‘Road Boulders’ aren’t going out of style in this column

QI’m very glad you plan to continue the use of Mrs. Roadshow’s “Road Boulder.” It is as much a part of San Jose’s lexicon as Mark Purdy’s ‘Los Tiburones’!

— Terri Glenn

A

is To a refresh terrific Being the great compared this compliment. Mark saga, Purdy another to reader wanted me

to stop blocking referring traffic to as drivers Road Boulders, saying speeders should be chastised, but a vast majority like the phrase. So off we go.

Q

I am an older driver who takes his time in the right lane and I don’t resent your playful term of Road Boulder. That being said, I would like to point out that my lane is invariably the one going the posted speed limit, and I have to remain vigilant and adjust my speed to deal with all the vehicles getting on the highway.

I have my safety regularly threatened by extremely impatient drivers who use my lane to pass on the right whenever their two lanes don’t satisfy them. There is only one speed that they can accept — the speed that is faster than absolutely everybody else. Perhaps we could have an appropriate slur for them — “kindergartners.”

— Doug Peterson,

San Jose

A Good try, but I don’t think that will catch on.

Q I Road would Boulder suggest apply that only to higher-speed roads and not to city streets where it may be necessary to occupy the middle or left lanes at a slower speed to make a left turn safely. If the local speed limit is 45 mph or less, there is no justification for annoyance for the minuscule time loss for reducing your speed for a short distance. But too many times, impatient drivers will honk or change lanes in a huff.

— Larry Harrison,

Cupertino

A We do hate huffy drivers.

Q If you are in the fast lane and are not keeping up with the flow of traffic and there is no one in front of you, you are a Road Boulder and violating the law even though doing the speed limit.

— Dennis Nichols

AThat

is the law.

Q

Signs on our freeways say, “Slower Traffic Stay Right.” But few drivers heed them. How about we post “Road Boulder” stay right signs?

— Fred Ramiez, San Jose

A

I like this idea. That would get their attention.

Q

If you are being passed on your right, then you are going too slow and should move over. Road Boulder is a great term.

— Allan MacLaren

A Mrs. Roadshow and I agree 100%.