According to a friend of mine (a retired traffic collision reconstructionist),
the average driver at 65 mph is using about 95% of their skill, at 75, 100%.
The safest way to treat the other driver is to keep your expectations low.
Bryan
3liter wrote:
> Jim:
>
> It is not lack of consideration. If you lose only 5MPH in momentum it can
> take a big rig miles to gain that speed back. Your comment about
> side-by-side passing is proof of that. When overtaking a slower vehicle it
> is a constant judgment call as to when to pull into the left lane. You don't
> want to inconvenience left-lane drivers "coming up fast" but you don't want
> to get trapped behind the slow-mover and lose momentum. If you do, it will
> take forever to gain enough speed to get by. By using your existing speed
> differential you can pass relatively quickly with less inconvenience to
> others. The problem is how tight to make your closing-distance. If a single
> car is coming up fast in the left lane, he will go by quickly and you can
> afford to wait (i.e., get much closer) to the slow vehicle. However, if the
> left lane car is just lagging out there oblivious of conditions, or leading
> a bunch of cars, you will get trapped waiting for all of them to get by. In
> that case, one might pull out early to keep the speed differential high and
> get by in the minimum time. The immediate group behind you won't appreciate
> it but succeeding traffic will, because your out of the left lane quickly. I
> judge all my moves by what I see in the mirror. If you are a fast, alert
> driver we can help each other. Erratic (speed-up, slow-down), left lane
> "huggers", receive proportionate consideration.
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