Things I'd Like To See More Often.

 Rode the mountain twisties up to Big Bear Lake (CA) yesterday morning:
68 degrees at 6,500', scattered cumulo-nimbus clouds trailing
occasional wisps of virga, light breezes, and light traffic until I
came up behind a line of 15-20 cars trailing a 23 MPH motorhome whose
driver resolutely refused to use the turnouts to let anyone get past
him.

I was just beginning to get pissed off when a CHP passed us going in
the opposite direction -leading me to feel grateful that I hadn't
started passing clumps of cages across the double yellow line as I'd
been tempted to do.

Said CHP promptly hit his lights, did a U, and came up behind us fast;
hopping around several cars at a time until he was behind the
offending motorhome, whereupon he hit his siren for a quick "WHOOP!"
and pulled the moving chicane over to the side of the road: presumably
to ticket him for obstructing traffic.

It was remarkable to see how quickly traffic smoothed out after that,
with all the slower drivers moving to their right and waving the
quicker ones past them at every opportunity.

It was also remarkable to see everyone who'd been stuck behind the
idiot in the motorhome waving at the CHP in gratitude as they passed
him by.

And to see the CHP waving back...

 

what was the posted minimum speed on this road?

 

California has a law authorizing minimum speed limits to be posted,
but hasn't actually posted any minimum speed limits anywhere in the
state.

However, California does have a law that says a vehicle proceeding
slower than the "normal" speed of traffic has to pull out and let cars
pass when there are five cars behind the slower vehicle.

California laws also say that even if a driver is going as fast as he
dares under the existing weather and visibility conditions and a
speeder comes up behind him, he has to get over.

I'll bet Tribble really got his jollies from seeing the CHP pulling
the motorhome driver over. That probably reminded him of all the times
his dad took him out
behind the woodshed and whipped his ass.

 ¿ wrote:


You care to show us where the Calif Vehicle code states what you posted
above?

 
"Basic Speed Law
22350.  No person shall drive a vehicle upon a highway at a speed
greater than is reasonable or prudent having due regard for weather,
visibility, the traffic on, and the surface and width of, the highway,
and in no event at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or
property."

The Basic Speed Law therefore establishes the prima facie speed limits
for state highways as reasonable and prudent, etc.

"Slow-Moving Vehicles
21654.  (a) Notwithstanding the prima facie speed limits, any vehicle
proceeding upon a highway at a speed less than the normal speed of
traffic moving in the same direction at such time shall be driven in
the right-hand lane for traffic or as close as practicable to the
right-hand edge or curb, except when overtaking and passing another
vehicle proceeding in the same direction or when preparing for a left
turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway."

Scofflaw speed demons consistently interpret the "normal speed of
traffic" language to mean that whatever illegal speed they drive at
everyday during their commutes is "normal".