If you do this can you tell me why?

Question

You are on the freeway or a road with a middle turn lane. Even though yo have the exit ramp or turn lane to slow down,you start braking prior to entering them,thereby causing everyone behind you to have to brake. Why not start slowing down once you are on the exit ramp or in the turn lane, out of the way of cars behind you?

I'm getting a lot of if I'm going fast,you're too close behind me and reasons why there may not be room to slow in the turn lane or off ramp. I'm talking about when there's plenty of room to slow down and someone is starting to brake 1/2 mile or a full block before the turn. If you're not sure that's your exit, were going too fast or didn't realize the turn was coming up, that's a whole 'nother set of driving skills you need to work on-paying attention, planning ahead and remembering that if you take the wrong exit,the highway is still there-just get back on!

Answer 1

Wow I never thought about that because now that I think about it I do that sometimes. It really depends how close I am to the exit as to how much I slow down. It is a habit I guess.

Answer 2

I don't think I do this too often, but here are some reasons I came up with:

If you are going too fast, you have to slow down to make the turn into the exit lane. Some cars don't handle as well as others at turning at higher speeds.

Also, depending on the traffic on the exit ramp, it may be necessary to slow before exiting so you won't hit the people on the ramp.

Sudden stops (such as those required by short exit ramps) are harder on a car's brakes than long, slow stops. It seems counterintuitive that being on the brakes for a long time would be better than a short time, but in this case it is better because the amount of brake pad that gets worn off is more if you push on the brakes more strongly. In some situations a long, slow stop might require that the person begins braking before exiting the freeway.

(And long, slow stops are a good idea in winter conditions anyway.)

As long as the people behind are using appropriate following distance, it shouldn't be a problem.

Answer 3

Perhaps the exit has a sharp turn. Don't forget, you're on the highway and probably going 65 mph - you don't want to be going that fast on the exit ramp! Sometimes the ramps are short too, better to be safe than sorry! And people behind you shouldn't be so close to you that they'd have to break too anyway!

Answer 4

Yeah, that bothers me too...but sometimes you have to break before going into the turn lane b/c the turn lane might be very small which doesn't give you a lot of room to decelerate. Alternatively, you might be going very fast and need more time to slow down, which you might not able to do in a certain turn lane unless you broke very rashly (also dangerous and bad for your car).

Answer 5

No, I don't think I do that, I usually get to the right lane to exit about 1 mile before the exit (and change into the right lane when safe).

Answer 6

Many most likely do this due to concern about unfamiliarity of the exit or how the car will handle your actual turn - rate of speed has to be a big factor ..... if you are in that big of a hurry, perhaps should leave earlier ..... life is too short to stress about how someone enters another lane!

Answer 7

I know what you mean. Well, when I was a young stud, I used to come out of the freeway like a bat out of hell, but now that I'm in my 60's, I try to get out a little slower so I can stop if someone's car is broken down just beyond the exit.

Answer 8

Perfectly good idea if you aren't sure if this is your exit. Its also habit. Turning the steering wheel = braking. Doesn't ahve to make sense all the time.

Does it really bother you that much to slow down for that second?

Answer 9

because i was doing 90 and wham!! there was the ramp and i had no time left. what the hell were you doin so close behind me at that speed in the first place ... tailgater.

Answer 10

I do not do this, but am equally as irritated about it as you. Every day, I am astonished about the amount of people who believe they are the only car on the road.