Worse Than Stopping on OnRamps ...

[SwampSurvivor]

Is stopping on the highway! I thought it was the end for both the Focus and I today.

I was getting on from the mall entrance to I81S. This section of I81S is three lanes. The right lane ends at downtown, about 1/2 mile before it ends at downtown, the mall entrance joins in. There is AMPLE time / distance to merge into the left two lanes depending on where you want to go.

I thought the worst someone could do was stop on the on ramp ... turns out, the worst someone can do is stop after they get on the highway.

I was getting on behind a Red Toyota Matrix. I usually leave my distance (thank God I did ...). I saw the Matrix enter the highway - that turns on the green light.

I check my blind spot mirror on the left and I'm good. I look ahead to make sure I'm clear and I see the Matrix stopping.

By stopping, I mean the driver put the pedal THROUGH the floor and locked all 4 right up (or kicked in the ABS).

Everything went slow motion, while applying the brake I checked both mirrors and was not able to get around to the left. There was already a SUV going around to the right that would not have been able to stop behind me and rear ended me otherwise.

I left about 20 feet between the matrix and I just in case I had to duck ahead or side in case someone couldn't stop.

I stopped behind the matrix. Unfortunately, I had just stopped in traffic going 60 MPH. There were a few cars that stopped on the on ramp, but I was there with my rear end exposed.

I heard screeching tires from behind and it was a minivan coming down on me about 70. I was going to duck right as fast as I could but there were cars from the onramp passing me on the shuolder. Not able to stop it swerved into the middle lane, cutting off a taxi.

The Taxi driver somehow managed to dive right and make it between the Matrix and I, AND avoid the guard rail. Props to you!

In all of the confusion the Matrix driver decided it was finally safe to go straight ... in the lane they already have claimed and then merge into the middle lane (DUH !?!?!!).

At that point I had a CRV that had no chance of stopping.

Not sure how I managed to do it but I remember simotameously pushing the gas to the floor and dumping the clutch. I BARELY got up to speed in time for the CR-V to not hit me.

Scary experience.

DO NOT STOP ON THE HIGHWAY AFTER MERGING ON ... IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO GET THE LANE YOU WANT ... USE THE ONE YOU HAVE

 

[Bandito440]

I know just the spot you're describing. It's not safe.

I taught a couple of female friends to drive when I was younger. One of them had no confidence and tried this and the onramp stop a few times. I hope I made my displeasure clear enough that she hasn't tried it since.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Originally Posted By: Bandito440
I know just the spot you're describing. It's not safe.

I taught a couple of female friends to drive when I was younger. One of them had no confidence and tried this and the onramp stop a few times. I hope I made my displeasure clear enough that she hasn't tried it since.


I go through that section of the city twice a day on my commute. I see so many collisions there every week. I have had my fair share of close calls - this was the closest.

 

[pcoxe]

I think people should get tickets for driving 5mph UNDER the posted speed limit too. They are a moving obstruction on the highway.

 

[The motor guy]

I hate when people always enter the on ramp doing 35 and then they end up doing 50 by the end of the ramp. Don't they realize that screws over the person behind them?

 

[Sunnyinhollister]

One morning last year, after getting off from a 12.5 hour shift at 6AM on a Saturday I saw an idiot that had stopped in the middle lane of highway 101 in Morgan Hill because he had missed his exit in the fog! And to make matters worse, he started backing up. Seems that there is no shortage for idiots.

 

[jeepman3071]

Props to you man! Its drivers like you who are AWARE of their surroundings that prevent accidents. Had you rear-ended the Matrix, it surely would've resulted in a pile up.

I've seen way too many people texting, distracted, etc, and I remember situations like this and wonder how they could possibly think texting or other things take priority over driving.

As you realized, it only takes a split second for things to change. The best drivers are alert drivers, because when someone becomes over confident, that is when they get surprised.

People like the Matrix driver should be charged with reckless driving. If you think about it, they are ignoring the rules of the road and causing a hazard to other drivers, which is reckless.

 

[65cuda]

Originally Posted By: pcoxe
I think people should get tickets for driving 5mph UNDER the posted speed limit too. They are a moving obstruction on the highway.


I could go for that as long they also ticket those that are going say 10mph OVER the speed limit. After all speed limits are there for a reason, like keeping traffic flowing OK.

 

[01rangerxl]

I was about to make a thread about this same sort of stuff.

I tend to be for less regulation...except when it comes to interstates. We're at the point there needs to be a separate license. Most people have become too retarded behind the wheel of a car to handle being on the interstate.

Unsafe (slow) merging, stopping, driving with the intention of being slow/disruptive on the interstate, being slow in the left lane, and being indecisive on the interstate should result in either a suspended license or some kind of restricted license. If you want to aimlessly wander around, why not just drive on surface streets and roads instead? Interstates are there to quickly, efficiently move traffic. If you aren't on board with that, use a slower road.

I don't understand why there is such a concern about "speeders." I love speeders because they aren't really a nuisance and make it easier for me to speed as well. It's the people who only speed when a line of cars attempts to pass them because they were just doing 10 MPH under the limit who are the nuisance and hazard.

 

[daves87rs]

I would have a heart attack....

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: 65cuda
Originally Posted By: pcoxe
I think people should get tickets for driving 5mph UNDER the posted speed limit too. They are a moving obstruction on the highway.


I could go for that as long they also ticket those that are going say 10mph OVER the speed limit. After all speed limits are there for a reason, like keeping traffic flowing OK.

Majority of drivers, around 60-70%, in So Cal going at 75-80MPH and the speed limit is 65MPH.

If 50% of drivers going faster than 10MPH over the limit get ticket, then more than 200-300k tickets will be written a day.

 

[sparky123]

I keep telling my kids to keep a safe distance behind the car in front. (Check your mirrors to know what's around you as well.) Gives you time to react. I don't understand tailgaters. You won't get there any faster and if so by what? Is it worth it? That driver should be cited. Glad you're safe.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Originally Posted By: sparky123
I keep telling my kids to keep a safe distance behind the car in front. (Check your mirrors to know what's around you as well.) Gives you time to react. I don't understand tailgaters. You won't get there any faster and if so by what? Is it worth it? That driver should be cited. Glad you're safe.


Definitely! Tailgating is dangerous. I would have been sandwiched had I been tailgating.

Also checking mirrors. I may have made the mistake of darting either way without checking.

 

[michaelluscher]

Umm... Mods, WTH happened to my post?
In retrospect, yeah I went a little bit overboard with the emoticons and the gif's, but just have a little decency to notify me with a reason....

To the OP, Yes, many people on the interstate do not understand the concept of traffic flow and maintaining speed. Good that your safe.

 

[SatinSilver]

Originally Posted By: michaelluscher
Umm... Mods, WTH happened to my post?
In retrospect, yeah I went a little bit overboard with the emoticons and the gif's, but just have a little decency to notify me with a reason....


When I delete someone's post on another forum I usually notify them with a formal warning or infraction. Receive a few of those and you're BANNED. Consider yourself lucky you didn't receive a PM. Using the letters, WTH doesn't help your cause either.

 

[michaelluscher]

So by being almost passive aggressive, that mod is making there point?
Listen, I'm a relatively level headed and reasonable person, if I've done something wrong, innapropriate, or disrespectful, I'd like to be told. If I had the option, I would have gladly deleted the post myself if I could.
I'm not looking for trouble, just relative fairness.
I know this is Helen's Roof, Helen's way, but could you just at least tell me what was wrong, so I don't do it again.
If a co worker does something wrong with a report or something like that, you don't just take it, shread it, and say nothing.
You ask, explain, and try to make sure it doesn't happen again.

 

[65cuda]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
Originally Posted By: 65cuda
Originally Posted By: pcoxe
I think people should get tickets for driving 5mph UNDER the posted speed limit too. They are a moving obstruction on the highway.


I could go for that as long they also ticket those that are going say 10mph OVER the speed limit. After all speed limits are there for a reason, like keeping traffic flowing OK.

Majority of drivers, around 60-70%, in So Cal going at 75-80MPH and the speed limit is 65MPH.

If 50% of drivers going faster than 10MPH over the limit get ticket, then more than 200-300k tickets will be written a day.

So this is a problem? If you going to complain about people going to slow, stopping on ramps among other things but want to give a pass to those that aren't responsible enough to obey a speed limit then don't complain about any of it. I don't think the speed limit sign says 70mph or whatever you feel like today. They write enough tickets people will get the hint.

 

[VicVinegar]

I like when the LEFT lane comes to a complete stop around here and the other lanes keep moving. That should never happen. No idea what causes it.

81 in Syracuse is not a complicated highway. Yeah the lanes dwindle down as you get near Harrison St.

The problem is these people think it is OK to come to a complete stop while they figure out what they missed. Me, I chalk one up to experience and would just head down the offramp and plan to get back on rather than stop in the lane and wait to change lanes.

 

[JHZR2]

What else is bad is when there is an exit that backs up on the highway. While the backup is manageable, some "entitled" folks decide to go into one of the middle lanes to cut into the line further ahead. Of course they have to stop in one of the leftward travel lanes to squeeze back in. Horrible.

Dont see it much in NJ, but this behavior is PREVALENT in DE.

 

[hattaresguy]

This is why this country needs better driver training. Everyday I see people doing things that should get tickets, instead cops concentrate on speeders.