And How To Use Them
I have lived in several states west of the Mississippi, and driven in quite a few. Mostly people seem to know how to get on and off of a busy controlled-access-highway. A few usually older, seem to have problems. You will see that "tri-silvertips" vehicle slowing down and then trying valiantly once the slug of traffic has passed to accelerate. Or slowing nearly to a stop on the highway prior to entering the off-ramp. Yet this problem seems to be prominent in Oklahoma, not only in the aged but in all age groups. Granted the Engineers who designed the Oklahoma highways obviously had gas leaks in their offices which affected their abilities but mostly the highways have proper length ramps to allow proper speed matching. Yet it is still common to find some Okie slowing to a crawl or even risking their life and others by coming to a stop on the on-ramp.
Here is a simple hint for how to enter and exit a turnpike/freeway or any controlled access road. That ramp is for adjusting your speed. In the case of an off-ramp, do not slow until you have entered the ramp. That is simply considerate of other drivers behind you. They do not want to slow down because you are trying to avoid using your brakes to come to a stop. In the case of an on-ramp, match your speed to the traffic you are planning to merge with. USE YOUR THROTTLE!
If Traffic is going 70MPH then accelerate to 75 so that you can slow for the space behind that truck, yet you will be going 70 when you move over. If you stop the guy behind you who is looking back will hit you and you deserve it. He does not. If you want to stop pull off of the ramp onto the emergency parking lane or into the ditch. Do not block those who want to go somewhere. Do not enter a highway going slower than the flow of traffic and expect others to move out of your way, that is RUDE.
If someone comes on too slowly in front of you, don't move over and block the fast lane. It is not courteous to move over it is self centered rudeness to the people in the lane you move into. Even if you insist that you are being courteous, why do the people entering too slowly deserve courtesy when those in the fast lane get your rudeness? I do recognize one exception to this rule: vehicles which can not get going any faster, like 18 wheelers. They are doing their best, so yes, move over, BUT, accelerate. Do not be rude to those who were going faster than you wish speed up until you pass then get back over, where you may once again slow down.
Do this for yourself, your family and the family's you would hurt by killing or injuring one of their loved ones. USE THE RAMPS properly. It actually makes your drive much safer and easier to do this properly. It may seem wrong to go faster but you will see that it works.
I hope to be able to give you a thumbs on the highway someday due to your proper entry/exit procedure.
-Mycroftxxx
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