when i drive on the freeway (or any road w/ more than one lane going the same direction), i have this "thing" that tends to consume my thought. whether it's an 18-wheeler or any car, my mind thinks that it's drifting/coming into my lane. it seems like every vehicle that i'm coming up on is coming into my lane. mindy thinks it's quite comical & i think she's thinks that i'm a little loopy when it comes to this. i usually attempt to convince her that people do drift into other lanes & that it happens to me quite a bit. she usually smirks when i try to convince her. i'm now in the habit of speeding by any car to avoid them drifting into my lane. this "apparent" phobia is also a pet peeve of mine. can't people just stay in their lane & stop freakin' me out?
Monday, August 15
phobia #1 (drifting vehicles)
Posted by JayBird at 8:58 AM
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5 comments:
I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only person who feels/behaves this way! You are not alone!!! :)
This is weird, because I was tormented with that affliction for years. I mean it would really freak me out at times. Lately it hasn't been too bad, but boy do I relate.
on my way back to ferntucky last night, i had numerous 18-wheelers drift into my lane. arg!!!!!!
I noticed that this same thing happens to me at times.
I belive part of it is a visual "magic" trick that your mind plays on you - as you get closer things seem to get closer...therefore a car that is 50 ft in front and 1 ft in their lane will look a lot farther away than a car that is right next to you and 1 ft in their lane! So as you approach it merely appears that someone is drifting into your lane.
Also, there is a scientific effect related to airflow. This will happen with vehicles traveling at higher speeds - probably over 40 mph. What happens is the fluid air flow of the two vehicles interferes, becomes turbulent and creates a low pressure zone directly in between the two. Low pressure in between and high on the outside means the two vehicles will draw closer until each driver compensates. The unfortunate thing here is that vehicles significantly bigger than you will not be "sucked" into this low pressure zone...so, in fact, if the vehicle next to you larger this effect will make you the one that is drifting.
And of course there is the obvious...the're all our to get you...
frad- you have enlightened me! i was hoping that physics would lean my way on what you explained. so, in my defense, i'm gonna have to go w/ the conspiracy theory. they're all out to get me! :>0
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