New 2023 traffic law for "Massholes".

[VirtualLarry]

What to know about Massachusetts' new traffic law (msn.com)

• Drivers will have to use a "reasonable speed" when they pass someone.
• Passing drivers are allowed to cross a road's yellow centerline only if it's safe, and they can't go over the speed limit to pass.
• Drivers need to give four feet of space to anyone on the road, including utility workers, tow truck drivers and construction workers.
• The state will add new road signs to remind drivers of the four-foot rule.

 

[lxskllr]

What've you people been doing up there?! Aside from the 4' rule, I thought the rest of that was standardized.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Seems reasonable to me, I always figured this was already a law though, basically would fall under dangerous driving I would think.

 

[Geekbabe]

What've you people been doing up there?! Aside from the 4' rule, I thought the rest of that was standardized.

They don’t call us Massholes for nothing, up here the normal rules of the road are considered as just suggestions

 

[ch33zw1z]

Good. IMXP biking most drivers are courteous in this way, but there’s always that asshole that can ruin it. I’ve certainly had a few close calls because somebody just wanted to let me know they’re in a truck and I’m not

 

[sdifox]

They don’t call us Massholes for nothing, up here the normal rules of the road are considered as just suggestions

When did they move Massachusetts to SE Asia?

 

[Ajay]

They don’t call us Massholes for nothing, up here the normal rules of the road are considered as just suggestions

Lol! So, true! I’ve probably commuted for 100k miles or so into Mass. Gone to Boston or Worcester many times. Driven down to my best friends folks house for many a barbecue. The weekends aren't so bad except for Boston; but weekdays seriously sucked. In one 18 month stretch, I was in 3 different accidents caused by others drivers. My neck will never be 100% again - idiots.

When the 55mph law went into effect and people were still doing 70, the state troopers lined up straight across all lanes and literally drove 55. Traffic backed up behind them for a couple of miles - despite people frustration, at least the driving became sane. If I ever commute down there again, I wish they’d do the same thing, except at 65mph.

Bonus round, nothing will change unless the police pull allot of folks over and start handing out tickets.

 

[Ajay]

When did they move Massachusetts to SE Asia?

Or Rome - glad the taxi drivers were used to the traffic. Freaking scooters bounced around left and right passing cars in heavy traffic. I liked the female cab drivers, they’d play American music and chat with us on the way - particularly calming for my wife.

 

[pauldun170]

• Drivers will have to use a "reasonable speed" when they pass someone.
• Passing drivers are allowed to cross a road's yellow centerline only if it's safe, and they can't go over the speed limit to pass.

This cracks me up.
Love this part

 

[IronWing]

• Drivers will have to use a "reasonable speed" when they pass someone.
• Passing drivers are allowed to cross a road's yellow centerline only if it's safe, and they can't go over the speed limit to pass.

This cracks me up.
Love this part

It's exactly what I was taught in drivers' ed many moons ago and the correct answer on any test. The instructor went onto say that you should pass as quickly as practical to reduce exposure to oncoming traffic, while not violating the two rules mentioned above. <nudge, nudge, wink, wink>

 

[Charmonium]

Sorry, but if I'm passing someone on a 2 lane road. That means I've probably been behind them for several very frustrating miles. So when I pass, I'm hoping to suck their nearest door right off its hinges.

 

[Captante]

They don’t call us Massholes for nothing, up here the normal rules of the road are considered as just suggestions

There are only TWO actual "laws" when it comes to driving:

(1) Behave when in sight of a cop/camera. *(aka: pics or it didn't happen!)

(2) Physics.

And sorry "Massholes" but BY FAR the worst drivers I've encountered anywhere in the US were in Florida with distant runner-up Arizona.

NYC drivers are freaking nuts too but at least the "crazy" drivers usually know how to operate a car to some small degree unlike the "gimpers" in "retirement" states.

 

[Charmonium]

NYC drivers are freaking nuts too but at least the "crazy" drivers usually know how to operate a car to some small degree unlike the "gimpers" in "retirement" states.

I think that might be a somewhat over generous assessment.

What I mean is, if the NYC taxi commission is only allowing the old econoboxes and American land yachts, then the drivers need to know, down to millimeters, how to compensate for the shortcomings of the vehicles. Some drive and navigate in such a way as to be nothing short of very high performance art.

Then you have the competent drivers who are good at menacing pedestrians and can mount pretend attacks on other cabs that can be very convincing.

 

[Captante]

I think that might be a somewhat over generous assessment.

What I mean is, if the NYC taxi commission is only allowing the old econoboxes and American land yachts, then the drivers need to know, down to millimeters, how to compensate for the shortcomings of the vehicles. Some drive and navigate in such a way as to be nothing short of very high performance art.

Then you have the competent drivers who are good at menacing pedestrians and can mount pretend attacks on other cabs that can be very convincing.

I did say SMALL degree!

 

[MtnMan]

Sorry, but if I'm passing someone on a 2 lane road. That means I've probably been behind them for several very frustrating miles. So when I pass, I'm hoping to suck their nearest door right off its hinges.

OOOOO00000ooooo°°°°.... road rage, how mature.

 

[Captante]

OOOOO00000ooooo°°°°.... road rage, how mature.

Negatory good buddy.

Road-rage = blowing past, cutting in front and STANDING on the brakes!

 

[MtnMan]

I have seen NC Highway Patrol stop someone for passing a stopped vehicle on a double yellow.

Private school parents lining up to pickup the kiddies, and the line backed out onto the main road (2-lane 35MPH). Car caught in that line sat there for a few minutes, and when safe passed about 5 cars waiting to pickup kiddo's. HP cruiser behind them whipped out and pulled them over.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Yay! I’ll finally be able to legally pass a bunghole who is going 30mph on RT 20 where it is 45 to 50mph.

 

[Captante]

I have seen NC Highway Patrol stop someone for passing a stopped vehicle on a double yellow.

Private school parents lining up to pickup the kiddies, and the line backed out onto the main road (2-lane 35MPH). Car caught in that line sat there for a few minutes, and when safe passed about 5 cars waiting to pickup kiddo's. HP cruiser behind them whipped out and pulled them over.

I hope they arrested them.... local roads are the place for strict traffic law enforcement. (especially anywhere there are lots of kids)

 

[Charmonium]

OOOOO00000ooooo°°°°.... road rage, how mature.

Can't tell if you're kidding but I'm getting a pretty heavy feeling in the opposite direction.

You know what thatls really all about. I love my car. 2008 Civic Si, 200hp, some of tightest, slickest gearing you'll ever want, So getting up 8k ( the sweet spot) in any gear is easy. 0-60 in 6.5 seconds. Not super car stats, but for me, it's about as much as I can handle and it's great fun

 

[MtnMan]

Can't tell if you're kidding but I'm getting a pretty heavy feeling in the opposite direction.

You know what thatls really all about. I love my car. 2008 Civic Si, 200hp, some of tightest, slickest gearing you'll ever want, So getting up 8k ( the sweet spot) in any gear is easy. 0-60 in 6.5 seconds. Not super car stats, but for me, it's about as much as I can handle and it's great fun

Well, maybe road raging was a bit much, but clearly aggressive driving is accurate.

I often wonder what motivates people to boast about how fast their car can go. What are they compensating for.

I love my wife, daughter, grandson's, and my dog. My car is just an inanimate object that is very useful when I want or need to go someplace.

 

[Torn Mind]

• Drivers will have to use a "reasonable speed" when they pass someone.
• Passing drivers are allowed to cross a road's yellow centerline only if it's safe, and they can't go over the speed limit to pass.

This cracks me up.
Love this part

It's pretty much there for legal system purposes, presumably the notice of due process. "You got informed, don't expect to get away easy or at all in court or other adjudications from negligent behavior; that is, you owe a duty of care to follow the rules".

By presenting this information in the test, drivers subsequently are bound to not be legally negligent should the situation arise, which is basically any motor vehicle accident that isn't settled by the parties themselves.

 

[Charmonium]

Well, maybe road raging was a bit much, but clearly aggressive driving is accurate.

I often wonder what motivates people to boast about how fast their car can go. What are they compensating for.

I love my wife, daughter, grandson's, and my dog. My car is just an inanimate object that is very useful when I want or need to go someplace.

I guess that's a valid perspective, but maybe some more context might make things more understandable.

If you've never driven a go cart or some other vehicle that is a bit over powered, language is not going to let you feel what you need to in order to understand.

If I'm in traffic and I see a juicy opening, I can downshift and go from 30 to 70 in what feel like mere moments. All the other drivers blink and I'm gone.

On local roads that I know well, I like to take sharp curves at speed and feel how the tires are slipping ever so slightly.

I can go on, but if you've never experienced these things, it's unlikely that you would choose to now. You just have to realize that for some of use, driving is a completely immersive experience with dozens of different inputs coming at you every millisecond.

 

[MtnMan]

I hope they arrested them.... local roads are the place for strict traffic law enforcement. (especially anywhere there are lots of kids)

This was the end of a very long line of cars, the school pickup area was probably close to a half mile away. This is a private school that does not utilize school buses.

Since this was probably 15 minutes before school dismisses, they would have been stuck there for 15+ minutes, and this is a semi-rural area. They were effectively blocking a state road for over 15 minutes, merely for their convenience. The school has attempted to prevent this by creating a loop in a ball field parking lot, so the line doesn't back up and onto the state road.

Nor did they pass with the intent to...

So when I pass, I'm hoping to suck their nearest door right off its hinges.

 

[Charmonium]

@MtnMan Given how this convo has gone, I have ask if you understand that what I described is virtually impossible.