The Art of Rush Hour Traffic

[chefwong]

RANT.

On the weekends, I get IT (re weekend drivers).

I generally am the early bird and in the evenings, I'm always way past rush hour traffic.

I had to leave early day to get home for a appt today and man, why can't people just Learn from Rush Hour Traffic. I assume they take whatever route they take at least 4 days a week.

Know how much you throttle and adjust your distance accordingly
Look ahead 3 cars at least so you can adjust your throttle accordingly and not need to RIDE the f'en brakes or slam on them for no obvious reason.

There will be the occasional speed demons who will cut the trucks and I get that.

But if only everyone else just had some common sense....rush hour traffic would just be slightly more enjoyable.

[AzNMpower32]

Yes, very true. You really gotta look far ahead and anticipate the reactions of the "average" driver. There really are plenty of idiots in rush hour traffic. Hence, I always try and avoid/plan routes around heavy rush areas. It's not really the city driving that frustrates me though, its always the backups on the freeways and major arteries.

For heavy urban traffic, I have a "city" mode. Unlike what the name suggests, I drive more aggressively if conditions permit. It's not like I'll blow by pedestrians or red lights or drive recklessly, but everything is just on heightened alert. Speed limits are ignored (no one pays attention to these in urban areas anyway), and I'm more aggressive on the gas and brake. Lane markings become suggestions. Basically, its taxicab driving, except with a compact SAV. I really couldn't do this daily though; the amount of attention I have to give is really draining and I'm dead tried by the time I get home. Gas mileage plummets (the record is 8 miles to the gallon). However, it is a quick way to scoot around. My friends always prefer it when I drive them to Washington DC because they say "See, that's the way city driving ought to be done".

Highway rush hour is different. I just plod along slowly in this case.

[Technomage]

I deal with in in my manual truck to, I hate people that ride and step on there brakes hard.

[xxx]

That's one of the reasons I got one of these. Rush hour, bumper to bumper traffic means I go 50. (kph that is.) Im not in a hurry to die, well in my opinion anyway. But I find that going from one end of the city to the other in traffic is not only 30% to 40% quicker its also fun.

I cant even begin to tell you how good it feels to hit 300kph once or twice a week. Late at night all I need is 2km of open road and its on.

[Quicksilver]

As you describe it though it's "RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC" hence there's an attitude attached to the process on the part of others. Years ago I found out it's better to remember that many people can't think any further ahead than their nose and expecting anything else is futile. Just be careful and watch the show.

Originally Posted by chefwong

RANT.

On the weekends, I get IT (re weekend drivers).

I generally am the early bird and in the evenings, I'm always way past rush hour traffic.

I had to leave early day to get home for a appt today and man, why can't people just Learn from Rush Hour Traffic. I assume they take whatever route they take at least 4 days a week.

Know how much you throttle and adjust your distance accordingly
Look ahead 3 cars at least so you can adjust your throttle accordingly and not need to RIDE the f'en brakes or slam on them for no obvious reason.

There will be the occasional speed demons who will cut the trucks and I get that.

But if only everyone else just had some common sense....rush hour traffic would just be slightly more enjoyable.