Try doing it in the slow lane you pratt!
Only an American would consider this a reasonable activity. “I bought a gas hog and so must impede everyone else on the road so I can afford to drive it” talk about a selfish @#$%#&&
Did you mean to insult people only in the US or every American in North and South America?
PS, I don’t have a SUV, never have; never will. There are those of us here in the US that think them to be wasteful and will be happy to see them gone.
Just the US - and farther clarification - I am not inferring that all US citizens drive gas guzzlers although almost all gas Guzzlers originate in the US. Not all US drivers think the way of 2ndtiming as proved by the many replies on this site - BUT - the complete disregard for the free flow of traffic in favor of personal advantage and preference is a lifestyle that would only be defended in the US . And while we are on the subject - name another (non third world) country where it’s NORMAL to drive with a cell phone or drink in your hand, where most drivers get their license without sitting a test (drivers ed. with your buddies doesn’t count), where most drivers can’t handle a “stick shift”, where traffic circles require a level of decision making that?s way beyond the average driver, where the lack of public transportation forces the aged and infirm into their cars, where parents buy their 16 year old the biggest vehicle available ?because it?s safer? ? I could go on?..
LOL, we’re not called ugly americans for nothing.
It all makes sense if you just think of the US as an adolescent boy with a trust fund and a loaded gun, hopefully it will mature before doing too much (more) damage (I was going to extend the adolescent boy metaphor, but it wouldn’t be appropriate for a public forum). I really do hope this process won’t involve too many more decades of stumbling around without a clue, but I’m not optimistic.
Scudder: Very well written. Your reply was on the money.
Your metaphor is very helpful. I will add ? the adolescent boy with a trust fund and loaded gun has a mountebank for a legal guardian.
DEAD HORSE - BEAT IT, BEAT IT
Hey! What’s the difference between my dead horse and your SUV…? Well,
… I could always sell my dead horse!
And still get more money out of it than an SUV 
sorry don’t have an suv. i have a pos buick
simple, the same way i do! a 21" two way 72th ratchet gear wrench firmly seated in the area next to my drivers seat and the door.
no, i’m kidding. you can’t diffuse a situation like this. if you drive like an ass, others are less likely to understand your reasoning. hey, you could be one of those 65 year olds that need to be retested every five years (dad, i’m talking to you!), but no one else knows that.
further more, people are less likely to care if they are in a rush. but it’s not your job to know what others are thinking. you need to drive in a semi-respectful manner (wave, always!) and get from point a to point whatever. be polite always, even if you are driving like an ass. people who do stupid things are more likely to cause accidents that are their fault anyway. just note that if you are involved with them, that’s the time when you reach for your cell phone in one hand to dial the police and the 21" two way 72th ratchet gear wrench…
Moderation and Context–I like it!! I had a driver’s ed teacher years ago that stressed driving defensively and he would often say that you needed to be aware of what was going on around you at all times, because you could say as righteously as possible “but I had the right of way,” but what good would would it do you if you saying it from a hospital bed in a body cast?? Great for the personal injury lawyers, but not so great for you, if it seriuosly/permanently affects your quality of life! About keeping up with the traffic flow, there is the 2-edged sword of doing so, because on the one hand, you are going with the flow and not impeding traffic, but on the other hand, if it involves speeding, how do you know that you won’t be the one, coming around a corner, that gets nailed by a trooper? My state does not allow radar detectors, and there are some places known to be radar traps, with troopers just waiting to make your day with an expensive ticket. I actually got saved once by an “inconsiderate slow poke”–he was driving right at the limit, I was right behind, looking for a chance to pass, when he waved at me and pointed up ahead. A minute later, around the bend, there was a trooper who had one car pulled over already, and his partner flagged down the car just ahead of us. This motorist saved me, in the long run, time(from not waiting after being stopped), money, and an increase in my insurance!! Now if I know there’s a speed trap in the area, I’ll do like the truckers do and flash my lights, slow down, or do something to pass the favor along. If people want to speed, as others have said, that’s their business, but with public safety and the price of gas these days (the more we can save, the more there is to go around–supply and demand and all that), I’ll think twice about cursing slowpokes, unless they really are going too slow and not in the right lane, then I’ll pray for them instead! Better for the blood pressure, too! Happy motoring, y’all!!
People get nasty when I drive to save gas
On I-93 South this morning…Some IDIOT was driving about 50 (speed limit is 65) in the LEFT lane…just trolling along like he owned the road and everyone should bow down to his superior gas mileage. It caused a backup for MILES…effecting at least 1000 cars as we all had to maneuver around this guy. People where hoking and cursing and blowing their horn at this idiot. Yup…it’s so much safer and better for everyone to drive BELOW the speed limit in the left lane during rush hour.
I remember that commute well, I lived in derry and worked in boston for a while. Even on a good day it sucked. I eventually got sick of it and started taking the train from andover (I think) to north station. I am very glad not to have to deal with commuting anymore.
That’s about my commute. There’s a new closer station in Lawrence right next to the New Balance distribution center. I take it every once in a while. I drive most of the time because with the big dig finished it’s a lot easier driving in and it takes me only 40 minutes (when I don’t have to deal with IDIOTS like this morning)…Where as taking the trainand then subway takes me almost 2 hours.
It was almost 25 years ago when I lived there (pre-big dig), I used to take the train to north station and walk across town (in good weather); otherwise I had to transfer to the T, which was no fun either.
Prior to the big dig I REFUSED to work in Boston. Just too much of a pain. It’s a lot better now. Traffic use to get backed up from Boston to 495 (about 20 miles) every day. Now there are pockets, but nothing to what it was. The commute home on Fridays is tough, or when there’s an accident or IDIOTS like this morning.
I-95 is no different. Although there is less total volume lately, the backups are still occuring. When you get to the front of one of them, invariably, there is some moron doing <65 in the PASSING lane. There are 4 lanes, why do they insist on traveling in the passing lane? These are the same people who merge onto the expressway and cross 3 lanes to park in the passing lane for their entire ride…
I-95 is no different.
I think i-95/128 is FAR WORSE. I HATE traveling that road. I can get to Downtown Boston from the intersection of 93 and 128 then I can get to Burlington from the same spot…and Burlington is closer.
There are 4 lanes, why do they insist on traveling in the passing lane?
Seems to be a New England tradition.
These are the same people who merge onto the expressway and cross 3 lanes to park in the passing lane for their entire ride…
Yup…and about 200’ before their exit they then get over to the right lane and exit…What inconsiderate little dweebs.