From: marc@r-node.gts.org (Marc Fournier - Sys Admin)
Subject: Re: 401 and Interstate contrasts
Organization: R-node Public Access UNIX System (416-249-5366) 24hrs.
Distribution: can
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1992 19:16:34 GMT

In article <1992Aug13.041633.19162@bmerh85.bnr.ca> myhui@bnr.ca (Michael Hui) writes:
>In article <1992Aug13.012024.16686@bmerh85.bnr.ca> jnetto@bnr.ca (John Netto) writes:
>>Perhaps the MTO (Min. of Transport of Ont.) should change those "SLOWER TRAFFIC
>>KEEP RIGHT" signs to "KEEP RIGHT except when passing" !! Some people never
>>consider that they are SLOWER...
>
>Take the detached unemotional psychologist's view of this, and you'll realize
>that there are many more possible, even plausible explanations.
>
>1. The driver is making an ideological statement, along the lines of
>   "The speed I drive at is the speed you should drive at. So there."
>
	Either this would cause everyone to drive extremely slow or
extremely fast...I prefer the extremely fast myself.

>2. The cars on the right lane (assuming a two lane highway) are too slow
>   for the driver who's on the left lane now, but you come along and want
>   to go even faster than this driver on the left lane. That driver has to
>   make a clearly inconvenient maneuver of slowing down, changing lane, and
>   then speeding up again after changing lane once more. On the Queensway
>   in Ottawa, this often happens, and I understand, so I never force the
>   issue by following too close when it's obvious to both parties that
>   neither of us have any choice under the circumstances.
>
	I agree with this attitude.  Most of the time, with just
a little patience, the guy in front, driving a little slower then
you, but faster then the guy to the right, just needs a little time
to get past him and move over.  Tailgating as a way of giving 
indication that the guy in front is going to slow just doesn't work.

	Also, in Europe, German Autobaun at least, all a driver
has to do to indicate he is going to need to pass is to flash his
headlights and the  guy in front just slides over at the first
convienent time...why can't Canadian drivers be that courteous?

>3. The attitude of the driver approaching from behind is so obnoxious
>   that the slower driver in front can't resist turning it into an
>   interesting case study of psychology and does all his maneuvers
>   from that point on purposely to frustrate the driver in the back,
>   and taking great delight in watching the driver's reaction in his/her
>   rear view mirror. This happens more often than you'd think, by
>   the way, judging from conversations with the opinionated (i.e. normal)
>   women friends of my sister. (ohhhhhhhh boy, that was a sexist remark)
>
	About the only thing I've ever done to piss someone off
while driving is put the brakes on while being tailgated, usually
as hard as I dare, to put the guy a little back.  It pisses them
off, they swear at me, but they shouldn't be tailgating me in the
first place.

>ability at high speed without any loss of stability. In other words, if
>you pull that on me, you may end up rear-ending me instead, if I happen
>to be in such a foul mood that I won't let you pass, period.
>
	Great attitude :)

Marc
-- 
Marc G. Fournier      | R-node Public Access Unix running UnixBBS 1.03
Etobicoke, Ontario    | 416-249-5366   24hrs 7 days/week   network email
voice: 249-4230       | shell/feed accounts available   1800+ newsgroups
marc@r-node.pci.on.ca | Telebit T3000/SupraModem2400/Cardinal 2400  FREE
Newsgroups: ont.general