Any ideas why??

[_Gina_]

You may know the situation....you are driving along on the open road, the 3 cars in front of you are travelling at around 80kms p/h, up hill down dale round the bend....no faster no slower. Nice gaps etc between them. Then ahead you see the overtaking lane approaching, great you think, I will be able to pass and proceed with my drive at a more respectable 100kms p/h.

But NO, all of a sudden the 3 cars are doing an average of 120kms p/h - WTF! Frustrates the shit out of me and I usually end up speeding to overtake anyway. Then the overtaking lane ends and as I proceed at 100km/s p/h I look back to see that the 3 said vehicles have slowed back to their 80kms p/h with nice gaps in between.

I am usually a pretty relaxed driver but this type of driving behaviour really irks me. I find myself wondering WHY? To what end?
Any thoughts on what causes this behaviour? Or are you one of those people who do this?

Gg

[Big Dave]

Any thoughts on what causes this behaviour?

Gg


A primal need to win.

[_Gina_]

A primal need to win.
True!
But why the fuck don't they wanna win anywhere else? Like the straights and and and......LOL
I mean what gets me is that the two cars behind the front one who is leading at 80kms don't attempt to overtake or anything, quite happy in their own little world.....until the passing lane arrives!!

[Maha]

Billy Connolly commented when he was here last that '' if i go to overtake you, at a passing, dont take it personally '' he got caught up in the same situation and it pissed him off enough to say something......it happens to us all GG, strange phenomenon.............:confused:

[_Gina_]

......it happens to us all GG, strange phenomenon.............:confused:
And the strangest bit is that I can almost guarantee that everybody would say that it happens to them too.....but where are those three car drivers in it all....:innocent:

[smokeyging]

I drive a truck for a living and this does happen a hell of a lot. It’s as if [wide-open spaces...GREAT, I can put my foot down].... or as one silly bugger said on a radio talkback one night that they like to prevent everyone from getting a ticket, BLOODY HELL. the silly buggers don't give a shit about the traffic hold-up in behind them, what’s worse, is 5 cars back there will be one that wants to pass the lot. Scares the living shit out of me. Another night on 'talkback' this clown said something like he had witnessed 32 accidents???...32??? I’ve driven over 3 million km in trucks and I haven’t seen that, it’s obvious why he’s seen 32 I would think.

[Kendog]

It's the same three that just cruise around the country trying to piss us all off. I know exactly what you are saying, happens constantly and I too don't understand it. I find it tends to be elderly people who do it, and they get really pissy when you pass them too! Another pet peeve is those who slow down excessively for every corner or break for every tiny little bend in the road and then speed like hell on the straight so you can't pass them, even though you end up right up their ass on the next corner! ARRRH, don't even get me started! lol

[c4.]

I too despise the irratic driver.
I recently had a trip down country where I was enforced passage.
The trip had me being driven by a 60yr old male who had been quite a contender in rugby/surflife saving and multisports. He was a great guy with great stories, and a SH*T driver.
We left central Ak at 0730, spag junction freaked him.
He told me stories all the way down to rotovegas.:shutup:
On the way down he would sit in the 'fast' lane of mway doing 80k.
story finished he would speed up to 95km. Stayed in same lane whole time.
People were swerving past us giving him the finger.... no idea.
Open road was worse. He'd sit behind traffic right thru passing lane, then 50m before end, he'd have a (dangerous) go.
It took us 4 hours to get to Rotorua from Ak... WTF???
He taught me that some people just do not concentrate on any of their driving AT ALL!!!:zzzz:
I love Driving/Riding. I read the traffic, I watch the people with sh*t hanging off their mirrors.
I do time/speed/mileage equations as I drive.
Unfortunately, many, many people do not.
P.s. trip back I convinced him to let me drive out of Rotorua (to save him the trouble). Prick never got to touch the wheel til I parked outside mine 2.5 hours later.:first: Speeding.. No. careful driving ..Yes:yes: Attention to traffic... you know it!
He will never get to drive me anywhere again.

[Finn]

A primal need to win.

I'm not so sure. To be primal, one would have to be part of evolution. I see absolutely no signs of intelligence from the kiwi driver at all. Sure they can connect their pointer finger with their thumb but not much else. What is even more astounding is that they can vote and breed.

[Motu]

A lot of passing lanes are on hill - a gutless car (or bike) could be making a run on to gain speed for the hill...I do this in my Pajero,but then I'm usualy doing 100kph if at all possible.

[Edbear]

I too, drive a (small) truck with not a lot of power, so you can imagine the frustration level when we finally get to a passing lane, such as up the Viaduct South of Warkworth, and I simply have to watch as they cruise up it at 80km/h when I can only do 70km/h up there, knowing I'll catch them along Windy Ridge and have to follow them until maybe I can get by on the passing lane at the Bottom of Schedewy's Hill! Another phenomenon is that without fail, the traffic will slow right down just as a passing lane opens and then all hell breaks loose! Inevitably coming South up the Waiwera hill! If in a truck, that slow down just kills any momentum I have and I then have to downchange and crawl up in third gear! Now that the Doc has me on blood pressure medication, I have to try nd chill out and relax!!!!!:nono:

[James Deuce]

(snip)Another pet peeve is those who slow down excessively for every corner or break (sic) for every tiny little bend in the road and then speed like hell on the straight so you can't pass them, even though you end up right up their ass on the next corner! ARRRH, don't even get me started! lol

Sounds like a KB ride.

[bobsmith]

Why I was on my way up to auckland once, was following this stupid ford something (hatchback) and it's doing around 90km average and slowing down to 10km BELOW posted speed on every bend... there wasn't many good places to pass (it was around the by pass of Hamilton 42, or 43 I think) so when there was one I had to take it. I felt that the stupid car started to accelerate (it was downhill) and for me to JUST pass it, I was doing 140 by the end (maybe a little more but I dont wanna say that) now the car must have been doing at least 130km/hr or more.

Then after I pass the stupid blonde (I saw her staring at me as I passed her) she flashed her lights, etc... needless to say, after I passed she slowed down and after a couple of bends I never saw her again...

[Kornholio]

Theres always somewhere to pass........

[riffer]

Another possible theory I've read is that the drivers subconsciously feel more comfortable with the width of the road and tend to speed up as the road becomes two lanes.

Buggered if I know what causes it, but it irritates me tool. I usually find that I end up shifting down two gears and nailing it past them, which means I end up going waaaay faster than I really should...

I guess its the price you pay for having to share the road with mouth-breathers...

[stevedee]

Me first I'm the best, rugby culture, thats what I think. I reckon most of the drivers on the road hark back to the old days when they used to play rugby. They still think they are goin for the line or winning a scrum. They live eat and shit rugby and they take it to the road. Give in and your weak. Shame they don't know how to drive.

spd:-)

[Kornholio]

Buggered if I know what causes it, but it irritates me tool. I usually find that I end up shifting down two gears and nailing it past them, which means I end up going waaaay faster than I really should...
...


Take us outta here Mr Sulu, ahead warp factor 9

[RT527]

Buggered if I know what causes it, but it irritates me tool. I usually find that I end up shifting down two gears and nailing it past them, which means I end up going waaaay faster than I really should...

I`ve found if you use soap it doesnt half irritate as much!!!:innocent:
One thing that gets me going is while driving the fire truck to an accident , people think its a race to get to the blocked road ahead of them and will actually pass us while our lights and sirens are going,us doing 105 maybe a little more if we know people are trapped despite the rule for us being 25 kmph over the posted speed limit, so they must be going quite a bit faster,all this does is place more vehicles in our way while approaching the accident= more time on the wrong side of the road= more stress factor for me driving. Not to mention the same people then turn around and abuse us for blocking the road ....like we caused the accident or something.People usually get the picture when its there turn to go I just keep the other lane flowing till they get the picture and stop abusing me:wait: :zzzz:

[smokeyging]

I`ve found if you use soap it doesnt half irritate as much!!!:innocent:
One thing that gets me going is while driving the fire truck to an accident , people think its a race to get to the blocked road ahead of them and will actually pass us while our lights and sirens are going,us doing 105 maybe a little more if we know people are trapped despite the rule for us being 25 kmph over the posted speed limit, so they must be going quite a bit faster,all this does is place more vehicles in our way while approaching the accident= more time on the wrong side of the road= more stress factor for me driving. Not to mention the same people then turn around and abuse us for blocking the road ....like we caused the accident or something.People usually get the picture when its there turn to go I just keep the other lane flowing till they get the picture and stop abusing me:wait: :zzzz:

I feel sorry for you guys driveing firetrucks with a full load of water etc, and down here most firetrucks are just little 280HP scanias, you guys must tear your bloody hair out.

[RT527]

I feel sorry for you guys driveing firetrucks with a full load of water etc, and down here most firetrucks are just little 280HP scanias, you guys must tear your bloody hair out.

Yup we have a wee little mitzi truck with 2000 litres of water and about 180 hp and the mitzi displayed above which is our rescue truck carrying 1350 litres, and 250 hp turbo`d and very very tired motor, typical bloody hand me down thrashed pieces of junk!!!.....oh yeah and little holes in the floor under the accelerator where we`ve pushed our feet through the floor trying to get just that little bit more out of her, even suggested throwing out fireman to make it lighter .......but the oriffercer diddnt think much of that idea....

[Kendog]

Sounds like a KB ride.

Yeah, that would be me on my bike. :crybaby:
Mrs KD

[beyond]

It sucks :(

Many cagers do it. They just hate to be overtaken. It's a personal affront to their ability to drive and they get mightily offended that you should overtake them on a passing lane when it's obvious to all, they are the superior driver. :angry:

Just love it when you are in your car (cos on a bike it doesn't matter) and you've been following a line of half wits for ages through the corners, they brake and poo themselves every time a bend in the road comes. Finally you come to a straight that you know you can get around them and yes, for once the straight is clear of oncoming traffic, so you nail it and so do they.

Piss ants. :(

You come to an overtaking lane and then they all think they are on the Pukekohe circuit except they may as well be on push bikes. The rear car pulls out in front of you when you are nearly alongside, cos they forgot what that stalky thing is on their steering column and the mirrors are for looking at themselves hooking out the biggest snag of the day.

You nearly rear end the prats, you toot and flash your lights to let them know you were there and they give you the fingers and proceed to sit alongside the the other slow car the entire length of the passing lane until it finishes. They disappear while you repeat the process with another half wit doing 80kmh again. :( meanwhile blood pressures sitting around 140 over 110.

Then when you do get a clear run on an overtaking lane, they finally find the throttle and decide to have a play with it. You're so pissed off, you floor it, come to the end of the overtaking lane and voila, there's a tax collector waiting for you to pay Helen Clarks next dinner date. :(
It's no fun, it's been going on for ages and it's time something was done about the road hogs.

I've dreamed about mounting a 50mm chain gun at sump level, Should peel their tyres off with a quick burst and see them off the road while you have a bit of fun dodging the shreded black crocodile skins. :)

[sugilite]

Welcome to NZ!
I have heard overseas people say this appears to be a NZ phenomenon!
I wonder if people just feel more comfortable with extra space, toss pot thing to do
though.


You may know the situation....you are driving along on the open road, the 3 cars in front of you are travelling at around 80kms p/h, up hill down dale round the bend....no faster no slower. Nice gaps etc between them. Then ahead you see the overtaking lane approaching, great you think, I will be able to pass and proceed with my drive at a more respectable 100kms p/h.

But NO, all of a sudden the 3 cars are doing an average of 120kms p/h - WTF! Frustrates the shit out of me and I usually end up speeding to overtake anyway. Then the overtaking lane ends and as I proceed at 100km/s p/h I look back to see that the 3 said vehicles have slowed back to their 80kms p/h with nice gaps in between.

I am usually a pretty relaxed driver but this type of driving behaviour really irks me. I find myself wondering WHY? To what end?
Any thoughts on what causes this behaviour? Or are you one of those people who do this?

Gg

[paturoa]

Agree it raises my blood pressure but wot turns me into a road rager is tail gaters. Fucking dangerous, to me!

Got gated the other morning by a car, I'd guess 3-4 meters at 60 ks. I turned around and waved my hand like "move back". Did for about 5 seconds then right up my arse just as close again. Really close! My next hand signal was a tad more obvious and the driver backed off a little but was still too close. I noted the number plate.

Just then there was a T intersection & I had to turn right and the car turned left, but didn't pullup next to me.

Anyway I had to get gas and pulled onto the left hand side of the pumps at the gas station about 100 meters after I did the right hand turn. By the time I got my gloves off, well bugger me if the car didn't pull up on the other side of the pumps, obviously didn't see me. I'm guessing at the T intersection the driver must have done a chicken shit left and then u turn. I was still pretty steamed so went straight over and had words.

I started with a semi-polite but quite nasty sarcastic "Was there a good reason for you tail gating me a minute ago?" The response was a totaly in-sincere "I'm sorry if I did that but ... pause... I don't know what you are talking about" I then asked "did you just drive up xxx road and get the fingers from someone on a motorbike?" To which the answer was "... pause .... yes... so". I started swearing at that point and said how it was dangerous to me etc etc. Probably took quite a while with all of the extra words. The response was a repeat of the " yes... so"

At that point I kinda chucked my toys. I told them that "I now have your number plate and I'll go and visit NZPost this arvo, and get your home address, I'll see you later" There was no response at all, kind of a, oh fuck, sort of expression to which I gave my best rendition of a Jack Nicolas smile from the Shining.

Well I was all bark and no bite, but wrote down the number plate anyway.

Dumb fws who do the speed up thing are frustrating and indirectly dangerous, but gaters are just down right dangerous.

[Lou Girardin]

Why wait for passing lanes when you're on a bike?
Everywhere is a passing lane.

[_Gina_]

Why wait for passing lanes when you're on a bike?
Everywhere is a passing lane.
Too true, but I haven't quite figured out how to strap the three kids on the bike...the day I do will be the day I no longer have to put up with "those three idiots"!

[Kendog]

Yep, this is all not really much worry on a bike, (except maybe the bloody dangerous tailgaters, they are normally people who have no idea what so ever how quickly a bike can stop or what a person looks like when they have been run over by a car/truck) but in a cage, it's all really fustrating and makes me wish I never had to drive a car!
Mrs KD

[Hitcher]

Or, while we're on the subject of highway wankery, those bastiges who accelerate to close the gap in front of them once they see you ride into their peripheral vision. Front-bottoms.

[Beemer]

I'm working on a contract in Palmerston North until the end of June and the travelling there and back every day by car (not always the best weather for the bike - the wind along Tokomaru is pretty lethal at times!) irritates the shit out of me. I arrive at work so wound up that I could kill someone! The woman who lives across the road is so slow it's a wonder she gets anywhere - she left at least five minutes before me the other day and yet I caught up to her at Shannon - about 15-20kms away! She drives at a maximum of 80kph and if you come up behind her, she slows to 70. And she drives a diesel.

Friday was a pain, just south of Tokomaru I was the last in a line of about seven cars behind a double truck and trailer unit doing between 50 and 70kph. No one was overtaking and it's quite windy from there until the Opiki turn off so no one got past the truck. Along the straight leading to Shannon one vehicle in the middle of the pack pulled out and overtook the truck but nothing else looked like it had any plans to overtake so I pulled out from the back of the pack and overtook the remaining cars. I didn't want to risk getting caught out with a corner approaching so I pulled in behind the truck. There was plenty of room - the car directly behind the truck was at least eight or nine car lengths behind it so I didn't have to brake or force my way in front of him, but he obviously was pissed off someone behind him had decided to overtake so until I got past the truck a few minutes later, I was subjected to him flashing his light and then sitting behind me with his lights on full. I'm sorry? None of the other six vehicles had bothered to overtake anything and there was no way I was sitting behind a truck all the way home, so what was his problem? (Apart from driving a people mover...)

Most truckies are pretty considerate (and I always give them a toot of thanks if they pull over to let me pass) but a PBT driver last week needed his arse kicked. He was sitting about three metres off the bumper of a stock truck travelling at 60kph on the same road, but heading north. I had to wait until the straight at Tokomaru to get past both of them as there was no way I was risking having to pull in between them.

It's a well documented fact that people speed up when they get to passing lanes because they feel safer as the road is wider. Someone should invent a device that prevents cars from speeding up as you pass them!

[MSTRS]

Someone should invent a device that prevents cars from speeding up as you pass them!
I have - it's called an EMP emitter. Haven't figured out a way to protect my own vehicle's circuitry yet tho!
The speeding up at passing lanes is no new thing. I had it pointed out to me by a company rep way back in the late 70's - also warned me about the Driver-wearing-a-hat too. Very frustrating if you happen to be in/on an underpowered vehicle:(

[mdooher]

I did a bit of research on this while having a go at the Dunedin City Council for their roading efforts…but that’s another story. The Californians have been aware of this sort of driver behaviour for a while. Basically if the road appears wider the drivers will feel more confident and drive faster. Bikers don’t suffer from it as much because on a bike the lane always appears so wide. (Unless doing 220km/h). Anyway in LA rather than put in curb protrusions and change double lane roads in to single lanes to try to slow people down, they plant trees along both sides of the road. This makes drivers feel like they are going through a tunnel and they slow down.