Traffic challenge
We were headed into Memphis this week, pulling the TT in the right lane on I-55 with a semi next to us in the left lane. As we approached an entrance ramp at about 60 mph, I watched an SUV coming up ...
Forum Discussion
eichacsj wrote:
"Sounds like you would be constantly be speeding up or slowing down or changing lanes." Isn't this always the case in the city? I have never been able to set my cruise and never change speeds or lanes while in the city. If you hold your speed "because the book tells you you can" aren't you one of the self centered people?
Drive defensively, adjust your speed and change lanes as needed for the scenario for those that are merging and for you when you are merging. "The rule book" is a guideline, not a hard, never to deviate, carved in cement driving technique.
Actually no, it's not always the case in the city. Quite often there is a steady flow of heavy traffic. The best thing for all concerned is to "stay with the flow". Vehicles entering the flow would optimally adjust themselves to that flow and merge in seamlessly. Changing lanes as a defensive move is rarely an option in heavier traffic.
Several dozen vehicles could pass any particular entrance ramp merge point in the amount of time it takes for one vehicle to enter the lane of traffic. It comes down to a numbers game. Should 20 vehicles adjust to the one vehicle (good luck making that work BTW)? Or should one vehicle adjust to the 20 vehicles? It's not about sticking to the rule book.
What constitutes defensive driving on a very lightly traveled interstate could be downright dangerous on a very heavily traveled interstate. There is often a "fast" lane, a "medium" lane and a "slow" lane in heavily traveled areas. It's not written anywhere. That's just how it is. Slowing down and moving to your left, and into a lane that's actually traveling faster than the lane you're leaving, every time you see a car on an entrance ramp does not constitute defensive driving. Especially for long cumbersome trailer combos.
