Why catch up before passing?

I drove my 4 wheeler from PA to Iowa two weeks ago and then back to PA. Most of the truckers were pretty good with lane changes, but I did come across a few too many truck drag races at 63 mph in a 70 mph zone. None of the trucks in the right lane would slow down for a passing truck.

I think it is the old 80/20 rule. 80% of the drivers are really good drivers, and the other 20% not so much.

Keep safe out there.

 

If you remove people who aren't good drivers who are acting on impulse from the equation, you can still get two good drivers in this situation...

I think much of it has to do with running a lot on cruise controls which are set at slightly different speeds.
Driver A's cruise is bringing him up on you slowly yet you are both near the speed limit. At the same time, most people don't want to sit in the fast lane for long...especially at just slightly over the speed limit.

A lot of tendencies start to conflict. Subconsciously you don't want to reset the CC you've set just right, you don't want to suffer a speeding ticket or waste fuel blasting by, and you don't want to just creep past with a dozen passenger cars behind you, so basically I think the brain kind of procrastinates having to deal with it until forced to do so... which is usually right around the time they are getting a bit close to your tail end.

 

I think it's a monkey see thing. They also aren't working nearly as hard as you if it's at night. They are just following your tail lights, and your truck, while you are the path finder.

 

The person that trained me said to get up very close before moving to the left lane for the pass.
It would prevent cars from coming from the right and cutting me off, possibly causing an accident.
That was smart thinking for that situation.

But... I think it was stupid thinking for many other situations.

I won't run up to the bumper of another vehicle before passing.
If I don't have a very clear opening in traffic I will simply back down my speed at a safe following distance until I do.
But I seem to be the exception to the rule with most current drivers.

Everyone seems to be in such a hurry these days.

 

When I was driving Schneiders governed trucks and caught up to somebody going slightly slower, it wasn't a simple matter of pass if I am faster. Had to take several things into consideration because it's not just a matter of passing, it is also a matter of staying ahead or the pass was pointless.

Exactly how fast is he going?
-hang back and match his speed to see exactly what the difference is. My schneider truck was limited to 60.5 on cruise, but 64 on the pedal. Knowing the other guys exact speed will tell me how easily I can pass him.

Can I pass in a timely matter based on the other trucks speed?
-if it will take me 10 miles to pass him, then I may be holding up traffic for a while

What is the terrain like?
-if I caught up going up a long hill, he may only be going slower due to the hill, he will be faster going down.
-if I caught up to him going down a long hill I may be heavier then him and thus faster, but he will be faster up the next hill.
-if on level ground but approaching a long hill, wait until after the hill. I already know how it will effect my speed, but I need to see how it will effect his speed. No point in trying to pass if the hill will slow me down but not him.

How soon do I need to get off the road?
-if I am exiting in 30 miles, why bother spending 10 miles trying to pass somebody going half a mile slower then me?

Is his speed consistent?
-if he isn't going a consistent speed then he may not be using cruise control and if I pass him going only slightly faster, he may just pass me again, also only going slightly faster. Or his weight may be causing speed changes on the small hills so he will end up trying to pass me again.
-if his speed is consistent, regardless of the slight hills, he may be empty and may not be effected by other larger hills.


Of course, all this is mainly just for small differences in speed.
If the difference is great, like 5-10mph, then pass when traffic allows before needing to slow down behind the person. There has been times I played 'leap frog' with other companies on hills when I was faster going up them.

 

A truck being passed has zero obligation to slow down for the princess passing truck especially ifthe princess pasing truck is only going .50 miles per hour faster than the truck princess passer is trying to pass.

My opinion, if you cannot pass quick fast in hurry, keep your princess ace back where it belongs in line.

 

Or drive a ungoverned truck.

 

TRUE!! Mine is governed at about 77-78........I rarely have problems passing any of the company trucks out there.
Now if I see an O/O running up behind me I sure step out of the way.....They make great front doors!

To me there is way more stress driving a 65-68 mph truck too...Just because of the passing issues and getting hung in the left lane for miles....