Racing to the Stop Sign?

DoctorBlade wrote: When did this become a sport? On the way home I got passed by three people, all in a bigger hurry than I was. Trouble being, the road crosses a busy divided highway, and at rush hour it's sometimes a good two-three minute wait. Which, most of the time, means Speedy will zip around me like a racer wannabe only to end up one car length ahead of me when I get there. People, seriously.

This happens to me everyday on the morning commute to work. I just figure they love their jobs waaaay more than me. The commute is also on straight roads so I usually putt along at the speed limit. Now if the road was winding............

trucke wrote: This happens to me everyday on the morning commute to work. I just figure they love their jobs waaaay more than me. The commute is also on straight roads so I usually putt along at the speed limit.

That's my philosophy. "You should have left earlier" is my response to those playing Junior Rally Star along my usual backroad route. I go the speed limit, and I still have people blowing past at 60+ in a 40 zone on a rough county road.

stuart in mn wrote: I enjoy driving on a road with timed signals, and staying right at the correct speed to hit every light green while the people around me are racing and braking every single block.

This.

I've gotten to the point I drive just under the speed limit on the highway, say 62-63 in a 65 and stay in the right lane.

It's made a huge difference in mpg vs driving 75 and it doesn't really change much on a 14 mile commute that's about 7-8 highway.

Stress level is much lower driving slow as well.

DoctorBlade wrote: When did this become a sport? On the way home I got passed by three people, all in a bigger hurry than I was. Trouble being, the road crosses a busy divided highway, and at rush hour it's sometimes a good two-three minute wait. Which, most of the time, means Speedy will zip around me like a racer wannabe only to end up one car length ahead of me when I get there. People, seriously.

Worse is when people creeeeeeeeeeeeeeep along just because there's a red light.

Maybe the guy behind you needs to grab a tissue for a sneeze or something and needs to come to a stop for that.

stuart in mn wrote: I enjoy driving on a road with timed signals, and staying right at the correct speed to hit every light green while the people around me are racing and braking every single block.

One of the roads that I drive to work is timed for 35mph. Drive 35mph and you sail through five lights in the space of a couple miles. Drive slower and you have to stop at every one.

Yes, the zombies (they are zombies) drive 25mph or something, and every light is red. For no good reason other than "derp duh oh look they put nerw flowers up at that house".

vwcorvette wrote: I explain to my DE students that some people have the NASCAR mentality. They are Kurt Busch. They need to be in front regardless of the circumstances. Apparently there's a checkered flag up ahead and by gummy they're gonna get it.

After watching this video about Kurt Busch, I completely understand this statement.

DoctorBlade wrote:

trucke wrote: This happens to me everyday on the morning commute to work. I just figure they love their jobs waaaay more than me. The commute is also on straight roads so I usually putt along at the speed limit.

That's my philosophy. "You should have left earlier" is my response to those playing Junior Rally Star along my usual backroad route. I go the speed limit, and I still have people blowing past at 60+ in a 40 zone on a rough county road.

And my response is "I did leave earlier, I got stuck behind two other people."

The title of this post reminds me of this scene from the classic movie, Suburban Commando (circa 1991).

Traffic light race

You can thank me later...