Are high fuel prices making the roads more dangerous? - GreenHybrid

Brawn · #1 (**permalink**) 07-17-2008, 06:01 PM

I've noticed in the past few months that several cars are slowing down. Which is good for all the right reasons. I've even slowed down in my Big Rig from 70-73 mph to 62-65 mph. But, at 62 mph I've had to slow down or go around cars going 55 mph or slower in a 70 mph zone. This is happening several times a day. I'd say 5 times on an average day. My concern is for the safety of these good folks doing 55 where others are doing 75 even 80. I'm wondering if there has been more cases of cars being rear ended in the past few months than ever before. If I were one of these 55 mph drivers I'd consider adding some orange reflective triangles to the back bumper that you see on the back of slow moving vehicles like tractors. Maybe even some orange flag whip antennas like are on dune buggies and ATV's in the desert. Anything to get noticed and save your life. As a person who prefers to drive at night, it is alot harder to judge the speed of a vehicle you are approaching at night. And I know there are still Truckers that do not care about their fuel consumption that will be doing 75 or 80 and come upon one of these cars doing 55 and not have time to slow down. I'm sure it happens everyday.

Son of Gloin 01 · #2 (**permalink**) 07-17-2008, 09:43 PM

I'm of the opinion that if drivers don't / can't recognize the fact that they're rapidly closing on a vehicle traveling much slower in the first place, those same drivers probably won't notice a "reflective triangle" or "orange flag whip antennas" either; although the "triangle" MAY be beneficial during hours of darkness ....

I certainly understand your concern, Brawn, and - since I'm one of those who generally drives below the speed limit ... but RARELY below 60! - it seems you understand MY concern as well.

I can only hope that those driving much faster than I drive are paying JUST AS MUCH ATTENTION to what's coming up in front of them ... as I am to what's getting closer in my rear view mirror!

In the final analysis ... IMO: the roads are ONLY as safe as the drivers - traveling at all different speeds! - make them ... and simple INATTENTION - to what is ahead AND behind! - is probably the single, most common accident "causing" factor at ANY "safe / conditions and traffic permitting" speed.

nark · #3 (**permalink**) 07-17-2008, 10:52 PM

slower traffic keep right. If you are going 55 mph, stick to the right lane. If you feel like going 80 mph, then DO SO IN THE LEFT LANE. It should not really be a concern if the above rule is followed. If its a one lane road, most likely its below 65 anyways.

TeeSter · #4 (**permalink**) 07-18-2008, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brawn

I've noticed in the past few months that several cars are slowing down. Which is good for all the right reasons. I've even slowed down in my Big Rig from 70-73 miles per hour to 62-65 miles per hour. But, at 62 miles per hour I've had to slow down or go around cars going 55 miles per hour or slower in a 70 miles per hour zone. This is happening several times a day. I'd say 5 times on an average day. My concern is for the safety of these good folks doing 55 where others are doing 75 even 80. I'm wondering if there has been more cases of cars being rear ended in the past few months than ever before. If I were one of these 55 miles per hour drivers I'd consider adding some orange reflective triangles to the back bumper that you see on the back of slow moving vehicles like tractors. Maybe even some orange flag whip antennas like are on dune buggies and ATV's in the desert. Anything to get noticed and save your life. As a person who prefers to drive at night, it is alot harder to judge the speed of a vehicle you are approaching at night. And I know there are still Truckers that do not care about their fuel consumption that will be doing 75 or 80 and come upon one of these cars doing 55 and not have time to slow down. I'm sure it happens everyday.

So far I've only seen articles on the news saying highway deaths are DOWN... whether that is from slowing down or from fewer miles traveled I don't remember but there doesn't seem to be any inherent safety issue with some people driving slower... lets remember trucks are SUPPOSED to be driving slower than the main traffic anyway.

Bobs Metallic Pearl · #5 (**permalink**) 07-18-2008, 08:34 AM

It is not higher fuel prices, It is not Hybrid drivers....it is the general public (you and me?) it's that simple, it is people who think it is O.K. to drive 80 or 55 in a zone posted 65 and it is people who do not give any considration to others.

If people paid as much attention to driving as their burger, music and phone there would be no accidents because, after all, they are accidents because, the bottom line someone was driving faster than safe, asking more than their car could do, distracted or impared.

Otherwise, we would call them intentionals.....yes officer, I rear ended him because "I" am more important then he and he was in MY way...response... O.K. sir, they had it coming for driving the speed limit and making you late for work, you are free to go!!!....yea, we hear that all the time but isn't it really true?

Harold · #6 (**permalink**) 07-18-2008, 08:44 AM

Good point Bob, but you forgot about the cell phone! H

mdarmistead · #7 (**permalink**) 07-18-2008, 09:50 AM

I routinely drive as much as 20mph under the posted freeway speed. I drive in the right lane and will speed up if I appear to be causing a congestion problem. I have even taken the off ramp where I know there's a convenient on ramp to re-enter the freeway so that faster drivers aren't inconvenienced by my eco-driving efforts.

I've been doing this since I bought my HCHII in April and have had little problem with other vehicles. In fact, the only problem I've had was one pickup truck (4x4 high-rise, etc.) that was tail-gating me on the freeway. There was virtually no other traffic on the 4 lane wide freeway, yet he chose the drive on my bumper, honk his horn and flash his lights. I moved into the #2 lane to let him go by, but he whipped over behind me and continued his behavior. I moved back into the right hand lane and he also moved back. This went on even after I sped up to 70MPH. Shortly before the next off ramp, he zoomed past me and moved back into the lane, slammed on his brakes and then zoomed up the off ramp.

phoebeisis · #8 (**permalink**) 07-18-2008, 01:44 PM

Yikes, 20 mph under the speed limit seems a bit extreme. I've slowed down also , but 10 mph under the limit seems reasonable to me.

What is the minimum speed limit on a 70 mph interstate ? Is there any minimum speed? My memory of them - when mins used to be posted -was 55 mph in a 70 mph zone.

There certainly should be mimimum speed limits - 20 mph is waaaay too slow .If someone is doing 70 mph ,and gets distracted by a cell phone call, he will be closing on you at 30 ft/sec. Yes , it will be his fault , but you will still be crunched.

20 mph under the limit will waste lots of fuel because folks will have to brake , look for an opening ,and accel back up to speed. Great for the 20 mph person , not so great for the rest of the world. Wait until speed limits come down to a national limit of 65 mph to drop that low.

Charlie

Brawn · #9 (**permalink**) 07-18-2008, 03:10 PM

here are just a couple.

http://dailyheadlines.uark.edu/8286.htm

http://www.tfhrc.gov/safety/pubs/04156/index.htm

Some states have different speeds. OH and IL are 55mph for Trucks and 65 and 70 mph for cars. I don't agree with split speeds but they claim since trucks take longer to stop than cars the slower speed will decrease the stopping distance reducing rear end truck into car crashed. But you reverse this and have a car going 55 mph and a truck doing the speed limit at 70 say in Texas. Rear end truck into car crashes are going to increase. Even if you are only going 5 or 10 under the speed limit. Not just Trucks. But also by other cars on the road.

Phoebeisis makes a great point. Even if you are are getting great FE. If 1 out of 4 cars has to slow from 70 to 50mph when they get behind you. Then pull out and accelerate back up to 70. Aren't you causing them to lose FE? Shouldn't we all be doing our part to get better FE ourselves but also help the environment by doing our part to increase the FE of the drivers we share the road with? If you save 100 gallons per year but cause others to use an extra 200. Have you really helped?

1stpik · #10 (**permalink**) 07-21-2008, 06:14 AM

I drive 60 on 70 mph I-35. I'm constantly amazed at the number of cars going even SLOWER than I am. They're not hybrids, just people who apparently believe the ol' double-nickel is the way to go. I have to slow down, wait for other traffic to go by, then pass them.

It's no big deal. I don't honk my horn, or tailgate them. I don't cop the attitude that George Carlin satirized so well: Everyone going slower than me is an a**hole, everyone going faster than me is a maniac. I simply pass and go on about my business.

My opinion is that 10 mph below the speed limit is fast enough not to cause an impediment to traffic. I tried 55 mph a few times, but the speed difference with the rest of traffic just seemed too great. Plus the mpg wasn't much better than at 60 mph.

In more than one year of driving this way, I've only had one tailgater on the highway. I was in the right lane, and nothing was stopping him from passing me, but he rode my bumper for about a mile, flashing his lights. After a minute or so, he apparently felt that he had taught me a lesson. He blew by me, and that was that.