"race" at stop light

[nvabill]

Here an interesting story. I was at a stop light that has two lanes that can go through. But the right lane ends just past the light, so people like to get in the right lane to go "fast" past the slower traffic in the left and merge in ahead.

i wasn't in a hurry, so I was 3rd in line behind two other cars in the left lane. the light goes green, and an SUV speeds past on the right. No problem, he has plenty of time, and gets over. Then another one wizes by. He's cutting it a little close, but manages to squeeze in past the first car before the right lane ends.

Then this small Honda tries to do the same, and at this point I can see they aren't going to make it. They are making an unsafe pass on the right, the right lane is going to end, and they would end up forcing me to make a hard brake or swerve to avoid them.

So I drop the electric hammer, and speed up and close the gap between myself and the car in front of me.

they were PISSED. I mean like follow me for miles honking the horn pissed. It got to a point where I was actually thinking they were going to follow me to my destination, but I took a "quick" right turn (thank you for amazing handling ford), and they didn't try to follow the turn. I might or might not have used my turn signal.

Maybe this doesn't really count as racing or track, but I think it is a good illustration of what an electric car can do when around other unsafe drivers.

I'm glad I have one.

So, let me get this straight, there is not enough room in front of you for a small Honda to fit which means less than a car length so you floor it and close the gap? Dude, I could have done that in a 1972 Pinto with only a 4 cylinder engine! If you want to brag about power of an EV come up with a better story than that! ?

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[Mach T]

Those merge lanes are there for a reason - to let the most amount of cars get through the intersection. I believe in the zipper method of merging and I always allow cars to come in front of me if they're reasonable about merging. If everyone just took their time and went to the very end of the merge Lane to merge slowly and smoothly, these lanes would function much better and traffic would move much more smoothly. People that block have no right to do so, i.m.h.o., and I think it makes traffic behind even worse. I've always assumed that "blockers" are the same people that go the speed limit in the left hand lane and are convinced they have every right to do so.

 

[ChasingCoral]

I utilize the instant torque ot my GTPE nearly weekly to get away from problem drivers.

I just did the same thing with an idiot in a red Challenger. I was in my Lightning. I don't think he had any concept what a Lightning can do.

 

[HuntingPudel]

In CA the “zipper method” is illegal. If someone is in a merge lane they are supposed to safely merge into the continuing lane. Those who already have established position in the ongoing lane have right of way. ?‍?

 

[hartmms]

 

[MachEMaster]

If I am in "Pole Position" at the light in the left lane, and the car on the right is looking to edge in front, I absolutely drop the hammer to get in front. Once it becomes more of a multiple vehicle traffic merging situation, I like to preserve my paint, and let the yahoos in front where I can keep an eye on them.

 

[EagleDave]

In CA the “zipper method” is illegal. If someone is in a merge lane they are supposed to safely merge into the continuing lane. Those who already have established position in the ongoing lane have right of way. ?‍?

I was told once long ago by an ex-CHP officer that when two lanes merge it is an "uncontrolled intersection" and that the car on the right has the right of way. I'm not sure I believe him - seems a stretch to call it an intersection.

Certainly in bumper to bumper traffic the only sane way to deal with this is for every other car to merge - the "zipper method".

Can you cite the vehicle code which says the zipper method is illegal?

Here's one article I found from a search:
https://personalinjurylawcal.com/bl...-when-merging-onto-the-freeway-in-california/

 

[the golden eel]

Yeah, that's odd the zipper method would be illegal in one state, while there is signage in Minnesota promoting it.

 

[Blue highway]

Those merge lanes are there for a reason - to let the most amount of cars get through the intersection. I believe in the zipper method of merging and I always allow cars to come in front of me if they're reasonable about merging. If everyone just took their time and went to the very end of the merge Lane to merge slowly and smoothly, these lanes would function much better and traffic would move much more smoothly. People that block have no right to do so, i.m.h.o., and I think it makes traffic behind even worse. I've always assumed that "blockers" are the same people that go the speed limit in the left hand lane and are convinced they have every right to do so.

Then you would be completely mistaken.

 

[music_cities]

I was thinking about this old post. With my old ICE cars when I'm in the right lane at a light and it ends ahead I'll hit the gas hard. If the person beside me in the left lane doesn't accelerate hard I go in front of them, no problem. But, if the person beside me also accelerates hard, it means that a big gap will open behind them, and I can easily (and happily, with no swearing!) ease on the brakes and slide in behind them. There's one light in particular on my old commute to work where this would happen at least once per week. It never was a problem, never led to conflict, I was always able to merge in, either in front of a car that didn't accelerate hard, or slip in easily behind a car that chose to accelerate hard.

To the OP: perhaps in this case the other person was annoyed at your indecision, your late decision to accelerate, combined with your surprising rate of acceleration that they weren't prepared for. If you'd accelerated fast from the pole position they would have been able to safely and easily slide in behind you without being surprised and with no drama.

 

[AtomicInternet]

Invest in a dashcam. Mine records front and back. I wish we could just plug in a USB thumb drive like Tesla and record from all the existing cameras the car has.

 

[azerik]

This happens to me 3 times a day. Except when the lanes on the right end, THEY ARE CURBS! Oh boy is it more than fun to watch as people do 60+ into a side walk. If there is a lucky customer trying to turn out of those neighborhoods the opposing force (the I'm faster than you Altimas) usually get the idea that the street ends in 3 car lengths. But if there's not a car there, let the General Lee horn sound and prepare for debris.

 

[silverelan]

I got to put an unbadged Model 3 into its place last week. We were both at the front waiting for the light to turn green for the freeway onramp and I could see he had his phone out recording his center screen. He hit it hard off the line but I was ready and easily beat him to the lane merge. I don’t think he was happy about that.

I got up to 60mph and got onto the freeway with no drama. The Tesla crossed over all the lanes and kept accelerating in the far left lane.

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