And I hate even more when I get off schedule. But if you promise not to sue me, I’ll post this I Hate Monday a day late. And anyway, I’m sure it’s still Monday somewhere.
Today, I would like to know what’s the deal with drivers who feel compelled to apply their brakes going down hills, even slight inclines. Let’s paint a common scenario: the speed limit is 55 mph and the road is hilly. The driver in front of you is going 50 tops when the road begins a descent down to a bridge over a creek. You might expect that a person would accept some help from gravity and let their speed increase because, after all, there’s a corresponding climb back up on the other side of the bridge. But no, they’re actually braking as they go downhill. That is insane, in my humble opinion, especially in the common situation I’ve just described.
To take a specific local example (you world wide web readers across the globe, fill in your own local example here), heading outbound (west) on Walton Way there is a slight downslope just past Aumond Road as Walton Way descends to the level of the ponds at Camelia Road. People brake while going down that stretch. Why?
Especially in situations where the dip is followed by a corresponding climb and the road ahead is clear, why brake? Gas is close to $4 a gallon. Doesn’t it make sense to conserve it? Slowing down in your approach to an uphill climb is a needless waste of gas and money.