My Driving Adventure

to and from School

(The reddish dots indicate stop lights)

The map above shows the various roads I take to and from Sandy Spring Friends School (In the DC Metro Area). Unless I take 32 the only multilane highway I take home is 29, and that is only for a mile or so, so I don't encounter nearly as many assholes as I would if I took the freeway home however I encounter enough.Therefore, for the last 4 weeks remaining in school I plan on telling you about by driving adventures to and from school and I plan on keeping tally of the number and type of assholes I encounter.

The Routes

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(Given from home to school)

Main: Gorman. Left on 29. Right on 216. Left on Hall Shop (not labled). Left on 108. Left on Norwood (not labled). Left on 182.
The route I normally take.
Pindel: Gorman. Left on Pindel. Same as above.
The route I take if there is a chance of 29 getting backed up.
Back: Gorman. Left on 29. Right on 216. "Straight" on Lime Kilm. Left on Ednor. Right on 182.
The route I sometime takes home. Can be 2-3 min faster on the way home but in the morning the lights get too backed up.
Mink Hollow: Gorman. Left on 29. Right on 216. Straight onto Highland. Left on Mink Hollow. Left on 108. Left on Norwood (not labled). Left on 182.
The route I sometimes take on the way home if there is a slowpoke on 108. Longer.

The Roads

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216: Speed Limit: 45
Typical Traffic Speed: 50
My Speed: 55-60 (morning), 60-65 (afternoon)
Nice Open Highway. A little twisty, 3 passing zones but they are short. One TRUE 35mph curve. In the morning I keep my speed down because there are two many jackasses who will pull out in front of you. It is not the type of road one can really relax on because too much can happen.
108: Speed Limit: 50
Typical Traffic Speed: 50
My Speed: 50-60
Hilly Curvy Highway. Has several 40-45 mph curves but then it strains out but still hilly. More relaxing than 216 because it is wooded and there is only one road to have to look out for turing traffic on.
108 through Sandy Spring: Speed Limit: 30
Typical Traffic Speed: 40
My Speed: Try to keep it at 40-45 but sometimes 50
Small town with a LOT of through traffic. In the morning it tends to move a nice steady 40 mph.
Gorman East of 29: Speed Limit: 30
Typical Traffic Speed: 45-50
My Speed: 50
Neborhood collector.
Gorman West of 29: Speed Limit: 35
Typical Traffic Speed: 45-50
My Speed: 55-60
Technically John Hopkins. Straight and wide.
Pindell: Speed Limit: 30
Typical Traffic Speed: 45-50
My Speed: 50
Back Road. Narrow but pretty straight.
Lime Kilm: Speed Limit: 35 for a while from Ednor but then 30
Typical Traffic Speed: 45-50
My Speed: 45-55
Twisty hilly back road with several shart 25-30 mph turnes. I normally downshift to 3rd on this road for more control.
Ednor: Speed Limit: 35, 30 north of Bridge
Typical Traffic Speed: 45-50
My Speed: 45-55
Twisty hilly back road. I normally downshift to 3rd on this road for more control.
Mink Hollow: Speed Limit: 35
Typical Traffic Speed: 45-50
My Speed: 45-55
Twisty hilly back road. I normally downshift to 3rd on this road for more control.
Highland: Speed Limit: 35
Typical Traffic Speed: 45-50
My Speed: 45-55
Twisty hilly back road. I normally downshift to 3rd on this road for more control.
US 29: Speed Limit: 55
Multilane divided highway.

(Notice how typical traffic speeds tend to be around 50 mph no matter what the speed limit was or what the road is like!)

My Adventures

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Mon, May 27, Afternoon

Route: main
Left: 2:40
Asshole drivers: 0
% Behind Slow Poke Drivers: 70%, All of 108, half of 216
% Free from Slow Drivers: 20%
There was a constant dizzle raining and traffic was light because it was Memorial Day. It seems that when it rains just a little peole have to slow down to 40 mph! I slow down too. But not to 40, generally to 50-55. And no, it wasn't the first rain in a while.

Fri, May 27, Morning

Route: main
Left: 8:30
Asshole drivers: 0
% Behind Slow Poke Drivers: 45%, all of 108
% Free from Slow Drivers: 50%, all of 216
There was a constant dizzle raining and traffic was light because it was Memorial Day.

Fri, May 17, Afternoon

Route: back
Left: 3:22
Asshole drivers: 0
% Behind Slow Poke Drivers: 33%
% Free from Slow Drivers: 60%

Fri, May 17, Morning

Route: main
Left: 3:10
Asshole drivers: 2
% Behind Slow Poke Drivers: 0%
% Free from Slow Drivers: 75% (Most, except when the assholes pulled in front of me)
A rather pleasant drive expect for when 3 assholes pulled in front of me. I was driving along at 60 mph on 216 when this person pulled out in front of me. Well thats ok, visibility is low from that road, he way not of seen me and even if he did I wouldn't have had to break. However, then TWO more pulled out. Ugg. Sometimes I just want to maintain my current speed and ram them! But that wouldn't be very good as it would wind up being my fault. The first two turned off at Endor so maybe they were following each other. And the other one, I swear to god, accelerated in the passing lane. Must of blown past then at 60 mph (they were doing 50). He turned out to be going my way however he ended being no problem as god knows how fast he went on 108. I was just glad he was ahead of me instead of behind me!

Thu, May 16, Afternoon

Route: back
Left: 2:30 pm
Asshole drivers: 0
% Behind Slow Poke Drivers: 0%
% Free from Slow Drivers: 20% (Up to light on 650)
An OK drive. I got behind some kind of slow drivers but they were only going 2-5mph slower than I was. But still any other drivers on a back road in my view takes a away the fun. I think I am going to stick to the main roads.

Thu, May 16, Morning

Route: main
Left: 8:28 am
Asshole drivers: 0
% Behind Slow Poke Drivers: 70% (Part of 216 a slow 30mph truck, Then 108 40 mph truck)
% Free from Slow Drivers: 0%
I left late again, and what happened I got behind two damn trucks! Most of 216 was only behind slow drivers but then on the last stretch there was a bunch of construction trucks that were going VERY slow. They tuned onto Hallshop (the shortcut road) and I said to my self "oh shit". As I thought I would be behind then on 108 but one of them turned right and the other one pulled over as soon as he turned onto 108. So, I thought I was free but guess again, as I got behind a slow truck that went 40-45 mph the whole time on 108. Ugh! There was a *light* rain (and no, it wasn't the first in a while so there was no oil build up on the roads) so I guess that explained some of it but it. However, that was no reason to go THAT slow. I see cargo trucks do 50mph on 108 all the time.

Wed, May 15, Afternoon

Route: back
Left: 1:05 pm
Asshole drivers: 0
% Behind Slow Poke Drivers: 0
% Free from Slow Drivers: 15%
In my opinion a back road is no fun when one gets behind a slow 40mph driver as I did. On all of Ednor past the 650 light I got stuck behind a slow driver that was 2 mph faster than a what I would consider a slow poke. That didn't make me happy as I really wanted a pleasant drive to get my mind off things and I didn't get it. Ugg! When I turned off onto Lime Kiln I was still behind someone but he was going fast so he shouldn't have bothered me but I was still annoyed, as after that I really wanted the road to myself. Oh well.

Wed, May 15, Morning

Route: pindel
Left: 8:45
Asshole drivers: 0
% Behind Slow Poke Drivers: 25% (On 216, stupid truck)
% Free from Slow Drivers: 15%
A damm annoying commute! I got behind a slow driver from the begging who just happen to be going the exact SAME way I was going. Ugg! He wasn't a slow poke but Ugg. I actually lost him on 108 when I had to wait for some cars to pass but he was still on the road. I am use to getting behind slow poke drivers however I hate it when I can't lose them. And to make my life worse I had to sit a bloody 8 min at the damm 650 and 108 light. Was backed up almost to the 40 mph sign (a good distance, probably over 1/2 mile). Well, at least they finally put in a left turn lane or it might of been backed up to were I got on! (Well maybe not that far but a good mile at least). Well I guess it serves me right for leaving late.

Tue, May 14, Afternoon

Route: back
Left: 1:42 pm
Time: 18 min
Asshole drivers: 0
% Behind Slow Poke Drivers: 25% (On 216, stupid truck)
% Free from Slow Drivers: 65
One Asshole move by me. I misjudged turning traffic and forgot to look at a yield. I *thought* the turing cars was blocking traffic. Ooops! Good thing I looked as I was turning are I would't have stoped at all and it could of been nasty. (I am willing to admit to my mistakes when I make them)
Pleasant drive. For most of the way I didn't get stuck behind anyone. I was having such a pleasant drive that I completely missed Lime Kiln again! No real big deal I just turn right on 216 when it intersects it. I think I only made it 2 times when I wasn't behind someone who was turning off there. The stupid road sneaks right up on you. Once I got to 216 I waited for a truck which I thought was driving fast. It turned out that I could of safely pulled out in front of him, as he was only going 40-45mph, and have saved myself some aggervation. Ugg!

Tue, May 14, Morning

Route: Pindel
Left: 7:40 am

Mon, May 13, Afternoon

Route: Mink Hollow
Left: 3:20 pm
Asshole drivers: 0!
% Behind Slow Poke Drivers: 20% (last half of 216 and due to a Cop)
% Free from Slow Drivers: 65% (All of Mink Hollow, most of Highland, 1/2 of 216)
There was a truck on 108 so I desided to turn onto Mink Hollow. By the looks of the truck I am sure he would of done a nice 50mph however after a wile the same road gets boring, excepeally when you stuck behind someone going 5-10mph slower than you would, so I desided to take to the back roads not for speed but for a more pleasant drive. The drive was a nice one and with out ANYONE behind or ahead of me on all of Mink Hollow and most of Highland! However I can't say the same for the drive down 216. I got stuck behind a line of cars with a STUPID COP 2nd in line causing the line to go 40-45 mph. Ugg! I HATE cops on the road.

Mon, May 13, Morning

Route: Back
Left: 8:40 am
Asshole drivers: 1, pulled out right in front of me.
% Behind Slow Poke Drivers: 10% (A little on gorman and Ednor)
% Free from Slow Drivers: 50% (Ednor, from Lime Kiln to a little past 650)
I left later than normal so I desided to try the back way to see how bad the lights are and they will basically ok. Except that I had to sit through two cycles at the light at 182 and Ednor.

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