Saturday, July 16, 2011

Driving in Texas

There are a few observations I have made in my years of driving in Texas that have led me to formulate personal rules that make driving easier and less stressful. Today is your lucky day because I am going to share one of them.

You are stuck behind a slow car or truck. And I don’t mean one that is driving the speed limit instead of the standard at-least-5mph-over (although this also applies in that circumstance). If you think that riding up close to the rear of the slow-moving vehicle will prompt a speed increase, you are mistaken. That more frequently results in an even worse slow-down.

The surest way to make that slow car speed up is to wait until the road widens and there are two lanes of traffic in each direction. As if by magic, as soon as there is a way for the slow automobile to be passed, it will speed up. And not just to the speed limit, but often to the standard at-least-5mph-over!

In rare cases, that will not, in and of itself, result in an increase in speed. If you change lanes and attempt to pass, though, that will often do it. Be aware, though, that if you commit to this course of action, you must act quickly to actually pass, as you will discover that your acceleration will be transferred somehow to the heretofore slow vehicle, and it will not only speed up to the speed limit, but will often exceed the speed limit enough to prevent your passing.

If you don’t really want to pass, but would just like to be going at least the speed limit, move up close behind the slow-moving car and make sure the car is aware of your proximity. Then just change to the next lane. No need to actually try to pass—just change lanes. (Sometimes you can just ease over toward the next lane as if you were going to change lanes and achieve the same result.) In most cases, the car will automatically increase speed, as if to keep you from passing. Do not pull back into your original lane too quickly, though, to insure that the (formerly slow-moving) car maintains its higher speed.

You will also need to be aware of the road ahead. If you know that it will drop back to a single lane of traffic in each direction, you have a decision to make. For as soon as there is only a single lane of traffic, the slow-moving vehicle will once again slow back down. It is as if there is a constricting energy field on two-lane roads that depletes the forward momentum of motor vehicles. If you are aware of this phenomenon, you can drive with a greater understanding of the road and the road conditions and compensate to counteract the energy field in order to maintain your rate of speed. Staying aware will make you a better driver.

Sadly, the majority of drivers divide their attention between piloting a ton-and-a-half of metal and plastic as it hurtles down the roadway at high speed and, say, whatever radio station they are listening to. Or a cell phone conversation.

But that’s another blog for another day.

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