Driving in NY

[trackbiker]

Most of the current speed limits on highways in the Northeast exist to generate cash for the states, not safety. The speeds on the NYS Thruway between NJ and Albany are almost always over the absurd 65mph "speed limit". If the speeds are less, it is due to heavy traffic. Speed limits should be set by engineering principles, not some made up BS about safety.
I always use a radar detector on the highway. I am usually moving with the faster traffic and I don't want to be randomly chosen to contribute to the state coffers.

In parts of Europe they have digital speed limit signs and they adjust the speed according to the traffic.

 

[x10003q]

In parts of Europe they have digital speed limit signs and they adjust the speed according to the traffic.

The NJ Turnpike has digital signs, but they only use them to lower the speed limit for emergencies like fog. They never adjust the speed limit over 65. There are times when I am south of Edison on the NJT going 75-80 in the middle lanes getting passed by tons of cars and trucks in the passing lane. The speed limit is 65.

 

[Peter Minde]

Oh , i hear you Peter ! Luckily i speak a bit of French took 3 courses and did a few weeks in Montreal one semester in undergrad school in a total immersion French experience .

But Yeah its different , and in the winter the super highways that connect from 401 to go to Tremblant are usually jammed and are full of car swallowing potholes , but hey "Les Habitants " still ram thru with their foot in the radiator ?

Warp I studied French but my command is primitive at best. Right before the border on that trip, I went to buy gas and use up my Canadian $$. I was trying to ask the kid in French, do you have to pay first before pumping gas? Turned out he was from Plattburgh LOL.

 

[Milo Maltbie]

Anyone that does not use CC should have their licenses taken away. If someone even tries to debate it I will say you are part of the problem. There is no way you keep consistent speeds with a foot. Adaptive cruise can be annoying on the highway. You are day dreaming away and then notice you are going 65.

The problem is drivers who let automatic systems take over and then don't pay attention. Consistent speed is not important. Cruise control is part of the problem, and adaptive CC is worse. The same with lane following systems.

If I am going 76 down the highway passing and someone comes up my butt they just have to wait till I get by I don't speed up, I'm not getting a ticket and am going plenty fast.

Slow passing just leaves you in the other driver's blind spot for a longer time, and backs up traffic behend you. All that backed up traffic is what causes crazy lane changes and passing on the right. If traffic is stacking up behind you, you are either too slow or everyone behind you is a suicidal maniac. Either way, the safe thing is to get out of the way. Anyone who drives in the left lane without paying attention to the traffic stacking up behind him is an asshole.

mm

 

[Tjf1967]

The problem is drivers who let automatic systems take over and then don't pay attention. Consistent speed is not important. Cruise control is part of the problem, and adaptive CC is worse. The same with lane following systems.

Slow passing just leaves you in the other driver's blind spot for a longer time, and backs up traffic behend you. All that backed up traffic is what causes crazy lane changes and passing on the right. If traffic is stacking up behind you, you are either too slow or everyone behind you is a suicidal maniac. Either way, the safe thing is to get out of the way. Anyone who drives in the left lane without paying attention to the traffic stacking up behind him is an asshole.

mm

Consistent speed is not important? I'll assume im not getting what you are trying to say. Moving large volumes of cars is all about consistent speed. People on cruise can do it much better. That's fact.

I choose to refer to most people glued to the left lane ignorant. People who come up and get close and start flashing lights when there is no where to go.. well they know what they are doing.

 

[Tjf1967]

Driven in DC , NYC, Montreal ,Chicago and Boston all challenging ,but the worse experience ever was driving on dark rainy nights in November after working all day then going to back to back grad school courses right after work till 11 pm

So heres what happns . Im coming up on rain slicked highways in the pouring rain thinking jeez this could easily turn into black ice . Coming up over a crest and find TWO freaking horsedrawn Amish wagons pitch black in color ,no lights , riding effing side by side (one on the shoulder one in the lane ) ......GEEBUS !!!

How in hell r u supoosed to see them all in black , no effing lights ,just a small candle lantern in the damn pouring rain ???

NNY is loaded with Amish and this situation happens . I couldnt stop in time so pulled around them at a very unsafe speed , bleary eyed from a damn long day , shaken and pissed off.

On my way from albany to colton up past Paul smith I was coming down a hill into a right hand turn. Half way in the turn I see what I thought to be a body in the road. I missed and and stopped my heart was racing. It was a scarecrow. Kids. They were probably in the woods laughing not realizing how dangerous it was.

 

[JTG]

I’m not a big fan of cruise control. I just don’t ever really feel compelled to use it. I have no problem either maintaining a consistent speed I want when traffic is light, or moving consistently with traffic when it’s heavier. In light or no traffic I much prefer being more connected to my driving, rather than setting the cruise and being more passively along for the ride. Even as TJ agrees, cruise control on highways, especially with heavy traffic, is just annoying. If I have to navigate heavier traffic on the highway I’d rather do it with my foot controlling the speed, not a computer.

As to “moving large volumes of traffic”, until we have widespread use of autonomous driving systems (in which everyone would be moving with the same cruise control, essentially) the idea of large volumes of traffic all moving together at consistent speeds isn’t realistic, IMHO. Too many people choosing their own comfortable speeds, which necessitates people having to use the left lane to pass, with slower (but not the slowest) traffic slowing down the “fast lane”, with some idiots choosing to stay in the left lane when not driving fast enough to be there. In amongst that shit show you’ll find me safely navigating the congestion with my foot on the pedals!

Left lane should be for passing, you should not let traffic stack up behind you in the left lane. That said, if I’m doing 78 in the left lane to pass and some idiots are riding my ass I’m not going to push it into the 80s (and risk a ticket), they can wait a minute until I move back to the right lane, whic I will.

 

[Warp daddy]

On my way from albany to colton up past Paul smith I was coming down a hill into a right hand turn. Half way in the turn I see what I thought to be a body in the road. I missed and and stopped my heart was racing. It was a scarecrow. Kids. They were probably in the woods laughing not realizing how dangerous it was.

Little assholes ? ..........i hear ya

But hey realistically we did stupid shit as kids too

 

[Milo Maltbie]

I’m not a big fan of cruise control. I just don’t ever really feel compelled to use it. I have no problem either maintaining a consistent speed I want when traffic is light, or moving consistently with traffic when it’s heavier. In light or no traffic I much prefer being more connected to my driving, rather than setting the cruise and being more passively along for the ride. Even as TJ agrees, cruise control on highways, especially with heavy traffic, is just annoying. If I have to navigate heavier traffic on the highway I’d rather do it with my foot controlling the speed, not a computer.

As to “moving large volumes of traffic”, until we have widespread use of autonomous driving systems (in which everyone would be moving with the same cruise control, essentially) the idea of large volumes of traffic all moving together at consistent speeds isn’t realistic, IMHO. Too many people choosing their own comfortable speeds, which necessitates people having to use the left lane to pass, with slower (but not the slowest) traffic slowing down the “fast lane”, with some idiots choosing to stay in the left lane when not driving fast enough to be there. In amongst that shit show you’ll find me safely navigating the congestion with my foot on the pedals!

Left lane should be for passing, you should not let traffic stack up behind you in the left lane.

All that is spot on.

That said, if I’m doing 78 in the left lane to pass and some idiots are riding my ass I’m not going to push it into the 80s (and risk a ticket), they can wait a minute until I move back to the right lane, whic I will.

Do you really believe it is safer to slow pass at 78 than it is to go up to 82 and put some distance between whatever you are passing (and the tailgater behind you)? Is the risk of a ticket really that high? This really proves the point that traffic enforcement is really about revenue, not safety.

mm

 

[Scott McManus]

Consistent speed is not important? I'll assume im not getting what you are trying to say. Moving large volumes of cars is all about consistent speed. People on cruise can do it much better. That's fact.

I choose to refer to most people glued to the left lane ignorant. People who come up and get close and start flashing lights when there is no where to go.. well they know what they are doing.

Agreed but sometimes they are kids that were never taught how to properly drive on a highway.