Some people have no clue...

[Klutch9]

Early today I was driving on the freeway. I was in the middle lane doing 55 mph (the speed limit), and I was slowly coming up on a Chevy Cobalt in the right lane doing about 45-50 mph with its hazard lights on. Then in front of it, I saw a Saturn SL1 (yes, it was spitting a little blue smoke out of the tailpipe like they all do ). As I slowly make my way past it, I can hear the car just bouncing off the rev limiter; likely 2nd gear, based on the speeds. This guy's motor was just absolutely howling! Here's what really get's me. If this guy really needed to get where he was going, why not just take the service drive that follows the ENTIRE length of the freeway? You'll stay out of peoples' way, and will also be going slower so you don't have to rev the [censored] out of your motor. I kept looking in the rearview mirror, expecting to see a large cloud of smoke from the engine eating itself. Poor car...

 

[AuthorEditor]

In the no clue category the ones that really get me are the folks who have some sort of fender bender and then just park in the roadway and stand around exchanging papers oblivious to all other traffic--get off the highway if you can! And, if you can't move the cars, get out and move yourselves to the shoulder or preferably off the roadway so you don't get killed. The other night at around 0-dark:30 I came up fast on two cars like this just parked in the slow speed lane, with two people wandering around in the road looking at the damage. Luckily the car ahead of me was able to make a fast swerve into the left lane ahead of me and I was already there, and we both kept going because to stop in that spot after dark was really dangerous--no shoulder either, just a curb.

 

[RF Overlord]

Maybe he was doing an "Italian tune-up"....

 

[Klutch9]

Originally Posted By: RF Overlord

Maybe he was doing an "Italian tune-up"....

No, I'm pretty sure he was just an idiot. But hey, at least he wasn't texting while he was driving!

 

[SteveSRT8]

Hope he brought some oil!

 

[SLCraig]

Dumb indeed. I bet shifter bushing failed leaving him stuck in 2nd or 3rd or whatever gear.

 

[morris]

you cant fix stupid.

 

[NHGUY]

Maybe the auto trans went to limp mode??

 

[01rangerxl]

Originally Posted By: AuthorEditor

In the no clue category the ones that really get me are the folks who have some sort of fender bender and then just park in the roadway and stand around exchanging papers oblivious to all other traffic--get off the highway if you can! And, if you can't move the cars, get out and move yourselves to the shoulder or preferably off the roadway so you don't get killed. The other night at around 0-dark:30 I came up fast on two cars like this just parked in the slow speed lane, with two people wandering around in the road looking at the damage. Luckily the car ahead of me was able to make a fast swerve into the left lane ahead of me and I was already there, and we both kept going because to stop in that spot after dark was really dangerous--no shoulder either, just a curb.

This happens all the time here, and it drives me insane! People will bump into another car at a stop light on a major road, then stop and get out right there. A lot of times the cars aren't even dented, it's just paint damage! The cops and highway patrol have made it clear to get your car off the road if you can, but a lot of people are just dumb and inconsiderate.

 

[CROWNVIC4LIFE]

Originally Posted By: Klutch9

Then in front of it, I saw a Saturn SL1 (yes, it was spitting a little blue smoke out of the tailpipe like they all do ). As I slowly make my way past it, I can hear the car just bouncing off the rev limiter; likely 2nd gear, based on the speeds. This guy's motor was just absolutely howling!

I see that once a week down here on I-95 with the Saturn..If I am sitting at a red light and see smoke coming out of a car I can bet it is a Saturn and 99% of the time I am right..I have not got a clue why anyone would buy a used one..They also seem to have issues with the a/c I always see them with the windows down in this miserable jungle heat.

 

[Propflux01]

Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl

This happens all the time here, and it drives me insane! People will bump into another car at a stop light on a major road, then stop and get out right there. A lot of times the cars aren't even dented, it's just paint damage! The cops and highway patrol have made it clear to get your car off the road if you can, but a lot of people are just dumb and inconsiderate.

I think the reason you see this alot is in most states once the vehicles are moved from the initial point of impact the police are no longer required to produce a report, or at least produce one with who is at fault. And this can cause a real headache when it comes to insurance time.

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: CROWNVIC4LIFE

Originally Posted By: Klutch9

Then in front of it, I saw a Saturn SL1 (yes, it was spitting a little blue smoke out of the tailpipe like they all do ). As I slowly make my way past it, I can hear the car just bouncing off the rev limiter; likely 2nd gear, based on the speeds. This guy's motor was just absolutely howling!

I see that once a week down here on I-95 with the Saturn..If I am sitting at a red light and see smoke coming out of a car I can bet it is a Saturn and 99% of the time I am right..I have not got a clue why anyone would buy a used one..They also seem to have issues with the a/c I always see them with the windows down in this miserable jungle heat.

It involves age. In most S-series Saturns I work on, the AC compressor lasts 11-13 years. The last time such a car was built was in 2002, meaning that most of those cars have passed that age. Adding to that, the cars were so unloved, that nobody wanted to put extra money in the, so the A/C was never repaired. Don't blame Zexel/Diesel Kiki, they make good compressors.

 

[hattaresguy]

55mph on the freeway? You'd be run off the road on most interstates.

 

[Colt45ws]

Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl

Originally Posted By: AuthorEditor

In the no clue category the ones that really get me are the folks who have some sort of fender bender and then just park in the roadway and stand around exchanging papers oblivious to all other traffic--get off the highway if you can! And, if you can't move the cars, get out and move yourselves to the shoulder or preferably off the roadway so you don't get killed. The other night at around 0-dark:30 I came up fast on two cars like this just parked in the slow speed lane, with two people wandering around in the road looking at the damage. Luckily the car ahead of me was able to make a fast swerve into the left lane ahead of me and I was already there, and we both kept going because to stop in that spot after dark was really dangerous--no shoulder either, just a curb.

This happens all the time here, and it drives me insane! People will bump into another car at a stop light on a major road, then stop and get out right there. A lot of times the cars aren't even dented, it's just paint damage! The cops and highway patrol have made it clear to get your car off the road if you can, but a lot of people are just dumb and inconsiderate.

No, they think cops need to see where it happened to make a proper report, so they wont move.

 

[daves87rs]

Originally Posted By: hattaresguy

55mph on the freeway? You'd be run off the road on most interstates.

You're not kidding....

 

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: AuthorEditor

In the no clue category the ones that really get me are the folks who have some sort of fender bender and then just park in the roadway and stand around exchanging papers oblivious to all other traffic--get off the highway if you can! ....

The Police and Fire Departments do not help. In the event of a minor accident, not only do the still driveable cars not move. Police and Firefighters show up and block the lane and any adjacent lane(s).

Quote:

§550.022 - ACCIDENT INVOLVING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE ...(b) If an accident occurs on a main lane, ramp, shoulder, median, or adjacent area of a freeway in a metropolitan area and each vehicle involved can be normally and safely driven, each operator shall move the operator's vehicle as soon as possible to a designated accident investigation site, if available, a location on the frontage road, the nearest suitable cross street, or other suitable location to complete the requirements of Section 550.023 and minimize interference with freeway traffic.

and yet, there are the Arlington Police and Fire Departments, blocking 3 out of 4 Interstate lanes because someone's plastic bumper cover got popped loose. First responders with 4 year degrees blatantly violating Transportation Code. Here's where I'm the one without a clue... why this is necessary? What kind of drawn out "investigation" is necessary to determine that driver "A" was following too closely and/or distracted when driver "B" stopped causing minor damage to said plastic bumper covers.

 

[oppirs]

Ahhh.. Reminds of a nice snowy day last year. Some yahoo hit me in traffic on the interstate. Do to crawling traffic, I just got out & looked at the van's balded front tires. My '89 Olds bumper was ok. Told the idiot(Who didn't understand English) to back off.( with hand motions ) Then moved to the next lane.

 

[buickman50401]

No clue you say? Here's a non-auto but still engine related story. Couple of weeks ago my idiot boss (female) suggests I take the generator and 220v 35,000BTU heater along to a job site where we were going to strip cabinets out of a school being demolished. I said no, we don't have an extension cord yet. Remember I told you we needed to go buy the cable and the proper ends since no one sells a ready-made 50 footer? The heater cord is only 8ft long. Her suggestion... Well can't you just put the generator inside the building? My reply was, "Sure if you'd like to gas us all to death." Her next reply, "Well just open a window." To which I replied, its still dangerous and what's the point of bringing along a heater if we're just going to leave 1 or more windows open?

 

[Klutch9]

Originally Posted By: hattaresguy

55mph on the freeway? You'd be run off the road on most interstates.

I was not on an interstate. It was a state-maintained (M) road, with a 55 mph limit. But it is designed to interstate standards and looks like one, though. A lot of our (M) freeways and interstates are 55 mph through the city of Detroit. I normally go 65-70 mph like everyone else does, but I was in a state-owned work vehicle yesterday so I slowed it down a bit

 

[01rangerxl]

Originally Posted By: Tim H.

Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl

This happens all the time here, and it drives me insane! People will bump into another car at a stop light on a major road, then stop and get out right there. A lot of times the cars aren't even dented, it's just paint damage! The cops and highway patrol have made it clear to get your car off the road if you can, but a lot of people are just dumb and inconsiderate.

I think the reason you see this alot is in most states once the vehicles are moved from the initial point of impact the police are no longer required to produce a report, or at least produce one with who is at fault. And this can cause a real headache when it comes to insurance time.

In that case maybe a law is necessary where if a vehicle is found to be drivable after an accident, but it is still in the roadway, then the police are to seize it and auction it off. Then there is no worrying about insurance headaches. Bet you people would stop blocking major roads because someone scuffed the paint on their 10 year old Camry!