NationStates Jolt Archive

If you're a driver in Texas or are going to be a driver in Texas at any time in the near future, I offer to you the following advice from a person who has never been in a vehicle accident in his life:

1] If you're driving at night with your high beams on and you see another set of lights coming up over a hill or around a bend, switch back to low beams before ... I repeat ... BEFORE coming over the hill or around the corner. Flash blinding someone who is coming towards you at 60 mph is just plain stupid. I'd also like to point out that if there are street lamps, your high beams are useless. Do not use them at all.

2] There is no such thing as a "fast lane" in Texas. I don't know about other states, but in Texas, the speed limit is the speed limit no matter what lane you are in. There are signs that say "slower traffic keep right", but that is referring to people who drive under the speed limit. If you are in the far left lane, you will still get a ticket for going 110 mph. If you don't believe me, please feel free to contact DPS about retaking your driver's exam.

3] Just because you ride on my bumper and flash your lights at me does not mean I will get out of your way or drive faster. I probably have children in my vehicle. I may, however, slam on my brakes and let you plow into me if I am by myself and give my family a great christmas at your expense.

4] If you're on a 6 lane highway and need to make a left turn into a parking lot, there is usually a nice wide lane in the middle separated by yellow lines. This lane is called a "turn lane". Use it. Do not stop in the left traffic lane.

5] About the turn lane. It is a turn lane. It is not a merge lane. If you are coming out of a parking lot onto the highway and pull into the middle lane in order to wait for an opportunity to merge and I decide I want to turn left and smack into you, guess what, IT IS YOUR FAULT! Don't make me do it deliberately because I have great insurance and I will.

6] On the other side, there is a shoulder. You may use it to turn right. You do not have to come to a complete stop in the right lane in order to get your cheeseburger.

7] If you are on a feeder (that's the little road that runs along side freeways) and I am exiting the freeway, you must yeild to me. That means you stop if you have to in order to make sure I am not going to smash into you, which I just might do if you decide to be an asshole about it.

8] If you are in a fender bender and your car is still mobile, get it out of the damn way. Not only is it courtesy, it is the law. Pull to the side of the road and then scream at the other driver.

9] Pay attention! I cannot stress this enough. If you feel the need to talk on the phone, eat a cheeseburger, read a book, and watch a movie at the same time, don't do it while you are driving.

That is all ...... for now.

3] Just because you ride on my bumper and flash your lights at me does not mean I will get out of your way or drive faster. I probably have children in my vehicle. I may, however, slam on my brakes and let you plow into me if I am by myself and give my family a great christmas at your expense.

In the UK the rules say that you should drive in the left-most available lane on motorways. Provided people bother to do this it means that the slower traffic doesn't obstruct those who wish to go faster. It's not perfect, and could be improved by allowing drivers to pass on the left so that inconsiderate sods can't block the whole road by sticking in the wrong lane, but in general it's OK.

We have a lot of speed cameras, but not generally on motorways. I'd rather have tail-gating cameras, though technically it's a harder nut to crack I'm sure it'd be more effective at discouraging dangerous driving than just concentrating on speed.

7] If you are on a feeder (that's the little road that runs along side freeways) and I am exiting the freeway, you must yeild to me. That means you stop if you have to in order to make sure I am not going to smash into you, which I just might do if you decide to be an asshole about it.Your roads must be engineered rather strangely. In the UK we have distinct exit and entry slip roads. They're not shared in any way, so there's never a conflict between people joining and people leaving.
Slip roads are occasionally badly used - some drivers can't seem to grasp the idea that if the traffic's all doing 80mph then the gaps in the traffic are also doing 80mph and to be able to slip into one your car has to be doing 80mph as well. When you get some old git wearing a flat-cap with his wife knitting a new engine cosy sitting next to him trying to join at 40mph then things can get a little hairy.

Your roads must be engineered rather strangely. In the UK we have distinct exit and entry slip roads. They're not shared in any way, so there's never a conflict between people joining and people leaving.

Ah ... now some of our freeways do have such lanes, but a lot don't. We just set up the rule that a driver is required to yeild to exiting traffic.

5] About the turn lane. It is a turn lane. It is not a merge lane. If you are coming out of a parking lot onto the highway and pull into the middle lane in order to wait for an opportunity to merge and I decide I want to turn left and smack into you, guess what, IT IS YOUR FAULT! Don't make me do it deliberately because I have great insurance and I will.

That's strange, here in California the middle lane is used as a merge lane as well. How would it interfere? Since people turning left would be on one side of the parking lot entrance and people merging would be on the other side of the turning lane. I guess if their was a very large number of entrances close together it would matter, is that the case?

That's strange, here in California the middle lane is used as a merge lane as well. How would it interfere? Since people turning left would be on one side of the parking lot entrance and people merging would be on the other side of the turning lane. I guess if their was a very large number of entrances close together it would matter, is that the case?


Well, I don't know about California, but our turn lanes aren't wide enough for two vehicles to pass each other. They're a little wider than standard lanes, but not that wide.

Well, I don't know about California, but our turn lanes aren't wide enough for two vehicles to pass each other. They're a little wider than standard lanes, but not that wide.
I think what he means is that people who use the turn lane as a merge lane will be turning into it, so they will be past the parking lot entrance, whereas you, the one turning into the parking lot, will stop before the entrance. Therefore, no real issue with hitting the other car.

I think what he means is that people who use the turn lane as a merge lane will be turning into it, so they will be past the parking lot entrance, whereas you, the one turning into the parking lot, will stop before the entrance. Therefore, no real issue with hitting the other car.

Some people turn left out of a parking lot into that turn lane in the center then drive along that lane looking for an opening in the traffic to merge into. If there's someone coming the other way that then pulls into the lane to turn into a parking lot across the street, the driver careening along the turn lane will have to stop, because any wreck in that center turn lane between a moving car and a stationary one is the fault of the moving one.

As a Texas driver, I have to agree with everything in Keruvalia's original post.

I think what he means is that people who use the turn lane as a merge lane will be turning into it, so they will be past the parking lot entrance, whereas you, the one turning into the parking lot, will stop before the entrance. Therefore, no real issue with hitting the other car.


Ah ... then I suppose I should explain myself a bit better.

Look at the picture. The red line represents driver A, the purple line represents driver B, and the cyan line respresents what driver A *should* have done.

http://www.unlc.biz/Traffic.JPG

In the collision, driver A is at fault.

Ah ... now some of our freeways do have such lanes, but a lot don't. We just set up the rule that a driver is required to yeild to exiting traffic.
What a nightmare. And I though America was large! Large enough to spare a few meters for a sliproad.

If you're a driver in Texas or are going to be a driver in Texas at any time in the near future, I offer to you the following advice from a person who has never been in a vehicle accident in his life:

1] If you're driving at night with your high beams on and you see another set of lights coming up over a hill or around a bend, switch back to low beams before ... I repeat ... BEFORE coming over the hill or around the corner. Flash blinding someone who is coming towards you at 60 mph is just plain stupid. I'd also like to point out that if there are street lamps, your high beams are useless. Do not use them at all.

2] There is no such thing as a "fast lane" in Texas. I don't know about other states, but in Texas, the speed limit is the speed limit no matter what lane you are in. There are signs that say "slower traffic keep right", but that is referring to people who drive under the speed limit. If you are in the far left lane, you will still get a ticket for going 110 mph. If you don't believe me, please feel free to contact DPS about retaking your driver's exam.

3] Just because you ride on my bumper and flash your lights at me does not mean I will get out of your way or drive faster. I probably have children in my vehicle. I may, however, slam on my brakes and let you plow into me if I am by myself and give my family a great christmas at your expense.

4] If you're on a 6 lane highway and need to make a left turn into a parking lot, there is usually a nice wide lane in the middle separated by yellow lines. This lane is called a "turn lane". Use it. Do not stop in the left traffic lane.

5] About the turn lane. It is a turn lane. It is not a merge lane. If you are coming out of a parking lot onto the highway and pull into the middle lane in order to wait for an opportunity to merge and I decide I want to turn left and smack into you, guess what, IT IS YOUR FAULT! Don't make me do it deliberately because I have great insurance and I will.

6] On the other side, there is a shoulder. You may use it to turn right. You do not have to come to a complete stop in the right lane in order to get your cheeseburger.

7] If you are on a feeder (that's the little road that runs along side freeways) and I am exiting the freeway, you must yeild to me. That means you stop if you have to in order to make sure I am not going to smash into you, which I just might do if you decide to be an asshole about it.

8] If you are in a fender bender and your car is still mobile, get it out of the damn way. Not only is it courtesy, it is the law. Pull to the side of the road and then scream at the other driver.

9] Pay attention! I cannot stress this enough. If you feel the need to talk on the phone, eat a cheeseburger, read a book, and watch a movie at the same time, don't do it while you are driving.

That is all ...... for now.

I guess you're what ol' Bob Merton would call a "ritualist"...

If you're a driver in Texas or are going to be a driver in Texas at any time in the near future, I offer to you the following advice from a person who has never been in a vehicle accident in his life:

1] If you're driving at night with your high beams on and you see another set of lights coming up over a hill or around a bend, switch back to low beams before ... I repeat ... BEFORE coming over the hill or around the corner. Flash blinding someone who is coming towards you at 60 mph is just plain stupid. I'd also like to point out that if there are street lamps, your high beams are useless. Do not use them at all.

2] There is no such thing as a "fast lane" in Texas. I don't know about other states, but in Texas, the speed limit is the speed limit no matter what lane you are in. There are signs that say "slower traffic keep right", but that is referring to people who drive under the speed limit. If you are in the far left lane, you will still get a ticket for going 110 mph. If you don't believe me, please feel free to contact DPS about retaking your driver's exam.

3] Just because you ride on my bumper and flash your lights at me does not mean I will get out of your way or drive faster. I probably have children in my vehicle. I may, however, slam on my brakes and let you plow into me if I am by myself and give my family a great christmas at your expense.

4] If you're on a 6 lane highway and need to make a left turn into a parking lot, there is usually a nice wide lane in the middle separated by yellow lines. This lane is called a "turn lane". Use it. Do not stop in the left traffic lane.

5] About the turn lane. It is a turn lane. It is not a merge lane. If you are coming out of a parking lot onto the highway and pull into the middle lane in order to wait for an opportunity to merge and I decide I want to turn left and smack into you, guess what, IT IS YOUR FAULT! Don't make me do it deliberately because I have great insurance and I will.

6] On the other side, there is a shoulder. You may use it to turn right. You do not have to come to a complete stop in the right lane in order to get your cheeseburger.

7] If you are on a feeder (that's the little road that runs along side freeways) and I am exiting the freeway, you must yeild to me. That means you stop if you have to in order to make sure I am not going to smash into you, which I just might do if you decide to be an asshole about it.

8] If you are in a fender bender and your car is still mobile, get it out of the damn way. Not only is it courtesy, it is the law. Pull to the side of the road and then scream at the other driver.

9] Pay attention! I cannot stress this enough. If you feel the need to talk on the phone, eat a cheeseburger, read a book, and watch a movie at the same time, don't do it while you are driving.

That is all ...... for now.

Keruvalia, I usually enjoy your posts, but I take some exception to this one.
(Barring point 1, which is common courtesy.)

* Are you a police officer? If not, please do not be a "highway vigellante". It is their job, not yours, to enforce the rules of the road.

* More specifically, #3 is a very, very bad idea. You not only could get hurt/killed, you can hurt/kill the agressive driver. And who knows how many OTHER people in the vicinity.

Beyond that, I would like to point out that there *was* an occassion where I'd driven 110 MPH:

My friend (a cardiologist) got a page while on the 14th hole. We immediately broke the game (cutting straight through the course on our cart, much to the annoyance of other players).
As I had driven us both to the course, I drove him from the golf course to the hospital for the emergency surgery. We did get a police escort, but only after about twelve miles.

Now, I freely admit that this is the exception, not the rule.

But, on the other hand, do you have the right to decide?
Does it really hurt you to just let the other guy pass?

3] Just because you ride on my bumper and flash your lights at me does not mean I will get out of your way or drive faster. I probably have children in my vehicle. I may, however, slam on my brakes and let you plow into me if I am by myself and give my family a great christmas at your expense.


Well lets just hope I never get behind you and you decide to pull this. My truck is big enough to ruin your Christmas, as most likely you'd be taking your Christmas dinner through a tube, or pushing up daisies. :)