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Hi all:

I've noticed that a couple member have been involved in some, luckily, not extremely injurious, accidents in the recent past. Now I'm starting to get worried that I'll end up in one. In both cases, it was the fault of the other driver, but I thought perhaps we should come up with ideas on how to defensively drive, specifically when driving below the speed of the flow of traffic(which is usually much higher than the PSL!:(). In other words, how can one make sure that if some one behind you is going http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/8269/78240495.jpg (http://img833.imageshack.us/i/78240495.jpg/), that one will be able to sense this and respond in time to reduce the impact or avoid it entirely.

Unfortunately, although we may wish otherwise, alot of people on the road, including my very close family(see above picture), believe that speeding is a god given right and anyone who drives below the PSL are "bad drivers who don't know what speed to drive at and hold back traffic". Even worse are those who also believe that driving is supposed to be a time where once can "zone out" and distract themselves with other things.:(

The best we can do is try to anticipate this and avoid getting hurt because of such drivers.

Personally, I avoid higher speed roads whenever possible but no matter where I drive, I do several things to stack the odds in my favor.


I ridge ride in the right lane to stay obviously different.
I pick a speed that gets others to begin a flow around me -- typically somewhere in the 7-8mph under PSL range for higher speed roads, but I'll go faster if that is the only safe way to get down the road.
I spend almost as much time looking in the rear view mirror as I do looking out the windscreen with rapid scanning back and forth. The heavier the traffic the faster my scanning (which includes peripheral and side view mirror scans -- and those side mirrors are adjusted so that the inside edges pick up about a half car length after the rear view mirror ends -- for most vehicles this means the front is visible in the side mirror while the back is still visible in the rear mirror. As it leaves the side mirror it should start showing up in my peripheral vision -- there are blind spots but they are small and I never move without checking them.)
I'm very deliberate with any lane changes (including exiting). The blinker is on for a minimum of 3 blinks before I begin deviating from my path at all. The signal stays on until my vehicle is completely in the in target lane. Distracted drivers may only catch a glimpse and you want that glimpse to convey as much info as possible.
I don't use the phone, radio, or any other device when driving -- the more vehicles on the road, the less my eyes deviate from continuous environmental scans -- that includes deviations to glance at gauges.
I use the hazards in brief spurts of 2 blinks, often in two sets with a brief pause (lasting the same period as the two blinks) between if I have even a suspicion that an approaching driver has not noticed a large speed differential. I also use this same signaling method for any approaching tractor trailers well in advance to give plenty of notice so they have a chance to go around. Pursuant with this, I watch for gaps in the left lane and if it appears they won't be able to go around me I'll speed up closer to the PSL until an opportunity to pass occurs.
Finally I always keep an eye out for "escape routes" and drive accordingly. Plenty of accidents occur when people rapidly change lanes and assume no one will be there... leaving no time to react and very little advanced notice for the other driver. I'm always ready to dodge to the shoulder (it has saved me 3 times so far) and keep a sharp eye out for people pulling that stunt, and if there is no escape route I raise my speed to lessen the speed differential I could be faced with.


Even with all that, there are situations you simply can't avoid. Such as what Jeff went through -- he was stopped at a light. I avoid a lot of bad stuff by choosing to drive during less congested times, but some drivers take open road as an invitation for even more reckless driving with assumptions of clear road in places they can't see (such as around turns... which they take fast enough to end up in the on-coming traffic lane :rolleyes:). Just do the best you can and be as cautious about what you can't see as what you can see.

Be safe out there and may you have a large dose of luck to help out!

Here's one situation I especially look out for. It's not for my safety, though.

I'm in the right lane, slower than traffic. Approaching from behind are a car in my lane and beside it a bike in the left lane. It's highly likely the car will change lanes to pass me. They may or may not see the bike there. I'll raise my speed to give the bike a chance to get ahead before the car wants to pass.

I follow most of the techniques Sean mentioned. I just want to emphasize the use of flashers. I keep an eagle eye out for trucks. They have lots of problems passing because of their huge weight and size. I try to give each truck a couple of flashes a quarter mile back. That gives the driver a chance to plan his pass. If traffic is particularly heavy I also find it useful to just hit the flashers every minute or so to warn drivers other than the truckers. Driving with the flashers on all the time will get you pulled over (for assistance) here in VA, so can't do that ;-)

I use my flashers alot, especially on surface roads when I'm just coasting to a light I know will still be red when I get there in order to make sure people know they should just pass me. I only occasionally use them on the highway, maybe I should give that more of a try.

Has anyone discussed the dangers of spending too much time looking at the SGII?

I know I did at first, but now I just glance at it. I spend more time looking at my mirrors than at the SG.

Same here, but I am learning to go by feel more when accelerating, the most common time that I would find myself staring at it.

I have had to re-learn my car, 1st because my SG was stolen, and 2nd because the car broke down around Christmas and just got running again a few weeks ago.