Re: Lane Checks

[PDQSHIP@aol.com]

....  A good post Al....   Audis, btw have blind spots, esp the 5k series and
the urq, but I haven't driven one yet that doesn't need more than the stock
mirrors to cover the blind spot......   A very dangerous move not to ck with
your head, do it quickly and you compromise no more time than the glance at
the radio station....  If you found yourself hitting the guy in front of you
cuz you did ck the blind spot, you are too close to him......  Most racers
use the "wink" syle mirrors that cover the blindspots, and most guys rely on
those and the brakes of the other guy to make a change in "traffic", the rule
of thumb is the line, on line you have the "right of way".....  If you go out
of that line to pimp someone, that can be protested.....  If he goes "out of
line" to pass you, and you hit him while maintaining your line, he is at
fault.....  Then there is that gray area that if you are the slower car, you
should go off line to let a guy by anyhow, or if he just **sses you off....
But I degress.....  

But a good rule of thumb is that you are going "off line" to get in front of
someone in your blind spot, he was there in that lane, so you must exercise
the care and caution.  If your head doesn't turn fast enough, get "winked" or
supplemental mirrors, but given the design of audi C pillars, turning your
head is almost a must......   Speed up or slow down if someone is hanging
there, you are putting yourself and him in danger, and you've taken a safety
"out" of your driving options if you can't jump there......  Be aware, drive
smart, know who is behind you, and find him if he ain't there anymore,
attention to mirrors is the key....

Driving 101......   Identify, Predict, Decide, and Execute (IPDE).....
  Identify is the key word in lane changes......

Scott