Please give me 10 reasons why NOT to move to the Austin area. (Dallas: real estate)

[Mom2Feebs]

Originally Posted by Driftwood1

Well, for one thing, its illegal, and theres a reason for that, it creates an unsafe condition.

The devil's advocate in me is begging to ask: Isn't it illegal to be speeding? (oops--we don't do any of that! LOL!) I'd say that's a mite bit more unsafe than parking it in the passing lane at the speed limit. I've been in a situation where I am in the passing lane, but can't get back over right away--and certainly not fast enough for the guy who is coming up behind me at 80 mph. When he's riding my tail for 1/2 mile until I can get back over to the right, how is that deemed safe? Better yet, polite? Egad, we have some rude drivers in this state. (I suspect they're all from parts north. *kidding* )

[Driftwood1]

Alot of people dont understand that the "keep right except for passing" signs are actually for safety. Vehicles are safer following each other in a line, it gives traffic a free lane to the left, should something unexpected happen . Vehicles travelling prolonged periods side by side is dangerous and most schools, including defensive driving ones teach a driver that whenever possible keep the passing lane free and to allways try to keep a free space around the vehicle, especially beside you. If approached from behind, move over as quickly as is safely possible, regardless of the approaching vehicle's speed. Again, driving courses all over the country teach this, including the Texas Defensive Driver's course. It is safer for everyone to just let "the speeder" pass by rather than create passes on the right, road rage , etc etc.

at least that is what the courses say..

G

Originally Posted by Mom2Feebs

The devil's advocate in me is begging to ask: Isn't it illegal to be speeding? (oops--we don't do any of that! LOL!) I'd say that's a mite bit more unsafe than parking it in the passing lane at the speed limit. I've been in a situation where I am in the passing lane, but can't get back over right away--and certainly not fast enough for the guy who is coming up behind me at 80 mph. When he's riding my tail for 1/2 mile until I can get back over to the right, how is that deemed safe? Better yet, polite? Egad, we have some rude drivers in this state. (I suspect they're all from parts north. *kidding* )

[Trainwreck20]

I know that it used to be legal to drive in either lane at any time, not just while passing. Most of the signs say 'slower traffic keep right', not 'keep right except for passing'. I don't know if that has changed or not. I know that it is true for the big rigs, but I don't think it currently applies to cars.

There was an article in the news the other day about how Americans appear to be bad at understanding other people's points of view, at least compared to some other countries. I think this is the perfect example:
You are driving on MoPac (3 lanes each way) during a pretty typical day, meaning most lanes are pretty much 'filled' but traffic is moving. The right lane is ~50-55 mph, with people exiting/entering. Center land is in the 55-60 mph range. You wish to drive 65 mps (the speed limit) so you get in the left lane and toddle along quite happily. Car comes up behind you at 70 mph. What do you do? You are both 'faster' traffic than the traffic to your left (and 'passing') but slower than the traffic behind you. If you pull over one lane to the right, you have to slow down 5 mph (and maybe get stuck over there for some period of time). If you don't pull over, the car behind you has to slow down 5 mph for some period of time (however long you are in the lane). Also, with 'filled' lanes again, the faster car is often just getting past you to hurry up the road a few yards and get behind another car (which they will think needs to get over for them as well).

This is often the general problem - you can change speed, etc, and it does happen, though rarely, that someone is driving slower in the left lane than the middle lane. More often it is a simple 'disagreement' over what is the appropriate minimum speed in that left lane. Since there is none, then it is my opinion that the driver wishing to go 70 is out of luck. He/she has not right to assume that their desired speed has priority over the slower drivers preferred speed if they are meeting the 'slower speed' criteria.

On the other hand, if there is ample room to pull over temporarily to the right to allow a faster car by and then get back in the left lane, a driver should. Fortunately, it is not illegal to pass on the right, so you are free to go around on the right side if they don't pull over (since there was ample room). The problem is there is not anything near the 'ample' room that there used to be.

[twange]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

On the other hand, if there is ample room to pull over temporarily to the right to allow a faster car by and then get back in the left lane, a driver should.

Agreed. Unfortunately, this is like saying: When people go to the bathroom, they should WASH THEIR HANDS! It's reasonable, considerate and safer but people still don't do it

IMHO, driving brings out the worst in people. I know people who are friendly and considerate, who turn into impatient bullies on the road.

[Trainwreck20]

I know people who are friendly and considerate, who turn into impatient bullies on the road.

My wife . She learned to drive in Chicago, then perfect the technique in Atlanta. You would not recognize my wife when she drives (although no one would recognize her anyway ).

[twange]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

My wife . She learned to drive in Chicago, then perfect the technique in Atlanta. You would not recognize my wife when she drives (although no one would recognize her anyway ).

My wife as well. It's sort of scary, the transformation
Makes me sleep with one eye open

[Driftwood1]

Again, and I will try to let this be my last word on this one.., go out and take the Defensive Driving Course... it will quickly clarify that one should move over as fast as safely possible, regardless of the speed you are travelling..or the vehicle approaching from behind.

On to lighter stuff now.. I am going nack to the bug stuff!

[TheHarvester]

Originally Posted by manbehindthecurtain

My father is having withdraws. He and my mother recently moved to Waco after living in Sparks, NV. They have only been here for 7 months and they are already taking frequent trips back to the mountainous regions.

Before people move out here they really need to think about this.

Before people move here they need to learn about Waco.

I hope not to offend anyone with my comments, but Waco is a horrible place and most people would be miserable there. The crime rate is vastly higher than it is for comparably sized cities, it lacks a coherent sense of place or a decent downtown (considering its size), it has even worse weather than Austin, and every young person I know from there has a drug problem and knows people who have been involved in drug-related crimes and murders.

But aside from all that, moving from Waco to Austin doesn't solve the problem you're talking about, which is that there are no mountains, no coast, nothing much to travel to around here other than "miles and miles of Texas..."

[Texanwannabe]

Originally Posted by twange

My wife as well. It's sort of scary, the transformation
Makes me sleep with one eye open

You are too funny!
Driftwood is correct. Here in PA you can actually be ticketed by the police for driving in the left lane for an extended period of time. It is a rule designed for the very reasons that Driftwood states...ie: safety, emergencies, etc... The left lane is designed for passing other vehicles.

[Schmoo]

IL recently passed a law too: if you don't move to the right for someone behind you, you will be ticketed. Doesn't matter how fast either of you are going, the IL State Police said they did not want people acting like police, forcibly slowing traffic and causing accidents.