Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 exptools 1/6/84; site ihuxi.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!ihnp4!ihuxi!snafu From: snafu@ihuxi.UUCP (Dave Wallis) Newsgroups: net.flame Subject: Re: "Please move over, you are blocking me" Message-ID: <790@ihuxi.UUCP> Date: Tue, 31-Jan-84 19:18:23 EST Article-I.D.: ihuxi.790 Posted: Tue Jan 31 19:18:23 1984 Date-Received: Sun, 5-Feb-84 04:18:09 EST References: <207@pyuxnn.UUCP> <330@hou5g.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Technologies, Inc., Naperville Il. Lines: 32 I agree that one should keep to the right except when passing... in most instances. That strategy works well on three lane interstate highways in relatively unpopulated areas. However, in the neighborhood of big cities, it is completely impossible. Take Chicago, for instance. Around the city (in Chicago this means within 40 miles of downtown) the highways are generally three or four lanes. Exit and entrance ramps are located on both the left- and right-hand sides of the highway, and are supposedly reserved for oncoming and exiting traffic. that leaves one or two "thru traffic" lanes in the middle, and I can guarantee you that it is impossible to fit the volume of traffic on those roads into one or two lanes (I sometimes wonder how they all fit into four lanes!). With the volume of traffic present on these roads, all the lane must be full, or no one will get anywhere. Tailgating in this situation is all the more stupid and useless, since there is nothing for the tailgator to do but catch up to the next car in line (usually about 12 feet ahead). I personally get incredibly irritated at people who insist on going slower than prevaling traffic in the left lane, or "pacers" who take great glee in matching the speed of whoever is next to them. But from my experience, the tailgating problem usually stems from some one who is hell bent on driving 10-20 mph faster than the rest of the drivers. Fine on a lightly traveled road (I'll be glad to move over!) suicide on a heavy traffic road (I'd like to invent an atomic suppository - just for YOU!). -- Dave Wallis ihnp4!ihuxi!snafu AT&T Technologies, Inc. (312) 979-5894