No, this is not a political post at all. First, the back story...
My wife introduced me to Car Talk back in 1999 when we were first married. Through our time living in Utah we would listen to Tom and Ray while cleaning the apartment. I found them to be a humorous and enlightening diversion that made the housework go by quickly. As we have moved to California and New Jersey, we have not taken the time to find and make time for Car Talk. Recently we discovered that it can be heard at 1pm on Saturday - so whenever we are in the car during that hour, we listen. That hasn't happened for several months. Until today....
We were driving to Pepperidge Farm and BJ's to do some shopping as a family. We turned on the radio just in time to hear Wendy from MA. It was an interested discussion considering we had just had the bearings replaced on Gandalf. After Wendy came Brian from KY. He asked about merging etiquette specifically when a lane is ending (as in a construction zone or when 3 lanes become 2 or 1 on a highway.) Ray immediately began attacking those "yuppies" in Volvos or Audis that tear up the empty "ending" lane and "cut-in" at the last minute of the merge. He concluded that although such action is legal, it is "immoral." What a complete load! He even had the audacity to relate a story in which he refused to allow some "yuppie" to merge in a similar situation (he even yelled at him for "cutting" in front of all the other people who were waiting!) Of course, Tom agreed throughout.
Now, Car Talk is great for car repair and maintenance issues; however, the final line "don't drive like my brother!" should be taken as a shibboleth. All state transportation departments have guidelines that advise drivers to take turns when entering a single lane closure situation to help reduce delay time in work zones. This "take-turn" strategy, often referred to as the "zipper" approach (or "playing the game" in our home) is used when traffic is congested. In this instance, drivers should use both lanes all the way to the designated merge point and then take turns merging. Drivers can help reduce frustration in work zones if they follow the directions on the signs; otherwise, the system won’t be as effective. One official from Minnesota DOT said "In some back-up situations, the signs have instructed drivers to use both lanes up until the merge point, but we’ve seen drivers merge too early – probably in fear that they won’t be let in by other drivers. Many people think it is unfair for them to be waiting in traffic and another driver gets to merge before them. We’re hoping that this aggressive driver behavior will decrease if they see the signs instructing drivers to do so."
There it is! Ray is an aggressive driver who has now used Car Talk and NPR to condone nation-wide aggressive driving as a highly moral behavior. So if you are a morally superior American, feel free to condemn those misguided souls that follow traffic (and all other) laws. You have been absolved by the Patron Saint of Aggressive Driving, St. Ray the Peremptory of Our Fair City.
From what I've seen, he already has many followers. The more orthodox sects can be found all along the Boston-NY-DC beltway (some of the more zealous of those are in Northern NJ.) However, I have found strong followings in Utah, Arizona, Colorado and Idaho. The only place I found few adherents was in Southern California - and it was a pleasure to drive there!
Happy to bike the side streets to work!
Brad
3 comments:
It's true, CA (or at least OC) drivers will actually let you in when you try to merge. And though there is LOTS of traffic it MOVES. Very rarely does the traffic on the freeways actually stop, even during rush hour. I believe it's partly because they know how to merge and 'play the game'.
I like the theory (or the law, whatever) but it totally does NOT work in Utah or Colorado, I'm finding. If you do follow the law, people WILL NOT EVER EVER LET YOU IN!! So out of fear, I start to try merging as far back as I can. And yes, I do feel a little jelous of those who fly past me, but I still let them in. Usually. Unless it's a car full of crazy teenage boys.
Ooh, I heard this program, too, and was so hoping they would take the opposite view. One of the big problems of "early" merging is that you end up with several merge points which each slow traffic. It was a real blow to be so let down by Click and Clack.
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