}
...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finger_(gesture)
"flying eagle"
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On Mon, May 6, 2013, at 12:58 AM, Martin WINLOW wrote:
> Over here in the UK, large goods vehicles (semis etc) are restricted to
> 60mph on dual carriageways - tho most do somewhat less for fuel economy
> reasons - so I usually do a little more which makes me no more of a
> nuisance than the HGVs - and avoids them holding everyone else up by
> having to overtake me - but also assuages my ecological
> conscience/improves my range. I think this is a reasonable compromise.
>
> It is interesting to note that despite fuel being around the £8/gallon
> over here, you would not know it from the speed that everyone still
> drives at on the dual carriageways and motorways... at least 70mph and
> many much more (limit is 70mph for cars but not very well policed).
> Clearly the price of fuel will have to rise considerably more before it
> has any significant effect in reducing highway speeds. Perhaps a little
> government education would be helpful. I doubt many people are aware of
> the exponential rise of fuel use with speed or the direct link that has
> to their car running costs.
>
> Perhaps the same mentality applies in the US. If so, you have a lot
> longer to go before rising fuel costs start to affect driving and car
> buying habits en masse.
-
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