Originally Posted by Randolph
Milt, my highest priority in driving is being considerate. From that, everything like safety flows. I am constantly looking ahead, to my right (mostly) and left, and in back of me. Constantly. I'm always looking 1+ miles ahead to see what traffic is doing. I'm looking to see what kinds of cars are around me, what they can do for braking, accelerating, changing lanes... I'm looking to see if anyone is coming up fast behind me, even with me at 80 in the left hand lane, so I can safely prepare to move over to them go by with no drama. No, I'm not the guy who says 80 is fast enough, you can go around me. I always think, maybe this guy has an emergency. Who knows. But removing drama from driving works.
Being constantly considerate of other drivers around me combined with the kinds of cars I drive makes me a very safe driver who can easily do 80+ with 2 car lengths ahead of me, like nearly every car in front of me and behind when traffic is flowing or when inconsiderate drivers are on the road causing traffic. When I go to my plater or anodizer, it's a solid 40+ minutes of highway, I always time to avoid traffic but invariably either young people or old people (also anyone from Maine, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida) feel like doing 65 in the left lane with braking for no reason with all 4 lanes across because the 3 to the right are doing pretty much what they should be doing. Happened twice last week, was in traffic for no reason, figured construction, got to the top of a rolling hill looking down and there it was, the left lane car creating a barrier with more than a full quarter mile of OPEN ROAD ahead of the lead cars. It took some time to safely get past him, old guy in a Camry. Not always old guys, young kids too.
If I ever win the lottery with serious mega millions, I will create roadside billboard artwork, probably in a 1950s style design, educating people how to be better, considerate drivers on the road.
In terms of ABS not saving you, I agree. But hand of god brake calipers and high performance tires, with driving considerately, does save you. All of my cars I drive on the highway can outbrake nearly anything, safely. Combined with my motorcycle-driven constant, and I mean constant, attention to the road means I can drive fast and safely and want everyone else to do the same and if they can't or don't have the cars, then the far right lane is for them.
I don't drive my 1981 Scirocco on the highway for this very reason. It's not safe.
Be considerate when driving. Everything else flows from there.
Peace.
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