On the freeway while riding with Cindy the brake lights on the car in front of us lit up, Cindy yells, What is she doing?, so being the helpful person that I am, I explained that the car in front of us was applying their brakes. I can see that she is hitting her brakes, but why? She asked.
So to further explain the situation I told her it was because the car in front of her is driving slower than she is, Cindy shakes her head and says, Well that's dumb she could have changed lanes and went around, she didn't have to hit the brakes.
I then had to point out that this statement is coming from a woman who will nearly lock down her brakes when she sees the brake lights of another car two miles away. I don't do that! She said. Oh yes you do, you can see a brake light that is almost out of sight and nearly throw me through the windshield.
Cindy then began explaining it to me. I scan the road ahead, she said. You have to pay attention to your surroundings, especially when driving on the freeway, if I see somebody up ahead hit their brakes then I have to get prepared because it's like an accordion effect, every car behind that car will hit their brakes one at a time until it gets back to me, so I have to be ready. Then she took a breath and continued explaining, pointing, and motioning towards me and the traffic around us, I just know all the other drivers thought that I was really getting the law laid down to me.
She told me, If I am not paying attention then I could hit the car in front of me, and what if there is a wreck up ahead and nobody is paying attention then one by one we all will run into the car in front adding to that wreck, it's simple Jimmy you have to watch what is going on in front of you as much as behind.
I just looked at her a minute then said, Man that was a lot of words to make a simple statement, she laughed and added, that's why I pay attention to what's going on in front of me.
I asked her if paying attention to what's going on in front means you can see a wreck all the way into the next county, and it will then immediately accordion back to us? She stared at me with no expression on her face and said, You know that your a doofus...Right? I guess that was her way of saying that the conversation was over.
Just then a truck slowed in front of us...
What is he doing? Cindy yelled as she hit the turn signal, looked over her shoulder and pushed the accelerator to the floor.
I held on tight and looked out of the side mirror, I saw a line of turn signals come on as all the cars behind us began passing that same truck...yes I know, kind of like the accordion effect.
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| That's the brakes, she is slowing down. |
So to further explain the situation I told her it was because the car in front of her is driving slower than she is, Cindy shakes her head and says, Well that's dumb she could have changed lanes and went around, she didn't have to hit the brakes.
I then had to point out that this statement is coming from a woman who will nearly lock down her brakes when she sees the brake lights of another car two miles away. I don't do that! She said. Oh yes you do, you can see a brake light that is almost out of sight and nearly throw me through the windshield.
Cindy then began explaining it to me. I scan the road ahead, she said. You have to pay attention to your surroundings, especially when driving on the freeway, if I see somebody up ahead hit their brakes then I have to get prepared because it's like an accordion effect, every car behind that car will hit their brakes one at a time until it gets back to me, so I have to be ready. Then she took a breath and continued explaining, pointing, and motioning towards me and the traffic around us, I just know all the other drivers thought that I was really getting the law laid down to me.
She told me, If I am not paying attention then I could hit the car in front of me, and what if there is a wreck up ahead and nobody is paying attention then one by one we all will run into the car in front adding to that wreck, it's simple Jimmy you have to watch what is going on in front of you as much as behind.
I just looked at her a minute then said, Man that was a lot of words to make a simple statement, she laughed and added, that's why I pay attention to what's going on in front of me.
I asked her if paying attention to what's going on in front means you can see a wreck all the way into the next county, and it will then immediately accordion back to us? She stared at me with no expression on her face and said, You know that your a doofus...Right? I guess that was her way of saying that the conversation was over.
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| Hold on folks, we are passing him. |
Just then a truck slowed in front of us...
What is he doing? Cindy yelled as she hit the turn signal, looked over her shoulder and pushed the accelerator to the floor.
I held on tight and looked out of the side mirror, I saw a line of turn signals come on as all the cars behind us began passing that same truck...yes I know, kind of like the accordion effect.
I hate driving on the interstate, people can't drive
ReplyDeleteHey Adam, It's pretty bad out here and last time I was back home I noticed that 85 has gotten really crazy.
DeleteI have learned, but sometimes I forget, not to give driving tips while riding shotgun because my wife will pull over the first place she can and give me the wheel!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right Sage, it's best to not give any advice at all but sometimes we do slip up.
DeleteI almost always ride shotgun and I only say something if I think she does not see something, which sometimes happens, but usually I get an "I saw it!"
ReplyDeleteHi Joe, I always did all the driving but since I retired I pretty much grab shotgun no matter where we go. I like throwing in random things which are funny some times but not so much most times, when I get that expressionless look I just agree with her...
DeleteI often apply the passenger brake. But very quietly so the driver doesn't see it.
ReplyDeleteOh yes EC, the passenger brake, I carry mine everywhere we go ha ha.
DeleteI used to passenger seat drive all the time....now I'M the driver and he passenger seat drives. It's really annoying. Karma.
ReplyDeleteKarma is a good way to describe it Delores, because our roles have reversed also when it comes to driving.
DeleteI hate expressway traffic. A few days ago I had to go five miles an hour for miles, three lanes across. I hate changing lanes in conditions like that---I think it's dangerous---and won't do it until I have to to make my turn.
ReplyDeleteHi Jean, I absolutely hate that type of traffic where you are at a standstill and have no options but to follow, in those situations you are absolutely right, you are gaining nothing by changing lanes and usually if you do the lane that was moving stops.
DeleteI watch ahead as well but I don't hit my brakes until I have to because I don't want to get rear ended doing 80mph. I take my foot off the gas if I see something coming until I know I need to use the brake.
ReplyDeletePersonally, people who tap their brakes constantly annoy me, especially on a highway/freeway type of road. If you have to keep tapping your brakes, get off the persons ass in front of you and you won't have that problem. So in that aspect of yelling at the guy that keeps hitting his brakes, I agree with your wife.
Hello Jeff, I have to agree with you, if you continually have to tap your brakes then you are definitely following too close, I give her a hard time for yelling at other drivers but secretly can see where she is coming from.
DeleteI sure don't like to drive on the highway any more, but I want to control my driver! Does that make sense? Sometimes, I have to close my eyes and hold my breath. That doesn't go over well if I'm behind the wheel.
ReplyDeleteHick only has vision in one eye, so he relies on the mirrors. That part is fine, but knowing that he has no depth perception makes me especially anxious when he delays applying the brakes. Cindy is RIGHT! You have to look ahead.
Hey Val, wanting to be in control of your driver does make sense, it's a lot more frightening when sitting on the passenger side because you are not in control.
DeleteThe lack of depth perception after losing sight in one eye is common, my brother lost one of his eyes and even though he scared the heck out of everyone he did seem to do well driving.
Cindy is sitting here smiling after seeing those three words she loves to hear "Cindy is RIGHT!"
Freeway traffic is the worst! It always makes me nervous.
ReplyDeleteHello Jen, There have been some crazy things happen on the freeways, all the more reason to take the back roads.
DeleteI don't drive much these days; hubby has a terrible 1 hour commute to work. He's very aggressive with his driving. I'm timid and very meek with my driving. He scares the **** out of me most days when we are driving together. He gets closer to vehicles than I would; he doesn't break when I would break, etc. By the grace of God no accidents since he began this tremendous commute until last week when it was a "mere" fender bender; rear ended at a slow speed behind him. Figured the lady was texting. He probably was right.
ReplyDeleteI'm thankful these days you can do so much online without leaving your house. Have groceries delivered to you; stream a church service, etc. I could see myself a hermit should he pass before me.
betty
Hello Betty, I never had a daily commute to work like that, five to ten minutes at most, Cindy's Dad commuted like that and his driving style was much like your husbands, they all laugh at me taking my time and not getting in a hurry.
DeleteYour husband has been lucky not getting into any accidents more than the fender bender, with the number of people on our highways and also the number who can't put down their phones I say anyone who makes it from point A to point B without an issue is lucky.
Using Cindy's own logic, why did she not immediately assume the woman in front of her was applying her brakes as part of an accordion effect ahead of her? Her speedy sudden lane changing is something not all people are comfortable with. I think Cindy drives like my first husband.
ReplyDeleteHello River, To be completely honest and Cindy will agree, she never drove like this until we moved to California and she started using the freeways regularly, she was always scared of driving in traffic like this before, but now she actually does really well, yes she talks to the other drivers and she does drive faster than me, but doesn't always recognize the accordion effect.
DeleteBetter to be safe than sorry it would seem. I can't imagine driving on the freeway and being stressed and on edge. Greetings to you and yours.
ReplyDeleteYes sir, that is a true statement, and being stressed is not good at anytime especially while driving.
DeleteGood to see you my friend.
Lol, my husband gets so mad when someone brakes in front of him "for no reason."
ReplyDeleteThe rest of us call that "defensive driving"!
Hello Bijoux, Yes defensive driving sounds like a good name for applying your brakes ha ha. What I think is funny is that there is always a reason for braking even if the car behind doesn't see it.
DeleteDH swears he could drive just watching me and my reactions.
ReplyDeleteHey Sharon, Cindy was a lot more animated when I was driving all the time,like DH I knew what was around me just watching her.
DeleteI never thought of you as a doofus, although Ive been called one on more than one occasion.
ReplyDeleteThank you Stephen, I never thought so either, but a lot of out conversations end with her confirming that I am...I don't see you as one either but our wives seem to be thinking alike.
DeleteWe travel on two freeways to get to and from our boat. Rarely do we ever make it without the accordion effect. Then there is the gridlock that can go on for miles and miles. Such a delight.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous day. ☺
Hello Sandee, Gridlock, Oh wow yes I hate it when the accordion effect turns into gridlock, from the sounds of it you have seen this more than once.
DeleteThank you. You make me realize how lucky I am to live in an area with only two lane roads and where the road manners are the best I have ever seen. Don't miss S. Florida craziness on the roads in the least.
ReplyDeleteHey Patti, I miss living in that exact situation you just described, if we ever leave here it will be for a two lane road way off the highway.
DeleteIs the accordion effect the same as the domino effect?
ReplyDeleteHi Fran, It is exactly the same thing, the domino effect and accordion effect are twins.
DeleteThis made me smile. We were in heavy traffic today and the breaks were going on all over the place. Gregg had to speed up at one point, just when I thought it was safe to pour my water into a paper cup. I always take along a flask as I am always thirsty when we are out driving around. He hit a bump and need I say more? lol!
ReplyDeleteHello Denise, Pouring the water into a paper cup, I can definitely picture what happened next lol, those bumps sure time out wrong sometimes.
DeleteThis is why I prefer travel by bicycle
ReplyDeleteHey Abby, I think you are very wise beating traffic the way you do on your bicycle.
DeleteMy wife gets angry with tailgaters and so she pushes the rear view mirror up until she can't see the car following us.
ReplyDeleteHello John, That is actually a smart thing to do, your wife is removing the frustration from her view, most of us wouldn't think of this.
DeleteInterstate 26 here in South Carolina is really bad with that accordion effect. The long segment from Charleston to Columbia gets so tied up at times that it can increase the travel time close to two more than usual. In fact the one time I talked my wife into joining the kids and me on one of our Saturday escapes to the coast it took around four and half hours to get back home.
ReplyDeleteThe powers that be really need to widen 26 to three lanes on each side to allow for the increased traffic. Then again, someone reminded me that when I-26 was designed the engineers had no idea the population of coastal South Carolina would explode like it did.
Same here with the delays, it's not really the distance it's the number of cars in one place grinding everything to all but a stop.
DeleteLike you said adding an additional lane to each side of 26 would definitely help with the congestion, the number of people living there and if you add in the number of visitors that travel this Interstate would justify the need. But this is up to the powers that be.
That accordion effect is what causes our traffic jams. Everyone is trying to get past the slowpoke, and eventually the whole highway is locked up.
ReplyDeleteYes Mam that is exactly what happens, it's always funny when you get into a stretch of highway where traffic really slows down, you are expecting to see an accident or something, but all of a sudden the traffic begins flowing again with no apparent reason for the slow down.
DeleteOMG - this story is so funny Jimmy, and reminds of what most of us experience when we ride with friends of significant others on the highway. Hugs and Happy Tuesday! Hugs...RO
ReplyDeleteHello RO, I always wonder how many people around you in a heavy traffic situation are having the exact same conversation? The person behind us was probably yelling "What is she doing?" Lol
DeleteAnd a great day to you also.
The way Cindy explained the breaklight actions is exactly what I always said to my daughter while she was learning to drive. It was a waste of breath.
ReplyDeleteThe hot dog photo fits perfect to the story. It speaks for itself. Hahaha.
Lisa
Hey Lisa, I think now that you said it that she most likely gave the same speech to our kids too haha.
DeleteThat poor old hot dog had a lot of miles on him, I could probably do a post on that alone...
That was hilarious Jimmy! Funny from start to finish. It sounds like my wife, and I. Well, it used to sound like us. We've been together for a long time now, and I've learned a thing or two over the years. One of them is that "double standards" do apply. More specifically, she feels free to express her opinions, relating to how I'm driving. On the flip side, if she is driving, I am not allowed to reciprocate. Yes, it isn't fair, but like I said, I've learned a thing or two. One more... My wife doesn't snore at all. That is her story and she is sticking to it.
ReplyDeleteHey Pat, I agree that "double standards" do apply here, it is really funny how that works. And another true statement on how the wives do not snore...ahh yes we will just leave it at that.
DeleteI'm glad I have a short commute to work...
ReplyDeleteI'm with another commenter - unnecessary braking causes traffic jams. I've been in a few where I expected an accident causing it, only to find that a cop car was parked on the side of the highway. Do they not realize they are most likely CAUSING an accident then, just by people slowing down for them?
Isn't it funny how many people slow down when they see a cop on the side of the road, and how many times do we hit our brakes when we see one approaching us coming down the road? I agree the unnecessary braking is a big problem.
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