Do you know how to Zipper while driving?

Do you know what the zipper technique is while driving? Many Euroeans have perfected it, and its actually taught as rules of the road in many countries.

The theory behind it is that when merging onto a road, you wait until you reach the very end of the lane and then alternate in between flowing traffic with the car in front of you. Supposedly, the drivers already moving in the right lane are also aware of this, and adjust their driving accordingly. When done correctly, alternating cars merge in, and it looks like a zipper.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="(C) Leo Reynolds, from Flickr"][/caption]

The result is less congested traffic, easier merges and less road rage.  Merges flow nicely, and its great for everyone.

But lets face it, this will never work in America. As much as we try to make it happen, the second you try to let the guy in front of you in, someone else is going to try to push their way into your lane, usually because the guy behind you is too riding your bumper  and doesn't want to let anyone in. I think this says a lot about most american motorists attitude, as it is most likely due to our inherent nature to defend whats ours, as well as over all impatience.

 

So try this next time you are coming off an on-ramp, or you are in the right lane with others merging in. It really does make more sense.

A distraction from your crappy holiday commute

This post almost turned into a rant about crappy drivers, traffic, and how awesome Top Gear is. But I held it back.

The roads are going to suck this week. I hate to be the one to break it to you, but Thanksgiving week is when the family packs into the minivan, and proceeds to Grandmas house, always in the left lane and way under the reasonable speed limit. This is when the travelers come out to do battle with the commuters.

How can you tell if you are stuck behind one of these people? A surefire way to know is if they slam on their brakes in the EZ pass lane, or you see someone blindly following their GPS into oncoming traffic. Do your best not to get behind ay minivan with stenciled stickers of the whole family plus the dog.

But I thought I was smart. This week, I did everything I could to avoid the roads. I had meetings scheduled in NYC on Monday and out on the Island on Tuesday and Wednesday. Then my Tuesday got moved, and now I’m stuck driving to Jersey today. It took me 2 hours to get in, but that’s probably nothing compared to what thwe ride home is going to be.  But at least its better then Wednesday.  I guess that’s karma teaching me not to meddle with my business schedule just to avoid driving.

But the post today is actually to distract me from all of this with some auto-erotica. I don’t understand the Nissan Juke, although I have been dying to drive one. A sporty, well handling compact car seems like a no brainer for commuting, assuming the MPG is up to snuff. But then the boys over at Nissan UK decided to stuff a 3.8 liter V6 from a GT-R into it. The result is pure beauty. Autoblog has been covering the build from day 1, and they have now posted some videos from Nissan on it. We can expect this will never be more than a project car, but its good to know that they care. Check out the video below of the complete build firing up, anturn up your volume around the 1:00 minute mark to hear some Christmas music come early.

Via Nissan via Autoblog.

Video courtesy Nissan

 

Apparently, I missed the memo that it was random shit in the road week in Metro NY.

Commuting this week in Metro NY

I missed the memo, that its “random shit in the road” week. Had I known, I would have been more cautious. Usually I can avoid obstacles, with a high speed straddle, but not the chunk of drywall that flew up and hit me on the Queensboro Bridge, and not the shredded tractor trailer tire that got me on 287. But yesterday I got hit by a bumper, from what appeared to be a Scion TC. BUT I WASN’T EVEN MOVING. Seriously, the thing just flew from the oncoming lane into the front of my car while I was sitting in traffic.

 

But it’s a crazy week out there, and I don’t know what’s going on. Traffic has been brutal on every road, and drivers are insane this week. I watched numerous times as people are fighting on high speed merges, while at least twice a day someone drifts into my lane at high speeds.  A tanker truck accident also has part of the NJ turnpike Western spur closed down, as they have to repave it, because it melted.



Even though today will be lighter because its electioin day, there is some crazy construction to note right now and watch out for:

-GWB, lower level, inbound – they are working on the right hand side, Deegan bound of the GWB lower level. They cut part of a lane out of the hard left merge, which is snarling traffic, as people don’t really understand how to take a tight turn. Expect the upper level to be better.

-Throgs Neck Bridge South - take the Whitestone Queensbound. For the next two weeks, this is going to a be nightmare getting into the tolls, as they have all but 2 lanes closed and split due to construction. The problem is further compounded by only having two cash lanes on either side.

Commuters Vs. Travelers, Round 2

Wow, what a ride last night -  All lanes closed on the Bruckner backs up 95 North / CBX East for miles. Took me an hour to make it to the bridge. But I digress.

It's late May. Its getting warm. Three months of summer and significantly less traffic are just within our grasp, we just have one major hurdle to cross - Memorial Day weekend. Starting Thursday, the roads are going to be a free-for-all of minivans and weekenders blindly following their GPS devices. Get ready for a lot of road rage, accidents and accordion traffic jams that erupt without purpose as the amount of traveler’s increases, once again flooding the roads with discourteous drivers who don’t know the roads and stress behind the wheel.

I can’t wait for the summer, it typically takes me under an hour to get to work, and even the CBX rarely comes to a complete stop. Summer afternoons on the other hand, especially Thursdays and Fridays are another story.

But here are some tips to help your commute this week: Stay strong, after this, its smooth sailing.

-          Most GPS devices tell people to take the following routes -  use these alternates:

• 95/80 -use 9/46


• Whitestone - use the Throgs neck


• LIE - instead take Northern State / GCP


• Cross Island - use the Clearview


• GWB upper level - use the lower level, although sometimes the thought of driving with trucks scares travelers to the lower level.

-          NJ Turnpike Express – It sounds fast, so people take it. Use the local.

-          Go for the inner EZ pass lanes  - weekend stragglers dive into the cash lane at the last minute

-          If you take time off, drive in the morning, never in the afternoon

-          Avoid the Belt Parkway on any afternoon

-          Always watch out for last minute, three lane exit dives at high speed

An Open Letter to the Driver Doing 45 MPH in the Left Lane With Their High Beams On.

Hi, it’s you again. I pass at least two of your kind a day going the other way, and I’ll always get stuck behind one of you at least once a day. If it wasn’t for auto-dimming side and rearview mirrors, I might react with some road rage, but for now my hostilities will be put into words.

Your kind knows no ethnic boundaries. You are never always a male or female, and never of one faith. Age is also irrelevant, as is type of car or social status.  But it seems that you all are under the impression that no matter what time of day or night it is, high beams are a good idea. And why not?  Nothing says “I’ve arrived” like serving up a whole dish of blinding HID goodness to your fellow motorists who still use that tungsten based  method of illumination.  Maybe you think that bright blue icon on your dash means your headlights are on, and no one ever told you differently (I call it a blue comet looking thing). Who cares right? You aren’t the one being blinded by oncoming traffic. I bet you feel smug and safe in your car on the parkway, knowing that everyone sees you. They might not see the pedestrian, road hazard or disabled car on the road because they are blinded but hey, that’s not your problem, right?

But why are you in the left hand lane doing well below the speed limit? its called the passing lane.  I get that some people are a bit slower, and some like to drive with their brights on, but why both? Are you really that unaware of your surroundings and the rules of the road that this seems like a good idea? I wish one of your kind would go on the record to tell me what you are thinking as you cruise along, creating a wake of traffic and disgruntled drivers behind you. I really am at a loss for words what can be going through the minds of these people.

Your cousin, the no-lights-on-at-night person?  He called and wants to know that he appreciates your enthusiasm, but he will remain in the top spot of most unaware driver on the road most likely to annoy and /or kill others.

So, on behalf of the commuters of Metro NY, Long Island and NJ, I beg of you, that driver doing 45 in the left lane with your brights on, to at least move over to the right. If you cant move over to the right due to some other reason, try pushing or pulling the column stalk on you car, and realize that with the amount of streetlights and light pollution we have, you barely need headlights much less high beams.

And if someone gets behind you and starts flashing their high beams, realize how annoying it is, move over, and check to see if that little blue comet-looking icon in your dash is on.

NY thanks you.

No Matter how fast you drive....

There is an important lesson here that a cop buddy once told me. He said

"NO MATTER HOW FAST YOU DRIVE, RADIOS GO FASTER."

Guess no one told that to these guys out in Holbrook, when they were clocked by a unit and intercepted (after crashing). At any rate, thankfully no one was seriously hurt, so thats another dangerous SRT4 and Evo off the road that I don't have to worry about.  At any rate, street brakes typically can't handle a 140 mph slow down off an on ramp, as these two inevitably found out.

Hit the link for the Daily News story

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2011/03/03/2011-03-03_photo_drag_racers_speeding_over_140_mph_crash_on_lie__and_miraculously_everyone_.html

 

The battle for the highways begins.

The war started as it normally does every year. Quietly, without warning. It was two days before Thanksgiving, and they snuck onto the left lane and weren’t noticed at first. There were Toyota Siennas. Honda Odysseys. Even a couple of Volvo XC70’s.
It isn’t clear who fired the first shot. Some witnesses say it was the SUV with the soccer ball vinyl in the window that stayed in the EZ Pass lane until the last second, and then realized they didn’t know what EZ pass actually was. Others say it was the road rage exhibited from a commuter stuck behind a family actually travelling the speed limit in the left lane.
But that’s a moot point now, because the battle is here, now, and on our doorsteps. Fellow commuters know what I’m talking about, its the annual war that rages between commuters and travelers in the holiday season.
See, the thing is that commuters, we know how to drive. We know the roads. We know what lanes to be in, and we always know what the guy ahead of us, beside and behind us is going to do. We know how to drive alongside the 18 wheelers without being a hazard, and we know not how to time toll gates so we don’t actually have to stop or really even low down. We know what an actual safe following distance is. We know where our blindspots are, and we know what a safe speed is for the roads we travel, and how to handle a car. We know our cars, and we don’t typically break down. We know where the bad potholes are and avoid those lanes.
But then there are the travelers; They are on their way to Grandmas, to the in-laws or to a family friend. They heard that the airports are sexually assaulting people, so they will drive even further this year than last. In fact, a recent study by Telenav suggested 73% of people will be driving to their destinations this holiday season. Here’s how to spot them so you can stay safe this holiday season.

Top 10 ways to spot the difference between a commuter and a traveler:
1. They slam on their brakes in the Express EZ pass lane, causing a multi car pileup
2. Hang out in your blind spot
3. Drive with their brights on, even in the middle of the day
4. Have no idea what lane to be in
5. Follow pointless traffic signals, like “EZ Pass only this lane” like lemmings
6. Always within 5 mph of the speed limit, totally unaware of the line of cars building behind them
7. Will say parallel with the car in the next lane creating an impassable blockade
8. Ice + AWD inflated confidence= ditch
9. Piloting anything with a Connecticut plate that isn’t a BMW Sedan.
10. Driving at full speed, about to miss an exit their Mapquest directions or GPS failed to notify them well in advance of, cut over three lanes of traffic without looking just so they don’t have to go make a U-turn, because that would be the end of the world.

The summary is this. We have to deal with them. They will be on the road until January 2nd, so we have to learn ho to avoid them until then. We have to outsmart them. Don’t drive on weekends. Know the backroads that GPS units wont recommend, like Rt 46. Take the truck lanes. Leave some space at EZ Pass, and always watch 2-3 vehicles ahead for sudden stops, because you know they aren’t. Also, recognize the sever amount of intoxicated drivers on the road early in the night and be especially wary.
We win every year. They go away and the roads are ours once again. Sure they will come back every once in a while, like Memorial day and 4th of July holidays, but for now we have to outsmart them and outdrive them.

Top 10 List for Metro NY Commuters

I am so freakin’ excited because summer is almost here. I actually hate the heat, and could care less about the beach, but summer means that all little rug rats are out of school and traffic decreases significantly. However, there is one more hurdle to pass, and that is today. The Memorial Day Holiday.

This Thursday is by far one of the most unpredictable traffic days of the year. We just don’t know if everyone is going to be taking Friday off to get a jump on their weekend plans. We don’t know how much extra construction there will be, because crews earn time and a half for working on the holiday. We don’t know how many non-commuters will get into accidents and cause major delays for the rest of us. But I can tell you the tolls will likely be hellish.

Nevertheless, I thought of something the other day. Everyone likes top 10 lists, so I put together a list of the top ways you know you are a hardcore commuter for the NY Metro Area.

1. You can straddle a pothole at 60 mph without breaking a sweat


2. You follow the person with their convertible top down on the CBX, and squeal with delight on the inside when they get the mystery water substance dumped on them that falls from the underpasses


3. 1010Wins and NewsRadio88 are your first two presets


4. Most other places in the world would consider our safe following distance to be tailgating


5. Don’t worry about that NYPD cop, I’m only doing 65 MPH in a 50 zone


6. You know that the word “express” usually means slower. For example, “express” lanes for NJ turnpike, Long Island “Express”way, etc


7. You have a deep appreciation for Jewish holidays, no matter what your faith is


8. You have a favorite toll lane


9. You know the Clearview is where it’s at


10. And finally, you get really annoyed on Fridays when all the slow, non commuters invade your way home.

Broken down:

99 Corolla, 96 BMW 3 series, 2000 Maxima, 96 Grand Marquis, 94 Grand Marquis

Quota Time - How to Spot an NYPD Unmarked Charger

Last night, I counted no less than 10 cops on my way home patrolling for speeders. This includes NJ State Troopers, NYPD, NY Staties and a Nassau Sheriff. So apparently, its quota time.* Mostly, they are using the newer Dodge Chargers to replace aging Crown Vic interceptors. The Dodges have the 5.7 liter V8 that’s pretty badass, but with a governor.

Before we go any further, let me say to always obey local speed laws and respect law enforcement, because they are just out there making the roads safer, getting idiots off the roads, and putting money in the municipal coffer. Speeding or any unsafe driving is not safe, and is not condoned.

But you should probably know what you're up against out there.

This is what the Police package Dodge Charger Interceptor is packing:
• Zero to 60 mph: 6.0 sec
• Zero to 100 mph: 15.4 sec
• Zero to 130 mph: 32.4 sec
• Street start, 5-60 mph: 6.4 sec
• Standing ¼-mile: 14.6 sec @ 97 mph
• Top speed (governor limited): 148 mph
• Braking, 70-0 mph: 179 ft
• Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.82 g

That being said, here’s how to spot an unmarked Charger. See the below photos, but here’s where not to look:
• Exhausts – Dual exhausts used to mean unmarked. Now, even the V6 chargers have the dual exhaust.
• Light package – If you are close enough to spot hidden lights in the grill, its already too late
• Headlights – They are the same, but never HID or projector
• License plates – there no discernable special codes for law enforcement on unmarked’s
• Suspension –even though its beefed up, it’s not a discernible difference by glance

Note: taxi companies and liveries often buy used police cars for use as Taxi's. In NY, if it has an orange reflector in the back, its always a taxi.

This is what to notice: (numbers correspond to photos)
1. Rims – usually police departments use cheaper and easier to maintain black steelies with center caps
2. Antenna array – most will have 3 stubby antennas or a center mounted CB antenna
3. Spotlight on the river side is a dead giveaway. some taxi cabs leave them on
4. Brushguard / Pushbar
5. It’s what is missing here- the trim designation badge
6. Fog lights. Cop cars won’t have them, as they are always an optional accessory
7. License plate frame - only civilian vehicles from dealerships will have this
8.  Grills - typically, the body painted grill is on the SRT-8 and other higher end packages for the charger, so its pretty rare. you can bet that if the grill is not plastic chrome, it might be the fuzz.

 charger"][/caption]

Creative common license, photo by AEMoreira042281

http://www.flickr.com/photos/av8pix/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

- photo from www.autoblog.com"

The civilian model– images from www.autoblog.com


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* disclaimer - According to Police, quotas do not exist.

Broken Down - 2001 Mitsubishi Galant

New Feature: Broken Down

So I had an idea for a new feature: My dad always told me to take notice of all the cars broken down on the side of the highway when we go driving, and when it comes time for you to buy a car, don't buy what you saw broken down. Sounds simple, but this is good advice - We live in a day and age where you can't really believe reliability surveys from any car manufacturer, and sometimes a really-real-world test is what you see on the side of the road.

So what spurred this? well today, it was the 2007 Nissan Versa in the right lane of the lower level of the GWB at a dead stop, which I nearly hit at 60 MPH. Bad place to stop, even with your hazards flashing. I have heard not -so-good things about the Versa, especially given Nissan's legendary reliability of the bulletproof VQ motors. Guess I'll keep an eye out for more of them.

So from now on, I am going to report on what I see broken down, and perhaps chart it out using some crazy Excel skills at the end of the year for a completely unscientific test.

Put the damn phone down

Only twice today was I nearly sideswiped by someone texting while driving. The geniuses in Albany only recently made it illegal. It also isn't like there is a stereotype for this - The asses on the blackberries are just as bad as the high school girls who can barely drive as is. Seriously though, this should be license suspension. But heres a great video from the other side of the pond.

lots of miles, one bad pothole

What a long weekend. Logged in probably close to 500 miles of driving this weekend visiting family and friends. Traffic wasn't that bad. I have to work most of this week, and I expect it to be light for the most part in the mornings, and a bit heavier on the way home. Holiday traffic patters are sometimes hard to call because of the amount of inexperienced drivers are on the road yield a larger percentage of accidents, which equal delays. but overall, its a lot lighter.

I am also sorry to report that i didn't get either the X5 or the 98 Suby Legacy GT 5 speed I asked for this Christmas.

Also, be on the lookout for a huge pothole that has opened up on the ramp from the Grand Central to Clearview. it's one of those thats barely noticeable until your on top of it, and next thing you know, you need a new rim.

Thanks for getting wedged under a bridge, metro NY appreciates it.

I want to thank the trucker that decided to wedge himself under the bridge @Jerome Ave last night that had me sitting on the CBX for 90 minutes at a dead stop. This incident also fouled traffic throughout the metro area.

But seriously, whats up with traffic this year? It used to be this week was very quiet, with no one on the road, and this year, its mayhem with an average commute time of two hours each way.

My assumption is that less people are flying, and less people are taking time off this year. with Christmas falling on a Friday, people are just taking long weekends rather than the whole week off, which is creating massive traffic.

This will be my last post for this season. i'm taking advantage of my companies awesome work from home policy tomorrow, and will be off for Christmas.

On another note, I hope I get the new BMW X5 Turbo Diesel for Christmas this year (i wont) - I took a press fleet vehicle on tour through the California back road twisties and through the woods and mountains off-roading. The engine is a torquey monster,propelling me up hills of mud and getting me some pretty weird looks from the locals who aren't accustomed to seeing a $60K SUV on their trails with all-season tires. its a combination of ride height to body roll ratio i didn't think possible, combined with the smooth tiptronic gearbox and amazing AWD, to make this an amazing ride.

Happy Holidays!

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Another Hazard of Winter Driving

I'm back from sunny SoCal only to wake up to 2 feet of snow and blizzard conditions in Long Island. While us upstate natives call this a "dusting", its usually cause for panic amongst metro NY drivers. It is also a very good time to tell my fellow commuters CLEAN THE SNOW OFF YOUR DAMN ROOF!

I always see this for a few days after a heavy snow- People leave a mass of snow on top of their car, only to have it ice up and then fly off into unsuspecting motorists at highway speed. I have personally felt this, as a few years ago I was hit with an ice ball that shattered my windshield at about 60 MPH.  OK, I understand if you drive an 18 wheeler where the issues might be, but for those of you with SUV's, and even smaller passenger cars, it amounts to laziness. Laziness that could be deadly for your fellow motorists.

Did you know its also the law now? NJ just passed it as a state law that roofs must be cleaned off, (http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/10/nj_to_require_snow_ice_to_be_r.html) and in NY, if snow and ice fly off your car, you are responsible for damages incurred to other drivers vehicles.

I have also noticed a few hotspots to be extra cautions of falling snow and ice. On the inbound GWB, right as it enters the CBX, this is when trucks usually get up to highway speed, and an updraft will almost always result  in ice and snow flying off, even into the outbound lanes. Additional areas to watch out for are around rest areas where trucks sit for the night, and then pull on to the highway. alos, on ramps in general are where most issues happen, as cars get up to speed.

So what do you do if you see an iceberg headed for you? Try and anticipate its travel path. Typically, it will fly straight back, and if the winds catching it, you might be able to accelerate under it. Swerving should be kept to a minimum, as road conditions are usually sandy or icy and not fit for high speed evasive maneuvers. Usually, the better move is to the right, because if it does angle, it will usually go left. (I have no idea why this is, scientifically.)

But as always, the best evasive maneuver is awareness. take the time to scan ahead for cars and trucks that are potential threats, and get ahead or far behind them.

Hidden Gem - Rt. 46

Massive inbound GWB delays? This is a secret that I’m not sure I should be sharing. When coming from NJ on the Western spur of 95N, take Rt. 46 eastbound when you know traffic is bad on the other approaches. The on Ramp might look like its backed up, but the reward is usually about 30 minutes off of your commute, and it drops you off with easy access to both levels of the GWB. Good to know on weekends, when the tolls are backed up with tourists, this route is usually free and clear.

map

[http://bit.ly/8dsBJT]