Re: Lane Changes

[mickley@postoffice.ptd.net (Lou Mickley)]

Eric's comment was the point I was trying to make about driving and NOT
looking over your shoulder when it's time to pass - situational awareness
ALL THE TIME is the key.  Know where all of the cars are around you at all
times.  I got lots of feedback and agree with some.  I like to do the following:
(1) Flow faster than traffic (habit) and (therefore most of the time) keep
traffic moving backwards behind you - but keep in mind at all times that
even if you're going 70+, a Testarossa (or Police cruiser) could be coming
up on you at 100mph and cover ground fast.
(2) Adjust your mirrors so they cover the blind spots.  Most people align
their left side mirror straight down the length of the car so they can see
the guy in the passing lane 50 yards back but not the guy 5 yards back.  If
you need to see the guy 50 yards back, look in the rearview mirror.  Some
people like the convex mirrors - I have them in my conversion van, but don't
like seeing my kids drippin' ice cream while I'm looking for traffic (and as
AUDIDUDI mentioned - "it's distracting to keep looking at your own head")  .
People not seeing me was very frustrating when I owned a black Honda CRX Si
and noticed that no one can see this car due to their bad mirror setup,
shadows, forgetting not everyone drives 54mph, etc.
(3) Always be looking around and know what's happening ahead, along side,
and behind.  I am always even looking at shoulders and center areas of the
highway to know if they are feesible options if needed for quick/emergency
lane change.
Want a quick test of this?  Has a marked (or even unmarked) police cruiser
ever shown up on your bumper and you didn't see him coming? - BZZT (Eric -
we need a .WAV file for that) you failed - he is moving along a 90+ and that
means your not checking around enough.  No one should ever sneak up on you,
whether their going 90 or 120mph.  Same thing for closing speed on the guy
in front of you about to be passed.  You're not thinking far enough ahead if
you want to pull out and don't know what's around you yet and have to hit
the brakes to look.
(4) Assume no one sees you when you're cruisin' - and expect a stupid move
from someone at any time (think like a motorcycle biker - contact means you
loose).  If you don't have a plan B for each situation, you're cruising too
fast.

Now that I've said my $0.02 ($0.01 goes to !@$#% Washington), I'll step off
my soap box now.

-Lou

Eric wrote...
>Well I kinda equate this with "Low-Eyes" or not looking down the road and 
>improving your  Situational Awarness (S/A).  If you don't have a clue as 
>to what's going on around you GET ONE.  Keep your eyes open and look, 
>your head should pretty much never be fixed, you should always be looking 
>around.  One of the things that we stress in Anti-Terriost Schools is 
>know how many cars are around you and where, so no one just "Appears".  
>They hav'nt invented the Transporter yet, so a car just can't come out of 
>Nowhere.