Rick Carlson wrote:
For that matter explain why some drivers think that increasing their
speed during a rain storm or thick fog makes it safer than slowing
down to a safer speed during those conditions.
I'd like to know why nobody seems to notice the involvement of
tailgaters in accidents. I'd wager that the majority of accidents are
directly caused by tailgaters (not speeders), *especially* on wet
roads. People tailgate just as closely on wet roads as on dry. I look
around me on *dry* roads and am apalled at the stupidity of tailgaters,
most of them doing it mindlessly, either to prevent others from moving
in front of them, or looking for some tiny opening in front of someone
else just barely big enough to squeeze into, but usually just mindlessly
thinking about other things while in a hurry to get where they're
going. I have no remorse moving between a tailgater and his tailgatee
if I don't see much other option. And each time I do, I wish I had a
sign on the back which says:
Tailgater!
Go look for
your accident
somewhere else!!!"
Speed becomes an issue if the speed causes you to lose traction (like in
hydroplaning, or on curves, including the curves of weaving in and out
of traffic). But make no mistake, slowing down benefits next to naught
if you continue to tailgate.
Hydroplaning is a different issue. The gut instinct when hitting
standing water is the wrong one. Instead of letting off the gas (and
even worse, hitting the brake), the best thing to do when hydroplaning
is to hit the gas. Counterintuitive, but correct. If losing control
and spinning out is your goal when hydroplaning, then go ahead and hit
the brake (or even just let off the gas).
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