Precision driving: It takes thought driving freeways
On National Public Radio, I heard that following too closely is the No. 1 cause of vehicle-to-vehicle accidents. That fact doesn’t surprise me. As I travel our local roads at or near the 25-35 mph speed limits, I more often than not have a rear view mirror full of the windshield of the car behind me — they are too close to see the grill.
I always wonder what is on the minds of these tailgaters. Do they think that their close proximity will speed me up? On the contrary — if this occurs while I’m going 36, I’m most assuredly going to reduce my speed to the more proper 35 mph. I will admit that if I follow someone going 20 in a 30 mph zone, I will get close, with the hope that they will speed up or move over — a safe following distance for 20 mph is close. I wouldn’t do that, however, if they were traveling near the speed limit.
Again I wonder if these tailgaters are actually trying to coerce me into speeding. And again I stress that if they are, it won’t work. I pull over for persistent tailgaters. For other drivers, it could be an impetus for road rage.
The applicable law in the state of Washington’s RCW 46.61.145 is: “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.”
What is reasonable and prudent? For starters, it is a distance that allows you to avoid colliding with the vehicle ahead of you when that vehicle stops. I’m often followed closely, but have fortunately been rear-ended only once. It may become rampant, though, if the experiences of my friends are harbingers of a trend. So far in 2007, three of my chums were smacked in the back while sitting still. These are good drivers, but sadly, there is usually no escape from a marauding driver with lots of speed and little sense.
Our Washington State Driver Guide gives suggestions for maintaining proper space ahead of your vehicle. At a speed of 30 mph or less, a following time of 2 to 3 seconds is recommended. At higher speeds, a 4-second distance is safest. Don’t forget, driver reaction time is considered in these specified following gaps.
Here is how the Guide explains maintaining a timed distance:
“Watch when the rear of the vehicle ahead passes a sign, pole, or any other stationary point;
“Count the seconds it takes you to reach the same spot. (“One-one-thousand, two-one-thousand, three-one-thousand, four-one-thousand.”);
“You are following too closely if you pass the mark before you finish counting.
“If so, drop back and then count again at another spot to check the new following distance. Repeat until you are following no closer than 4 seconds.
With summer upon us, many will use our freeway system to reach travel destinations. When doing so, please stay in the right lane, except to pass. That requirement is simply stated as law in RCW 46.61.100. It also allows for use of the left lane (if available) to move left to allow a vehicle to merge from the right.
If anyone thinks I am unreasonably particular regarding this issue, check the Web. There are several groups admonishing perpetual use of the “passing” lane, but the latest is www.leftlanedrivers.org. At their Web site, it is explained how this “loosely affiliated group of drivers” intends to reduce the left lane congestion on our freeways by politely encouraging slow drivers to move over.
They don’t quit with the simple delivery of that message, though. While visiting their Web pages, and perusing their stance, you can order their patented MOVE OVER decal, complete with an arrow, which affixes to the top inside of your windshield.
The bold message, visible in the rear-view mirror of the car ahead, is intended, in leftlanedrivers’ words, “to offer slow drivers a gentle prod, reminding them of the need to either pick up the pace, or move over for those who choose to drive a bit faster.”
To this group, moving over is a matter of courtesy. It is a matter of safety. It is a matter of doing one’s part to help traffic move smoothly. I agree with those principals, but I won’t adorn my windshield with a decal. I also have a couple of questions for this group: Are any of you ever in the right-hand lane? If so, isn’t your decal asking drivers to move to the shoulder? If you are always in the left lane, which your moniker implies, there are times when you may be blocking someone else, such as an emergency vehicle.
Domination of the left lane, like tailgating, has proved to start cases of road rage. Avoiding both of these driving errors will increase harmony on our streets — please try.