THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, September 12, 1995 TAG: 9509120009
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines
During the summer I made a number of trips to Newport News via I-64 from Chesapeake. After several near accidents, I think I am beginning to understand the unwritten Hampton Roads driving rules.
Rule 1 - There are a number of signs showing a 55-mph speed limit. Ignore them! They appear to have been placed there for decorative purposes only, and anyone foolish enough to drive 55 mph in these posted 55-mph zones is a candidate for death-by-car syndrome.
Rule 2 - Never, never drive less than 60 mph on I-64. Even 60 mph is dangerous, however, for the majority of the drivers seem to maintain at least a 65-mph speed.
Rule 3 - If you come up behind a slow car ahead of you and want to slip in ahead of another car in a parallel lane, never under any circumstances use your turn signals. This simply angers the driver you are attempting to pass, who is trained to stomp down on his accelerator to block your path.
Rule 4 - Drive as close as possible to the car ahead of you. This way you can follow the accepted race-track procedure of picking up his draft, from which you can slingshot around and cut ahead of him before he realizes you are such an accomplished driver.
Rule 5 - Always use the middle finger of the left hand for signaling. This lets everyone know that you have passed the final test - cordiality - for driving on Hampton Roads interstates.
DAVID STICK
Kitty Hawk, N.C., Sept. 7, 1995
Dorothy Muehlbauer (``Lane-changers yield,'' letter, Aug. 23) has asked for a clarification of the basic rules of the road regarding lane-changing in this area.
I no longer signal my intentions when changing lanes in high-speed traffic due in large part to the ``you ain't gonna get in front of me'' mode of driving that many of my fellow drivers employ.
After making the determination that I may make a lane change safely (after assessing several factors: flow of traffic, spaces between cars, etc.), I don't need someone deciding to make it interesting for me by speeding up and forcing me into a last-instant decision when he/she has seen my signal to change lanes.
Signaling a lane change should make maneuvering on the highway safer; it does exactly the opposite.
I see it every day.
Ms. Muehlbauer asks if the rules for driving differ in different parts of the United States. Yes.
BILL RICHARDSON
Virginia Beach, Sept. 7, 1995 by CNB