That doesn’t happen often (me being right) but we’ve been in Texas for nine years. I had lived in Texas for a couple of years when Chad was very young and having lived right on the western edge of Louisiana, we went to Texas often – Astroworld, shopping, eating . . you know . . all the really important things in my life back then. So, I was familiar with slower traffic moving over onto the shoulder to let faster traffic pass. Vince, on the other hand, thinks everyone should move over when he wants to pass but he never wants to move over when cars are going faster than he is. He either says: (1) I’m going the speed limit; they should be too; (2) They can pass me in the other lane or (3) I don’t think it’s legal to drive on the shoulder.
It aggravates me when he won’t pull over because I appreciate it when people do it for me and I think it’s rude not to do it! This is only in Texas so don’t try this in your neighborhood . . unless you live in Texas.
I always ask him . . have you ever heard of anyone getting stopped for driving on the shoulder in Texas? No. OK. It’s rare to go anywhere and NOT see it happen and if it happens that much, you know you’d hear about someone getting a ticket if it weren’t legal.
This morning Vince left bright and early to go to McCoy’s Building Supply place to get the lumber to make Addie’s doll clothes wardrobe. McCoy’s price for the same exact boards was $10 less than Home Depot for 1×12 – 10′ long boards and he needed one board per wardrobe and he’s making several. Plus, McCoy’s is probably only about 10 miles from here and Home Depot is probably twice that far.
He did need some things from Home Depot but the a/c has long been broken in the pickup so he left early, went to McCoy’s to get the lumber, came home, changed vehicles and went back to Home Depot and Walmart. He came home from his second trip to town.
Vince: I want a taco from Taco Casa.
Me: Why didn’t you get one while you were in town?
Vince: I thought you’d want to get out of the house and go get one with me.
Me: Have you bumped your head?
Vince: No. Am I bleeding?
Me: NO! You know I don’t want to go to town.
Vince: But I really want a taco from Taco Casa.
Then I started feeling bad. His first two trips were to get supplies to make a doll accessory for Addie. The least I could do was go with him to get a taco so I said . . ok. I had to change clothes. Vince REALLY wanted a taco. He said “You look fine!” I had on shorts and a T-shirt full of holes. I had on no makeup and hadn’t combed my hair today and probably not yesterday so it took some effort for me to get ready.
We got to Taco Casa and there were lots of cars in the parking lot. I told him . . I don’t want to go in. There are too many people in there. But then, I noticed two Texas state trooper cars. OK. I WILL go in. I have a question for them.
Vince: What are you going to ask them?
Me: You’ll find out.
Vince: They’re usually grumpy old men.
Me: I’m used to that!
They were leaving so luckily I didn’t have to interrupt their meal. They were not old and not grumpy. They were very nice.
Me: Is it legal to drive on the shoulder to let people pass if the shoulder is nice and wide?
Trooper: Yes! This is Texas! In fact, we prefer that drivers do that.
Me: Thank you!
Trooper: Give a signal when you start to move onto the shoulder and signal when you’re moving back onto the highway.
Me: I hate wasting my signals! (I was joking)
Trooper: Yes, you never know when you’ll run out of signal fluid!
I thanked them for doing what they do and promised to be a safe driver.
Now . . Vince has no excuse not to move over to the shoulder and let people pass.
Cilla says
You crack me up!!!
Karen M Blankenship says
I love the signal fluid comment!
Judy Laquidara says
Yes, they had a good sense of humor.
Stephani in N. TX says
That exchange made me laugh. Thanks. I presume you are talking about FM roads in TX. I have seen that frequently. My most un-favorite is slooow cars in the fast lane on the Interstates or concrete haulers in the left lane on FM roads through towns. There are so many big construction vehicles on the FM roads in the Dallas suburbs. I’m not a speedy driver but I’m not asleep behind the wheel either. Lots of construction vehicles is probably my biggest daily challenge on moving closer to the cities. I tuff it out to go see my grandkids tho.
Judy Laquidara says
Not only FM roads but probably not interstates.
Susan Nixon says
I love the conversation with your troopers! What a great sense of humor!
Phyllis says
Thanks for getting an official answer. When we come down, I do not see nearly as much of people using the shoulder the last couple of years when we come through east Texas. If I am doing a little more than the speed limit, I sometimes “pull a Vince” and stay in my lane as I am never sure if it is legal. I figure that with my NC plate on the car, the person behind me just thinks I don’t know to do it.
cindy says
yep, that’s the Texas way.
Nelle Coursey says
Good for you!! I think this is a great idea and I think it should be legal everywhere! New Mexico barely has roads much less paved shoulders!
Dottie says
LOL, LOL – Yep, that’s the Texas way.
Paula Nordt says
I’m a native Texan, but I’m with Vince! If turkeys want to drive over the speed limit they can just go around me! And quit tailgating!
Judy Laquidara says
Here’s how I look at it: We never know why the person behind us is speeding. Maybe they just got word that a loved one is in the hospital or had an accident. They may be an impaired driver and I’d much rather have them in front of me than behind me. I can’t stop them from tailgating but I can legally get out of their way so that’s why I choose to get over, let them go around me and be done with it. It’s much safer for me to move over if the shoulder is wide and safe, than for someone to go into the other lane, especially if they aren’t being careful.
It isn’t a rule that we HAVE to get over. Vince probably still won’t but I always will.
Rosalie says
Totally agree!
Bon says
I love the various exchanges in this post. They all made me giggle. A good way to start the day.
Kathleen Schwitzner says
Going on the shoulder may work in Texas, but in Illinois, just move over to the right when it’s striped for passing. Don’t go on the shoulder – you’ll tumble down an embankment!
Judy Laquidara says
Yes, as far as I know, it’s probably something that shouldn’t be done except in Texas.
Pamela says
So many chuckles today. You have such a great sense of humor. I wish pulling over were legal where I live. I hate to follow someone for miles going 5-10 miles below the speed limit.
Judy Laquidara says
It doesn’t usually bother me but when I leave here at 5 a.m. to go to MO and have at least 10 hours to drive, I want everyone in front of me going at least the speed limit. I suppose on any given day, someone is a in a hurry to get somewhere. Some of those people are ALWAYS in a hurry.
Texas does so much right.