this post was submitted on 29 Aug 2023
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I’ll start. Stopping distance.

My commute is 95 miles one way to work, so I see a lot of the highway, in the rural part of the US. This means traveling at 70+ mph (112km/h) for almost the entirety of the drive. The amount of other drivers on the road who follow behind someone else with less than a car’s length in front of them because they want to go 20+ over the speed limit is ridiculous. The only time you ever follow someone that close is if you have complete and absolute trust in them, and also understand that it may not even be enough.

For a daily drive, you likely need 2-3 car lengths between you at minimum depending on your speed to accurately avoid hitting the brakes. This doesn’t even take into account the lack of understanding of engine braking…

What concepts do you all think of when it comes to driving that you feel are not well understood by the public at large?

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[–] [email protected] 29 points 1 year ago (4 children)

People don't realise how little time they save by speeding and weaving in and out of traffic.

Just chill. You can spend 20 minutes relaxed and comfy, or 19 minutes gripping your wheel with white knuckles, screaming at grandmas and jacking off at red lights.

Choose wisely.

[–] MajorHavoc 21 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

It is quite satisfying to amble up next to them at the next light... And the one after that... And the one after that.

Edit: I don't recommend rolling down the window and shouting "IT'S NOT WORKING! WEAVE HARDER! WEAVE HARDER!" at them. I think about it, but I don't recommend it.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'll admit it took me way too long to learn this one, but man, commuting is so much less stressful when you can take a zen approach and accept that 95% of your travel time is out of your control. Focus on some music or a podcast you enjoy and you probably won't even care if it takes you an extra minute or two to get there.

[–] GladiusB 7 points 1 year ago

I was a bus driver for 7 years. It's hilarious when I'm driving this gigantic goliath and some speed demon winds up at the same light at the same time multiple times trying to be in the Fast and the Furious. Traffic don't work like that. Chill out and you help everyone. Including yourself.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I agree.

But some people are really irritating to drive behind. So sometimes overtaking them is the only way to have a zen commute.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That's a different thing. Normally people who are annoying are not safe.

[–] TeckFire 1 points 1 year ago

100%. If I see a driver sifting back and forth over the edges of both sides of their lanes, I’m 100% going to stay backed rn further than I usually do. Until I have a clear shot to pass them, and them I’m going to slip by as quickly as possible and get some distance, because there is no way I’m sitting behind a wreck waiting to happen for a whole drive.

[–] Nastybutler -2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I look at it this way: I speed and weave on the highway, and save 5 minutes on my 35 minute commute. That's one way. So 10 minutes per day, five days a week. That's 50 minutes I save per week. 50 weeks per year, so I save 2,500 minutes or almost 42 hours a year. That's basically a weeks worth of work I'm not in traffic.

Worth it.

I should mention that I ride a motorcycle half the year, but don't weave in my cage, because I'm not a complete asshole. I still speed no matter what I'm driving, but not excessively

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

the average is 2 minutes a week I'm afraid

what people forget is you can make up a couple of minutes on the highway at best, but most destinations will be on residential streets, which are controlled with traffic lights, and then you have to find a parking spot, lock the car, walk to the destination...

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm totally on board with you but how long does it take you to lock your car lol

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I drive a Marley n Marley