HWY/Freeway etiquette.

[bodes-sh]

Originally Posted by Mad Maxine

You know what grinds my gears?
You are driving along on the highway, things are going nice and traffic is moving as it should, then all of a sudden, everyone is braking, cars are slowing down all over the place, and you think the worst has happened somewhere up ahead. You then sit in crawling or stop start traffic for 20 minutes, watching the traffic pile up behind you as far as the eye can see, and fume quietly to yourself, particularly if you drive an older vehicle with only windows for air conditioning (don't get me wrong, I love my '62 Fairlane, but it's a tad uncomfortable in high summer when you are stopped in the blazing sun).

Eventually, the traffic crawls forward and then suddenly, everyone speeds up and takes off! There is no sign of an accident, and then you realise some fackwit up approximately 200 cars ahead has slowed down to gawk at
a) some poor buggerchange a tyre
b) some girl standing next to her car yakking on a mobile phone
c) a speed camera vehicle on the side of the road
d) a vehicle that has broken down being loaded onto a tilt tray (not an accident)

There is absolutely NO REASON for them to slow down one bloody bit as long as the vehicle/person is off the road and the usual caution about driving past people etc at 100km/hr, but there's always someone who has to practically come to a standstill to have a good rubberneck, and this causes a chain reaction of people slamming on the brakes to do the same thing, or wondering why the cars in front are hitting the anchors and then so on down the line.

It drives me crazy-A-bonkers, and I hate these people with the heat of a thousand blazing hot suns about to go supernova.

If your attention span is that short, and you have absolutely no ability to just maintain your highway speed, get off the highways. Your stupidity causes a massive chain reaction for kilometers that affects hundreds of other drivers, but you are blind and blissfully unaware of the mess you leave behind.

And this to the nth degree more for those vultures who feel the need to stop and stare at a car accident that could have resulted in injury or death. Just don't. If the police and emergency services are already there, unless you are an off-duty trauma specialist, keep bloody going, and have some common decency.

Rant over. I think I need an aspirin now. Grrrrr!

MM

the worst bit is, we get this all the time in perth, but 99% of the time nothing has happened, they just slow down for the sake of it. and i mean braking hard, a few times i have come pretty close to rear ending someone because they brake so hard and late.

i also fail to understand how people can't merge properly. or the people that sit in the right lane doing less than the speed limit...

[mrbaxr6t]

Originally Posted by Copie

My theory behind them sitting on your rear end is that they are using you as a shield from roo's/other cars/police its fairly common practice in country areas especially late afternoon/night/dawn.

I do it occasionally (hey if it saves me from hitting a roo its worth it)

Sorry man but the shield idea don't work, car infront hits roo and it comes over bonnet, and ends up slamming into your windscreen, dunno about you but I would rather the nose my car hit the roo than have its carcass fly through my windscreen

there are many things that grind me about the behavior of others on the road - many of which have been mentioned but a few havn't so here they are

1. parking if you do not have the skill to put your car in the middle of a parking space at a supermarket or a shopping center even when driving a small car I am sorry to say but you suck

2. people that have zero respect for other cars in a carpark belting other cars with doors, walking into rearview mirrors etc etc. show some respect for other peoples' property no matter what it is

3. pedestrians that seem to think it is their god given right to tell you how to drive from the footpath! and yelling things at you or your car as you drive by them - example kids being idiots on pushbikes right on the edge the road, so I wait for them to realise I am there then begin to drive past and get them scream "IDIOT" at my car?? an idiot would have seen them not given a crap and drove right on through fast not at a crawl like I did

[JG66ME]

Originally Posted by Silver Ghia

Other countries like England have the lanes so that the vehicles driving in the left lane do not need to worry about merging traffic, the entering traffic enter on their own new lane. Its the rightmost lanes that close.

Yes
Here its "Left Lane Ends". Does not give much hope for a smooth merge for the B Double doing 20k less than the idiot who will not yield in the right lane.

There its the right lane that ends. I am in my Bimmer and have to slow down to merge with the "Artic" in the left lane. Works so much better.

[braddyxe51]

Originally Posted by EDfutura25

Yeah when I was in Perth I noticed that. Seems just past South street heading towards Manduarh is the worst, suddenly it seems everyone goes from 100 to 85. I was doing 100 in the right lane all the way till south street, then I was at 85 till armadale rd where I got off. This happened 3 times while I was there. Also just as I leave town a black 300C overtakes me at 130kph and speeds off into the distance, well lol at him and his impatience, because 300km on and 2 stops later I overtook him. Just proves that speeding doesn't get you anywhere faster.

Caravans are the worst and people who go around he caravan in a 500m overtaking lane, but don't accelerate to the speed limit. So you either wait, or squeeze in so as not to get stuck.

Thats because of Roe hwy on ramp heading south get a few trucks coming in on that ramp. slows everything down should be 3 lanes going through there I think.
Look at the tunnel lucky to get through there doing 50 half the time.

I was in Germany a few months back. We should learn from them how to drive on free/hyws. Trucks limited to 100 but cars are free or limit to 130. Every one stays right (left for us) Huge NONO to over take on slow lane side.
If a car comes up behind you when ya pull out to over take a truck they just to next lane ( 3 lanes most of time) then pull back all the way to slow lane so fast lane is all free.

I think there is already a law that ya cant do under 10Kmh of the sign posted speed on freeways in left lane here. Not aloud to do less than 90 in right hand lane. Could be wrong.

[braddyxe51]

No more than 20 kph

Page 24 at bottom

http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/media...drivesafe3.pdf

The only time have done this is to stop oil coming out leaking rocker gasket and smoking out the freeway when oil hits exhaust. Was for 1 trip only.

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Ah, spoken like a true "get out of my way I have to be in front" driver.

Did you know that there are actually people who like driving along at 80kmh. Not everyone wants to drive at the MAXIMUM PERMITTED speed limit! I drive 900ks a day, 5 days week on single lane highways and have to put up with drivers like this every day. Along with Caravans, Headers and oversize loads doing around 20kmh.

It's called sharing the road, and if you cant handle it maybe you're the one who doesn't belong on the road or need a course on controlling 'road rage'.

Drivers with your attitude we can all do without.

That's fine but somewhere like a freeway they can take normal roads and stay off the free ways. On the highway its fine, I normally see them get around them and continue my journey, nothing really that bad. If I'm going to slow for someone then if I'm overtaken I slow about 10k down to let them get around safely and continue on my way. Highway driving is easy as (when you car has a little bit of power) its more city driving where it becomes a pain with people not thinking of others...mind you most are actually ok.

[xy500]

Originally Posted by Lightning Strike XR6

If you dont like those going 120-130 stay out of the right hand lane!

get stuffed, no one has the right to speed, not in the right hand lane, left hand lane or anywhere. If you don't like being behind someone in the right hand lane that does the limit, then sell your car now and save us all the hassle of your impatience.

[braddyxe51]

If your driving in the right lane on the freeway and the limit is 90 or over and you are not overtaking you are breaking the law. this should go for any dual lane road. keep left unless O/T
No one has the right to speed. I think only state ya can drive faster than 110 is N.T. have 130 limit.
XY500 your profile pic has hit it right on the head.LOL

[prydey]

Originally Posted by JG66ME

Here its "Left Lane Ends". Does not give much hope for a smooth merge for the B Double doing 20k less than the idiot who will not yield in the right lane.

the 'idiot' better find somewhere else to be cos its indicator on and over i go for the b double.

Originally Posted by xy500

get stuffed, no one has the right to speed, not in the right hand lane, left hand lane or anywhere. If you don't like being behind someone in the right hand lane that does the limit, then sell your car now and save us all the hassle of your impatience.

unless the road is congested or you are passing another car, it is just as illegal to be in the right lane as it is tailgating or speeding etc. its not the motorists job to enforce the road rules.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by braddyxe51

If your driving in the right lane on the freeway and the limit is 90 or over and you are not overtaking you are breaking the law.

i think you'll find its 80km/h +

[DoreSlamR]

Originally Posted by bodes-sh

the worst bit is, we get this all the time in perth, but 99% of the time nothing has happened, they just slow down for the sake of it. and i mean braking hard, a few times i have come pretty close to rear ending someone because they brake so hard and late.

i also fail to understand how people can't merge properly. or the people that sit in the right lane doing less than the speed limit...

Yep this happens particularly around peak hour too, stop start traffic on a freeway is very annoying when the only reason for it is lot's of cars and hundreds of people who don't know how to merge or how to let a merging car in.

It turns into a bottle neck because people merging are merging too slowly which slows down those in the left lane, then you get the ones in the left lane who fire out to the right lane to avoid being slowed down by the merging traffic, this causes those in the right lane to be slowed down.

Multiply that by a few hundred and you got bumper to bumper traffic for 5kms either side of the on ramp. Then it clears for a few kms and then rinse and repeat.

[braddyxe51]

Originally Posted by prydey

i think you'll find its 80km/h +

Ya I corrected myself in next post.

[braddyxe51]

No one in Perth car pools either which is a shame. So many more could use public transport as well.
I was sitting at bus stop one morning, I think about 5% of cars had more than one person. over 1/2 that 5% whole family going somewhere.
95% of cars go park pay there $20+ a day for parking then spend hour in arvo to get out of city. When a train or bus would have got them home in half the time.
If I leave 10 min later from my home in car it could easy add 1/2 hour more time to my trip. Clearmont is crap in morning cos all the rich bitches drop their kids off at school instead of kids using the bus.

[Copie]

Originally Posted by mrbaxr6t

Sorry man but the shield idea don't work, car infront hits roo and it comes over bonnet, and ends up slamming into your windscreen, dunno about you but I would rather the nose my car hit the roo than have its carcass fly through my windscreen

If thats the case, you are following too closely, if you leave a suitable distance, it gives you more then enough time to react and either A: Slow down and B: Avoid the body.

Also if the traffic is rubber banding and your having to slam the brakes on your either not paying attention (aka looking ahead at the traffic) or you are following too close.

Some of you guys should do highway driving for a living, that will open your eyes to what its like all year round.

[Outback]

Originally Posted by DAVO_XR

Yes thats true but if its a clear day road is fine and you're doing 80 in a 100 zone, well perhaps you dont belong on the road at all. Short of inclement weather, there is no excuse to hold up traffic like that, to me you are a mobile chicane, and if I'm not in the work car I'll lay on the horn as I fly past.

God your tool, so if a learner,red p driver or a car towing a trailer who are all restricted to a maximum of 80ks is in front of you, you would blow your horn well i think you play with your horn too much, drivers like you such catch public transport.

[Jack91]

Originally Posted by DAVO_XR

Yeah, maybe you're right. However, seeing as though 90% of the people on the road want to do the MAXIMUM PERMITTED speed limit perhaps these people who "like" driving at 80km/hr should get out of the ***** WAY!
I should add that when it comes to trucks, caravans and loaded up cars and trailers, that I dont get that angry and can understand them not being able to do the speed limit.

Outback perhaps you should read it all before posting
I reckon that from your replies, you're the kind of guy that does 10km/h under the speed limit in the right hand lane, would I be right?

[jpd80]

Hi, have read quite a few posts here and sense people's frustrations. Over the years, Ive learned to
stick to the speed limit and have found that on most Queensland single lane roads that 102-105 kph
in 100kph zones is ideal for avoiding overtaking and being caught by cars coming from the rear.
On trips from Gladstone to Brisbane, the first 350 km I'd be lucky to have 9 or 10 traffic interactions
so pretty quiet. when I used to buzz down the road at higher speeds, I'd frustrate myself catching
and passing cars every 3 to 5 minutes....

Goes to show patience can save your life and license.

[Outback]

Originally Posted by DAVO_XR

Outback perhaps you should read it all before posting
I reckon that from your replies, you're the kind of guy that does 10km/h under the speed limit in the right hand lane, would I be right?

And like always your wrong, keep left unless overtaking the sign reads.

[Jack91]

Originally Posted by Outback

And like always your wrong, keep left unless overtaking the sign reads.

Like always? Look, unless you're:
a) driving a truck
b) Leaner or first year p plater
c) driving a loaded ute
d) driving a loaded car/trailer
e) driving in very bad weather
f) having some circumstance that prevents you from doing the limit
there is NO EXCUSE for holding EVERYONE ELSE UP, ever heard of travelling with the flow of traffic? You're creating a dangerous situation, if everyone else can do the limit on the straight piece of road, then why cant you? How can you not think its dangerous when theres a 1km line of cars behind you and you wont pull over/get out of the way. Yeah because when the BMW or whatever pulls out from the middle and has to hit high speeds to get past you, thats really safe isnt it. All could have been avoided if you followed the flow. Not a personal dig at you, but I just cant understand your reasoning.

[Bushbasher]

, Welcome to my world.

Sorry V4man, probably not called for but as a professional driver who does 600km a day/night on country roads/highways I, like Gasolane, deal with all kinds of traffic imaginable. Most slow moving traffic you make allowances for as they are doing their best, ie. wide loads, headers, caravaners, horse floats etc, and they'll move over when possible but there are some right dropkicks out there as well. There's other threads on the forum outlining my and others frustration with stupid and ignorant road users so I won't bother going into them again but some you just can't help but get frustrated at and it's worse in a speed limited truck as you don't have the speed or acceleration to get around them, at least in a car you have the ability to get around and away from them.

Originally Posted by mrbaxr6t

Sorry man but the shield idea don't work, car infront hits roo and it comes over bonnet, and ends up slamming into your windscreen, dunno about you but I would rather the nose my car hit the roo than have its carcass fly through my windscreen

Roos very rarely go over the car, most usually cave in the front and get flung down the road left or right of your car. Occasionally they'll come up your bonnet into YOUR windscreen though. Besides if you're following someone who's going fast enough to throw a roo over their roof and into you then you both deserve to hit something. Traveling at anything over 100-110 in roo infested country at night is just asking for trouble IMO.

Originally Posted by Copie

My theory behind them sitting on your rear end is that they are using you as a shield from roo's/other cars/police its fairly common practice in country areas especially late afternoon/night/dawn.

I do it occasionally (hey if it saves me from hitting a roo its worth it)

If you think trailing behind a car is safer by any real margin I'd suggest you're wrong there. Firstly, and this has happened to me in the truck, the leading car could spook a stationary roo into coming out behind it and then you got no time to react or get out of the way cos you didn't see it in time, or, just as bad, the leading car swerves left or right and misses the roo and guess what, same end result, you are left with bugger all reaction time to deal with the sudden appearance of a roo in front of you. No thanks, I'd rather be out in front to give me maximum time to spot it and react.


Bushbasher

[Copie]

Originally Posted by Bushbasher

If you think trailing behind a car is safer by any real margin I'd suggest you're wrong there. Firstly, and this has happened to me in the truck, the leading car could spook a stationary roo into coming out behind it and then you got no time to react or get out of the way cos you didn't see it in time, or, just as bad, the leading car swerves left or right and misses the roo and guess what, same end result, you are left with bugger all reaction time to deal with the sudden appearance of a roo in front of you. No thanks, I'd rather be out in front to give me maximum time to spot it and react.

If your travelling at 100kmh, and have a distance of around 100-150m (what most people should give space wise for safety etc) that gives you 4-6 seconds of reaction time, now most peoples reaction times from seeing the obstacle (say the roo) to doing something about it is generally 0.5-1.0 seconds, leaves you at least 3 seconds to swerve, brake etc out of the way.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by Copie

If your travelling at 100kmh, and have a distance of around 100-150m (what most people should give space wise for safety etc) that gives you 4-6 seconds of reaction time, now most peoples reaction times from seeing the obstacle (say the roo) to doing something about it is generally 0.5-1.0 seconds, leaves you at least 3 seconds to swerve, brake etc out of the way.

Not done much country night driving eh?

On a single lane highway with bushes/scrub on the road side the 0.5 to 1.0 secs is the time it take the Roo to leave the side of the road and bump into you.

[SB076]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

Having spent some time recently commuting distances at 100 and 110kph i can honestly say there are alot of morons on our roads.

Cruise control.. USE IT, or learn to drive at a consistent pace.. nothing worse than sitting on the Hume with cruise set at 112kph and having to pull right to pass a slower car, then being passed by the same damn car that sped up who wizzes by at 120 then proceeds to pull back into the left lane and slow down to 100 5 times because they're unable to hold a constant speed. :

Posted limits.... PAY ATENTION.... no its not fun to share roads with people who sit on 95 or 130 on a freeway with a 110 limit.... the speed differential between cars is not only a pain to navigate through but damn dangerous. :

Merging traffic... SYNCHRONISE..... why hold a car out and try to run them onto the grass when they're just trying to merge from an off ramp? is it too hard to speed up/ slow down or move right to let them in?? : Also merging traffic... try to merge at or close to the posted limit to minimise inconvenience...

Idiots abound our major roads....

First point is very valid I when I drive in the country one of the most annoying things I find is people driving along at 80 - 90 k's - you have no overtaking opportunities and the come across an overtaking lane only to find the car that was slowing you up is now doing 120 + k's and pulling away. As soon as the overtkaing lane ends they go back to 80 - 90 k's

Third point seems to be getting worse with traffic lights now being installed on on ramps (in vic anyway) I am finding people merging at very low speeds

[prydey]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Not done much country night driving eh?

On a single lane highway with bushes/scrub on the road side the 0.5 to 1.0 secs is the time it take the Roo to leave the side of the road and bump into you.

one of the reasons i like to follow one of you guys when the sun goes down. plus the lights on the front of your company car are a fair bit better than my family wagon.

[platinumXR]

Seems everyone has an interpretation of their opinion of what is right. Consistent patience does not seem to be one of them. I know; I am guilty too.

[66FAIRLANE]

Maybe has been mentioned but not reading 82 posts to find out. What p*sses me off is people that drive on country roads too close to the car in front with no intention of overtaking them. This means in areas of limited overtaking oppertunities if you want to get past you now have to jump two or maybe three or more cars. If you do not wish to overtake the car in front stay far enough back so the person behind you can overtake one at a time.

Ahh...that feels better.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by SB076

Third point seems to be getting worse with traffic lights now being installed on on ramps (in vic anyway) I am finding people merging at very low speeds

I like how you go onto a freeway and you see those traffic lights that clearly says "one vehicle per green light" or something similar, the light goes green and like 3 cars go through.

Next time I go onto the Tulla, I'll pull up and take some hilarious photos of drivers parking on the side of the freeway on the grass near trees in front of big "no parking signs".

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

Cruise control.. USE IT, or learn to drive at a consistent pace.. nothing worse than sitting on the Hume with cruise set at 112kph and having to pull right to pass a slower car, then being passed by the same damn car that sped up who wizzes by at 120 then proceeds to pull back into the left lane and slow down to 100 5 times because they're unable to hold a constant speed. :

Goddamn it I hate that

Same as these muppets that piddle along and then speed up when you go to pass them in the overtaking lanes

[SB076]

Originally Posted by XCPWSF

I like how you go onto a freeway and you see those traffic lights that clearly says "one vehicle per green light" or something similar, the light goes green and like 3 cars go through.

Next time I go onto the Tulla, I'll pull up and take some hilarious photos of drivers parking on the side of the freeway on the grass near trees in front of big "no parking signs".

Havent seen three cars go through have seen people merge at speeds I would estimate to be at around 60k's or less with a B double in the left lane not able to move over (due to traffic) Not a good situation and one that could be avoided had the cars simply picked the pace up a bit

[burnz]

i tend to drive in the left lane, "it's faster".