Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2012 December 24

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December 24

Freeway driving phenomenon

I've always noticed this phenomenon, in my country anyway. Most drivers on a multi-lane freeway will pass on the right and then move obediently to the left and stay there. Even if there are few cars on the right lane, and lots of trucks on the left, they will do this. Is there any obvious advantage to stay on the left as stubbornly as possible? Sandman30s (talk) 09:24, 24 December 2012 (UTC)

Sandman's talk page suggests that he hails from South Africa, where they drive on the left (as do the UK and Australia). Alansplodge (talk) 12:29, 24 December 2012 (UTC)

Here in the UK, it's what the official advice from the government (The Highway Code) tells you to do. The lanes in the centre are for passing, not regular driving. AlexTiefling (talk) 09:34, 24 December 2012 (UTC)

I've driven in most Western European countries, and the UK is strongest on this point, with Germany not far behind. I'm not certain word of this has gotten to Italy yet.--Wehwalt (talk) 09:56, 24 December 2012 (UTC)

Same here in Australia. On some freeways, you can be booked for using the middle or right lanes when not overtaking. -- Jack of Oz ^[Talk] 09:57, 24 December 2012 (UTC)

The law in Australia basically says that, on a multi-lane road where the speed limit is greater than 80 kilometres per hour, you must move left after overtaking unless traffic congestion makes that impractical, or you are preparing to make a right hand turn. A frequently misunderstood part of that is the 80kph. If the speed limit is 80 or less, there is no legal requirement to move left. HiLo48 (talk) 23:38, 24 December 2012 (UTC)

"The law in Australia ..." - which law exactly? And in which state? My understanding is that the road rules are per-state. Example: Western Australian Consolidated Regulations - ROAD TRAFFIC CODE 2000, of which Regulation 113 says that (in general) you must keep left if the speed limit is 90 or more (not 80). It also says, at the bottom, "Regulation 113 amended in Gazette 13 Nov 2009 p. 4586‑8", but that amendment doesn't appear to mention the speed. Mitch Ames (talk) 08:11, 25 December 2012 (UTC)

Since I've never seen a speed limit of 85 and I really doubt if one exists, the laws we're describing are effectively the same. 90 or more is the same as greater than 80. Yes, I know there are some weird differences between states, but that one seems to work at a national level. HiLo48 (talk) 08:22, 25 December 2012 (UTC)

Point of curiosity, are speed limits in Australia never over 85 km/h (52.8 mph)? Shadowjams (talk) 10:56, 25 December 2012 (UTC)

Speed limits in Australia do exceed 85 km/h. Mitch Ames (talk) 12:56, 25 December 2012 (UTC)

Indeed, I think Shadowjams is missing HiLo48's point. There's no such thing as a 85 km/h speed limit in Australia, as I expect in a number of countries (definitely here in NZ I'm pretty sure such a speed limit doesn't exist) since there's no need to have such a strange number as 10 km/h differences give sufficient granuality at that level. This doesn't mean there's no speed limit over 85 km/h. The speed limit will either be 80 km/h or lower or 90 km/h or higher. That being the case, anything only applying to a speed limit over 80 km/h (greater than 80km/h) will basically have the same effect as anything only applying to a speed limit 90 km/h or over (greater or equal to 90 km/h). Nil Einne (talk) 16:46, 25 December 2012 (UTC)

In the UK, correctly moving back after overtaking is called Lane discipline. There is a significant minority here that like to cruise obstructively in the centre lane, they are known collectively as the "Middle Lane Owner's Club". "Quite often the so-called middle lane owners club are driving at speeds below the national limit – which would be fine if they moved over to the nearside lane. As it is, they tend to cause a mini tailback in their wake. Other drivers don’t 'undertake' to get past them – and so have to wait for lane three in order that they can overtake them properly. This leads to the situation where lane one may be empty for approaching a mile, with vehicles bunching in lanes two, waiting to get into lane three. Worse still, it encourages 'weaving' – cars changing lanes to get past the vehicle in lane two, then cutting into lane two or even one in order to 'teach them a lesson'."[1]

I drove in France a few years ago, and found them a little too keen to pull back in after overtaking; the concept of a safe braking distance between vehicles doesn't seem to be well understood there. Alansplodge (talk) 12:25, 24 December 2012 (UTC)

• There is an existing article, Passing lane, which generally covers this subject. Zzyzx11 (talk) 17:48, 24 December 2012 (UTC)

Christmas present

Hi, I need urgent advice.

I have bought my wife a nice dress for Christmas. When I purchased the dress the shop employee assured me I could take it back should it be the wrong size. Herein lies the problems.

1. If it proves to be too small will she accuse me of suggesting she needs to lose weight? 2. If it proves too big will she accuse me of suggesting she will eventually fit into it as she is putting on weight? I have looked up List of paradoxes to see if there are any answers the but alas, to no avail. Maybe I can write an article on Boxing Day about it.

Also, I am worried that if she has bought me a far more expensive present she will think I am being cheap and hit me over the head with her frying pan, or worse still forbid me to have any of the trifle that is hidden at the back of the fridge?

I do hope you treat this case as urgent as I live in Australia and Christmas Day is just hours away! Rocketrod1960 (talk) 09:38, 24 December 2012 (UTC)

This is a reference desk, and we are not able to give advice. However, if you think you are in genuine danger of being hit with a frying pan, you should seek support from police and other services which exist to prevent domestic abuse. If, on the other hand, you are jesting about the subject of domestic abuse, kindly stop. AlexTiefling (talk) 09:44, 24 December 2012 (UTC)

You don't say how long you and your wife have been together, but I think there's a better-than-even-money chance that you know her just ever so slightly better than some anonymous jerks on the internet do. You're in a far better position to gauge her possible reactions than we will ever be. Maybe you could trust that she'll receive the gift in the true spirit of Christmas. Or maybe you know her too well.  :) -- Jack of Oz ^[Talk] 09:55, 24 December 2012 (UTC)

Sorry everyone, this is what happens when I leave my computer on when my son is visiting for Christms. :( Rocketrod1960 (talk) 10:06, 24 December 2012 (UTC)

Her frying pan? Either your son needs some advice from Dr Germaine Greer or he is a trifle to skilled in gender-(t)rolling sarcasm? --Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk) 17:40, 24 December 2012 (UTC)

Y'know, women have jobs now and can buy stuff for themselves, like shoes and frying pans. I'd say it's more sexist to assume the man bought it and owns it RudolfRed (talk) 23:02, 24 December 2012 (UTC)

I took Cookatoo's remark to mean that it's jointly owned marital property, no matter who may have bought it, or whose money was used. -- Jack of Oz ^[Talk] 23:16, 24 December 2012 (UTC)

Name of the Advertising Agency

Can you please tell me the name of the advertising agency named after a british radio station which started in 1920s and existed till late 80s? Thanks for your help! Linkinfloyd (talk) 12:41, 24 December 2012 (UTC)

In the UK, there was a state radio monopoly in the form of the British Broadcasting Corporation, until the Sound Broadcasting Act 1972 allowed local commercial stations under the Independent Broadcasting Authority. So there were no British radio stations in the 1920s except the BBC, who operated the BBC National Programme and the various regional output under the BBC Regional Programme. Commercial radio was popular from the 1930s but broadcast from outside the UK, Radio Luxembourg (English) is the best example. You may wish to look at Category:Advertising agencies of the United Kingdom. Alansplodge (talk) 13:02, 24 December 2012 (UTC)

ea sports nhl games for xbox 360

playing the nhl 09 game you have an option for team advantage. is this option also available for nhl 10 — Preceding unsigned comment added by Rfdurand (talk • contribs) 18:53, 24 December 2012 (UTC)

Chicago History - What happened on May 5th & 6th, 1911?

I have a guest badge from the 22nd Annual State Convention - Illinois division of the TPA. These letters are in a circle in the middle of the upper part of the badge with the date "May 5th &6th to the left and 1911 to the right of the circle. I don't think the letters mean PTA because the botton portion of the badge shows a street scene of Chicago and the slogans "Strength of Commerce" and "I Will" and the image of a man carrying what looks like a brief case. Does anyone know what this organization was and what it did? Dpshimkus (talk) 19:56, 24 December 2012 (UTC)

Seems to be the "Travelers Protective Association". In other words, a trade association for traveling salesmen. According to an interesting note found here, it stopped issuing its magazine in 1920, so odds are it didn't last beyond that. Obviously they had a convention.--Wehwalt (talk) 20:21, 24 December 2012 (UTC)