R.I.D.E. |
10-26-2017 12:00 AM |
If you observed the traffic cameras linked earlier, the single exception to the lack of 3 stripes separation is behind an 18 wheeler. It's why I like to tuck in behind them and it's the only place you have the luxury of decent separation. If a car every second passes over the same spot at 55 mph the math (never lies) is 1.47 X 55 feet AVERAGE SEPARATION. Lets say about 82 feet, but that INCLUDES THE VEHICLE.
Now were talking about 50-70 feet. Each stripe in the US is right at 43 feet. Maybe with that math facing you even the most ignorant (no name) should realize that 3 stripes, about 129 feet, is a luxury and in many places where I have driven, the average separation is even worse. If you think not then check out the many areas on the eastern US coast with traffic cameras. VDOT has them all around DC and I have lived and worked there. Used to do route 123, Chain Bridge road, from Tysons Corner to Glebe road in Arlington avoiding the Interstate altogether. 35 mph perfectly timed traffic lights, in my 84 CRX it was good for 50 mpg (averaged 44 for 50k miles) 35 years ago. watching the bumper to bumper crawling traffic on the Interstates going in and out of Washington DC. The Mercedes dealership (still remember the address and phone number) had the customers park on the ROOF of the building. Property values were way to high for ground level parking lots, even for Mercedes Benz customers.
I have always loved driving, still do, but rules and regulations are subservient to survival. A cop once told me that I had to legally sit at an intersection and wait for the idiot to plow into my rear end, at a red light, when i saw it coming. I replied, "That's assault with a deadly weapon, and I have every right to do ANYTHING to defend myself." I do fine explaining that to the judge and have pulled into an intersection when the light was red to keep from getting rear ended on numerous occasions. Once in a 59 Corvette I pulled over into the median and the driver thanked me for my action that prevented HIM from slamming into my rear end. I had enough distance from the car in front of me to pull over, situational awareness and preparation saved me from potential incineration as had happened to an identical Corvette a couple of weeks earlier to a woman, who was fried alive. In another instance I was being tailgated and pulled over into the right lane when the 68 GTO slammed on brakes in front of me (fresh brake job, mechanic road testing the car). The right lane was clear. The Chevelle behind me slammed into the GTO. They found the Chevelle drivers baby under the dash of the car, no child safety seats or 911 back then. I called the police from the nearest business location and waited for the police and ambulance to arrive.
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