Driving in Traffic - the ZEN approach

[jimmillion]

http://zenmoments.org/zen-traffic-warrior/

Was thinking of making a video of this myself, but then came across this video that explains the creeping technique perfectly.

Who else here uses this for getting thru rush hour traffic?

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by jimmillion

http://zenmoments.org/zen-traffic-warrior/

Was thinking of making a video of this myself, but then came across this video that explains the creeping technique perfectly.

Who else here uses this for getting thru rush hour traffic?

That is exactly how I drive in dense, stop and go traffic. It was one of the very first things I ever learned as an Army truck driver and it worked so well I have stuck with it.
Now, if there is a good flow and open passing lanes that is a whole different scenario.

[Teseo]

I also drive like this to prevent using the clutch and prolong drivetrain life

[Impureclient]

I totally understand what he's doing here but imagine being the person behind him watching all the traffic merge in front of him. What would 99% of us do behind behind this guy?
What he's doing also causes accidents because he isn't driving with traffic. He is putting himself in control of the traffic which is kind of a penis move. Living in Florida and the elderly population causing
hard breaking from their slow driving happens all the time. This guy's doing on purpose to make a point but some people are just scared of driving and shouldn't be in heavy traffic.
I should add 99% of my driving is not in that kind of traffic so I can't really relate too much but when I'm in that kind of traffic, I just follow everybody else like a normal driver and I get to where I need to go.
Pick out any car that is passing him on the right side(he's in left passing lane driving slow like a doofus). All those cars passing him are miles down the road at the rate he is going on a 30 minute drive.
He may be in a zen state but he isn't getting there only 10 seconds more than driving normal like he says.

[Cole]

Yep. I do this all the time. But, never in the left lane. Only in the right lane, sometimes in the middle lane.

Another thing I've started doing is when there's moderate traffic, but it's keeping a good pace is only going the speed limit. I lose about 2 minutes on my commute to the office, but the trade off of having everyone passing me, and never getting frustrated about "that fucking asshole in the left lane, being a lane hog and not getting over", is well worth it.

I've noticed a lot of different things in my 120ish thousand kilometres driven in every province from BC to Quebec. After driving out west and in northern Ontario, I've come to hate people in southern Ontario, especially drivers within 200km of Toronto. That's where all the real asshole drivers reside. I recall doing a drive from Edmonton to Markham, and not cursing a single driver until I hit Barrie.

I cannot wait to take this winter off and not have to deal with commuting to the GTA in any type of weather that isn't sunny.

[Cole]

Originally Posted by Impureclient

I totally understand what he's doing here but imagine being the person behind him watching all the traffic merge in front of him. What would 99% of us do behind behind this guy?
What he's doing also causes accidents because he isn't driving with traffic. He is putting himself in control of the traffic which is kind of a penis move. Living in Florida and the elderly population causing
hard breaking from their slow driving happens all the time. This guy's doing on purpose to make a point but some people are just scared of driving and shouldn't be in heavy traffic.
I should add 99% of my driving is not in that kind of traffic so I can't really relate too much but when I'm in that kind of traffic, I just follow everybody else like a normal driver and I get to where I need to go.
Pick out any car that is passing him on the right side(he's in left passing lane driving slow like a doofus). All those cars passing him are miles down the road at the rate he is going on a 30 minute drive.
He may be in a zen state but he isn't getting there only 10 seconds more than driving normal like he says.

The point you make about scared drivers is way too true. A lot of people do not belong on the highway in heavy traffic.

[Impureclient]

Originally Posted by Cole

Another thing I've started doing is when there's moderate traffic, but it's keeping a good pace is only going the speed limit. I lose about 2 minutes on my commute to the office, but the trade off of having everyone passing me, and never getting frustrated about "that fucking asshole in the left lane, being a lane hog and not getting over", is well worth it.

Yep. If there's heavy traffic I just follow it and don't try to direct whatever is going on around me like this zen technique suggests.
If you got the space to get ahead then do it other wise just move along and be one of the sheep. This guy is telling everybody he is just a considerate
sheep but he's actually an Australian Shepherd directing his self claimed flock of sheep behind him.

[Cole]

Originally Posted by Impureclient

Yep. If there's heavy traffic I just follow it and don't try to direct whatever is going on around me like this zen technique suggests.
If you got the space to get ahead then do it other wise just move along and be one of the sheep. This guy is telling everybody he is just a considerate
sheep but he's actually an Australian Shepherd directing his self claimed flock of sheep behind him.

I'll somewhat agree to it, my big problem with the video was that he was in the fast lane doing it way too much. At least when I do it in the right lane, I'm just hanging out with tractor trailers who are doing the same as me.

I also always let one person merge in front of me, maybe more depending on if they raced up the merge lane to try and get a few cars ahead or not.

[Impureclient]

This is an interesting topic and if you look at the "Solomon Curve" as it kind of flies in the face of what this guy says. http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/8...solomon-curve/
I'll take getting to my destination safer over getting there in a zen state.

Originally Posted by Cole

I'll somewhat agree to it, my big problem with the video was that he was in the fast lane doing it way too much. At least when I do it in the right lane, I'm just hanging out with tractor trailers who are doing the same as me.

I also always let one person merge in front of me, maybe more depending on if they raced up the merge lane to try and get a few cars ahead or not.

Yeah I was meaning to that too. Right lane is for driving slow and leaving the highway. Middle lane is normal driving and left lane is the fast and passing lane. Agree on the one person merge rule or zippering traffic.

[Cole]

Originally Posted by Impureclient

This is an interesting topic and if you look at the "Solomon Curve" as it kind of flies in the face of what this guy says. http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/8...solomon-curve/
I'll take getting to my destination safer over getting there in a zen state.



Yeah I was meaning to that too. Right lane is for driving slow and leaving the highway. Middle lane is normal driving and left lane is the fast and passing lane. Agree on the one person merge rule or zippering traffic.

All I had to do was look at the curve. I cannot disagree with that at all. That's why when I've been letting my girlfriend (who still has her learners permit) drive the car every now and then, I hound "either maintain a constant speed or match traffic, don't speed up and slow down". At least if you're consistent, people behind you aren't having to guess what the heck you're gunna be doing next.

[aegisdrgn]

this only works if you drive around people who stick to their lanes. Where I drive, if there's a half-car length of space in front of you, and your lane is moving ahead of the next lane, someone is going to squeeze in front of you, necessitating braking and clutching in to avoid stalling because you were trying to creep along at 4mph.

Oh yeah, did I mention that no turn signals will be used by the asshole?

[humfrz]

Military convoys use this approach as do many semi truck drivers.

humfrz

[gramicci101]

Around here people use the zen approach to driving in that they meditate on their inner self instead of paying attention to the cars around them. I've been run out of my lane at least five times by fuckwits who just don't look.

[Ultramaroon]

I pull in front of those douchebags and brake check the fuck outta that shit.