road rage, tailgating, and Big Vehicles

[NJC]

Passive vs active safety:
Quote:
The S.U.V. boom represents, then, a shift in how we conceive of safety—from active to passive. It's what happens when a larger number of drivers conclude, consciously or otherwise, that the extra thirty feet that the TrailBlazer takes to come to a stop don't really matter, that the tractor-trailer will hit them anyway, and that they are better off treating accidents as inevitable rather than avoidable.

http://www.gladwell.com/2004/2004_01_12_a_suv.html

 

[NJC]

I find the biggest driving [censored] are easily the light truck crowd. With my '88 Accord I might be able to see over the Fiero-driving poster above.

 

[Challenger71]

I'd def have to agree with you on that one....also a dime a dozen.


Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Same goes with idiots in small cars who think they own Ferrari's and can drive like Mario Andretti though.......

 

[Gary Allan]

I'd say that demographics has a great influence on choices. For the older crowd ..that has the means ..higher mass vehicles could surely be a defensive posture to adopt in the sense that you're probably NOT going to have the reaction time ..etc..etc. and all the other liabilities of aging. OTOH, many do buy, when economically capable, for self image/personality ..etc.

Now HOW they drive speaks more of character than it does anything else. I've been everything from screaming maniac to super citizen over my evolutions. In all of those transitional forms, I took driving seriously. Where the skills have retreated, the wisdom has (hopefully) compensated.

 

[SubLGT]

Here are some interesting numbers, for "Occupant deaths per million registered passenger vehicles 1-3 years old"

Pickups: 126
Cars: 103
SUVs: 69

http://www.iihs.org/research/fatality_facts_2007/occupants.html

 

[OVERKILL]

Or these stats from there:

Driver deaths in multiple-vehicle crashes per million registered passenger vehicles 1-3 years old, 2007

VEHICLE.....FRONT.....SIDE.....REAR.....TOTAL
CAR.........520.......371......51.......969
TRUCK.......166.......74.......12.......263
SUV.........135.......65.......19.......233


And there are stats on that page showing that cars actually roll over more than SUV's or trucks!!!!


Interesting statistics........

 

[99]

Road rage wouldn't exist if people knew how to drive. Some people just do not deserve to have a driver's license.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: 99
Road rage wouldn't exist if people knew how to drive. Some people just do not deserve to have a driver's license.


Agreed 100%!!!!

 

[brianl703]

I find that the worst tailgaters are women.

 

[kaboom10]

Originally Posted By: brianl703
I find that the worst tailgaters are women.


emotional driving?

 

[Cutehumor]

Originally Posted By: brianl703
I find that the worst tailgaters are women.

I hate to say it, but I agree. I got tailgaited all the way to work this morning. she was trying her best to get me to speed up. I just kick back and take a sip of my beverage while driving.

 

[Audi Junkie]

I was driving in moderate fog last night on very curvy and deer-laden roads and lots of cars + trucks rode my bumper. I'm just being carefull, but as they follow closer, I have to slow down for safety! If a deer runs out at 50, maybe I can stop, but will do so fast and would get rear-ended. At 35, maybe the guy behind me can stop too.

 

[brianl703]

Originally Posted By: kaboom10
emotional driving?

Who knows. I also note that of the few times I've been given the finger, most of the time it was from a woman.

 

[oldmaninsc]

Originally Posted By: brianl703
I find that the worst tailgaters are women.


Me too! By far! I mentioned this in the other thread about tailgating.
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubb...&gonew=1#UNREAD
Post #1277832 and #1279151

In my case brake checking does NOTHING. The one woman will swerve to the right to avoid me and then get right back on my tail.

 

[JHZR2]

I dont hate to say that it is women... so be it, and its true. Unfortunately the majority of aggressive/stupid drivers that I see are women and... ummm... our friends that live in Camden, if you catch my drift.

It may just be a perception, or it may have to do with the demographics of the drivers on the road that I drive on, who knows. Its just my observation. Disapprove of the "stereotype" if one desires, it may be different in other areas.

I drive how I need to drive, get right as soon as possible, and if folks cut me off jut to slam on their brakes at a red light, I usually honk them to get going. They were in such a rush, then they can squeal away from the light they HAD to get to so quickly... not hold me up. Plus they would honk me if I was in front, since I accelerate gently.

 

[calvin1]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
I dont hate to say that it is women... so be it, and its true. Unfortunately the majority of aggressive/stupid drivers that I see are women and... ummm... our friends that live in Camden, if you catch my drift.


I do and have to agree. One thing I've noticed is that the intersection of those two groups - women "from Camden" - is absolutely the worst group of drivers I see. Add a cell phone to that mix and what you get is TERRIFYING.

Calvin

 

[mpvue]

Originally Posted By: calvin1
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
I dont hate to say that it is women... so be it, and its true. Unfortunately the majority of aggressive/stupid drivers that I see are women and... ummm... our friends that live in Camden, if you catch my drift.


I do and have to agree. One thing I've noticed is that the intersection of those two groups - women "from Camden" - is absolutely the worst group of drivers I see. Add a cell phone to that mix and what you get is TERRIFYING.

Calvin


I like women "from camden". bootylicious.

 

[Challenger71]

Women=lack of situational awareness + self-absorbed

Remember what Jack Nicholson said about women in the movie As Good as it Gets? "Think of a man and take away reason and accountability."

I'm LOL'ing so bad it hurts....the truth that is.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: Challenger71
Women=lack of situational awareness + self-absorbed

Remember what Jack Nicholson said about women in the movie As Good as it Gets? "Think of a man and take away reason and accountability."

I'm LOL'ing so bad it hurts....the truth that is.


Oh man!

Last year, I'm cruising along at about 90 in an 80-zone after picking up my buddy Travis from work.

So, we approach this side-road that comes out onto the road we are travelling on; it's an exit from a gas station and a grocery store.

Sitting there, at the intersection is a woman in a beige Buick. I see her creeping a bit at the intersection, so I instinctively cover the brake pedal.

AND HOW.

She looks both ways, then looks back, LOOKS RIGHT AT ME, as I'm obviously bearing down on her location at a recently quick rate of speed, and WHILE LOOKING AT ME, PULLS OUT!!!!!!

I HAMMER THE BRAKES, get within MAYBE a foot of her car as she careens her boat into the intersection, as I'm screaming YOU [censored] [censored]!!!!!!! and she's glaring at me like I'm the one in the wrong!!!!!

It took GREAT restraint not to wheel the Townie around and follow her down and ask her what in the [censored] she was thinking and what magazine she bought her drivers license from!

 

[kaboom10]

Ever since I was hit by a buick I've kept a close eye on every one I see and lo and behold there's one mistake after another being commited.