2024 Chevy HD DRW and SRW Fuel Economy Test

4x4ord wrote:
What really burns my arse is when I come over a hill with 115,000 lbs in tow to find a flipping Tesla putzing along at 80 kph in the slow lane on a busy 110 kph highway. What do you do? There's people doing 125 in the fast lane so getting over to the left is not going to work; Could slam on the brakes and burn three weeks wages off the brake linings and another days wages of diesel lugging the load back up the hill trying to get back to speed if you ever get a chance to get around the pesky savior of mother earth. I could just come flying up behind the cursed Tesla with the air horn blaring knowing full well it is capable of hitting 80 mph in about 1/2 of second. I could pass her on the right hand shoulder and hopefully teach her a lesson. I guess I should be more sympathetic ... after all she needs to make it from Edmonton to Calgary on one a single charge so she's only doing what she's got to do.

What’s the lowest legal speed on that road? A “pennies-per-mile” defense ain’t gonna cut it morally. Could be someone ill or injured, or with a poorly functioning vehicle, but making best headway.

Or one rounds the bend and there’s a school bus full of children and nuns over on its side.

“Why” they’re traveling slower, yet legally isn’t any of my business. Only shows I’m a poor driver it bugs me.

In USA, it’s illegal to block entry to passing lane. No inherent ROW. (That’s where I’m going). One backs off to get a pass over soonest (also law), so that lane is “clear”. It’s the only choice should worst situation occur. Literally why we built with two lanes nationwide.

There is not any such thing as, “the fast lane”.

Left lane tailgaters are equivalent of being without insurance. SHOULDN’T BE PRESENT. (They win the Darwin Award). Faster travel speed = zero ROW. 200’ spacing or better at all times (more for big trucks), and not ever in left lane till vehicle ahead has finished pass.

Heavy traffic means one travels more slowly. Upper limit isn’t the thing. ROAD CHOICE determined travel time, not travel speed.

Todays car drivers are worse than they’ve ever been. Think metro freeway and rural Interstate are the same. They aren’t.

Per radar the average they cut in front of my rig is 80-ft. Should be 200+ and still solidly accelerating away. (Need 700+ feet to stop)

Don’t cut in front of big truck without 7-8 lane stripes visible, minimum. Merging on-road the same. Running up ahead of me going into construction and not ten feet from car in front. Etc.

I agree about the selfishness/stupidity which merge into one-ness above 45-MPH. But legal travel speed in correct lane isn’t one of the highway problems. (I slow to 50-45/MPH at exits BEFORE the ramp as that’s the ONLY prudent way to exit per road design and vehicle physics).

My rig WILL come to a full, controlled stop UPRIGHT. God help the stupid/selfish as law doesn’t require us to sacrifice ourselves. Left lane is only way to avoid smashing the TRAVEL LANE problem. It’s the SINGLE choice. Left lane is passing only (not overtaking), and for EMERGENCY use.

Anticipate that’s always just ahead where it can’t be seen. CYA. Then can use the designated lane to get past without qualms. (Where the stupid & selfish wind up is between them and their god).

This is a central fact of how things are.

Luckily, the stupids are predictable. Travel in packs. It’s no feat to slow a bit till they’re far away. I do it all day. Doesn’t change my trip plan. Travel speed adjusted to traffic volume & other conditions. Etc. You know the drill: Maximum Vehicle Separation the day long.

It’s also congruent with fuel economy: least use of throttle & brakes. (Next to no passing, not even several times per hour in most cases).

And aren’t you guys using LADD channels to warn each other? AM-19 on CB ain’t what it used to be , but it’s still operative about rolling or stationary hazards.

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