Driving Question

GMC_DUDE · November 29, 2004

The Glenwwod Springs canyon avalanche in Colorado got me thinking about something that happened back in summer 1988 when I was driving that road while on vacation. Back then it was still the old two-lane road (US 6?) but they were hard at work building the freeway. Anyway I was heading east towards Denver, and hit the construction. There were "Speed Limit 30 MPH" signs posted all over, and the road was pretty badly torn up. Being unfamiliar with the area, I decided to drive the posted 30 MPH because I did not want to i) go around a curve and run into a bulldozer, ii) go around a curve and run over a worker, or iii) get a "speeding in a construction zone" ticket. The construction zone was long, about 10 - 12 miles, and I could tell the people behind me were getting pretty hot under the collar. I would have pulled over and let them go by, but there was no place where I could pull off, as the shoulder of the road was all ripped up for the construction. Well, finally I did find a wide spot and pulled over. As about 3 dozen cars passed me, everyone was blowing their horns, yelling expletives, telling me to go back to my home state, etc.. Needless to say I found this a bit upsetting. So what should I have done? I could not just "keep pace with traffic" as this was a single lane road and there was nobody ahead of me. I would especially like to hear from some people in Colorado as to what is the proper way to drive in construction zones in that state. I have not been back there since, but if I do go again, I want to do the right thing. Any advice???

sperry · November 29, 2004

Good for you... I was there in late August. W/B on I-70 through a few of those areas. Every time I had a chance to let someone by, some ricer going twice the posted construction speed limits (they varied) would zoom up behind me and hang on my tail like I was insulting him by doing such a thing. Warnings everywhere but I hadn't seen a single patrol unit. Kinda sad.

One advantage of having an Avalanche. The dinky ricers think they can intimidate us by following "close", never knowing that they're not seen. Then there's the long trailer hitch...

Chevy Tough · November 29, 2004

Been there done that, there's a reason why the Speed limit is 30 MPH or they wouldnt put that there. Next time if you decide to go back and ya see a road construction let those little ricers go first so when they do those big rigs can smash them for going so fast, and as for the name calling you got....my only solution is give back there own medicine.

General Lee 01 · November 29, 2004

Don't worry to much about all those idiots... Perhaps a $1000-$2500 fine will change their minds. (In VA, you'd be lucky to get fined UNDER $1000 for speeding through construction)

I probably would have shown all those people that I think they're #1... If ya catch my drift.

J-rod · November 29, 2004

Every time I had a chance to let someone by, some ricer going twice the posted construction speed limits (they varied) would zoom up behind me and hang on my tail ...

Hehe, it is at that point that I'd have slowed to 12 mph for the remainder of the construction zone.

Chris97K1500 · November 29, 2004

I never change my driving style to suit others around me. If I don't feel comfortable driving in areas unfamiliar to me, I drive however I want to. That's one thing I like about my truck, people tend not to tailgate me, the fact they can't see over me or around me makes them back off a little. Or it could be my trailer hitch dropped 4" and sticking about a foot past my bumper. If I do see someone tailgating me, if it's a punk azz kid I have no problem slowing down some more or a couple quick taps of the brake pedal to let them know I don't appreciate them riding my tail. I would have done exactly as you did. I also practice what I preach, I don't tailgate people, my truck doesn't stop on a dime so I drive like it won't. Chris