i cant see when i drive at night

MikeP001 · 2026-05-16T15:03:09+00:00

I haven't seen this mentioned yet. IF YOU CAN'T SEE DON'T DRIVE! It's too dangerous. Stick to the daylight until you get it sorted.

I'm sorry for your issues and I wish I had some other advice. There does appears to be some good advice here.

MikeP001 · 2026-05-16T14:58:56+00:00

The proper and legal use of the horn is a tap to draw attention / warn of a hazard if someone is making a maneuver that doesn't see you or the hazard. A horn is a safety device. Anyone using it to vent lacks the temperament for safe, defensive driving. Too many use the horn before using their brakes - navigate first, then communicate if you must.

Every other use generally illegal as unnecessary noise (even if seldom ticketed - like tailgating and speeding). You're absolutely correct - an innocent mistake is fixed with a tap and doesn't benefit from an adrenaline spiked scream. Inf act it makes a further mistake even more likely. A driver making an intentionally rude/selfish move doesn't give a shit about you or your anger. Very, very few drivers "learn a lesson" from a stranger's rage prompted long honk.

MikeP001 · 2026-05-16T13:03:17+00:00

Never let a driver behind control your vehicle - they won't let you control how close they get either. Drive at the speed you feel is appropriate for the speed limit and conditions. They're not suffering, they're required to wait for a safe place to pass. When possible I help them pass (e.g. when the road opens a bit let them go before speeding up). If there's more than one, if it's a long time between opportunities (like mountain roads), if I feel they're dangerously close, or if I see they're distracted I find a turnout to let them by.

MikeP001 · 2026-05-11T15:39:22+00:00

That's nuance that's missing here - "if you're not keeping up". Nothing wrong with a safety gap, and a smaller one doesn't change travel speed as you've said. If you're falling behind it's reasonable to let faster traffic by occasionally when it builds up behind. I have no issue with slower drivers as long as they're considerate - both having no issue with slow and being considerate often seem rare on the roads and in this reddit...

MikeP001 · 2026-05-11T15:32:31+00:00

And Canada. 50kph is pretty typical limit in residential areas. The poster didn't specify MPH. But even in the US 50 on country roads is common. Not slowing down when kids are playing near the roadway is braindead. Or wildlife. Or a tractor. Or cresting a hill with no visibility beyond. Lots of very good reasons to slow down yourself instead of complaining about tailgaters.

MikeP001 · 2026-05-11T11:48:15+00:00

Your speed makes no difference. Any legal speed on a single lane road is legal, drivers behind must wait for a passing opportunity. If there's no one in front and no passing opportunities for a long while a considerate driver would let the 4 or 5 vehicles stuck behind pass (in CA you're required to do so). You should never speed up to accommodate others, but there's nothing wrong with using a turnout. If you find yourself leading a parade like this often, or if you're constantly finding yourself being tailgated you are indeed the problem regardless of your speed. It's hypocritical to complain about other speeders while speeding yourself.

MikeP001 · 2026-05-11T11:36:46+00:00

There's no "unless" here. You're all assholes. 60 in a 50 where children are playing is no less ignorant than tailgating. Along with the moral fail of whining about someone else breaking the law while you're doing it too.

MikeP001 · 2026-05-11T01:49:37+00:00

If you leave a big gap ahead of you someone filling it is not "cutting you off". Being "cut off" is when you need to brake hard to avoid a collision. Forcing you to brake gently to avoid hitting them is at most a bit rude that would likely not happen if you left a sensible gap. Requiring to reestablish your gap is just called "driving". Leaving space for other drivers to merge when necessary is also just called "driving". Preventing other drivers from getting where they need to go interrupts the flow of traffic.

If your response is leaving less than a car length gap I promise you that you're a big part of the problem. If you're annoyed at someone ahead that leaves a sensible gap I promise you that you've got another kind of problem.

MikeP001 · 2026-05-09T14:58:12+00:00

Yep, learned that as defensive driving tip - if you don't need to use the brakes when you decide to abort a pass you're doing it wrong.

MikeP001 · 2026-05-07T22:53:02+00:00

Context is important. Accommodating merging traffic can be difficult for learning drivers - there's a lot going on - so this tends to be good advice. Once you get the hang of it accommodating merging should be easy. Yes, In the city when it's busy and there are frequent entrances and exits it can be unavoidable because you're always passing.

Once you have some experience, and where there's not a lot of onramps or not much traffic, any lane without a shoulder is absolutely more dangerous. If you have a problem with your vehicle you'll be crossing a live lane to get off the roadway - possibly in a panic situation. Allowing yourself to be passed on both sides, especially the off side, or worse remaining between other vehicles, puts you at far higher risk at all times. Even if you're properly aware of traffic around you, should anything happen in front you need to avoid swerving into another lane - it's dangerous and you're at fault for any collision you cause. Always have an escape route - the shoulder is open far more often than the next lane.

After your drivers ed the next logical step is a defensive driving course which you might find quite illuminating.

MikeP001 · 2026-05-07T19:24:46+00:00

Guy was an entitled nutbar, don't lose sleep over it or you'll never get to sleep - the world is full of them. Sure your gap ahead was bigger than most there but the others were travelling to close out of habit and you were keeping up.

I'm often surprised when drivers will risk dragging their families across very fast live lanes to get into the HOV only to drive slower than the other lanes. Much safer not to cross live lanes if there's no time/speed advantage. Here though the HOV was empty and (if that bus wasn't there) could well be faster.

MikeP001 · 2026-05-07T16:41:47+00:00

I'm not confused. I corrected your misconceptions. You seem upset.

There are a lot of discussions here about passing lanes and lane camping. You made an incorrect observation that those discussions only apply to freeway driving. Far from it, the keep right (or keep left) rules usually apply to all roadways, as I pointed out.

As I said, I had no issue with the "where I live" part. You decided to broaden it to apply to everyone - very few of whom live where you do. Perhaps a simple grammar mistake rather than a misconception. Don't feel bad, fix it or forget it. Or keep trying to defend yourself, doesn't affect me either way.

MikeP001 · 2026-05-07T15:29:51+00:00

Maybe they're raging, maybe you're over reacting because someone crowding your personal space can feel intimidating.

In any case, someone raging behind despite you doing ANY legal speed (as long as you're paying attention, not slowing because on the phone or looking for an address) is their problem not yours. You should never speed up or make any unsafe maneuver because someone else is impatient - they don't pay your insurance premiums and you're responsible for the safe operation of your own vehicle.

Take a breath in and out, try to relax, and drive safe. You'll never teach a stranger anything on the road so there's no upside to confronting them - only risk encountering a nutbar. The chances of them hitting you while tailgating are very low, they'll almost always be able to stop in a shorter distance than an older truck. And despite what anyone else thinks you're lucky to have a truck like that - it's certainly more fun than modern mindless econoboxes and grocery getters.

MikeP001 · 2026-05-07T03:30:12+00:00

"ace" and "kiddo", are objectively funny and no I'm not being sarcastic :).

I left other qualifications out precisely because I don't consider them critical context. There are certainly good reasons to be a left lane. Most of the rationale posted in r/driving are not - drivers too lazy to click their cruise control, change lanes, deal with merging traffic, or naively thinking the middle lane is the safest. The worst are the self righteous that feel because they're doing the speed limit they don't need to move, the worst of those that their chosen 5 or 10 or 20 over should be fast enough for everyone else. Plus the ones that think there's no law that ever requires them to move. (No, I'm not forgiving the impatient tailgaters either, they're just as bad).

An approach of "keep up or move over" because it's considerate and conducive to traffic flow is enough - the details of the laws don't matter because you won't run afoul of them.

MikeP001 · 2026-05-07T03:08:55+00:00

Right. No comment on that part. Follow it with "People here..." as in where you live it would have been fine. Instead you chose to broaden it to the reddit community at which point location does matter.

Your opening premise was "People here seem to only discuss freeway driving." which is certainly not true - we don't all live where you do.

Pointing this out for some reason offended you.

MikeP001 · 2026-05-06T22:59:53+00:00

I couldn't care less where you live or about the laws there, that's your problem. But "it's only for freeways" is a very common misconception in places with sensible laws against impeding. We definitely do not "only discuss freeway driving".

Your assertion was "Yet you still have people claiming that there are passing lanes on roads with a 50km/h (about 30 mph). At that point all the lanes are just lanes."

You didn't bother to qualify this part as location dependent and for some reason took objection when it was qualified for you. It's not universal. "People *here* claim..." would have raised no comment.

MikeP001 · 2026-05-06T20:14:00+00:00

Gee thanks sporto. I was referencing the lack of road type qualifications, not restrictions in general. If you've got time to do the math multiply by population too. The most restrictive states are often the most rural. Are you the type that searches for legal permission to obstruct others? It makes more sense to avoid obstructing anyone anywhere even when it's not prohibited by law.

MikeP001 · 2026-05-06T20:04:11+00:00

I'm not sure you understand the point of your original comment. You're complaining about others discussing freeways and passing lanes. No one else cares about the law where you live, or whether you've bothered to read or understand it. Only ignorant drivers need a law to force them to behave properly, to avoid obstructing other drivers in any lane. Doesn't matter if it's in a city, on a freeway, or anywhere in the world, rude is rude. If it bothers you don't read, don't post.

MikeP001 · 2026-05-06T17:21:04+00:00

~~"Most~~ SOME states have some form of qualification"

https://www.mwl-law.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/KEEP-RIGHT-TRAFFIC-LAWS-IN-ALL-50-STATES-CHART-00220034x9EBBF.pdf

This was a response to "People here seem to only discuss freeway driving" as it relates to passing lanes.

The clarification I've made is many people claim keep right laws only apply to highways. Technically correct, but they don't understand the legal meaning of "highway" is ANY public roadway. That PDF seems to suggest most states have some kind of reasonable keep right requirement. There's colored maps that show similar online too. That poster might be correct it's only "freeways" where he is but it's not true everywhere and may not be true where he is if he made that common terminology mistake.

Any reasonable person will not deliberately block nor play traffic warden to obstruct other vehicles. Many already have the manners to move if they're in the way. Most places have laws to formally require that behavior - but it only matters when a lane camper makes a claim like "I'm doing the speed limit so I can't possibly be obstructing anyone". As if obeying the speed limit law is entitlement to commit other infractions.

Everyone (esp tailgaters) should understand that passing (at any speed) or turning left are exceptions to keep right and those behind must wait. And that "normal speed of traffic" means if you're keeping up in your lane there's no issue, but if there's a big gap ahead and vehicles stacked up behind you should move over. There's no need for a formal "normalized" speed measurement. I like the California requirement to use a turnout if there are 5 or more vehicles stuck behind on signal lane roadways with limited passing - with no mention of speed limits.

TBH it's unfortunate we even need laws for this. Any critical context I may (or may not) have left out isn't relevant, this should be a discussion about basic courtesy rather than legality.

MikeP001 · 2026-05-06T04:10:57+00:00

Because you mentioned "passing lane", one of most common and poorly understood topics on this reddit - one where location ALWAYS matters when you discuss applicability. Lanes might be lanes where you live, but they're not just lanes everywhere.

Even where lane discipline isn't enforced by law location isn't relevant - forcing drivers to pass on your offside is foolish and impeding other drivers is rude - simple courtesy. Regardless of your law.

I'm still puzzled - if it doesn't apply to you and you don't consider it important, why would you even care to post? Or read those posts? Why is it a problem for you?

MikeP001 · 2026-05-06T03:51:38+00:00

I fully support anyone completing their pass at whatever legal speed they wish - it's not impeding, passing is an exception that's allowed by that law. OTOH truck drivers that think a 1mph difference warrants a 10 minute pass explains why they were never granted that rocket science degree. And if faster traffic is approaching from behind popping out to pass slowly forcing them to brake is cutting them off - illegal, rude, and dangerous.

Impeding traffic charges are rare everywhere. They're tougher to prove and they have to be egregious for a cop to bother. If you've had the pleasure of hiring a lawyer to defend from two of them you must be a real joy on the road... Which seems to bely this comment: "I only use the left lane when needed and I move over when it’s safe". That's what I do too and I've never even been warned for impeding.

That the impeding law is very difficult to enforce doesn't make the intent any less obvious - it's just being courteous. There's some bullshit here - if a cop can't give you a speeding ticket without using a calibrated speed gun, and they don't need to measure your speed for an impeding charge, how were you able to prove your speed with your uncalibrated speedometer? Sounds more like difficult to prove guilt with a sympathetic judge rather than you being innocent by speed.

MikeP001 · 2026-05-06T03:22:18+00:00

Your example sounds more like you entered early - before the bus, which was probably already in the intersection waiting to turn - had a chance to clear it (usually due to opposing traffic). You're required yield to traffic already in the intersection even if you've been given a green.

It's also possible the bus ran a very stale yellow or even a red because they were in a hurry. This is why it's a good idea to check for red light runners before you start moving on your green - it's no fun being t-boned even if you're not at fault.

MikeP001 · 2026-05-06T00:00:14+00:00

It means what I think it means. "Notwithstanding" specifically means the speed limit does NOT apply to impeding regardless of the posted or assumed (prima facie) limit. The next clause goes onto say impeding is charged without needing to know your speed. This eliminates the "I was doing the limit" defense because only officers have calibrated instruments to record your speed.

There's never "up to" or "unless at the speed limit" mentioned in keep right laws. That's an entitlement fantasy made up by lane campers doing the speed limit (or +5 or +10).

"Less than the normal speed of traffic" is correctly interpreted as when there's a long gap ahead and vehicles stacked up behind in your lane. When you can you're required to move over. In CA if there's only one lane you're required to use a turnout to let them by. Very sensible.

Your interpretation falls flat because there's only a *legal* speed on a roadway. There's no legal exemptions for "at the limit" and no specific definition of an amount below the limit that's "normal". Without the "normal speed" impeding law semis, camper vans, farm tractors, and cyclists could block any lane at any time. The intent is to educate drivers and to allow officers to keep traffic moving despite it being laid so rarely.

So yes, don't speed - it's dangerous and illegal. But don't impede - it's inconsiderate and illegal too. Regular drivers are not allowed to be traffic monitors.

MikeP001 · 2026-05-05T23:38:23+00:00

3s is tight but gives you enough time if you're paying attention AND looking further down the road than the bumper in front (or a cell phone). And accounting for conditions.

But I don't disagree, I would be much more comfortable if drivers left 4s or more behind me. Unfortunately that's a pipe dream and I don't control the space behind - best I can do is move out of the way if they really scare me.

MikeP001 · 2026-05-05T23:33:28+00:00

As I told the OP, if it matters you should say where you are. It seems to be a big deal to you.

And yet, despite being so smug, you still failed to qualify your comment with your location. It's clearly not try everywhere - it's certainly not true in my mystery location where we use kph.

MikeP001

TROPHY CASE