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Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda
After returning from a week long trip to the Okanagan I have a bevy of ground gears
1. How is it that an $100,000 Mercedes SUV doesn't come standard with cruise control? At least that's the only reason I can come up with for having to pass the same GLS a dozen times between Canmore and Calgary. My cruise was set at 125, and he seemed to bounce between 110-140 at random intervals
2. Why is it that some drivers are unwilling to drive faster than 110 in the left lane until I end up passing them on the right, and then suddenly they're riding my ass at 125? Are they incapable of speeding unless someone shows them how? Or are they just so insecure in their manhood that the thought of someone actually passing them sends them over the edge?
3. It's madding how all it takes is one timid driver towing a trailer to completely ruin an otherwise nice drive for dozens of people by refusing to drive faster than 70 km/h through the mountains. That is of course until they hit a passing lane and gun it to 100. I just can't comprehend the lack of self awareness to not be bothered by the mile long line of traffic behind you
Lastly, why is BC so much better at setting speed limits than Alberta? The Coquihalla is a winding highway with lots of elevation changes and a 120 km/h upper limit, while the QE2 is completely flat and straight for 90% of it's run but it's locked at 110. And HWY 1 through Banff has extra wide medians with millions of dollars worth of wildlife mitigation, yet is stuck at 90 km/h. A few hours down the road though in BC the same road is single lane with no wildlife fences or crossings, yet the speed is 100 km/h around Revelstoke. It seems to me that BC highways are designed for optimal traffic flow while Alberta is more concerned with creating honeypots for cops
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Just returned from BC last night and have experienced all three of your major gear grinders. Couldn't agree more on all three. I've been vocal about it here for many years as well like many others, I'm sure. My biggest one is when that vehicle does not move to the right and continues in the left lane driving same 90 km/hr when the passing lane comes up. This is beyond inconsiderate. This is asking for it.
I do disagree on the bold'd part with BC being so much better on speed limits. Passing lanes should be 110-120 km/hr, so that smaller vehicles could pass large semis and motor-homes cruising at 90. Having that 90 km/hr limit on passing lanes serves only one purpose - to get as many tickets as possible on any given long-weekend. Also, the large vehicles should be required to stay in the right lane and let others pass. I recall driving in Washington south of Seattle where the road had pockets requiring slower vehicles to move to and allow others to pass if there are more than 2 vehicles closely behind them. That was a really sensible thing to do and I wish we had something similar.
Also, for the n-th time, it is a national shame to have our only coast-to-coast highway not widened to 4-lanes all the way.