Roadway ”wonders” continue to amaze

Why do we acknowledge only Seven Wonders of the World? It just isn’t right, when there are dozens of great wonders on our roadways alone. And, based on your letters, I know that I am not the only one to recognize these wonders — driving acts that leave us in, well, wonderment!

Tailgaters. Let’s begin with Washington State RCW 46.61.145, which governs this road wonder: The driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicles and the traffic upon and the condition of the highway. One conclusion: 3 feet is not enough distance!

Officials have revised the recommended method for determining following distance over the years. I remember when it was two car lengths for each 10 mph, but now the Washington State Driver’s Handbook converts distance to time, and recommends following 4 seconds behind your leader — or two seconds if you are going 30 mph or slower. Is this simpler, or easier to remember?

Rather than using a formula, I think that precision drivers should have a feel for their vehicles’ speeds and stopping distances, and maintain proper distances naturally. The law says, “reasonable and prudent,” and that means no less than your vehicle’s stopping distance behind someone else. If you rear-end someone, your following distance wasn’t reasonable and prudent — that’s why you will always be cited when that happens.

Why is it that nearly every driver behind me wants to exceed the posted speed? That’s right — and I operate my car at 1 to 3 miles per hour over the limit, which should be sufficient to avoid tailgaters. Oh well, when it gets too severe, the new me just pulls over to let them pass — it eliminates aggravation for both of us.

Racers-in-training. When the light turns green, and a driver makes a jackrabbit start to be first to the stopped traffic that is easily visible a half-block ahead, it’s a wonder that makes me wonder. I wonder, like Jay Leno once asked of Hugh Grant, “What were you thinking?”

Just yesterday, a BMW X5 SUV beat me to and from two intersections in a row — all while on the cell phone. The race to the first intersection was a challenge too, because I was only two car lengths from the stop line at the red-light intersection when the BMW sped by on my left — that allowed only one car length to get stopped for the red light after she passed me. But that didn’t keep her from flooring it when the light went green, and performing another nose diving stop for the traffic jam at the next intersection.

Come on drivers — look down the road, and plan ahead!

Unable-to-maintain-speeders. These wonders of the road are either unaware of their vehicle speed, incapable of regulating it, or they just don’t care about precision driving.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, variance in speed is a leading contributor to traffic accidents. And while a capable driver using a working speedometer, who follows the posted speed recommendations, can curtail this variance, there seems to be a shortage of capable drivers.

I often wonder if certain drivers could accurately answer the impromptu question, “What is your vehicle speed?” I know that there are some drivers who want to go fast, and some who want to go slow, but what explains those who wish to go fast and slow?

Some drivers’ speeds are all over the map even within one speed zone.

On a weekend drive to Pasco, I traveled south on US 395 with my cruise control engaged, going 72 mph. By the way, I know it was 72, because I had timed myself between several mileposts at 50-second intervals, which equates to 72 mph. I was heading to a track meet, and had a stopwatch on board, which makes the timing easy — just like the State Patrol in their aerial surveillance.

I saw a vehicle gaining on me from about a mile back, and as he quickly got closer, I saw that it was a Dodge Neon. Judging by his closing rate — he was driving faster than I — I figured, that this being a four-lane road, his pass would be imminent. Not so, though. Instead, he slowed to my speed, and followed too closely by any method of determining distance, for a few miles.

I like to create a driving niche for myself where possible — a spot where no one is too near me. I figure that if there are no vehicles in my vicinity, we won’t be hitting each other. With this mindset, I dropped my cruise control to 70 mph, to induce his pass.

When that was met with even a closer tail, I moved up to 75 mph, to get away from him and create my niche. He liked that speed too, and stayed close to me. There was no other traffic around us, so I pressed the coast button on my cruise control — 72, 68, 65, 59 — still no pass. Finally at 52 mph, he swerved out and went by — phew!

Please think while you drive — plan ahead, and be aware of your speed. Also don’t tailgate — it’s intimidating, and leads to rage.