Crossing Washington

I consider America’s interstate highway system to be one of the world’s modern marvels. Our own 280-mile intrastate stretch of Interstate 90 is no exception. What a luxury it is to plop myself down in the driver’s seat, see sights, snack, enjoy music, and then step out of the car a mere four hours later clear across the state.

Some of that bliss is compromised, however, when imprecise driving rears its ugly head. Actually, I’d give most of the drivers with whom I shared the road on this trip an “A” grade — others need to study a bit more. So here are a few observations and thoughts from my latest round-trip to Seattle — some may even shed light on possible study areas.

One of the first things one sees at either end of the route is a sign summing up state law regarding left-lane use: “STATE LAW — All Vehicles Stay Right Except To Pass.” Everyone seems to heed that sign, too — for a mile or three. After that, I had to make several passes on the right to get by vehicles going less than 70 mph, which were continuously driving in the left lane for no apparent reason.

Next, as many of you know, the I-90 mileposts are numbered from 280, in descending sequence all the way to Seattle, where I-90 meets I-5 at mile zero. That way, you know at mile 140, for example, just past George, you are halfway there.

I also know that heading west at milepost 240, near Sprague Lake, I should have found my driving niche, comfort zone, or position on the roadway affording me a “safety-cushion” of space around my vehicle. This niche is hard to achieve in high-traffic density, but by Sprague Lake, traffic has usually thinned enough to perfect this safety goal.

Well, I had found that comfortable position: three vehicles visible ahead of me, and three behind with about 7 seconds of space to my fore and aft. Just as I breathed my sigh of relief having broken out of dense traffic, a Dodge Dakota spoiled my nirvana.

The spoilsport SUV came out of a rest stop, down the ramp, and popped out on the freeway about 2 seconds behind me. Please, there’s really no need to pair up out in this wonderfully sparse stretch of road.

In an instant, his following distance shrunk to 1 second, so I figured he’d pass. He did, but only after 10 miles of following too closely, and another mile or two in my blind spot at the left rear. By the way, the pass only occurred after dropping my cruise control set speed of 73 mph down to about 69 mph. After another five miles, I was able to resume my previous speed. I guess if I’d maintained 73 mph, I would have had that Dodge attached to my bumper all the way to Seattle.

By now I was at mile 202, and had three or four vehicles well ahead of me, and a few well behind, although one car to the rear was rapidly advancing — a car with a driver who would soon be forlorn. To my right, at about mile 202.5, were three State Patrol cars: a radar car, and two chase cars, one of which was about to pull over the speeder. As I passed the “trap,” my rearview mirror revealed the vehicle that had been gaining on me getting the blue-light treatment.

Just my opinion, but when it only takes four hours to get to Seattle driving 70 mph, why speed? You would have to average over 90 mph to cut one hour off the trip — driving 75-80 mph to arrive 20 minutes earlier just doesn’t seem worth the risk.

It would have been especially risky this time as I drove through three more patrol-monitored speed checks on the round-trip. Coming back toward Spokane, a Lexus that had passed me at about 85 mph found one of them at milepost 206 eastbound, just west of Ritzville. Here, one officer was operating the “instant-on” radar gun, pointing it directly at vehicles cresting the hill, and three were giving chase to drivers with leaden feet.

I pride myself on spotting road signs, but during my return I must have missed the one for “Resume Poor Driving,” which is evidently posted somewhere around milepost 251. It was about there that the unjustified left lane use, extreme speed variance, tailgating, and reluctance to pass, all returned to haunt me.

Drivers please take note: Even though traffic is more dense near cities, and in fact because it is, we must always work diligently to create a buffer zone around us. Strive for driving scenarios where others will affect you minimally and vice versa.

All it takes is some knowledge and thought. Speaking of thoughts, please continue sending me yours.

Thanks!