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WontArnett t1_iuhyrdk wrote

This is sad, definitely— but people ride your ass out here like it’s nobody’s business. It’s dangerous as hell!

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goosey65 t1_iuhzbs9 wrote

This! So many drivers have complete disregard for basic physics. To be truly safe, you should give yourself a car length for every 10 mph you increase (so at 60 mph you should have 6 car lengths between you and the car in front of you.) At this point, I’d just be thankful if people gave me 1.5 car length on the freeway.

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Drict t1_iuig92r wrote

The problem is the roads aren't designed for the volume they do get. Which is why this is literally not possible!

In the 1950s, guess what, it is 100% meant with those rule were created for and when.

That length is intended for the vehicle in front of you goes from full speed to 0 in an instant. (basically if they hit a parked car, barrier, etc.)

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goosey65 t1_iuigzor wrote

I get what you’re saying but the traffic here is not LA traffic or even NOVA traffic (thank god!) where it is literally bumper to bumper on the freeway. What I see more often then not is people tailgating despite the fact there is a fair amount of room on the road or an ability to switch to the passing lane. It feels instead that some people feel it is their god given right to go any speed they want and then are also too lazy to switch to the left, passing lane.

Also what you described in the last bit sounds like the very thing that caused this accident. An inability to stop in time either due to not enough room and/ or distracted driving.

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Drict t1_iuim2lm wrote

Not disagreeing in any way for the cause of the multiple vehicle crash.

As for the top yes 100% accurate. The issue is that as roads become objectively less crowded (what they are designed for!) people are willing to move into the areas that are connected because they have a shorter commute time.

There is a reason that NoVA is soooo terrible (same with LA). Mass transit would solve the problem, period, but that is aside.

People not following the passing lane laws is one of the most infuriating things possible to me. I ALWAYS assume the person behind me wants to go 100mph faster than I am going, if I am in the passing lane. I obviously don't cut off of the through lane or on/off lane, but I definitely avoid camping in the left lane as much as possible, when it is safe.

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WontArnett t1_iuihl1x wrote

Nah, people just drive aggressively, impatient, and just plain bad.

Traffic in other places I’ve been is much worse, and people don’t tailgate like they do here.

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Drict t1_iuim9im wrote

Uh, I have lived in 10 different areas while I am a driver. My god, Richmond is SO much nicer than Atl, NoVA, Fredericksburg, and NY for overall driving. Getting out of the passing lane usually solves most of the problems that you are citing.

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WontArnett t1_iuit4fu wrote

Not in my experience. People speed and ride your ass in all lanes.

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djeeetyet t1_iujbxqn wrote

It happens at least once but generally it's one car. I just let them go on their way. if it's really bad and they truly are reckless and I have a passenger I have them phone it in.

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WontArnett t1_iujr4la wrote

Yeah, every time I’m on the road out here people do it to me. It’s insanely dangerous.

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Drict t1_iuiuerr wrote

People speeding is just the way it is. Literally was taught to go 5 over the speed limit (and I was in a relatively less populated area; the greater Williamsburg VA area) and I almost always kept pace with everyone, until I am I-64, when most go 10mph+ or 80mph in the passing lane.

The 5 mph over applied pretty consistently throughout all of my driving everywhere when not on the interstate/highways. 10 actually is pretty applicable unless there is light traffic on almost all interstates/highways, and then it is 15 or a little higher (I was in bum fuck no where in GA and the slowest person was going 90 in a 70 and the fastest I estimated at 120; passed me like I was on a turn lane on a 35-40mph road waiting and they were driving)

That being said, NY varies greatly and areas around major cities you ALWAYS have a few people that drive like there is no speed limit that weaves through traffic. That is the person that I am not in the left lane for. I want them to go w/e they are going and not have to deal with many people changing lanes so the cops can snag them and they get their just desserts, plus they are less likely to slide when they lose control into some poor bastard that is minding their own business.

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Big_daddy_c t1_iuiakmw wrote

There was someone on this sub a few years ago (pre pandemic for sure, but I can’t be more specific than that) who was arguing that the only reason someone is mad at a tailgater is because their ego doesn’t like it? To this day I’m not sure if they were trolling or not, but I was apoplectic.

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zensucht0 t1_iuidge2 wrote

Yeah.... Adding that one to the list of douche excuses alongside "well you shouldn't dress like a slut"... Let's all be careless with everyone else's health because acting like a decent human being is such an inconvenience... Sigh.

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8bitmullet t1_iujne0v wrote

The people who tailgate cannot fathom any higher values or ethical considerations besides “But I wanna go faaaaaaaaaaast.” 😭❄️

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lady_lowercase t1_iuidn5k wrote

edit: if you're mad about tailgating, you need to aware of its root cause: the failure of slower traffic to keep right. here's a link to the virginia drivers' manual... page 16 under "changing lanes": [the] left lane is for passing only. i can't control every reckless asshole, but you bet your ass i'm going to move over and let them pass me on the left even if i have to slow down by 10-mph to match traffic on my right to do it. there's a reason highly-populated countries like england and states like new jersey implement rules like keeping [direction] except to pass. get mad if you don't know how to drive tho' <3

this is just my opinion, but after living in england for 3.5 months, i really believe there is no reason these accidents happen other than the failure of slower traffic to keep right. over and over and over again, i see a line of cars in the left-most lane, a single care-free and wholly inattentive driver in the middle lane, and no one in the right-most lane except the occasional truck. i cannot emphasize what a dangerous situation this creates. people need to keep right (except to pass) and allow faster traffic to pass them safely on their left. let law enforcement worry about those driving above the speed limit. and get off of your fucking cell phone!

for reference, england has 434 persons per sq. km.; and virginia has about 210 persons per square mile (or 82 persons per square kilometer)... furthermore, england's population is 56 million people and reported 1,558 automobile-related deaths in 2021... versus virginia with a population of 8.6 million people and 967 traffic-related deaths in 2021. in plain english for those of you that need it, we have 15 percent of their population but 62 percent as many traffic fatalities... that's disgusting.

seriously, drivers in this state (and country) need to start paying attention.

keep right (except to pass); use your turn signals; maintain your speed and safe distance between the vehicles in front of and behind you. learn to do more than read the road-signs and operate your vehicle; learn to fucking drive. there is no reason you should be on the road unless you can be attentive, alert, aware, and assertive.

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CottierDisinflations t1_iujdw8r wrote

Many times I’ll be passing a line of cars on my right and someone decides I’m not doing it quickly enough and gets 2 inches from my bumper

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ToKnowOurEnemies t1_iuip0kb wrote

I don't think you can draw too much from those statistics alone. How many accidents per miles driven? England has more developed, and better used public transportation, I'd be a lot less people are commuting 30-45 minutes every day to get to work.

Less rural and suburban areas, etc.

Not saying anything about slower traffic keeping right, not saying your argument is even wrong, just saying I don't think you can support it with those numbers alone.

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militantrubberducky t1_iuj0iqt wrote

Definitely needs more data, but agree they aren't wrong. This Vox video explains more on the psychology and impact of people cruising in the left lane.

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DontSwimnJamesRiver t1_iuizc1k wrote

I'd also add, people driving cars with a 5.7 liter engine does not help either when the some cars have a 1.5 engine. It's hundreds of different types of cars on the interstate outpacing each other, which in turn can lead to road rage.

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stormcloudbros t1_iuj1ayt wrote

Yet it’s perfectly acceptable to go ten to 15 mph over the speed limit in the left lane, huh?

Edit to better explain my snark, it’s so backwards how much we complain about people riding in the left lane when literal speeding is considered acceptable by the majority.

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kilofoxtrotfour t1_iujedgk wrote

I don't get it -- If I'm going to 10mph "over the limit", and someone comes up on me going 20mph+ over, they "mad" that I'm impeding their reckless driving(as defined by law). "Dude, you're running 90mph?!?!" When I've driving an ambulance Code-3 down the Interstate, there are people passing me occasionally. And I'm getting running at least 15mph over the speed limit when driving emergent. Just as it's unsafe to drive a 6 ton ambulance more than 85mph, the way a lot of people drive is blatantly unsafe & in conflict with physics. /rant off

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