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So I'm on my way to work, driving along [Toll Road], which is the fastest and least stressful way for me to get to The Client. There are four lanes in each direction. I typically hang out in the second left lane, since it'll take me to one of the EZ Pass lanes at the toll plaza, and only shift lanes to get around someone I think is going a mite too slowly.
Anyway, today I'm stuck behind a line of cars that's going too slow for my tastes and shift into the left (fast) lane to pass them. The line turns out longer than I thought, but I maintain speed-- not gunning it, but just maintaining my current rate.
I notice a SuckUV coming up a little faster behind me, and decide "I'll get out of their way once I pass this line of cars."
Things go slightly awry when a pick-up truck in the third lane shifts left to get into the second lane, just as I'm finally past the line. "No problem," I think, "I'll either wait for him to get ahead of me, or pass him to clear the lane for the SuckUV."
Annnd then the SuckUV decides to ride a little too close and flashes her headlights at me.
At that point, my decision to clear the lane for her was immediately scrapped. I'd been willing to get out of her way, and would have gladly done so if she'd just been patient, kept a safe distance, and waited for me to get clear when I had the chance.
I didn't have that chance yet. The line of cars was still to my right, and the only way for me to get out of SuckUV's way was to either speed up outside my comfort zone to pass the pick-up truck, or move onto the shoulder, which I point-blank refuse to do for anyone short of emergency vehicles.
So I eased my foot on the accelerator-- not all the way off, but just enough that instead of speeding up, I was maintaining my speed. Still, I'll admit, above the speed limit, but keeping pace with the flow.
What does SuckUV do? She flashes her lights at me again. Then again. And again. And again.
She kept flashing her lights, and I may have backed off the accelerator a little more, but I did not tap my brakes at all. I know that kind of thing can set off rage in some drivers, and she was close enough that I didn't want to risk a rear-end collision.
Plus, when she started flashing her lights over and over, the lane markings shifted from dashed whites to solid whites-- which mean "passing is discouraged." Not illegal, mind you, but discouraged.
At any rate, a mile or so from the toll plaza, the line of cars to our right finally dispersed or fell behind, and SuckUV immediately shifted over, got ahead of me, shifted back into the fast lane, and kept going.
Was I being sucky? I don't think so. I had been keeping pace with the flow of traffic, maybe going a little faster, and had been willing to get out of her way until she got impatient and flashed her lights at me. At that point, my helpfulness was at an end.
Patience. Learn it.
Anyway, today I'm stuck behind a line of cars that's going too slow for my tastes and shift into the left (fast) lane to pass them. The line turns out longer than I thought, but I maintain speed-- not gunning it, but just maintaining my current rate.
I notice a SuckUV coming up a little faster behind me, and decide "I'll get out of their way once I pass this line of cars."
Things go slightly awry when a pick-up truck in the third lane shifts left to get into the second lane, just as I'm finally past the line. "No problem," I think, "I'll either wait for him to get ahead of me, or pass him to clear the lane for the SuckUV."
Annnd then the SuckUV decides to ride a little too close and flashes her headlights at me.
At that point, my decision to clear the lane for her was immediately scrapped. I'd been willing to get out of her way, and would have gladly done so if she'd just been patient, kept a safe distance, and waited for me to get clear when I had the chance.
I didn't have that chance yet. The line of cars was still to my right, and the only way for me to get out of SuckUV's way was to either speed up outside my comfort zone to pass the pick-up truck, or move onto the shoulder, which I point-blank refuse to do for anyone short of emergency vehicles.
So I eased my foot on the accelerator-- not all the way off, but just enough that instead of speeding up, I was maintaining my speed. Still, I'll admit, above the speed limit, but keeping pace with the flow.
What does SuckUV do? She flashes her lights at me again. Then again. And again. And again.
She kept flashing her lights, and I may have backed off the accelerator a little more, but I did not tap my brakes at all. I know that kind of thing can set off rage in some drivers, and she was close enough that I didn't want to risk a rear-end collision.
Plus, when she started flashing her lights over and over, the lane markings shifted from dashed whites to solid whites-- which mean "passing is discouraged." Not illegal, mind you, but discouraged.
At any rate, a mile or so from the toll plaza, the line of cars to our right finally dispersed or fell behind, and SuckUV immediately shifted over, got ahead of me, shifted back into the fast lane, and kept going.
Was I being sucky? I don't think so. I had been keeping pace with the flow of traffic, maybe going a little faster, and had been willing to get out of her way until she got impatient and flashed her lights at me. At that point, my helpfulness was at an end.
Patience. Learn it.
Plus, in some states, if you're not using the left lane to pass, you can actually get pulled over for holding up traffic.
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