Formation Tactics on the Highway

[Vudak]

So today on my lunch break I was heading up Route 9 N/B when traffic ground to a halt.  There was a nasty accident up ahead, and both lanes were closed down, with traffic being ushered by on the right raver saver.

Now, there was plenty of room to accomplish this, and no reason why we couldn't all mosey along in a nice line at 10-15 mph and make some progress.

Well, at least that's how it would work out, if there weren't so many people in this world who are stuck on stupid, or just plain inconsiderate jerks.

You know the ones I'm talking about.  The ladies and gentlemen who fly by on the left lane until the last possible moment, when they try to merge over to the right ahead of everyone else who has been waiting patiently.

For those of you who haven't noticed, this is a primary cause of traffic congestion, and if you're the type of person who practices this, and you aren't racing towards the hospital to give birth, die.

After a few minutes of seeing this happen, and thus having our right lane completely mired, a very bright woman just ahead of me had a great idea.  She positioned her car in a left forward echelon to mine as so:

..........Car in front of her
HER ...Empty Space
..........ME

By adopting this formation, we were able to continue advancing at a reasonable pace, and this heroine's slot was secured for when she returned.  There was much finger waving, beeping, and cursing from the two or three people directly behind her, but we got through it without any casualties.

So here's to you, amazing female driver! If only I had you for a wingman more often, I might never be late again

[Wes14]

Ive seen big rig drivers use formation type stuff in situations like that. their avantage is they got a big-motherF@#$ing-truck to block 2 lanes worth if they wanted.

[SteveBailey]

I drive medical transport vehicle and practice this often.  I've never been subjected to any beeping, cursing, etc though.

[Vudak]

Originally posted by SteveBailey
I drive medical transport vehicle and practice this often.  I've never been subjected to any beeping, cursing, etc though.

Well, I mean, there's kind of a difference between beeping at an ambulance and a pinto, Steve

[Wes14]

Originally posted by Vudak
Well, I mean, there's kind of a difference between beeping at an ambulance and a pinto, Steve

people honk at my dads truck when he occasionally trys to help. its a old 96' Chevy Silverado (Z71)

[C(Sea)Bass]

the butt munches I can't stand are the motorcyclists who cut through stopped traffic in between cars, and then hit some car and cause a bigger delay while they scrape them off the road. most motorcyclists that I see wait just like everyone else, but theres always one putz.

[Meatwad]

Those three are probabally the same type of people that think they have to do 90 mph down back country roads. Not county highways, but backroads that just have enough room for two vehicles to pass.


If I am in a truck and those SOB's are flying from behind like a bat out of hell, I will refuse to move over. I will stay right in the middle and ONLY move over for oncoming traffic. Once an oncoming car has passed, im back in the middle.  If they want around, they have two choices.

#1 - deal with it

#2 - go off into the shoulder/ditch and get around. (If they do that and wreck or get stuck, they have absolutely no sympathy from me, I'll just keep on puttering down the road)

 I dont care how mad they get, but there are a lot of SMV's now due to the area farmers cutting corn. If I can keep one speeding bastard behind me and get him slowed down, then thats all that matters.

There has already been too many accidents here because of speeding idiots on a cell phone hitting a tractor/toolbar/combine, etc.



Oh.......A guy I work with chips roads in the summer. He almost always comes back telling how people just blow through the "fresh oil" barricade and drive down freshly oiled roads about 50-60 mph. (NOTE - Fresh OIL, not chipped yet). Half wipe out and and up in the ditch or in someones yard, the other half blaze all the way through. Both of them always have a solid black thick sheet of oil about from their door handle all the way to the bottom of the car, ususally running off in sheets.

They dont pull them out, just let them sit and use them as markers as where to start/stop.  Their philosophy - you ruin the road, you are screwed. (Plus they get a ticket from the sheriff for vandalising the roads)


We are all a bunch of bastards, no sympathy whatsoever for excessive speeders

[C(Sea)Bass]

gotta love the guy who drifts into your lane while on his cell phone then flips you off over it.

[Dago]

I have pulled the "block the last minute joiners" many times, and normally the guy behind me saves my slot.  I hate those who rush to the front and want to merge.   On one highway by me, we have fools who will do it on the shoulder.

[C(Sea)Bass]

Originally posted by Dago
On one highway by me, we have fools who will do it on the shoulder.

must be from Rhode Island.

[Geary420]

Originally posted by Vudak
raver saver.
 

LMAO;)

[cav58d]

I fluff'n hate the motorcyclist who think its a good idea to pop wheelies while riding infront of you on I-95 in heavy traffic.  Seen it more than ever this summer.

I also hate the people who don't allow traffic from the on ramp to merge onto the highway...Let them merge, and we will move.  Speed up and block them and your just a dlck, and going to slow down traffic.

I also hate the people who merge onto an extended on ramp to pass maybe 2 or 3 cars for that 100 yards of "three lanes".

I also hate people who drive on the shoulder during stop and go traffic.  I actually saw a biker looking dude kick on his hazards in his F-150, and go into the break down lane and get hit by some idiot teenager trying to beat traffic.

Finally, I hate people that wont let other cars pass in the fast lane....I don't care if you are already over the limit.  It's not your job to control how fast other people are going, and if you just stay there, all your going to accomplish is someone riding your butt 2 inches away from your bumper, creating a potentially  bad scenario.

Oh yea...Traffic in Connecticut absolutely sucks.   From the Hutch at CO-OP city to the Merritt to Trumbull during the afternoon is awful....95 in New Haven is a parking lot, and 95 by the casinos is always a freaking crawl, because people cant handle driving in 2 lanes.

[Vudak]

Originally posted by Geary420
LMAO;)

Glad someone got it

[Serenity]

Out here our taxi drivers are the worst. They drive the shoulders, run every red light, and even go down empty one way streets. And when they nearly hit you head on, because theyre going the wrong way, they get out, (Leaving their passenger scared) and try to start a street fight.

[Vudak]

Originally posted by cav58d .

Oh yea...Traffic in Connecticut absolutely sucks.   From the Hutch at CO-OP city to the Merritt to Trumbull during the afternoon is awful....95 in New Haven is a parking lot, and 95 by the casinos is always a freaking crawl, because people cant handle driving in 2 lanes.

Well, Route 9 is *usually* a free moving highway.  If there isn't an accident, there's never traffic (Holiday season by the mall exit notwithstanding, but it never slows down below 45mph and that's only for 2 miles or so).  Middletown's also an exception, but it's not really a "highway" there.  There's stoplights and all.

On the other hand, traffic around the state does in fact, absolutely suck.  I feel especially bad for you, having to contend with all the traffic in and out of NYC (I-95 near Bridgeport was backed up even Sunday night at 9pm).

Hartford's not exactly a bowl of peaches, either.  If you grew up near it, and dated a girl from Danbury, you'd know what hell trying to get through Waterbury on I-84W was.  They were "fixing" that road for how many years?  Perpetual construction.

Then a few months ago, they finally finish it, the road clears up, life is beautiful, and they promptly discover that some idiot messed the whole project up, and it has to be completely redone

Sorry for hijacking my own thread, but Cav is right, CT traffic is horrible!