How do strangers play via their vehicles, on the freeway?

June 23, 2009 12:15 PM

I was driving down the (somewhat busy, but not congested) freeway in a sports car, and a motorcyclist wanted to... play? Another sports car took took up the offer. What is this? What are these games and how are they played? What sort of things do people do to eek out some (quasi-legal?) fun in traffic? (I don't plan on participating, but I'm curious about the interaction)

The bike's invitation was, when a "fun" looking vehicle came alongside, a big unnecessary engine revving while coasting slowly at similar speed. When the car and bike found each other, they sort of followed each other, crossing lanes more frequently than necessary, but not excessively. They didn't appear to be racing, or speeding. Bike also did a few fun-but-stupid things, rapid acceleration in a clear lane, some speeding, etc.

It seemed playful. What is the interaction that is likely going on? Are they pushing each other somehow while keeping the driving legal? Taking turns leading/following? Just staying together and weaving a bit more for the sake of interest? Is there a "known" sort of game/expectation, or are they just doing things to acknowledge the other, or...?

posted by anonymisc to Travel & Transportation (16 answers total)

It sounds like its just people frolicking. You can slow down if it gets too dangerous for you. Its not serious or anything. Unless there's some sort of secret racing code in the area you're on, its probably just for fun.
posted by captaincrouton at 12:22 PM on June 23, 2009

People like to be sporty in sporty vehicles.
posted by rhizome at 12:24 PM on June 23, 2009

It's either a flat out race or a game of cat and mouse, trying to weave your way through traffic. Most times you aren't taking advantage of the horsepower or the handling abilities of your car.
posted by wongcorgi at 12:37 PM on June 23, 2009

Debbie Downer comment: even though they aren't strictly racing, the cops will treat it as racing if they see it happening, which means a serious ticket at the very least. I suggest you remain an amused spectator.
posted by Joh at 12:52 PM on June 23, 2009 [1 favorite]

I will sometimes do something similar on my bicycle. If I notice someone who most likely has what it takes to go faster than average, I will sprint up to them, draft behind them for a bit, pass and sprint a short distance ahead, then fall back to just a little faster than the previous speed they had been going. If they want to play along they will sprint forward and draft on me, then I wait and see if they have what it takes to sprint ahead of me, giving me a chance to catch up. I have done up to four sprint / draft alternations with one stranger on a ride.
posted by idiopath at 1:04 PM on June 23, 2009

Response by poster: Is there much in the way of friendly conventions or common behaviors? Eg. a common behavior when convoy-driving is if the lead car signals a lane change, the rear car may act on the signal and make the lane change first, then open a window in the lane for the car(s) ahead.

Frolicking does seem to be a good term for it, and as suggested, it wasn't anything to challenge the horsepower or handling of the vehicles.
posted by anonymisc at 1:54 PM on June 23, 2009

Just be really, really, really careful. Even if its just playing, if an accident occurs and someone dies, you may well be charged with manslaughter or homicide depending on the statutes. It just takes a couple witnesses to say you were racing and you are up the brown creek with no manually operated propulsion device.

The way the laws are today, if you want to play in your car either do it by yourself or far from witnesses. best thing to do is go do some autocross or other non public roadway speedy driving. It is way cheaper than lawyer bills.
posted by Antidisestablishmentarianist at 2:05 PM on June 23, 2009 [1 favorite]

This is a bad idea for the participants and anyone else sharing the road.. As to what are they doing???? when it is inconvenient to actually pull down your shorts and compare sizes, this is the next best indicator...
posted by HuronBob at 2:14 PM on June 23, 2009 [1 favorite]

It's foreplay.
posted by box at 2:23 PM on June 23, 2009 [4 favorites]

I have had this happen to me many times. My assumption is that people wanted to race, since I was driving cars that seemed race-worthy. Other times it was just playful. I have driven very cute cars and people would "flirt," usually they were driving the same type of car. Now that I drive the most boring car imaginable no one wants to race or flirt.
posted by fifilaru at 3:01 PM on June 23, 2009

Yeah. He's just having fun at your expense. He sees your "sports" car as an easy mark for showing off. You have virtually no chance of matching his acceleration curve (unless you're driving something home from a Formula One race) nor can you match his maneuverability and he knows it. He's hoping you don't yet know it. When I was playing highway games, I never started the race, (it is a race even if it has no set course or goal... and police frown on impromptu unsanctioned events by untrained drivers,) but an amazing number of Corvette drivers seemed to think that they had something special. It usually took about three seconds to disabuse them of that notion.

Generally in racing the rule is simple: Remain in front and alive.

But if neither vehicle was attempting to do these things, I have to agree with box. They were dancing. Nightclub rules apply.
posted by EnsignLunchmeat at 3:16 PM on June 23, 2009 [1 favorite]

Also, sometimes people are just bored. If you've ever driven a long distance, and someone else is going a similar speed just being or in front of you for any length of time, you'll eventually find yourself swapping the lead every so often. You can rationalize it as taking turns carrying the brunt of the wind (and so lower gas mileage) or something, but really you're just alleviating boredom.
posted by davejay at 4:18 PM on June 23, 2009

er, just BEHIND or in front of you
posted by davejay at 4:21 PM on June 23, 2009

Everyone has a level of perceived threat/danger that they like to sit at when doing anything. People will actively take steps to mitigate threat if what they're doing seems too dangerous, but conversely (and perhaps perversely) they will also take unnecessary risks if their current activity is perceived as too boring.

This level varies from person to person. Some people are just fine cruising along.

These guys were bored by traffic and wanted to do something that felt more dangerous. Pretty much all there is to it.
posted by spatula at 5:37 PM on June 23, 2009

I think the assumption is that people in sporty cars want to play. Like attracts like and all that. Recently, however, in Montreal, there was this 18 year old who was "playing" in his car against someone else in theirs and lost control, jumping a curb and killing a 6-year old playing in her front yard. He was charged as an adult.
posted by Sully at 10:22 PM on June 23, 2009

You have virtually no chance of matching his acceleration curve

Depends on the car and the bike, thats not as cut and dried as it used to be that all bikes beat all cars...

one I can think of 0-60 4 sec, lateral 1g, retail cost $75k.

Plenty of cars down near 4 sec, many under. Sportbikes will win, but older cruisers and Harleys might have a more difficult time winning in any event.
posted by Antidisestablishmentarianist at 7:59 AM on June 24, 2009