Idiots on the road

[MysticGold04]

Originally Posted By: Benzadmiral

Moronus americanus. They breed fast and often; no danger of their becoming extinct, I'm afraid.

Thats funny, but so true... Sad really. I just try to stay out of other people's way.. If you don't like the speed I'm going, then by all means, go around me.

 

[The_Jeff]

I managed to drive from a Mass Pike toll plaza in Auburn, MA to Wilkes-Barre, PA... 260 miles... without shifting out of 5th gear. May have had to tap the brakes for an offramp, but I'm still pretty proud of myself. Doable in Texas, a challenge in the Northeast.

Originally Posted By: toytundranator
There are certain times where a honda civic or prius would pass me. Even though I drive 5mph over the speed limit.


It's more fun to drive a slow car fast, than a fast car slow.

 

[mpvue]

Originally Posted By: Jett Rink
Memo to Benzadmiral: Better install those bulletproof windows and windshield in that Buick if you are going to be taunting aggressive (and possibly inebriated) Cajun drivers. They are armed to the teeth down there.

Disclaimer: In case I offended the sensibilities of any Louisiana BITOGers, they are also armed as heavily as an Iraqi Shi'ite militia here in Tennessee, too. I give the obviously aggressive drivers a vey wide berth around here. No need to invite hostile incoming fire, even if I'm right.


I grew up in long island, I've driven in NYC, and commuted in NJ, and the WORST driving I've ever encountered is from the LA/MS border on I-10 going to I-310. does anyone down there know the purpose of a PASSING lane? they pass all over the road, no one stays in one lane for more than a 1/4 mile!
the price to pay for beignets and cafe au lait...

 

[VeeDubb]

On a positive note, I have noticed that average speeds are lower now on the highways around here. I've slowed down to between 55-65 and I noticed that the pack is traveling at hte same speed which really surprised me. At first, I thought it was an aberration, but this has been going on for a week now. A year ago, the pack traveled at 75mph.

 

[Anduril]

Can't do that around here. Average speed on the freeways is about 20 mph.

 

[mechtech2]

We have bred and accommodated poor drivers and sloppy dangerous habits in this country.
We are paying a huge price for this.

One pet peeve is when someone passes you to get in front, then slows down to make an exit or turn.

Some others are the common mispronunciations of 'Gigabyte', and 'often'.

 

[Gary Allan]

mechtech2: Don't travel to NuWingland ..especially RhoDialand if your picky on proNUNciation.

What I found somewhat amusing is people who will follow when engaged in some distraction ..then get bored and have a need to pass ..then they get distracted again ..then wake up. Maybe that's not it ..but that's how it appears. When you're caught in a pack ..maybe it's the equivalent to pacing

I also enjoy those who race to pass you before two lanes narrow to one ..while they can only manage one car length difference ..and traffic is congested. Where do they think that they're gonna go

 

[oilboy123]

Yes gaining one car length while increasing the chance of an accident by 50%, that was really whorth it??????

I think this stupid driving has to do with the anonymity that people feel in their vehicles. A lot of people would not be half the jerks in person they are while driving like ding bats.....at least most people.

 

[1sttruck]

"I think this stupid driving has to do with the anonymity that people feel in their vehicles."

It's common to think of the car as an extension of one's house, which is perhaps one reason why road rage is kind of common. People think that someone got in the way of THEIR CAR on THEIR ROAD while they were doing THEIR THING.

"One pet peeve is when someone passes you to get in front, then slows down to make an exit or turn."

It doesn't bother me as much as when no one behind me. Then I wish I had a loudspeaker to tell them to just stay home and drink Drano if they want to kill themselves, so that no one else is hurt.

 

[ekpolk]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
. . .

I just cant get over how stupid people drive. And folks in prius and corollas can waste gas like the best of them.

Rant off.

JMH


Now, now J, just what does driving an economical car have to do with being an idiot??? And although idiocy certainly can lead to the wasting of fuel, it also leads to so many other grossly undesirable things that singling out fuel waste as an effect of being an idiot seems a tad -- ummm --- lopsided. For the record, yes, I've seen it myself -- some idiots have bought Prii (Toyota should set up some sort of application and screening process -- afterall, we Prius insiders are a highly elitist bunch, don't ya know). But that said, wasting gas in a Prius is a relative thing. Just because a Prius driver (or 'rolla, or Civic...) chooses to drive fast, his savings don't instantly evaporate -- as with all other cars, they're proportional. I routinely choose to trade fuel for time, and vice versa. But it's a conscious choice, and irrespective of which option I choose today or tomorrow, I DON'T drive like an idiot, and never exceed my limits or what's safe for the conditions.

 

[ekpolk]

Originally Posted By: 1sttruck
...
It's common to think of the car as an extension of one's house,
...


Alas, such thinking totally escapes the United States Supreme Court, thus further rendering the "protection" offered us through the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution an illusion at best. . .

 

[Benzadmiral]

Originally Posted By: Jett Rink
Memo to Benzadmiral: Better install those bulletproof windows and windshield in that Buick if you are going to be taunting aggressive (and possibly inebriated) Cajun drivers. They are armed to the teeth down there.

Good point, Jett, though I recall I caught a glimpse of the driver's profile and it was a woman -- probably some soccer mom hustling her brats to school or daycare. Maybe that was why she was in such a rush, to have some peace and quiet; get to work and get away from the sprogs. She probably didn't hear my "Haw-Haw!" anyway, if she had kids in the car and the DVD player blasting to keep them entertained.

Not that Soccer Moms can't be aggressive. But I don't think they're as likely to whip out a .38 on me as is some big guy in a jacked-up 4 x 4 truck with a headlight bar across the roof and a back window decal of Calvin peeing on another make of car.

 

[alreadygone]

"Not that Soccer Moms can't be aggressive. But I don't think they're as likely to whip out a .38 on me as is some big guy in a jacked-up 4 x 4 truck with a headlight bar across the roof and a back window decal of Calvin peeing on another make of car. "

I resemble that remark!

most of us are very polite though, as we assume EVERYBODY is similarly armed. Never heard of "PMS"?

Bob

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: ekpolk
I DON'T drive like an idiot, and never exceed my limits or what's safe for the conditions.

Point is, just because there is regenerative braking, or just because it is an economy car, does not mean that accelerating way fast, driving excessively outside of the legal bounds of the speed limit, or having to brake because no anticipation is made of the way that momentum has to be shed does not cause waste.

Its not just that some person in a hummer or typical guzzler car is doing this sort of stuff and wasting fuel unnecessarily. Its people of all types, driving any sort of car. To drive with zero anticipation, have to speed up/slow down, use the brake on highways with little traffic, etc. is just ridiculous, and you see it all the time unfortunately.

Even in a prius, braking = wasted dollars. That was my point. On low-traffic interstates there is no reason to brake, unless you are such a poor driver that you have to cut in and out unnecessarily, and create an unsafe delta in speed. Actual road speed, provided it is reasonable, not excessively highr than the rest of the cars, and within legal constraints is not necessarily the issue. It is the shedding and then fast regaining of that speed (i.e. use of fuel dollars to do that) that is done very poorly by many, including those who think they are 'green' with their economy cars and hybrids - this is not a punch at folks driving those cars, its just all inclusive.

JMH

 

[Oilgal]

Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
mechtech2: Don't travel to NuWingland ..especially RhoDialand if your picky on proNUNciation.

What I found somewhat amusing is people who will follow when engaged in some distraction ..then get bored and have a need to pass ..then they get distracted again ..then wake up. Maybe that's not it ..but that's how it appears. When you're caught in a pack ..maybe it's the equivalent to pacing

I also enjoy those who race to pass you before two lanes narrow to one ..while they can only manage one car length difference ..and traffic is congested. Where do they think that they're gonna go

Why do people tailgate so much up here? People here seem to think, half a car length at all times, is a good idea. Most wont pass me if I slow down and pull to the side either. Instead they get all twitchy, and they start blowing their horns.

Is their some NE etiquette thing I am unaware of, or something?

 

[ekpolk]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
...
Even in a prius, braking = wasted dollars. That was my point. On low-traffic interstates there is no reason to brake, unless you are such a poor driver that you have to cut in and out unnecessarily, and create an unsafe delta in speed. ...


No sweat -- I got the main thrust of it. Smooth, steady driving is usually more efficient, regardless of what one's driving. Ironically, it's when you do have to do a lot of accelerating and braking that the hybrids generate the greatest relative advantage compared to conventional cars.

 

[JHZR2]

Agreed. Every time Im stuck in a traffic jam I think of that very point

 

[Audi Junkie]

From training my teen relatives, I know that they learn pedal skills from PlayStation driving games. FULL GAS / FULL BRAKE, nothing inbetween.

 

[Gary Allan]

Originally Posted By: Oilgal
Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
mechtech2: Don't travel to NuWingland ..especially RhoDialand if your picky on proNUNciation.

What I found somewhat amusing is people who will follow when engaged in some distraction ..then get bored and have a need to pass ..then they get distracted again ..then wake up. Maybe that's not it ..but that's how it appears. When you're caught in a pack ..maybe it's the equivalent to pacing

I also enjoy those who race to pass you before two lanes narrow to one ..while they can only manage one car length difference ..and traffic is congested. Where do they think that they're gonna go

Why do people tailgate so much up here? People here seem to think, half a car length at all times, is a good idea. Most wont pass me if I slow down and pull to the side either. Instead they get all twitchy, and they start blowing their horns.

Is their some NE etiquette thing I am unaware of, or something?



Well, I think you've encountered ex-Boston metro area residents that escaped to the commutable surrounding states to leave the madness behind....which they brought with them

 

[Oilgal]

May their numbers ever dwindle.

Thanks Gary.