@hacks4pancakes

I despise people who refuse to manually reset when their cruise control goes into "stalker mode."

@hacks4pancakes I don't feel this way, but I can imagine it being akin to one stranger hovering near another in an otherwise empty field. Or being two people in an elevator and standing close to each other.

For some reason, it reminds me of driving in Germany; the car on the right cannot pass a car on the left. So, 'either pass, or get behind me.'

I could probably ruminate on this for far longer than I should though.

@hacks4pancakes If the person in the left lane isn't actively passing they shouldn't be in the left lane. Doesn't really matter if anyone is behind them, it's still not where they should be.

More often than not I'll slow down ever so slightly so they pull ahead. If they slow down, too, then something is fishy.

@hacks4pancakes I think it's him. The only time that bothers me in the slightest is when the other car is not just *next to* me, but directly in my blind spot, so I lose awareness of their location. So long as I can see them without craning my neck I don't see any reason to care.

(I drive a hybrid, don't speed, and stick to the right lane except to pass or take a left-hand exit.)

@hacks4pancakes It's not a good situation from a safety perspective. This is clearer when one of the two vehicles is a semi. They have huge blind spots so they might not be able to see a car hanging out next to them.

Even with normal vehicles the other car could drift into your blind spot. It's also easier to become mentally insensitive to something stable.

All in all, it's not recommended driving.

Plus, even when no cars are actually coming, why block the passing lane?

@hacks4pancakes absolutely dislike when this happens.

When Driving I think about where can I quickly put my car in an emergency to get out of the way of something, if someone is sitting next to me in a lane, that eliminates half of my 'escape' routes.

Deer, trash, potholes in the road, etc--how easily I can maneuver or break if something comes out of the blue impacts how I drive.

It's similar to why I don't tailgate-if something happens to the car in front of me I might not have time to stop.

@hacks4pancakes Assuming the other driver had to speed up to get next to me, why are they now slowing down to match my speed? I don't know that I've ever consciously thought about it but it definitely weirds me out and I'm pretty sure I naturally change my speed as a result. I feel like personal space is a thing in vehicles as well and that bubble increases as traffic decreases. I don't think I'm a terribly aggressive person but that brings out some deep "you wanna go bro" feelings.

I think I would feel the same way while walking or riding a bike. If you sped up to catch up to me, why are you just hanging out next to me now? It's something I would never do so it feels like there's no other explanation for it other than it being intentional on their part.

@hacks4pancakes "why are you in my space, you could be anywhere else, there's so much room".

Really, I would take active action to create distance, and then if they persisted it would get even weirder, but I'd try to not get to that point.

@hacks4pancakes

California native, my understanding is driving side by side is illegal because it creates unsafe conditions. the leftmost car needs to pass and leave safe room for all other drivers

let’s say, you’re driving in the right lane with someone to your left, and an obstacle/deer/pedestrian/other car comes up in the right lane, you have nowhere to go.

if you swerve left (as is likely your instinct) you slam into your center lane cohort.

@hacks4pancakes In most jurisdictions, it would be against the rules. I don't know about Illinois.

It's also dangerous to do that, because you may end up in the blind spot of the other driver.

@hacks4pancakes it would bother me because it could reduce my options in an emergency.

Same for hanging out in my blind spot.

@hacks4pancakes

Alongside or just behind is dangerous. A few car lengths ahead or behind is just fine. Humans are terrible at telling what speed they're driving so pacing another car is a good way to go...but not so close that you increase the risk of an accident.

@hacks4pancakes I’ve done an incredible amount of driving in my time, with a lot on somewhat sparsely traveled roads. I’ve noticed that cars tend to form clumps, where there are no cars ahead or behind for miles, but a group of cars just sort of hang out. It’s not exactly what you are talking about, but in my simple mind, it seems like the same thing. I can come up with many theories on why this might be, from our deep down lizard brains want to be in proximity to other people (even if we don’t want to believe it), to a believe that you’re less likely to get pulled over by police if you’re part of a car clump than off by yourself, and I’ve imagined many more theories, but I really have no idea.

Back to your question - if someone is doing the speed limit in the fast lane, even if the other lanes were empty and someone comes along and flanks in a travel or slow lane at the same speed, it’s the car in the fast lane that needs to take action. Is it a jerk move? Maybe, but I argue they should not be traveling in the fast lane.

Maybe I’m old school.

@hacks4pancakes

It does block one from an evasive maneuver to the left if it's
warranted, IE a deer bounding out into the road.

I try to stay out of that position, though it's likely based to some extent on lots of moto riding.

I really don't like someone hanging out in my blind spot.

@hacks4pancakes This tends to happen a lot during traffic. I would call it zombie traffic. The worst is when they drive side by side (which is very dangerous but also bad as you'll hold up any traffic trying to pass you).

If they are matching my speed it doesn't bother me - but when they are constantly varying in speed and weaving it drives me nuts! Like cruise control exists people! It's worth learning how to use and it saves you gas!

Space cushion was something I learned in driver's ed and didn't really care about until I was maybe 10 years into driving. It has saved me from slamming my brakes and making dangerous last minute maneuvers for the better half of my driving experience. It's when you drive consciously about the space you have between the cars all around you - in short an escape route.

I'm surprised your dad is more annoyed while maybe a woman would be afraid of someone trying to follow but I figure they usually do that because they feel like if they speed a cop is more likely to stop them but not both of you. Solidarity on the road!!