Here are today’s Clovers! The first is a questionable Clover. I rolled up behind a guy who had a large object (perhaps a tent) strapped to his roof. When you have a large object strapped to your roof, it is generally unwise to drive fast laterally, i.e., in the curves. Meaning it is reasonable to slow down. But is it reasonable to not pull off onto the shoulder to allow cars behind you to get by? Especially when there is ample shoulder to do so?
The second Clover is unquestionably a Clover. A truck (SUV) Bro Clover. The guy (sometimes it’s a woman) who drives a massive truck (or SUV) and uses its massiveness to block the left lane, even when the right lane is completely clear and available. They seem to be even more prolific lately – more so than Prius Clovers ever were and far more bizarre since it is understandable that people who buy a Prius did so to save on gas money and part of saving on gas money is driving like a turtle trying to cross the road. But what is it with people who buy a huge SUV, which necessarily uses a lot of gas no matter how it’s driven? And what is it in either case with just squatting in the left lane, even when the right lane is open?
I think the answer is that a lot of former Prius drivers are now driving big trucks and SUVs because they like the room and the size makes them feel invulnerable whereas when you’re in a Prius, you feel outclassed by everything else.
. . .
If you like what you’ve found here please consider supporting EPautos.
We depend on you to keep the wheels turning!
Our donate button is here.
If you prefer not to use PayPal, our mailing address is:
EPautos
721 Hummingbird Lane SE
Copper Hill, VA 24079
PS: Get an EPautos magnet or sticker or coaster in return for a $25 or more one-time donation or a $10 or more monthly recurring donation. (Please be sure to tell us you want a magnet or sticker or coaster – and also, provide an address, so we know where to mail the thing!)
If you’d like a Baaaaa hat or other EPautos gear, see here!
There is a road on the way to work, that goes from two to four lanes. However unlike the road in the video, the new lane is the left lane and you have to merge into it to use it. The right lane continues as the thru lane, and you don’t have to do anything. But most people still seem to veer into the new left lane rather than stay in the right lane. Unfortunately it’s usually the slowpoke that has been holding things up, and they seem to instinctively go into the lane they DON’T belong in. So even changing the design to make the new lane the left doesn’t stop this rude behavior.
Totally feel this, it’s like Clover energy just evolved into something bulkier. First guy needs to learn courtesy; second one’s just owning the fast lane like it’s a parking spot. Left lane isn’t a lounge!
Was driving back home from visiting family this weekend on the interstate. We get into a tunnel, which is already a chokepoint through my hometown because the engineers inexplicably curved the interstate right at the entrance.
They’re building a new bridge to supplement the tunnel, but at the pace we build things, I’ll be in the grave before a single car travels on it.
This clover in a blue Lexus SUV brakes IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TUNNEL with nothing in front of them. We pass them, unfortunately on the right, and think nothing of it. Then about 20 miles down the interstate, they fly past us doing at 30 over the limit. What gives?
Drink will do that.
I’d probably give the cargo carrying one a break.
First thing is that, yes, I have to make the assumption that he was traveling at a reasonable speed (not exactly the speed limit, maybe slower or faster, just moving at a speed similar to prevailing traffic) and is in good control. If that’s true then it’s MY responsibility to execute a good pass. I am not entitled to a total clear road or to expect every driver to be secondary to my chosen path and speed.
Doesn’t bother me to wait until a dashed center line or uphill passing lane or slow vehicle turn out (maybe those aren’t common back east?). If they don’t use the turn outs or actually impede me from safely passing then I’d be ticked.
I’ve seen impatient drivers use the shoulder to pass, the opposite action to what is being debated. You’d have to know for sure it’s wide and not soft. We have a lot of soft shoulders out here that your passenger tires will end up on broken pavement, gravel or dirt, never mind debris, broken car parts, road kill.
Even if it’s good enough to be a basically full speed travel lane using it while moving still requires slowing to get over and then merging back, which we know can be highly challenging to clovers, too. I’d prefer someone keep on a constant path instead of erratic or random actions, so I can have some idea how they’re going to react when I do try to pass.
I blame the rise in clovers with the jab, even bad drivers back then weren’t as bad. Meanwhile I have to drive like its an action movie to break out from the slowmo’s barely doing 50 in a 50, feels like crawling out of an avalanche with how ridiculous it all is.
Every day I think about the George Carlin quote, he was right then and even more right now
At one time 50 years ago I would drive the gravel roads and into the prairie trails for the fun ride on a warm summer day, just to get away from it all.
Nowadays, the gravel roads are disappearing in places and the prairie trails are reverted back to prairie.
Roads that were actively driven and used 50 years ago are now impassable, covered with weeds and grass, gone forever.
Nobody lives down the road anymore.
I drive down country roads in early June to look for asparagus, I know where there is a plethora of asparagus.
Four inches of rain in the rain gauge and it’s going to rain again today. Gotta go weed and cultivate. It’ll be a sloppy mess, muddy and can’t be worked until dry enough. Sure is wet out there.
The tractor will crawl along at 4.5 mph to make everything black.
All kinds of white and yellow clover out there this summer, you see the clover in the ditch, where it belongs.
Clovers on the highway are rooted at 68.2 mph, one of those immovable objects on the move, sort of.
Let’s face it US drivers are some of the worst in the world.
These clover behaviors are nothing new but they are beyond frustrating.
Over the years I’ve read a steady supply of those that comment here that support the clovers behavior in various forms: hyper-milers that won’t yield to the flow of traffic, those that shame right lane passing of the left lane hogs, those that can’t drive in snow cause they don’t believe in AWD/4WD. The list goes on and on.
It’s a logical outcome of a narcissistic society.
I drove to Denver this weekend. Bad enough during the week, but the I-70 traffic on weekends is brutal. I timed the trip to avoid the worst of it, but yet somehow it still took an extra hour and a half to get home compared to during the week.
A few clovers spotted were the left lane hog, as expected. The 1 MPH passer, and the herd mentality people who creep up in the left lane and sit on your rear quarter panel.
I won’t bother to bring up the people who crawl into tunnels then once in launch themselves like they are in a Viper, defending the Galactica from the Cylons. Claustrophobia?
But I also spotted plenty of examples of something I think is new: The “slow down to pass clover.” These people will run at the PSL in the left lane like the truck bros, but when it comes to overtaking a slower vehicle (especially commercial trucks), they slow way down to just a little faster than the semi. Then once past, they speed up again. I’ve seen it so often that someone must be training them to do it, there’s no way that’s natural.
Do they get angry, honking and flipping you off when you do manage to pass them up? Its like “are you fucking retarded, you’re the asshole holding everyone up and yet you got the balls to be mad at me here?!”
The tunnel thing is psychological. It’s a phenomenon known to civil designers about tunnels, bridges, shelf roads, skyscrapers, etc. Most people are a little apprehensive about it and if you’re not there’s an explanation, like you’re an adrenaline junky or iron worker with a lower than normal fear response. When you’re young the fear of tunnels is basically the same fear of not wanting to be buried alive or drowning if the tunnel is under a body of water.
Might be genetic and usually be unlearned by experience. When you’re profiled for submarine service they look for some of the same responses, or rather lack of them more precisely. In that case the idea of being in a tube can be debilitating while on the surface for us normal people it’s more a range of phobias that can be rationally controlled by most but may really bother some people.
I have a healthy respect for heights and enclosed spaces. But it doesn’t mean that I give in to my animal urges and tie up traffic because of my emotions.
People aren’t aware they’re tapping the brakes until they’re made aware of it.
It’s like Temple Grandin, she figured out how to make an environment to get cattle to do what ranchers want without thinking about it. We’re all animals. I mean present company excluded, most of aren’t perfect with sometimes do things subconsciously so they design approaches to minimize the effect. Same with exiting a tunnel, people tend to tap their brakes if they don’t get a visual warning, usually a slight curve so the dark to bright light transition isn’t abrupt.
I have a friend who doesn’t like tunnels and will do Loveland Pass whenever she can. She’s doing her best to not offend all you perfect people.
Hi Kat,
I don’t disagree with anything you’ve written. None of us is perfect; but it’s sound policy to try to be better!
Yes, most people can deal with being uncomfortable and let them turn into phobias. There’s an argument that in the past few years society has embraced weirdness instead of scold it., so could be getting worse. But it’s likely the feeling was always there and needed to be consciously suppressed. Thank you mom, dad, decent teachers and well adjusted friends back in the 60s and 70s.
“herd mentality people who creep up in the left lane and sit on your rear quarter panel”
Yes the herds, 4 or more in a close formation, crazy. From everyone reporting here I swear the WA State Mobile Morons have infected your states as well. My 1971 high school drivers ed instructor was a smart driver. If you’re going to pass, then get it done quickly don’t fool around hit the gas and go. Also, stay away from the herds and if possible never follow anyone towing anything since amateur towers are morons even back then. (yes kids, it was after hours, $35, usually taught by a PE teacher or sports coach – some ‘before times’ stuff worked well)
Hmm, that’s the second white SUV you’ve had in this video series within the last few weeks.
Here in Austin, white half ton pickups driven stupidly are an increasing menace.
Morning, Roscoe!
I encounter these Truck (and SUV) Bro types every single time I go somewhere. It’s gotten noticeably worse over the past two years. I am not sure exactly why.
Hmm — what happened 4 years ago? Oh what could it be?
Boy don’t they? The other plague here around Houston is mid sized crossover vehicles. RAV4, Highlanders. And also Mid sized Japanese sedans all hog the left lane. Chargers like to go 95 in the right lane. I can’t blame them as they want to get by, but they can be aggressive dickheads