Sharon & Andy,
Stoplights: For me, I pretty much keep my speed, but am prepared just in case that puppy turns yellow, then make the decision whether I can safely stop or not. I definitely don't want to be in the intersection when the light turns red, as so many people seem to do now a days. And regretfully, you also have to determine if the guy behind you can safely stop so that he doensn't plow into you, expecting you to continue. I have gone through a couple of late yellow lights trying to avoid a situation like that, even though I could have safely stopped if that idiot wasn't on my bumper.
Lane Management: I try to travel in the right lane unless there is a lot of merging going on, when I will use the left lane. On a 3 (same direction) road, I like being in the center lane. That lets the fast cars go by on the left, and merging traffic to do their thing on the right. But we don't have the freeways that you do out there, so I am unfamiliar with the road customs there.
Hills: On a long uphill, I will take the TV out of overdrive. If it downshifts after that, it will usually stay in that gear without a lot more of involuntary shifting. As for the downhill, unless it is really steep, I again leave the overdrive off, but in drive, and things seem to work pretty good. There is an old truckers unwritten rule, that you go down a mountain in the same gear you go up, but that was before Jake brakes. Another thing to think about is that brakes cost a lot less to repair than an engine. Rev the engine too much going down hill is not good on it. You will have to play with your setup to see what best works for you.
Chap
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