Tailgaters II

[Robert Myers]

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Surely you have heard this one:  "Death is Nature's way to tell you it's
time to slow down."

How about this variant?  "Tailgaters are Nature's way of telling you to
speed up."  :-)

Or this one?  "Tailgaters are Nature's way of telling you to move over."  :-)

Miles of tailgating on a dry two lane road with a 55 mph limit where there
is no prospect of a passing zone may be regarded as foolish by some but it
is essential if one is to accomplish a pass in some of the so called
"passing zones" in these southern mountains.  You don't have time to
accelerate enough to catch the person you are following at 20-25 mph from a
distance of 100 - 150 yards or so to close the gap and get around him
before the limits of the 200 foot passing zone have been exceeded.  The
"leader" will have already driven through half of that passing zone around
the next bend in the road before the follower (you) have been able to tell
that the space is there and to start the passing process.

If you are that driver(?) running 20-25 in a 55 area and someone is
following you closely enough that you are uncomfortable with the situation
don't you think that your speeding up to some semblance of the speed limit
is appropriate?  Failing that, how about pulling off the road in a wide
spot on a shoulder to let the faster vehicle by?  The purpose of that is
not to permit you to take a more steady aim.  :-)

Like it or not, if you are to pass some slowpoke under these conditions you
must follow closely enough to be able to anticipate, accelerate, pass, and
get back over very quickly or the opportunity is long past and you get to
follow him for another 3 or 4 miles until you reach the next short passing
zone.

Tailgating on a four lane road should never happen or need to be done.  If
you, the slower traffic, are cruising the left lane then you are out where
you do not belong.  Get over to the right and let the faster vehicle by and
stay over until it is time for you to pass a still slower
vehicle.  Whatever happened to that old rule of driving.  "Keep right
except when passing"?  Or "check your mirrors before pulling over into the
passing lane?"  Or several other applicable rules of the road?


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Don't blame me. I voted with the majority. :-(


Bob
*****
  Robert L. Myers 304-574-2372
  Rt. 4, Box 57, Fayetteville, WV 25840 USA WV tag Q SHIP
  '95 urS6 Cashmere Grey - der Wunderwagen  ICQ 22170244
  http://www.cob-net.org/church/pvcob.htm
*****
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