Side note: What is this new trend or phenomenon called when you're driving with cruise control going 74 miles an hour and you catch the car in front of you from 2,337 yards away and then when you go to pass them they try and race you when you're out in the left lane trying to pass. . . . . .Please, can someone with a psychology background explain this to me???? It's killing me.
Well it doesn't take a shrink. There are two road games that some folks play. Some folks combine them, as well, and yet others are unaware they’re doing it:
1. There’s the “pass me if you can” game, where – as you mentioned – the act of passing seems to snap the driver out of oblivion and – either due to ego or due to newly-awakened state – they put pedal to metal while you’re passing.
2. There’s the “you’re the probe” game, where – upon being passed – the driver decides to latch on to your higher speed, using you as the “probe” who they imagine would be the one nabbed, should radar be out there. As you mentioned, sometimes they eventually drop off and revert to their slower speed.
I am in no way advocating speeding. Sometimes people don’t know or observe the speed limits, and are emboldened when someone passes at a higher speed. Just have noticed the patterns over the years.
