Since we have moved my commute to work is almost an hour long. It is all highway driving and I don’t mind it….much.
I have to say though many people have no clue what the rules of the road are. They have no road etiquette.
The speed limit for most of the way is 110 km or for those of you south of the border that is 68.3508 mph. We are moving at a fair clip.
For most of the way there are 2 lanes of traffic but in a few places there are 3 lanes.
I need to confess something here….. I speed. The roads are dry and the traffic is not heavy for the most part. Don’t judge!!!! I know, I know. When it is wet I will slow down.
I am usually in the fast lane. Passing the cars in the slow lane along with many others. We zip along until we have passed the slower cars and trucks then when we have done so we shift lanes back to the slow lane until once again we are coming up behind someone going the speed limit or slower.
A quick shoulder check and then back into the passing lane to go with the flow of traffic.
Sometimes this does not go as planned though. Sometimes a large truck will change lanes to go around a slower going motorhome and they don’t move their big, heavy butts back into the slow lane. This is annoying for two reasons. 1. they don’t go as fast as the rest of the lane and 2. you can’t see around them when traffic is slamming to a halt for some reason.
Some people get into the fast lane and pass one car and then stay there in the fast lane. A huge gap forms between them and the next car in front of them. They are blocking the fast lane. Cars are lining up behind them yet they don’t move over. Cars follow closer and closer (not me… I never tailgate) until suddenly for whatever reason the traffic must slow down in a hurry…Next thing you know cars are slamming on their brakes in order to not crash into each other. Leave some space people. Think about it.
But then what happens is you leave a space for a safe stopping distance and people from the slow lane cut right in as if you left it just for them. Most times they do this then slam on their brakes because they now realize they are waaaayyyy too close to the car the just separated me from. Where does that leave me? Mashing down on my brakes.
You best not be tailgating me because I will make it very clear I don’t like you that up close and personal. Back off or I will continue to slow down to leave enough room for my car to move out of your way if the traffic is coming to an abrupt stop.
I haven’t succumbed to road rage as of yet but I have shaken my head at many of them.
So what about you? Do you hug the slow lane and never venture out of it unless the lane is closed down?
Do you nudge people out of your way?
Do you let someone else do the driving an just close your eyes?
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I'm a 37-year survivor of a 1-hour commute (In Alberta)--only missed 3 days of work in all that time due to weater/driving conditions. I did all that you do: leave lots of room, let others pass. My highway was only one lane in each direction, for most of the way, just before Edmonton the road divided into 2-lanes each way (still 100km/h), and I found the closer I got to the city, the less courteous the drivers. I've seen the aftermath of many, many accidents. But you don't have 37 years of this to look forward to.
ReplyDeleteI feel exactly the same way you do and we experience the same thing. Honestly, do people today even know the rules of the road? Plus, there's no common courtesy anymore and people don't use common sense.
ReplyDeleteWhen we moved here Papa for the first year had a 2 hour drive there and back every day for his work , it was tough on the vehicle and lots $$ for the gas . So he was thankfully able to get a job in his line of work only 20 min away in town . I am retired and don't miss any of it at all lol ! Thanks for sharing , take it easy out there and have a good day !
ReplyDeleteI suppose the solution to the whole problem is to abide by the law and go the speed limit - I guess 110 means 110 - at least that is how I figure it. :-) Problem solved.
ReplyDeleteI used to commute a super long distance also...one wintery day it took me over 4 hours to get to work. Now I would be smarter and just call in and refuse to go.
ReplyDeleteBut i agree with you, there are smart drivers, and well then there are the rest of them.
Right now, we are dealing with the Alberta invasion...sorry if anyone is from Alberta. But these drivers, are road hogs, fast lane only, slowing down for curves...and they are not nice to have around. It's pretty easy to see who they are, coming and going..because they are always on the go, and get out of their way.
Have a safe trip Lori.
Jen
For many many years I had a 1.5 - 2 hour commute to work in Toronto. I learned to listen to calming music and before I reached the city 'limits' I learned to enjoy the beauty of the nature and land and trees and yes the cows too!
ReplyDeleteOh, how happy you make me to know that I don't have to do that drive every day! Hard to say, but the truth is drivers in the US are much more courteous and law-abiding.
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