Has anyone else ever thought this?

In getting cut off enough times in commuting to work and back every day by idiots that can't get up to speed on the freeway..I got to thinking, why not have speed limit signs on the entrance ramp? Something like "you're entering a 70 mph zone" maybe halfway down on the ramp..enough to have time to judge how fast you should be going to coincide with the traffic while at the same time having enough room to get up to speed. In drivers ed they said its the mergers responsibility to adjust speed appropriately. And what good is a speed limit sign a mile up the road from the on-ramp? Given yes you will always have grandma driving slow or some jackass talking on a cell phone not paying attention to anything around him/her but for those that don't know the speed limit of the freeway they are getting on or are only partially paying attention(make it yellow or orange with the diamond or something so it sticks out) they will know before they actually merge how fast they could potentially have to drive to merge properly. So for safety reasons it makes sense to me.

I could see this as a problem for law enforcement revenue though in that there would be less people that they could ticket because they didn't how fast they should be going and overestimated while merging. I would tend to think the number of accidents that could potentially prevent would be more important tho. end rant.

 

Ugh, and on that note, how about we disable brakes on the highway except in emergency situations only? So that you don't get stuck behind some person who just HAS to brake for that person who is merging, even though there is plenty of space behind him, and they can move over.

I learned to drive in MA - they aren't as bad there as here. MN has some very very bad drivers ... but we also have poor exit design - like cloverleafs. How are you supposed to get up to speed on a cloverleaf, to get onto the highway, if you gotta go in a semicircle at 30 mph?? Do you really think that person is gonna let you in on the highway if they gotta go onto the exit that is directly under the ramp from you? Ugh. ARGH!! AAARGHH!!!!

I have a road rage problem apparently

 

Happens to me all the time too except out here everyone knows that I-94 is 70. I think people really do not know how much trouble they could cause merging onto 94 at 35mph, yes I have been behind people a number of times that reach the bottom of the ramp at 35-40mph.

 

problem is anyone with half a brain nows how to merge... a speed sign wont fix the problem.... A smack over the head with a bat may!!!

 

i actually quite enjoy our exit system. who says you have to take it at 30mph? think of it as a big twisty , 60mph is where its at.

if people are moving too slow when they merge i let em know supertone style. gives them a jump, and gets em going the right speed.

 

There's always exceptions. But just think every accident you prevent is thousands of dollars worth of damage(usually doesn't take much for 1k to each car), plus the cops time to sit there and fill out an accident report, plus potential loss of life. So even a couple a year would seem worth it to me.

Yes I also heart the clover leaf design I have AWD :biggrin:

 

Ohhh I always get stuck behind THAT GUY who wants to go the speed limit on the cloverleafs, and my main gripe is 169/394 interchange - worst. Exit. Ever.

Well ... no .. there are a lot of exits in MN that get that title *looks over in the gen direction of 'crosstown common'*

I would also like there to be different speed limits in the different lanes. 40 for the far right, 55 for the middle, 65-70 for the 'fast' lane. That would solve many problems too ....

 

the two worst sectiosn of road i can think of are 169 exiting to 394 west. betty crocker people ALWAYS try to merge in at like 2 mph.

other is at 85th and 169N. they dont call it the devils triangle for nothing.

 

^^^ hate both of those exits - well I hate all of the 394/169 changeup..
but I'd really like to find the guy who decided that 394 would go down to ONE LANE in both directions when exiting onto 94 - that is, by far, the worst. exit. ever. I once sat for half an hour waiting to get onto 94 east off of 394, argh. AARGH!!!!

 

You bring up a great point. Its funny that you actually brought it up, its nice to know others on the board feel the same way I do. I actually incorporate this as part of my instructing with my students.

The fact is alot of driver dont know that their cars can slow down alot quicker than it can accelerate. The point is get your butt up to traffic speed and make adjustments as needed. Your more likely to get in to an open spot by looking ahead well before your at the end of the on ramp and assuming the open spot available than to have someone slow down to your speed to make room for you.

 

i hate the people who drive trucks/cars i cant see around, and they keep a 300 foot cushion in front of themselves. as soon as i go to pass them they were just hitting the brakes for no apparent ****ing reason.. damn them to hell!

 

Those are the same guys who sit there at lights waiting to go straight, and then deliberately move forward when you're trying to make a turn right and can't see the oncoming traffic around their stupid big trucks. Like driving a gigantic cadillac or hummer automatically means you own the road and control traffic in all directions. Give me a break.

My friend said he was almost hit downtown by Robyne Robinson - TWICE - and both times she was yapping on her cell phone and not paying attention. That's pathetic too. I am one of the last few people left on the planet that will actually pull off to the side - or, god forbid, NOT ANSWER THE PHONE, when it rings or when I need it.

We could have a whole thread dedicated to this sort of thing, and there would still be some weirdo doing something we haven't seen before the next day.

 

A 20G. :yumyum:

 

You guys must be young. Reality check:
**Driving on roadways is a community event.** You have no choice but to accept that there are those who:
-Can't see as well as you.
-Are afraid of driving
-Will merge slowly no matter how mad it makes you
-Think slower than you
-Talk on the cell phone incessantly (About what?)

Don't get me wrong, I hate most of these things too but with age comes lower testosterone levels and a much greater ability to accept what you can not change.

It's all part of being in a community of people that have drivers licenses so logic inevitably leads you to one of two conclusions:

1. Be angry about the actions of others (Neverending)
2. Relax and put your competitive urges to the side when you're driving. Let nothing surprise you. Don't tailgate. You'll be happier...

That being said, my contribution to this rant is tailgating. People tailgate while merging onto a busy highway where people are tailgating. End result? Hard braking as people are forced to use Chicago/New York style driving tactics to stake their claim to space on the roadway. Hard braking at on-ramps causes the dreaded accordian effect in traffic and increases the chance of accidents. Tailgating also makes it an *event* to change lanes to get to an exit. I look people in the eye while driving and I notice that people that don't allow lane changes by others (accellerating to take away the possibility) wont look at me as they pass me after not granting me space. I'm from Chicago and know the power techniques, I just don't like to have to use them here in a city I regard as better than that.

Summary of longwinded post (for you executive types):
Tailgating: #1 driver controllable problem on highways.

 

^^^ lmao! Agreed.

I pretty much just lol @ the majority of morons out there and try to stay away from them.

 

I don't know if the young comment was referring to me or any of the other posters but I'm 25. My original post was meant to present an idea. I understand what yur saying and that some people won't change. I think it could be a legitimate idea to assist(not completely fix) with a problem. You are right some people can't and won't change but if you can catch the attention of a few that alone would be worth it imo. This rant has nothing to do with testesterone rage, its a courtesy issue to me. Why should I have to go out of my way to slow down or speed up when the merger is the person that legally has to adjust? Thats what I'm getting at.

 

People speeding in the slow lane is another issue entirely. as for the 70 zone thing, that's just an example. There are 55,60,65, and 70 mph zones all locally by my house and on my commute to work.

 

6MT, don't read too much into my post, I like your thread and the comment "you guys must be young" is by no means intended as insulting. I spent many years angry about the ideas you have brought up and I know others have too, so your post opens discussion for what I feel are important issues. And, BTW, 25 still puts you left of center on the age bell curve (as opposed to me).

People don't necessarily follow rules, especially those that are unenforceable. Your logic is good, given the premise that others should follow the rules, which they wont. The one line you wrote that I feel you should clarify or reconsider is: "Why should I have to go out of my way to slow down or speed up when the merger is the person that legally has to adjust?"

My question to you is: If slowing or speeding (or switching lanes) to allow the other to merge will positively effect traffic flow will you do it? Or will you stick to your guns knowing that you are "right" according to the rule book?

Slowing or speeding is often a movement of less than 1/2" with your toe. (1/4" if your stage 3+) I occasionally go out of my way that much for others.

I've also met some people that make rules. They aren't always the brightest bulbs.

 

I've spent almost 10 years now driving in rush hour traffic so these are just observations I've made. If there is an open lane next to me absolutely I'll get out of the way. Sometimes thats not an option though. I agree with you on that. There's still no excuse for getting on the freeway at 30mph. It causes problems when there's people in all lanes of traffic and there are people behind the slow driver also trying to merge in. Having signs wouldn't have to be unenforceable. If someone isn't adjusting to speed and is causing issues with traffic they should be ticketed for it plain and simple. Same as someone holding up traffic in the fast lane because they aren't driving the speed limit or keeping up with traffic.

 

I wouldn't be merging, they would cuz I'm already on the freeway. But regardless my winter car is a Legacy L ... you couldn't even lie and say this car has balls but I have no problem getting it up to speed on an entrance ramp. I can't imagine even a slower car having an issue....this is definitely a driver issue and not a car issue imo.

 

Exactly my point!!!! there are no posted speeds on entrance ramps. And on a lot of roads there are stretches where its a couple miles before you get to a speed limit sign after you merge onto it. Its bad for traffic, bad for safety, and bad in the sense that it would be unfair to get a ticket pulling onto that stretch of freeway as the driver may not have seen a speed limit sign yet.

 

They don't slow down, they BRAKE HARD! There is a BIG difference - if you are not tailgating that idiot, you soon will be braking just as hard as they are!:laugh:

Tailgaters bother the heck out of me though, especially the ones that go from one car to the next ... OOOH this dude moved away lets move on up to the next one and hope that they move out of the way too! YAY! Lets all tailgate together! YAY! ittyfool:

 

:laugh: I'll bring the burgers.

 

Bzzt! Sorry, wrong answer. The major point you miss is that the vast majority of the issues brought up in this discussion are curable....By education and individual ownership. People just choose to pretend they are still on their living room couch and not driving in their chosen vehicle. Why do people slow down for merging traffic? Why do people tailgate? Why do people not get up to speed on the acceleration ramp (they call it that for a reason!)? The answers lie in my previous comment....people just don't understand what the effects are, they always assume that it is someone else's problem that causes the tie-ups. If people were to be educated on the effects of their actions (in a clear apples-to-apples manner), many would change their ways....

Now as for individual ownership, good luck on that one....it is only getting worse in this sue-happy world we now live in.

I guess my point is that you sit back and say patience is the answer, more or less, but there are ways to change it, but the government needs to lead it by changing liscensing requirements. A quick mention that one should leave the merging responsibility to the merger just doesn't seem to stick in many peoples head.

Now to be a little more forward (not that I not, already), I take issue with people becoming more passive...why? They are the ones that are doing whatever they can to get out of someones way, usually at the expense of another driver on the road. Perfect example is those people that literally swerve out of the slow lane to allow a merging car to enter....right in front of another car, usually travelling at a high rate.

Like many, this is a very sore spot for me...but, the reality is that anywhere in the world, you are going to have a lowest common denominator and until the government starts to say "no" to bad drivers (getting them off the road) there will always be issues. However, it doesn't mean people need to just accept the behavior of others and start supporting there "bad habits".

Anyway, [/rant], nothing personal, but it is not an "age" thing, or a "testosterone" thing (most of these are not fueled by it). It is a "personality" thing that some people may or may not grow out of (or into).

No summary..I am an Engineer and don't know how to summarize things! Muhahahaha

 

Hmmm, you read much into my post which isn't there grasshopper.

Point 1: Better education will lead to better drivers. Hard to debate that one.

Point 2: You missed the point. I claim patience to be the answer to avoiding the anger associated with road problems, not the answer to the road problems. I'm not sure if I really presented a solution to the road problems. I suppose the solution would be lower car densities on the roadway.

Point 3: "Perfect example is those people that literally swerve out of the slow lane to allow a merging car to enter....right in front of another car, usually travelling at a high rate." Not sure who would debate this point with you or where it came from... kinda contrived.

Point 4: "until the government starts to say "no" to bad drivers (getting them off the road)" Good luck with this one. I don't think I'll be holding my breath.

Point 5: "It is a "personality" thing" I'm not convinced. You offer no evidence. I have met people who seem entirely rational until they're behind the wheel of a car. Leads me to believe that their behavior may be linked more to stress hormones or something. I know I sometimes get some stress related juices flowing when I'm in stressful driving, and I tend to be calmer than most of the people I meet.

After reading your rebuttal, I'll stick with my original thoughts.

 

I consider myself a rational crazy driver - being that I won't hesitate to get away from some person who doesn't know what they are doing, by punching on the gas, or making crazy turns, or swerving around if it's ludicrous (you all know the type of stuff I have seen heh, just read ^^^^ !!)...

I keep my road rage within my car - often yelling at stop lights to turn green or yelling at that moron who thinks that the "fast" lane means "go 40"

I have a very quirky personality anyway, and so that transfers over into my driving. I have also had no accidents (well one, but I was not at fault cause I was rear-ended, plus it was my first year with a license too so that doesn't really count) and no moving violations ... so it's entirely possible to be an ass on the road and still be a 'sane' driver These people just need to know where to draw the line between being a jerk, and actually driving the car ...

 

I just get away from the other cars that are scary or slower cars. I do move over when there are faster cars.... really it's commen sense. Some peopel are just too afraid and ****.....some are just retards....

I know that the majority of the somolian are scary drivers and **** slow.... I wonder how come they get to become taxi drivers.... ??????

but really I'm a slow driver though.

 

:laugh: :laugh: I'm gonna leave this one alone :laugh: :laugh:

 

Says the person with the "Subaru Turbo" avatar ... :biggrin:

 

Fuji's just a slow driver because his car's motor no worky.

 

I hate Betty Crocker Drive! People always have to brake too, even if they aren't exiting onto 394w. I have taken that exit at 80+ on my bike, long sweeping corners FTW!

The devils triangle also sucks, which I drive by every day. I hate it when you get to the 169N/85th stop light, and you have three lanes. Then all three people take 1-2miles to actually hit 55mph. There are too many bad drivers in most states, and the problem seems to be with slow drivers hiding in the "fast lane." It needs to be a law that you cannot stay in the left lane if you aren't passing.

 

Are you sure it's a law and not just a recommendation? I see that sign sometimes but mostly see the one that says "Slower traffic right lane" or something to that effect. I doubt it would be enforceable since the definition of "passing" is somewhat vague. *If noone is behind me* I'll stay in the left if I know I'll be passing a car that's some distance ahead of me.

 

Petis drives like a jackass

 

what!

I guess I shouldn't talk, my cars been down for two months, now.

 

It probably needs new sparkplugs.