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A blog about News and Politics.
Gender: male Member Since: March 14, 2006 Last Signed In: November 21, 2009 Profile Views: 8715 Blog Views: 39784 About the Boy: Week 10 Laughter: The best medicine And now, introducing my "Little".. About the Boy: Week 8 A little of the "Poet" side of Motopoet Slow down..It's REALLY easy! My Pie! She scores! About the Boy: Week 7 About the Boy: Addendum About the Boy: Week 6 June 06 July 06 August 06 September 06 October 06 November 06 December 06 January 07 February 07 March 07 April 07 May 07 June 07 July 07 August 07 September 07 October 07 November 07 December 07 January 08 February 08 March 08 April 08 May 08 June 08 July 08 August 08 September 08 October 08 November 08 December 08 January 09 February 09 March 09 April 09 May 09 June 09 July 09 August 09 September 09 October 09 November 09 
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Slow down..It's REALLY easy!
I just read the article on the four people, one of whom was an infant, that were killed in an accident on highway 46 over the weekend. One car passing big rigs hit another head on. Four dead in an instant, who knows how many lives changed forever. Why? Because someone was in a hurry, that's why. The speed limit on 46 is 55mph. Not 60, not 65..55. B ut how many times over the years have I seen people taking huge risks to get around a gaggle of trucks or cars doing the speed limit? More than I can remember to be sure. I used to be one of those drivers. A few years ago I was pulled over out on 58 near Commanche Dr for doing 86 in a 65. They let me go with a warning. After that, I decided to just chill when I am driving. I set my cruise control at the speed limit (maybe five over on 99) and just relax. I never have to worry about getting a speeding ticket, I don't have to spend 90% of my time looking in my mirror for the CHP (who you aren't going to see anyway until it's too late), and I am STILL going to get where I am going. Listen people. Your destination isn't going anywhere. Vegas, Fresno, Bakersfield, Pismo, wherever you are going will be there when you get there. Even if you save an hour on your trip to vegas, what will you have gained? Trying to keep up a 70 mph average on the way to the coast from here will save you about..um..ten of fifteen minutes on the 120 mile trek because there is no way you can keep that average up. You are going to end up doing the 55 here, 70 there so much that you will never really make any time on that trip, and you just may save some lives, at the most, or your driving rercord at least. When I made the decision to just chill, the benefits were immediately noticable. I am much more relaxed. I don't care if I get somewhere early or late, I just know I will get there. I don't have to be so tense, I don't have to dart over the line and back on 46, 166, 119 or any other two laner, I can just chill. If someone wants to pass me, that is their problem. I'll scoot to the right to give them room, I'll even pull into a turnout if I think it will help. I'm just not in a hurry anymore. I may be hit by some dope driving like he is more important than anyone on the road, but I am never going to injure or kill anyone with my driving. My advice is to chill. Relax. Slow down. It's REALLY easy.
8 comments from 6 users
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posted by
motopoet
on Oct 26, 2009 at 09:59 AM
I wanted to add that I am sick of hearing how dangerous 46 is. It is NOT dangerous. The road is fine. It is well maintained and clearly marked everywhere. It is the drivers who pose the danger, not the road. posted by
pogo
on Oct 26, 2009 at 10:08 AM
I could not agree more, Moto. People give 46 a name, like it is the road's fault that they are stupid. posted by
lanabuford
on Oct 26, 2009 at 10:11 AM
I agree with your post 110%. I had to drive 166 to lompoc every weekend, the number of 'in a hurry IDIOTS on that road made my stomach turn! I drove 55 and people would pass me like I was sitting still. I don't pass other cars and i wont allow my fiance to pass other cars while I'm a passenger! I'm just not in any hurry to die. posted by
pogo
on Oct 26, 2009 at 10:19 AM
I drove back and forth to Elk Hils everyday for 7 years. Try Taft Highway in the fog and watch the welding trucks pass! posted by
lanabuford
on Oct 26, 2009 at 10:34 AM
Pogo, Done that....they are idiots too! I drove to Lompoc during a dust storm that closed 166 for 2 days....Again I was passed like I was sitting still. posted by
learnem
on Oct 26, 2009 at 10:44 AM
i used to be one of those idiots that sped on the way over to the coast...until about 6 years ago, when we decided to buy a toy hauler. Now i see it every trip first hand. i set my cruise on 55 and kick it. I pull off the road about 5-8 times a trip to let those more eager than me a chance to pass....and what do i usually get? THE FINGER :?( i cant remember how many close calls i have seen since i started doing this.
One time, i came upon a guy in a truck that was going 35 mph on 166 west of cuyama. I decided to pass him. Me and my 18,000 lb set up kick it up to 60 to pass, and i get even with his cab, and I see the guy. what does he do? HE SPEEDS UP!!! Not fast enough though to get in front of me. He makes ME slow down and get back in line to let oncoming traffic pass...then he SLOWS DOWN again to 35-40 mph. I just pulled over, and grabbed some water and some chips out of the trailer and chilled for about 10 minutes and got back on the road...never saw him again posted by
hpver
on Oct 27, 2009 at 12:12 PM
Great post, and I absolutely agree. We don't push it on 46 or other roads, either. There's no advantage. Let the crazies go on by if they really want. We see people regularly doing 80 or more on the 46. It's not the road that kills (it's mostly flat, usually straight and most often dry -- what more do people want?), it's the stupidity and selfish impatience. There are a few crazies in town, too. On a recent trip to Costco, my wife and I were given the finger. Apparently even through we were going the same speed as other traffic (including the people in front of us), this wasn't fast enough for the Rosedale mom in her giant SUV behind us. Lovely. posted by
CassandraMcGowan
on Nov 2, 2009 at 10:54 AM
you know driving too slow is a hinderance as well... i was on coffee one time and some dailian and his ghetto van full of 15 children were doing 35... in a 55.... in the far left lane. PAY ATTENTION PEOPLE! jesus.
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