Cars
When the Germans engineered the autoban they developed laws for its use. The most widely used law is the law of 'driving right'. This law simply states that you drive in the right hand lane unless passing another vehical, in which case you *signal* you are changing lanes, change to the left hand lane, *signal* again that you are changing to the right hand lane and then move back to the right.
Our interstate freeway system beleive it or not was based upon the autoban and this law of 'driving right'. Theoretically this means that if you want to go faster than the other cars, you pass on the left hand side.
What seems even more difficult for people today to understand, beyond the idea that YOU DON'T PASS A CAR WHILE IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE, is the idea of *signaling*.
Let me explain. In every car, van, truck, SUV and other motor vehical on the road, there is a little knob on the left hand side of the steering wheel. This knob goes up and down. When it is up, your turn signal lights are flashing that you are turning right. When the knob is down, the lights flash to show you are turning left. Up is right, down is left. The knob does not change from car to car, it does not waver, it does not lie. The knob, ladies and gentlemen, is idiot proof. The only way to fail at signaling your intentions to change lanes or turn is to a) have a dead light (unlikely) or b) YOU HAVE FAILED TO USE THE KNOB.
Now. I don't care *why* you have failed, but if you are going 80 in a 50 zone and you pass me on the right hand side, fail to slow down, realize belatedly that the semi in front of you is actually going the speed limit in the correct lane and then fail to use your turn signal and cut in front of me, it will not be my fault if I rear end you because I was going the speed limit as well. You have failed the idiocy test. You loose.
Please note, I was not actually in an accident today, but the chances and odds were stacked against me and only the fact that I have damned good brakes saved your shiney new Mercedes.
QotD: No, I don't care about your life. Deal.
Our interstate freeway system beleive it or not was based upon the autoban and this law of 'driving right'. Theoretically this means that if you want to go faster than the other cars, you pass on the left hand side.
What seems even more difficult for people today to understand, beyond the idea that YOU DON'T PASS A CAR WHILE IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE, is the idea of *signaling*.
Let me explain. In every car, van, truck, SUV and other motor vehical on the road, there is a little knob on the left hand side of the steering wheel. This knob goes up and down. When it is up, your turn signal lights are flashing that you are turning right. When the knob is down, the lights flash to show you are turning left. Up is right, down is left. The knob does not change from car to car, it does not waver, it does not lie. The knob, ladies and gentlemen, is idiot proof. The only way to fail at signaling your intentions to change lanes or turn is to a) have a dead light (unlikely) or b) YOU HAVE FAILED TO USE THE KNOB.
Now. I don't care *why* you have failed, but if you are going 80 in a 50 zone and you pass me on the right hand side, fail to slow down, realize belatedly that the semi in front of you is actually going the speed limit in the correct lane and then fail to use your turn signal and cut in front of me, it will not be my fault if I rear end you because I was going the speed limit as well. You have failed the idiocy test. You loose.
Please note, I was not actually in an accident today, but the chances and odds were stacked against me and only the fact that I have damned good brakes saved your shiney new Mercedes.
QotD: No, I don't care about your life. Deal.