Does anybody want to buy my Chevy?

It is lightly used and in fairly good shape, trouble is, with the changes going on I don’t know how much longer I will be able to keep it that way. Does GM now stand for Government Motors? What has happened to this country?

(As I am slow to get this one published and have since noticed that the August issue of Motor Trend as also used the reference to Government Motors. I may be slow but I am not the only one thinking these things.)

I have said that it was a grave mistake for the financial bailout to happen the way it did and that the government should have only stepped in to help smoothly apply the laws already in place for an orderly application of bankruptcy procedures. Those banks and financial institutions that took the money have either regretted it greatly or were most definitely on the verge of collapse and saw this as the only way to continue to draw an overpriced paycheck for a few more months while they polished up their resumes.

So after seeing this happen, why would any other industry be willing to participate in the grand scheme for the government’s takeover of American industry? Two of the Detroit Three has succumbed to the temptress while Ford is trying for a holdout and now the other two no longer resemble anything of their former selves. Ford will go through its own changes and will most likely not resemble its own former self as it tries to reposition for the new automotive world's future but it will at least be trying to maintain a pretense at independence.

(Also, do you notice how they are referred to as the Detroit Three now instead of the American Automakers? This is done to realize the global nature of the auto business and that there are car builders in America that go by the name of Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Mercedes, BMW etc. that were not part of the original elite designation. Do you suppose that these American jobs are somehow not valued the same way as those originating out of Detroit to those in Washington?)

Chrysler is an old hand at bailouts having successfully completed one in the 80s. Trouble is this time there is no Iacocca to come to the rescue. With a lack of real leadership at the helm and a government that isn’t interested in leaving them as an American car company, they were handed over to Fiat with far too much ease. This move makes absolutely no sense other than that Fiat makes small cars that the government thinks can be rebadged as Chryslers, sold in large quantities to the American public and thereby meet the politically correct Al Gore global warming agenda.

When I said they gave away the company, I meant it literally as Fiat just promised some of their current technology and they walked away with controlling interest (at least so far as the government will allow). This will not work any better than the merger Chrysler had with Mercedes and for the same reason but on a larger scale, namely culture clash. If hindsight for a Benz and Dodge combo teaches us anything it should at least provide a flashing red light warning for a K-car Fiat.

The new Government Motors on the other hand is just pathetic and sad. After Obama forced out existing management before the bailout was complete (bloodless coup anyone?) GM announced that they are appointing Edward E Whitacre Jr. to become the new chairman after the bankruptcy is complete. Whitacre’s former position was head of AT&T. While this brings praise from the government officials that thought to select him as well as those he will be working with, my view is somewhat different. If AT&T is any example of the kind of company GM is about to become then I do not want anything to do with them. AT&T under Whitacre’s care had become one of the most bloated, conceited, arrogant and uncaring corporate entities to service the public and private sectors. The level of customer care sank to the lowest of depths under his reign and the only reason I can think of for AT&T to continue to exist is that the behemoth was so big it somehow carried on in spite of itself. Actually, it had so much free cash from earlier years that it bought out any potential competitors or spent them into the ground if they tried to enter their markets.

Come to think of it, GM has done much the same thing only somewhere along the line it lost its profitability and ran out of funds to buy out the competition. It then had to stand on its own merits (and GM did have plenty of merits to play from) but it didn’t trust itself to do so. How and what will Whitacre do when the government pulls back the purse strings and makes GM stand on its own? Unlike AT&T, GM will continue to face competition in the automotive world and they won’t be able to rely solely on new government contracts to keep them afloat.

Actually they might. How many other corporate or service entities are there that are strongly subsidized by taxpayer funding for an overzealous government bent on political manifestation? The arts, National Public Radio, the postal service and of course Amtrak quickly come to mind. But wait, don’t these also have competitors present that attempt to service the customer’s needs and the competitors do so at a profit? Yes, yet the government sponsored entities continue to exist with much taxpayer subsidy thereby satisfying its one true customer which is government self interest. Should we expect anything less from their endorsement of Government Motors?

The thought of all this physically sickens me. As a car loving guy, I hate to see what is going on more than most and fear that we will be tossed into the automotive dark ages like that which followed the first gas crisis that generated fuel mileage and emissions mandates and produced some of the lamest excuses for autos for over two decades. These were government mandates and not consumer driven desires and that led to innovative stagnation. All signs are indicating that this is the path we are once again headed.

Also, I am an American and a taxpayer. This country is founded on principles of fair play for everyone yet with every passing day I see less and less of it and not nearly enough voices standing out against the changes taking place. Liberty, and freedom are words that have somehow lost their true meaning as have capitalism and free markets; the consequences both frighten and infuriate. Wake up America. Return to the values our fathers stood for or we will never be able to know them again in our lifetime. We need to return the white elephant now before it eats us out of house and home. For those that do not understand, we have only begun to pay the price for this folly. If we hurry, maybe we can still cancel the check and get our money back.

So if any of you are in the market for a new car, do you really want to pay for it twice, once as the consumer and once as a taxpayer? I know we do that somewhat anyway but really we should be expecting something for our dollars. I have an idea instead of buying new; does anybody want to buy my slightly used Chevy? I just don’t have the desire to support it anymore.

This is Ed Nef with a view from the Farr West.

Slower Traffic Keep Right some more

For those of you that know me and to those that don’t I must state here and now that I am opposed to speed limits. I like many thought that they were a necessary evil and that in some situations it was the only way to control drivers for safety’s sake but the more I think about it the more I think that that idea is bogus.

I have been on many different roads in many different lands and it is interesting to find that every road has a naturally occurring speed that is comfortable and safe for any given situation of weather, road condition, traffic, time of day, vehicle used, and present state of mind. Given this formula it should be easy to note that the right speed limit is not the same for all users. This is natural.

Speed limits in this country were originally set by building the road and then opening it up to traffic and watching to see what rate of speed 85% of the public was traveling at. They then set the speed limit at the next highest multiple of 5 and on we went. Occasionally the limits would have to be reevaluated and that is normal too. As technology has advanced, so have the capabilities of the cars we drive. Our cars have better brakes, suspensions, tires, engines, windshields, seats, seat belts, airbags, crumple zones, and a host of other things that exists below the skin beyond our view. What we drive today is nowhere near what we drove a decade or two ago let alone what was available in the era before seat belts and steel belted tires.

As times have changed, so have we. Some cities made it a law that when you went out to go for a ride in your horseless carriage, that you must have someone walking in front of you with a red flag to warn others of the impending danger your horseless carriage might make. Sometimes I wonder if we have really advanced that far.

Let’s face it, speed limits are not about safety, it is about control. I have heard some of the most ridiculous agreements for and in behalf of speed limits and their enforcement. I have been in cities where the natural flow of traffic was 10 mph faster than the stated speed limit and heard people say that if they raised the speed limit higher by that 10 then people would just drive 10 faster than that. So what does that tell us? Is the speed limit set 20 miles to low? Can you keep raising the speed limit eventually to infinity and people will continue to travel 10 mph faster even to infinity plus 10?


But Ed, we have always been told that speed kills. I must state the fact that I have yet to reach a speed that I spontaneously combust. Anybody that has witnessed a race will not that there is no magical speed that when it will cause the car to immediately burst into flames and sail into the stands wiping out many of the fans that came to watch just such an event.

No, speed does not kill. The misapplication of speed can. Does that mean that there is a skill level involved in the operation of our vehicles? Of course. Does that mean that the average driver out there is not being properly trained and their skills have not been developed enough to cope with any higher speeds than we currently allow? Possible but whose fault is that?

I’m sorry but I believe in people and their abilities to make good choices and to have capabilities that far exceed what they use on a daily basis. I believe that people can have common sense or at least develop it in the course of their lives to a point that they do not need to be told how to do every little thing. I believe that people have the ability to decide for themselves what is best for them and have the gumption to do it given the chance.

I would love to see a movement start on the interstate system. These roads were designed for safe 80 mph travel in the 50’s. Remember the cars we had in the 50’s. Remember that all those cars were not new then either. How far have we come, or rather how much farther should we be if we could only continue to advance our lives in a progressive manner? So what could we do?

Take all the speed limit signs down and replace them with “Slower Traffic Keep Right”. It is not making everyone drive at a set speed that creates a safe situation but having rules that make it possible for people of different speeds to coexist peacefully. “Slower Traffic Keep Right” allows for everyone to travel at the speed they are comfortable with and anyone that is comfortable traveling faster can move to the left, pass, and then return to the right at the speed they are comfortable with. People would know the rules and know what to expect from other people that knew what the rules were. People would use turn signals and rear view mirrors and be aware of those around them.

Drivers already know these things. Drivers use their turn signals and rear view mirrors. Drivers pay attention to what is going on around them. The look ahead and try to predict the possible actions of others around them. Drivers realize their own abilities of those of their cars and make decisions based on those abilities for the given conditions. Drivers know and care about these things. Real drivers also know just how slow the speed limits really are.

I have driven with the locals at speeds far faster than the stated speed limit but I have also driven with the locals far below the stated speed limit. 55 mph on an ice covered road in a heavy snow storm with gale force winds just isn’t going to happen no matter what the sign says. If we are smart enough to go slower than the speed limit as conditions warrant, then why aren’t we allowed to be smart enough to go faster as conditions warrant?

If you want to try something interesting, get in the right lane (where you should be unless you’re passing anyway) and drive 5 or 10 mph below the stated speed limit. See what happens to traffic around you. See what happens to you, how you feel, how relaxed or anxious you become. Can you make adjustments with merging traffic? Can you maintain that speed without absent mindedly trying to match the speed of others? Do you feel guilty for holding up others or do you feel empowered by it? Do this and you might learn as much about yourself as you do those around you.

It is all right to be different. All I want is the right to be different as much as I want you to have the right to be different. When we all can live differently together then will the possible become possible.

This is Ed Nef with a view from the Farr West.

Why did that light go red?

I do believe I was abducted by aliens and that they implanted in my nose (near my sinuses since I keep getting sinus headaches) a transmitting device that automatically changes the traffic lights to red as I approach them.

It’s true. It seems like there is an overwhelming majority of traffic lights that change to red as I am coming near, whether there are any other cars on the road or not. A recent trip to the local Wal-Mart this early morning, and trust me, 6:30 on a Saturday morning is pretty close to the same as the middle of the night, just reinforced the theory of an implant.

As I approached at least four of the intersections with traffic lights, the light changed to red making me lose cruising speed, even having to use brakes and then sit idle as my turn eventually came around again. Each time the light changed you would think that there was someone else waiting their turn or at least approaching from the other direction but not at this time of the morning. At this time of the morning there were very few cars on the road and none were on the alternate direction route. In fact, at one light that made me stop, it gave a green to traffic (that wasn’t there) to the right of me for a full cycle, and then it gave a green light to the traffic (that also wasn’t there) to the left of me.

Now that it has me really ready to go, it makes me wait one more turn as it gives a green light to the turn lane coming from the other way. There was one car in the turn lane and he had only just barely arrived when the light turned green for him. It was just an optional turn light that he didn’t even need to make the turn with, but the traffic system seemed to think he needed it above me anyway.

This kind of behavior on the part of an inanimate object such as a traffic light is not just isolated incidents. It happens to me all the time. In fact, when I finally do get an unexpected green light or better yet a string of green lights (3 or 4 at least), I almost get giddy. I thank the heavens for this grand and marvelous gift.

My wife thinks that I am just focusing on the negative and that the traffic lights do that to everyone. She may be right. In fact, I have started to notice that this phenomenon is not just happening to me but is catching a few others as well.

Sometimes I will be sitting at a light with not another soul to be seen, waiting for it to turn green, when I notice another car approaching on the line that has the green light, and secretly I hope that they also have the implant so that their approach will change their green light to red giving my light the chance to go green again. This is sad to admit, because I really don’t want this to happen to anyone else, but I am secretly happy that it does because it finally gives me a chance to go again.

These intersections are not the old tech type that would auto cycle at the same rate all the time throughout the day. These aren’t even the old type that had sensors in the road that I always had a hard time setting off when I was riding my bicycle and sometimes couldn’t even set off with my motorcycle. These intersections have all had the new camera sensors put on them that are supposed to time the lights in a more efficient manner. These high priced units were paid for with all important taxpayer dollars and should be serving those taxpayers in a more appreciative manner. So why are they so cruel?

If my wife is correct, and there is no implant that triggers these lights against me, then someone somewhere is programming these lights to do this on purpose. Why oh why would anyone do this to another individual? Is this a control issue? Is there an effort to enforce a behavior? Are we being conditioned to being controlled? I would certainly hope not but it makes me wonder.

I mean in the olden days of the original gas crunch, creating synchronized traffic lights was a priority. There were some sections where you could travel for miles without even having to lightly lifting throttle to make the light.

One town I know of with the main street sporting 8 traffic light intersections per mile was still able to synchronize the lights to allow nonstop travel at 22.5 mph. This was only hard on those drivers that didn’t know the secret and would speed up then slow down then speed up then stop then speed up and so on for each light. This secret speed must have been too much of a good thing because they came along and messed it all up by changing the sync. They were able to take a 10 minute cross town drive and extend it to 25. I would still like to ring the neck of whoever was responsible for that one. Ogden, Utah you disappoint me. Last time I was there they were reducing the lane count from three to two and installing islands in the most congested part of town. Does no one understand productivity and efficiency anymore?

In fact, that is what this really comes down to, making life easier by making us more productive. When we are able to do more with less, we can get more done with what we have. Seems simple enough but for some reason most government agencies don’t get it. The Departments of Transportation for most states are seldom there to make things easier, and by their actions they prove that they are apt to try to control our efforts than expand our abilities.

So if there is no implant, and this is a deliberate effort for control on our government, then let us remind them that they are there to serve us. This is supposed to be a government of the people, by the people and for the people and they should be doing everything in their power to make our lives less encumbered. This means taking down obstacles and impediments, not finding new ways of adding speed bumps or doing things that bring us to a screeching halt. We need progress, not interference.

And in this time of economic uncertainty we need it more than ever.

This is Ed Nef with a view from the Farr West.

Pleae start seeing bikes.

If there is one thing I have noticed since this latest gas price crunch, and you should have too, it is that there are many, many more bicyclist and motorcyclist on the roads these days. This requires extra care in looking out for them as well as for the others sharing the road. In some parts of the country where the weather is fine year round, you have probably just noticed an increase in volume, but then there are other parts of the country that have a winter and will notice that the volume of riders is affected by the seasons. There are a lot of fine weather riders who only come out on the good days, I know as I tend to be one of those kind.

Speaking of seasonality, bicyclists tend to have a strong upsurge in volume around this time of year, in part thanks to the popularity of the Tour de France bicycle race. Many a biker has been inspired by this yearly event, which can easily be seen thanks to the marvel of television, and that inspiration leads to an increase in biking activity as we try to bring out the Lance Armstrong in all of us.

The fact of the matter is there are as many different kinds of riders as there are people in this world. Everyone is represented in some form or rather from the youngest of children to the oldest of uprights. There are the ultra serious road racers training for the next big race, there the mountain bikers always hungry for that next great section of single track. There are casual cruisers that are less concerned with how long it takes than just making sure they take a ‘stroll’ around the neighborhood. There are adventures that have loaded up the packs and headed out for a major cross country tour that most would never even dream of. There are basket bikers that are looking for thrown out pop cans to put into the baskets attached to their handlebars. There are buddy riders that have the weekend jaunt out with the gang and there are the solo riders that put the miles down as they seek the quiet solitude of meditation and reflection that only a solo ride can bring. There is also the common commuter that has replaced at least some of his transportation requirements with his beloved bicycle.

That makes for a whole lot of different riding styles just as there are different driving styles you’ll see on the road around you and you need to be looking out for those differences. Good or bad, right or wrong they are all out there.

My personal preference is that a bicyclist should ride the rules of the street just as any other vehicle. This means using the road as any other would along with proper hand signals, lane choice, right of ways at intersections, and obeying stop signs. Sometimes traffic and speed differences do not allow for this to happen and adjustments must be made. Some creative riding is necessary to insure safety for all those involved. Sometimes it is easier to cross the intersection with the flow of traffic then back track and join up with traffic flowing 90 degrees the other direction than to try and cross two lanes of heavy traffic in order to use the left hand turning lane, but this is only sometimes as use of the left hand turn lane is what should happen.

You see if the biker and the motorist are using the same rules of the road they will know what to expect of each other and they can more easily play together. If one or the other does something that is unexpected, then adjustments need to be made (and sometimes quickly) or problems happen. This is true of all things that happen on the road and in all cases with our interaction with other vehicles we share the road with.

That is why it is important to teach good habits from an early age and unteach bad habits (if that is possible) in order to make things run more smoothly. One of the biggies is that bikes should ride with the flow of traffic, not against it. There is a lot of misinformed children out there who were taught to walk against the flow of traffic (so they could see and identify the car that hit them I guess although I would just as soon not know what hit me. Now that I think about it though we used to joke about what we didn’t want to get hit by or rather what we would prefer to get hit by such as a Mercedes versus a VW or a Rolls Royce versus an old Chevy pickup) and so by default they were taught to ride against the flow of traffic. Be aware that this is especially true in neighborhoods were kids have not learned or not permitted to ride great distances from home yet. In fact, in neighborhoods many kids will ride all over the streets and sidewalks and yards, they just aren’t as predictable.

Also most importantly, you do not need to sound your horn to signal a pass when approaching a bicyclist. This rule went out sometime around the turn of the 19th century and should not be reinstituted. Of course some riders bring it on themselves by riding three abreast at 15 mph on a road that cars are expecting to be doing 60.

Many of our roads out there just do not lend themselves well to bikes. Some roads have a good shoulder many have no shoulder as all. Be aware fellow motorist that just because there is a shoulder on the street you are driving, it does not mean that it is in any kind of condition to be ridden on. All that road debris and unused gravel gets pushed and blown to the side of the road and is seldom if ever swept up. Stuff that is a pain to walk on as a pedestrian is very difficult to navigate when riding a bicycle. The tires on some of your fancier road bikes as well as average everyday bikes are thin and susceptible to flats so most riders will try very hard to avoid running over things that will cause time consuming tube repairs. Also, just because the rider is on a mountain bike does not mean they wish to be riding of the pavement and in the weeds just so you can have the whole lane to yourself. Many bikers that are looking for efficiency will try to ride on the smoothest part of the road for the lowest rolling resistance. Many like to ride on the painted white stripe that defines the shoulder because the paint fills in the little valleys of rock in asphalt and provides just a little bit less friction. It is noticeable and I do it myself when I can, (especially if I am trying to keep up with someone).

Many people should take up biking, I strongly encourage it. It is good for your health, body, mind and spirit. If you are a thinking person it gives you time to think and ponder. If you are an adventurer it is a great way to explore. If you are a social person it is a great way to meet people and enjoy a common bond. If you are observant you will notice many things in your travels, things that would otherwise go unnoticed. There is a great deal of ways to enjoy things if you keep them from becoming a chore.

Now for motorcyclist I have a few things that need to be said. Some of what I say about bicyclist goes for motorcyclist as well but with some big differences. The biggest is that the power comes from the twist of a wrist rather than the twist of peddle. There is a weight difference as well as inertial mass so handling dynamics are different. The other major thing is speed. Motorcycles are not bicycles and bicycles are not motorcycles.

Because of the increase in gas prices there are a lot of new riders. If you watch closely you will notice that there are quite a few riders that are a little shaky starting off from a dead start, or don’t take the corner as smoothly as another rider might, or have a little trouble picking a line and staying on it. This is all part of the learning experience and they will get better with time.

Some riders might just be a little rusty after not having ridden for quite awhile. The price of gas is the motivator that brings their latent desires out of the storage shed and back to the street for a reawakened sense of freedom that a motorcycle can provide. It is important to remember that most motorcycles can accelerate faster and brake faster than most cars. The do not have the physical presence of a car and so they are sometimes harder to notice. Most riders with any experience are know this and are constantly on the lookout for the inattentive driver. Most accidents occur with the statement, “I just didn’t see them”. If you ever find yourself asking “Where did he come from?” then it is the first step to awareness. Take the extra time, take the second look.

A very common mistake that happens with all vehicles but especially with motorcycles and bicycles is that of someone pulling out if front of you. They may see you but that don’t take the time to truly judge just how fast you are traveling. So they decide to ‘go for it’ and this leads to frustrations because all too frequently they do not accelerate quickly enough and that means putting on the brakes and giving up momentum. That is just rude. If you discover that you have pulled in from of someone either by accident or on purpose accelerate quickly enough that they do not have to hit the brakes or even lift their foot off the throttle. Make sure that you speed up to the point that you are going at least as fast as they were or faster so that you do not become a hindrance. This is good motoring.

Every vehicle has blind spots; some have bigger blind spots than others. Be aware of what your blind spots are and what might be there. Be mindful of the blind spots in others. Try to spend as little time as possible in the blind spot of another no matter what kind of vehicle you or they are traveling in. Always be looking ahead, behind and to the sides to know what is around you and what others are doing. Some motorcycles and small sporty cars are very agile and that agility allows them to change positions very quickly and frequently which can be very convenient at times but also can catch other drivers off guard if they are not expecting you to be anywhere other than where you were when they last looked at you.

We all should be able to enjoy the road together and it really doesn’t have to be that hard. It is just a matter of being considerate of others as you would wish them to be considerate of you. It is because we are different that we come to different ways of answering our daily commuting needs. And it is exactly because we are different that the world is an interesting place to be.

This is Ed Nef with a view from the Farr West.

A MP3 player would have made the time off better

So I have been gone for the last week, anything happen? Nothing of any value that I can see. Is it that hard to get away for a week and not have to check in to the office and the news and the stock markets? To be honest, I did not check in with work at all, stock markets just a passing glance if I was around any ticker tapes, and the daily news, well, that I did tune into on more than one occasion, though not as often as I am used to. Radio is just an arm reach away in the car and it is pretty easy to tune yourself in to the top of the hour news or the daily talk shows while you pass the time and the miles.

I didn’t have as much time to get ready for this trip so I didn’t take nearly as many music cds nor did I take any books on tape this time. Quite often I will hit the library and pick up a half dozen books on tape to listen to on the road and this time I was going to copy them over to MP3 files to save space and play on the new car stereo. I was also going to do that with many of my own cds building a quick and simple library that would give me variety and save space on the trip. As I said, I ran out of time.

I may be a little slow getting onto the technology band wagon but usually it is because I am waiting for it to catch up to where I want it to be. As I have started to convert my cd collection to MP3 files I have found that my collection is rather large and it will take a pretty good size player to be able to capitalize on it. That doesn’t even count the video collection.

The real reason I haven’t jumped at getting a personal MP3 player is because of the way they handle books on tape. I have been looking for a player that had two major features that greatly enhance the value of any audio book player, the ability to bookmark your place since chances are high that it will take more than one time listening to get through most books, and the ability to vary the playback speed so that you can have a chance of listening to a book slightly quicker than actually reading it the old way.

I like to listen to the unabridged versions and I have gotten in the habit of listening at double speed for most things. I found a tape player at Radio Shack that was able to play back tapes at up to double speed while adjusting the pitch of the voice so that you weren’t listening to the chipmunks. It was the best. I was able to keep up with my reading during my daily commutes to work. Then I found out the current versions of Media Player had the capability to also vary the playback speeds of audio recordings. I was in happy land. This gave me the ability to speed through books while on the computer or even better speed through training videos if they were recorded in a playable format.

Of course the problem with listening at double speed is you have to pay attention to make sure that you comprehend what is being read. It does take effort. You cannot do a whole lot of multi tasking while listening or you find that you are missing large sections and doing a lot of rewinding. This is why I have been looking for a player that has the ability to vary the playback speed in a portable unit that I can use while walking or hiking or such. So that is why I have been shopping for a player for such a long time, and alas not having much luck.

There are a very few players that will vary speed playback and some will bookmark, but none do either vary well from what I have been able to read from various websites. Most manufacturers do not even consider the audio book fan when designing or marketing their players. In my search for a player I went so far as to contact many of the manufacturers to see which players they would recommend for my audio book playing pleasure but I got one common response, we don’t do one of those. What a shame. Now before the fruit fans start letting me know about the Apple IPods player abilities, let me just say that they do in fact have the ability to alter playback speeds with their fast playback mode offering a whopping 40% speed increase which doesn’t seem like much when you are used to listening with a 100% speed increase. Of course the Apple’s come with the other down side of being an Apple tool and limited to Apple type formats though it does play the common everybody tool of MP3. In many ways the Apple, although sold as the great MS alternative, is operated and marketed much the same way the MS machines are. In a lot of ways they are like the current two party system where only those smart enough and brave enough can venture into the realms of a third party.

So I put off my search for a player at least for the time being. I will pick up the search at a later date when I think that a new generation of players has come along to offer up some new solutions to fill my desires. Until then I keep doing what I have been doing, waiting for the next best thing.

This is Ed Nef with a view from the Farr West.

Slower Traffic Keep Right, Pt. 3

So what would happen if all the speed limit signs were brought down and replaced with signs that read “Slower Traffic Keep Right”? I know that some out there have thought that no matter what speed limit sign was put up, drivers would still drive 10 mph faster just like they do today. That argument would eventually loose out as you could continue to raise the speed limit and eventually find a satisfactory speed with which fewer and fewer would want, let alone be able to go any faster. In fact back in the good old days a new road would be built and they would send out engineers to survey the average speed of drivers on a given section then set the speed limit and the next 5 mph increment for which 85% of the traffic was traveling in their natural speed mode for that section. This seemed to work pretty well and still indicates that people will find a speed that feels about right for a given road and the vehicle they are using.

An interesting side note about speed is that the current interstate system that was built in the 50’s was designed for 80 MPH travel. This was for cars that were also designed in the 50’s that had suspension systems, and tires, and brakes that were designed in the 50’s. Cars have evolved some since then and most cars handle and brake better than the cars of 20 years ago let alone 60 years ago yet speed limits in many areas of the country are still lower than they were back before the national 55 MPH speed limit.

Another interesting side note. During the days of the national 55 MPH speed limit, I had on several occasions exceeded the national limit and contrary to popular belief I did not spontaneously combust nor did I have a blow out and go careening out of control off an embankment, nor did I wipe out classroom of school children, or even take out any wondering small or large animals. In fact I have safely, and I stress the word safely, exceeded the speed limit on several occasions were the only consequence of doing so was to arrive at my destination on time or early, refreshed, invigorated and ready for the prospects that destination had in store.

There is talk that Utah will be raising the speed limit from 75 to 80 on some rural sections of the Interstate. This will make it the highest speed limit in the nation if it is true. That honor used to belong to Montana for a short time when its daylight speed limit was set at “Reasonable and Prudent”. This was the closest we have come to having an authentic speed law for a freedom loving nation. Yet, because one man’s reasonable is not always another man’s prudent it became too hard to enforce and it had to be given up. Truly a sad day for the nation.

If you have never driven out in the west, again do not prejudge. There are vast sections of long straight well made and maintained roads for which a modern car could safely travel 100 mph without concern. In fact there is a 36+, mile stretch of I-80 just east of the Nevada border that doesn’t have a single curve or bend or hill or anything. It has its own beauty about it as it runs along the Bonneville Salt Flats but it is a section of road that can be fully appreciated in a lot less time.

Also by way of comparison, I have driven on two lane roads back east that have speed limits set 10 mph faster than would the equivalent road out west. One of the roads I enjoyed the most was on the Blue Ridge Parkway (the greatest thing to come out of the depression) as the speed limit was set at 45 mph. I think they intended most folks to slow down for the corners.

Now one point of note needs to be made here. Road conditions might be such that speeds traveled could and should be lower than speed signs posted. Weather may play a factor in driving conditions as well as traffic congestion and road debris and potholes and any other factor that may be around on any given trip. The deal is that the driver still has to make judgments and decisions based on any given situation in order to make what can be considered safe journey. The driver is still required to be present.

And therein is the hope of the individual. Smart cars, and smart roads and mass transit and rural renewal developments are all there to reduce your ability to have to act on your own cognizance and there are many that will strive to force that issue under the guise of some civil suitability such as safety, ecology, conservation or what have you. But if they can not solve all your mobility needs and you still have to meet those needs on your own and are willing to fight to keep that right as an individual, then we still have a chance.

It is a dangerous path we tread because it is so easy to get suckered into the arguments of giving up freedoms for the common good, but once lost they are seldom won.

Back to Part 1, or Part 2.

This is Ed Nef with a view from the Farr West.

Slower Traffic Keep Right, Pt. 2

I have driven in Germany (among other places), and have found it to be one of the most ordered places to drive in worldwide. For those that have not experienced it, do not prejudge. I admit it has been awhile since my last visit and I understand that things change; I even hear tell that there are speed limits on more and more sections of the autobahn. Whatever your views on speed, be it known that Germany without a speed limit had a better fatality rate per miles driven than the USA did during many years of the national 55 MPH speed limit. What was it that allowed this to be so? As I said before, it is a well ordered place.

Germany has some core rules that they make sure drivers know, not just have a passing familiarity with, before they are issued a license. When all the drivers know the rules and are expected to play by those rules, then you can safely make expectations for what the other drivers will do in most any given situation. This makes for a much smoother driving experience no matter what the speed.

Drivers in Germany know how to use a turn signal, know how to use rear view mirrors, know how to yield to the right of way and know who has the right of way at any given intersection, they know proper passing techniques, they know how to merge, and they know that slower traffic keeps right. Not only do they know how to do these things, they actually do these things. That may be the key difference.

I think that traffic laws and driving habits are a metaphor for a society, and slower traffic keep right is one of the greatest indicators of the state of a nation. Slower traffic keep right is an indication of the harmony that exist within a society.

There was a comedian (I wish I could remember his name) that had a bit about anyone driving faster than him was crazy. “Look at that driver, he’s nuts. Driving that fast is going to kill someone, he must be insane.” While anyone driving slower was a moron, “Would you look at this guy, c’mon all ready, were not getting any younger, what an idiot.”

Slower traffic keep right is a way to allow all drivers to peaceably coexist on the roads today at the same time. Those that wish to travel faster can as well as those that wish to travel at a more leisurely pace. This is a way to recognize that we are not all the same, that we all have different skills and abilities and needs and desires, and that each drivers’ needs can be met despite those differences. This also allows for changes in needs and skills and desires of the driver to meet whatever needs apply at the time.

Slower traffic keep right reflects the abilities of the drivers and the faith of the lawmakers in turning over trust to those drivers. How much daily detail decision making ability is left in the hands of individuals and how much is mandated or dictated or directed and actively enforced is a real indicator of how much freedom a nation enjoys. That is why I think traffic laws are a pretty good reflection of the level of freedom and liberties a nation’s people have. The tighter the reigns are held on simple daily tasks, the less likely headway will be allowed in other areas and aspects of life.

On to Part 3, or back to Part 1


This is Ed Nef with a view from the Farr West.

Slower Traffic Keep Right, Pt 1

Slower traffic keep right. How simple is that? It is probably one of the most important rules of the road and yet it seems to be harder and harder for people to play by that one simple rule. In fact, I find it often faster to be driving in the slow lane because there is less traffic there.

This is not a new phenomenon; I have observed it for many, many years now. It used to be confined to big cities and heavy traffic congestion areas but it is expanding into all roads traveled. I used to think that it was just a Utah thing also since they have some of the worst drivers on the road but I need to correct that as the bad habits observed in Utah are not that uncommon on most of the US roads now. It is highly disturbing, and I will comment on other habits later but for this time I want to focus on the most obnoxious of poor driving etiquette, the Left Lane Bandit.

I did not come up with the label Left Lane Bandit; I think that it was coined by a writer at Car and Driver a few decades ago. The irritant had just started to appear and this was and still is the best way to describe it. It took heavy roots during the national 55 MPH speed limit though I am sure it had presence long before that. You can hear instances in some of the old car songs.

Basically it is when a vehicle insists on driving in the passing lane even though it is not passing anyone and there are other vehicles that are traveling faster than they are, or at least trying to travel faster. Not only is this dangerous it is down right rude.

Granted, some drivers just don’t know any better. I have talked to some of these Utah drivers and found that they were taught in driving school (which was part of the high school system) that they were to travel in the other lane to allow other drivers to merge onto and off the freeway. (This was probably the only way they could think of to teach new students how to merge since they don’t do that very well either.)

I have also talked to drivers that think it is there right to travel in that lane, they are going the ‘speed limit’ and there is no reason for them not to let the world revolve around them. This is a biggie for some and was even more so during the national 55 MPH speed limit. It also created what I termed the ‘rolling roadblock’ were two or more cars (depending on the number of lanes available) would travel down the road side by side at the ‘speed limit’ without regards to anyone else on the road. This would make for one heck of a blockade and a whole lot of frustration. This has become less common since they raised the speed limit in many states though if you do happen on to one, beware because there is usual a traffic cop at the head of it.

Continue on to Part 2.


This is Ed Nef with a view from the Farr West.

Most cars bland

Most cars are bland and uninspired. The only reason for this as far as I can see is that most people are bland and uninspired. From the engineer to the customer we are lacking in innovation. Need too often overrides want when it comes to the cars we choose.

I am a car guy. I really like cars. I like to look at cars, I like to drive cars, I like to test cars, I like to talk about cars, I like to ride in cars. I like cars.

When I was much younger, it didn’t take much to get me excited about cars. I liked to look at anything on the road and imagine me behind the wheel someday. As I got older, I became for discerning and it took more and more to get my attention. Now it seems that 95% of what I see on the road holds no interest for me at all.

Part of this came from the cookie cutter look of so many of the cars out there. The current state of design has most cars looking pretty much like all the other cars. There are a few unique cars that are worthy of a glance if only because they are unique.

As cars age and you see fewer and fewer of a vintage on the road, its rarity makes it unique and you can find yourself taking a second look. This does not mean they are great cars or even good cars. The Pinto or Gremlin would fall into this category. They are not great but they do get noticed because they are unique.

Some people have lovingly kept the older models alive and well looked after and their pride shines forth. These kind of cars almost always garner a look. After all, you can tell a fellow car guy when you see one.

Then there are the exceptional models that have merit all on their own. These cars catch my eye no matter what year or what shape they are in. Corvette, Porsche, Ferrari, Cobra and Pantera will always catch my eye, seeming by magic.

Of course there are other odd models and various brand offerings that do it for me also. Certain Mustangs, Cameros, and Firebirds will entice me but not all. Some of these were real dogs. Most of Toyota offerings look fairly bland as are most Japanese offerings on this side of the pond. Hondas looks come and go on their bread and butter machines, though I must admit that a CRX still gets me ever time.

So what is it that draws my attention the most? What is the common element that binds my fascination? It is the fun factor. If I find myself asking “How much fun would it be to drive that?” I know I will be taking a longer glance. For some cars this is the out and out aspect of performance but for most it is an appearance of the enjoyment factor. That is why the CRX is so high on the list and why a Suzuki Samurai rates well.

The standard for fun changes as you factor in affordability. Then all of a sudden real cars must stand for something and must deliver your needs within in your means. It is all fine to dream but I find out a long time ago that it is much more fun to be on the playing floor than watching from the bleachers. This is also were handling and gas mileage take precedence over looks and status. Besides, with our excess of traffic cops and arcane traffic laws I would just as soon go about my business unnoticed thank you very much.

I have been fortunate enough to have driven many cars and many miles. I still have a passion for it all. I would rather be driving than fixing, or washing, or mowing, or anything. Duty takes its toll though and so I must work to pay for the things I like to do. But if I am careful and choose well I will continue to enjoy what the automotive world has to offer. Maybe not always at the leading edge, but at least I am in the game.

This is Ed Nef with a view from the Farr West.

Winter Driving Tips, Tip #1

The very first thing to do when driving on a winter day is to clear off all your car, and I mean all of it. It seems that after every snow storm for several days I will see many cars driving around that think all they need to clear is a tiny spot in front of their face. How more stupid could you get? If you have no more visibility than a two foot square on your front windshield, not only should you not be on the road but you should sell your car immediately buy a bus pass and never drive again, it is that wrong.

And when I say clear off your entire car, I mean that literally. All the windshields should be clear of obstruction because the best thing you can do for your safety and that of those around you is to know what is around you. While you are clearing off the windshields, keep going and clear off the hood, roof, and trunk. I know there are a lot of lazy butts out there that figure it will just blow off while you drive down the road. Well guess what, it does and that is the problem. It blows off the hood and back onto your windshield blocking your view, or off the roof and covers the back windshield blocking your view, or if it doesn’t block your view it is blowing off you and onto someone else blocking their view. This is rude, obnoxious and stupid. This rule also applies to all semi trucks, pickup trucks, trucks with shells, Suburbans, mini vans, and anything else that appears too big for the person driving it. If you can’t reach the top, get a step ladder (or better yet trade it in on a bus pass). Again this is not just for you but for those you share the road with as well. Driving behind one of these yoyos you can find yourself in a mini white out condition even on the clearest day. And when the ice chucks start to come off they can cause damage.

Lastly, clear off the headlights, tail lights, turn signals, and mirrors. Not only is it important to see it is important to be seen. Most winter driving occurs in the winter, (duh). That is also when our days are shortest and that means darker times during many of our driving hours. Having properly working lights that can be seen is one advantage you want to have, (especially if that other driver hasn’t cleared off his vehicle). Turn signals were put on cars for a reason, use them. They signal your intentions to other drivers and let them prepare for the action you are about to take. The greater the reaction time you provide to other drivers the better when conditions get slick. And use your mirrors. This goes along with being aware of your surroundings to be better prepared for the actions taken by your fellow drivers.

Winter driving is challenging enough. By doing a few simple things, we can make it less difficult for ourselves and for others. Look for more tips to follow.

This is Ed Nef with a view from the Farr West.