Comments on: Practice Good Gas Conservation Habits (37/365)

By: jim

jim — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:39:43 +0000

Online dictionary defines “several” as “more than 2 but not many” so maybe $3 technically qualifies as “several dollars”.

By: SwingCheese

SwingCheese — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:06:07 +0000

I just filled up today, and the cost of a gallon of gas in (Eastern) Iowa is $3.29.

By: David

David — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:29:20 +0000

Just to run the numbers, in order once again to emphasise the illusion of thinking in miles per gallon: say your car normally does 40 mpg but you manage to get 50 mpg out of it over a three-hour trip. Well, the difference between 1/40 gpm (gallons per mile) and 1/50 gpm is 1/200 gpm, so over a 200-mile trip you have saved one gallon of fuel. I don’t know what the price of gas is in Iowa, but “several dollars” sounds to me like an overbid.

By: Kai

Kai — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:06:11 +0000

When I’m alone on a mountain road, I slow down on the uphills, speed up on the downhills, and coast around.
but if I’m on a highway, or there are other nearby cars on my hilly road, I stick to one speed and deal with the slight extra cost in mileage – it’s obnoxious to drive behind the guy who constantly changes around.
In my area, highway driving speeds usually average 10km above the limit. I often drive about there, but if I don’t want to, I stay in the right-hand lane. If there is no dedicated passing lane, then as soon as I collect more than two cars behind me, I pull over at the next safe point and let the faster people go by. It’s really just a matter of courtesy..

By: Baley

Baley — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:00:58 +0000

Robin S, sorry I misunderstood your post! No, I would not agree that if you’re driving the speed limit (or even somewhat under it) that you should pull off the road. You’re right there. I did think you meant pulling into a slower lane on a multi-lane road. Apologies.

By: Karen

Karen — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:41:16 +0000

55 in a 70 on the open roads of Texas – you will get shot and most likely cause an accident for going TOO slow

By: Izabelle

Izabelle — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:22:45 +0000

I took a look at the Flick album and can’t help but wonder if the intern has taken the time to secure all necessary releases. State laws vary, but commercial photography of recognizable entities (ex.: a city bus as the main subject) is often restricted. Judging by the lack of attention to detail so far, I wouldn’t be surprised if Brittanny Lynne was oblivious to that. It’s a honest mistake that amateurs often make.

By: jim

jim — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:09:01 +0000

tentaculistic, “Annie, I’m confused why you think people SHOULD drive 55 or 60 on I-95 North ”

I don’t think she said that. She was just asking if anyone actually does drive that slow. Not saying they should.

By: jim

jim — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:03:33 +0000

As David points out, the rules do vary in different states. ON top of that it depends a lot on the exact situation in question. Plus I’m sure that enforcement details vary as well. My state law only says that slower traffic should keep right but it doesn’t really expand on what happens if everyone, including myself is speeding. I would generally expect that breaking the speed limit would basically make impeding traffic a moot point. I don’t think the court would agree with the “you weren’t driving fast enough” argument of impeding traffic if you’re also exceeding the speed limit. Right?

By: tentaculistic

tentaculistic — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:05:13 +0000

In the Flickr album, my favorite is “Carpool” #39. Her mom and dad look like they’re about to shoot her for making them sit in yet another G-D photo. It cracks me up.

By: tentaculistic

tentaculistic — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:03:36 +0000

#46 Annie “I live in Maryland and on the weekends I commute to PA. On 95 forget it, no body seems to drive 55 or even 60.”

Annie, I’m confused why you think people SHOULD drive 55 or 60 on I-95 North from DC, when the speed limit is 65.

By: Robin S

Robin S — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:54:55 +0000

When I say “pull over” I was referring to #30′s suggestion to pull off the road to let someone behind you pass you if you are going the speed limit. I do not think it is rude to suggest that someone who is following the law deserves a spot on the road. On a 4 lane highway, of course I wouldn’t hog the “passing lane” if I wasn’t passing anyone, thus “breaking the laws of the road” as you suggest.

By: Baley

Baley — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:33:52 +0000

On the freeways I travel (mostly Tennessee and Georgia) there are signs everywhere that say, “Slower traffic keep right.” That does not include anything about whether you’re driving the speed limit or not, but about whether you’re driving slower than traffic around you. So Robin S. and others like her are just being rude AND breaking the laws of the road. I agree that flashing lights and honking and tailgating are also rude and breaking the law. If everyone would just be considerate of others, traffic would flow more smoothly and there would be fewer accidents.

By: Annie

Annie — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:29:18 +0000

I live in Maryland and on the weekends Icommute to PA using Route 1. There are two lanes and it seems like most of the drivers drive past 70. If I stay in the left lane and do 70 they flash me to go faster or move out of their way, if I move to the right lane and still keep 70, the other drivers behind me still get annoyed and pass me to do 80 or more. Is there anyone that really drives 55 miles a hour when there is NO traffic. I only see that during rush hour where you are forced to slow down. On 95 forget it, no body seems to drive 55 or even 60. I gave up and now I keep up with traffic. I find it’s safer for me and the other drivers appreciate it. sad to say that. I don’t miss the tailgaiting or flashing lights and I don’t have anyone giving me the finger when they pass me.

By: Izabelle

Izabelle — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:30:06 +0000

“If I’m worried about how someone feels about my driving, or driving like how someone else thinks I should, then that becomes dangerous.”

So true! For this reason my driving improved significantly the minute I got my license and could drive by myself, without an instructor or my husband critiquing my every move. I have yet to get a single traffic ticket :)

By: David

David — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:00:41 +0000

In Alaska, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio and Puerto Rico vehicles travelling at the speed limit may use the left-hand lane regardless of the “normal” speed of traffic. In Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Washington use of the left-hand lane is limited to passing. In Arkansas, Colorado, Nevada, Utah and Virginia vehicles may use the left-hand lane without passing, but must give way to faster vehicles in that lane. Almost everywhere else, vehicles moving at the “normal” speed of traffic may use the left-hand lane regardless of whether they are obstructing other vehicles. Section 257.634 of the Michigan Vehicle Code is so obscure that no one knows in which lane to drive, and section 21650-21664 of the California Vehicle Code is self-contradictory.

No wonder that when I first visited the United States, I was told by the gentleman who collected me from the airport at Denver that “no one in this country can drive worth a damn, but fortunately our roads are so wide that we don’t have to.”

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:56:12 +0000

@Jane 28 – I think it is generally understood that for roads with 3+ lanes in one direction, the middle lanes are for “through” traffic – ie, no intention of turning to a new road for some time. As far as driving in the left or right lane, laws vary by locality. I don’t mind riding in the left lane if I can flow with traffic and I have a turn coming up in a few minutes. To the best of my knowledge of my state’s driving laws, so long as I’m not impeding traffic behind me, that isn’t illegal.
On the topic of aggressive drivers, I try hard to be aware of my surroundings more than the emotions of the drivers around me. I’ll move out of the way if I see someone coming up quick behind me, and if I see someone aggressively changing lanes and darting through traffic, I’ll usually say, “Maybe he needs to get to the hospital”
I think that’s helped me be a better driver. If I’m worried about how someone feels about my driving, or driving like how someone else thinks I should, then that becomes dangerous.

By: moom

moom — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:12:42 +0000

The hill tips might work on the kind of hills you have in Iowa :)

By: Robin S

Robin S — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:35:51 +0000

Impeding traffic is different from going the speed limit. #30 – I will never pull over to let someone pass me if I am going the speed limit and they are being aggressive about it. I also won’t slow down. I will continue going as close to the exact speed limit as possible until I arrive safely at my destination.

Next: If I am behind you on a hill and you refuse to accelerate up it, I might run you over. Not out of aggressiveness (though I will also be yelling at you from my car, to be honest) but because my expectation when I am driving is that cars around me will maintain some consistent speed unless otherwise directed by traffic signals. If the distance between you and me keeps changing and I’m going a consistent speed, its only a matter of time until one of us makes a mistake that results in an accident.

But of course that will save lots of gas, because we’ll both have to take the bus!

By: jim

jim — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:35:39 +0000

Speeding and tailgating are illegal. So you don’t have the high ground if you’re doing that. If other drivers don’t get out of your way fast enough thats your problem not theirs.

Of course impeding traffic and failing to get out of the fast lane is usually illegal as well.

Not enabling tailgating speeders may be passive aggressive. But the tailgaiting is outright aggressive and dangerous.