4 replies to this topic

[Phil Hackett]

This question is for those of us in California in particular, but let me start why this question exists: coming back from a Christmas and New Year's celebration in Northern California, driving south down I-5, I noticed that the car traffic backs up whenever they come up to a line of 18-wheelers. (I-5 is a four-lane divided highway... two lanes each direction). There are no trucks attempting to pass but the drivers in cars slow down 10-20 mph when they are passing the trucks. The cars will be speeding along at 75-80 mph and then slow down to 60-65 mph.....

 

Is this a common thing only on I-5? Is this phenomenon happening elsewhere?

 

My relatives recently moved and the scenic, low-traffic route is no longer reasonable time-wise... (US 395 to North of Lake Tahoe)... so it's either I-5 or Hwy 99 to the Sacramento area. I always disliked I-5 through the San Joaquin Valley. I may just have to take another two-three hours and go the slower route in the future.

[James Wendel]

I live a bit farther north in Oregon, but I am sure that the truckers I encounter on I-5 are the same ones. 

 

California drivers may be reacting to the fact that many truckers will cut-off an overtaking vehicle regardless of their closing speed, in order to avoid slowing even the slightest amount for the truck in front of them.

[Brian Czeiner]

They could also be reacting to the split speed limit. We know how well people pay attention when driving these days. Cars could be coming up on trucks who are running the speed limit or at their governed speed and may feel a police officer is ahead. After a few miles the car will return to its previous speed despite not having seen a cop.

 

 

Mr. Wendel, I don't think most car drivers think that far ahead. Otherwise there wouldn't be so many people brake checking a vehicle that outweighs them by 75,000 pounds.

[Phil Hackett]

I live a bit farther north in Oregon, but I am sure that the truckers I encounter on I-5 are the same ones. 

 

There was a fair bit of this going on too. The ironic thing is, except for about 3 cases in 400 miles, they were all going above the speed limit for big-rigs.

 

The slowest vehicle on my trip was a Prius towing an (unloaded) car trailer. What that implies is mind blowing.

[John Luongo]

good observations, all. another thought is if headed down a long grade do you want to be infront of those big rigs or behind them.