Local Traffic / Drivers and "Illinazis"

[bob_rx2000]

Heading out for dinner on Saturday evening, the Bob_Rx's allotted 40 minutes to get from Casa Bob_Rx to Union Pier. This is normally a 30 minute trip on Michigan Rt. 12, and we allowed 10 extra minutes for traffic or other problems. I tend to set the cruise control at the speed limit or just over it, but found myself a traffic impediment on Rt-12, as it seems the majority of drivers wanted to fly along this 55mph road at 65mph or more. This included a seemingly vast number of cars with Illinois tags, a petroleum tanker truck that tailgated shamefully, and one young girl with Indiana tags who passed both the truck and myself heading into on-coming traffic and nearly took out 2 guys on motorcycles.

I'm very hard pressed to imagine that the 4-Winds is going to move anyplace if you arrive 3 minutes later than you might, and I have never had much patience with people who can't plan their lives well enough to allot sufficient travel time. But I have to ask...

• Is the speed limit on Rt. 12 too low, or am I the only person remaining on the planet who believes that speed limits are not only an advisory? (Happy Mom, we all know your position on this one...)
• Given that Michigan is having budgetary problems, where were the police? It seems to me that they could help out enormously slowing the traffic and with the state's budgetary shortfall by enforcing the speed limit on Rt. 12.
• Do all people with Illinois tags believe that cars have only 2 speeds, on and off?
• I'm loath to "brake test" a tanker truck when all I can see of it is the headlights about 2' from my rear bumper and we're going 57mph. Is there a generally recognized way to report a dangerous driver who tailgates shamelessly?

OK, I'm done ranting... I now return you to the regularly scheduled SBF...

[Buck Wheat]

Bob: Buck always avoids US12 when heading westward from South Bend. Too many fatal accidents between Buchanan and New Buffalo during my lifetime. As an alternative, I turn right on Bakertown Road (which curves into Madron Lake Road) and turn left on Warren Woods Road. It runs straight, smooth and uninterrupted all the way to Red Arrow Highway. If your destination is Union Pier, you'd simply hang a left and drive less than 2 miles south. WWR is a scenic trip dotted with farms, orchards and wetlands. Traffic is always very light (mostly locals). Give it a try!

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=East+Warren+Woods+Road,+Buchanan,+MI&sll=41.841638,-86.425772&sspn=0.026472,0.077162&gl=us&g=East+Warren+Woods+Road,+Buchanan,+MI&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=E+Warren+Woods+Rd,+Buchanan,+Berrien,+Michigan+49107&ll=41.841432,-86.425323&spn=0.21178,0.617294&z=11

[bdcbbq]

I usually report dangerous driving conditions and drivers. I have all of the local law enforcement offices phone numbers in my cell phone and call the appropriate one. I would tend to call county vs. state police but there is no harm in calling both. I drive U.S. 12 quite often and do see some poor traffic habits and quite a few cops a lot.

[raycyrx]

55 on US12 is too slow. However, if I recall (it's been years since I've used it), it's also in worse shape than Cleveland or Bendix... so going much more than 55 could cause damage.

[jroyale]

Heading out for dinner on Saturday evening, the Bob_Rx's allotted 40 minutes to get from Casa Bob_Rx to Union Pier. This is normally a 30 minute trip on Michigan Rt. 12, and we allowed 10 extra minutes for traffic or other problems. I tend to set the cruise control at the speed limit or just over it, but found myself a traffic impediment on Rt-12, as it seems the majority of drivers wanted to fly along this 55mph road at 65mph or more. This included a seemingly vast number of cars with Illinois tags, a petroleum tanker truck that tailgated shamefully, and one young girl with Indiana tags who passed both the truck and myself heading into on-coming traffic and nearly took out 2 guys on motorcycles.

I'm very hard pressed to imagine that the 4-Winds is going to move anyplace if you arrive 3 minutes later than you might, and I have never had much patience with people who can't plan their lives well enough to allot sufficient travel time. But I have to ask...

• Is the speed limit on Rt. 12 too low, or am I the only person remaining on the planet who believes that speed limits are not only an advisory? (Happy Mom, we all know your position on this one...)
• Given that Michigan is having budgetary problems, where were the police? It seems to me that they could help out enormously slowing the traffic and with the state's budgetary shortfall by enforcing the speed limit on Rt. 12.
• Do all people with Illinois tags believe that cars have only 2 speeds, on and off?
• I'm loath to "brake test" a tanker truck when all I can see of it is the headlights about 2' from my rear bumper and we're going 57mph. Is there a generally recognized way to report a dangerous driver who tailgates shamelessly?

OK, I'm done ranting... I now return you to the regularly scheduled SBF...

why don't you just drive on sundays like the rest of the old people [sarcasm]

[Informed Citizen]

Neither Indiana nor Michigan drivers have any room to comment on Illinois drivers.

[Happy Mom]

why don't you just drive on sundays like the rest of the old people [sarcasm]

jroyale, is that directed at me?

[bob_rx2000]

Neither Indiana nor Michigan drivers have any room to comment on Illinois drivers.

However, we who are Pennsylvania / Georgia drivers have plenty of room, indeed...