Road Trip!

xwesx

The weather was relatively stormy while we were there. Our first stop in Oregon was a visit to the Japanese Gardens in Portland....



Unfortunately, my little iPod is not a huge fan of low light conditions.

xwesx

We also hiked through a redwood forest in northern California. That was damp and humbling....



Life begets life....!

fintail

Nice pics. Probably a good time to be at the coast this week, clear skies. Hard to time it this time of year, though.

Tonight's winners - Sienna with DRLs, first gen Infiniti FX with parking lights and fog lights (extra dopey).

Quite icy here in the morning lately, but above 40 in the afternoon. The chains pic reminds me of my mom's T-Bird when I was a little kid, she'd insist on chains for long periods of time.

xwesx

Wow; icy mornings there! We've been having strangely warm weather here for the past week or more. Lows have been single digits, but just barely, and highs, such as right now, are well above freezing (38F). It should be solidly below zero this time of year. ?

It's pretty rare for me to get out the chains. I didn't even carry them until after our "Icepocalypse" event of 2010, and I still fondly remember those three days as the best driving days of my life. Since then, I think I have used chains three times including this one, and all of them were "it would be nice to have chains on" events rather than true emergencies.

Granted, for the gal I helped out on Friday night, it was, indeed, and emergency, and I wouldn't have been able to help her had I not put on the chains!

fintail

There was still some ice on sidewalks spotted while jogging just after sunset, but all roads were clear from mid-morning on. You'd never know it by the crawling traffic though, people hitting 5 under with a two handed death grip on the wheel when the air temp is 44F and there hasn't been ice for 10 hours. Love it.

When I was a kid in a snowier climate, my dad never put chains on the car, but my mom insisted on it. Today, she still hates driving in the snow, and will try to talk my brother into giving her a ride. I've only put chains on a car in driver's ed or some time around then.

Today's winners: Prius with nothing but foglights, something (Scion tC I think, it was some distance away) with nothing.

Michaell

fintail said:

There was still some ice on sidewalks spotted while jogging just after sunset, but all roads were clear from mid-morning on. You'd never know it by the crawling traffic though, people hitting 5 under with a two handed death grip on the wheel when the air temp is 44F and there hasn't been ice for 10 hours. Love it.

When I was a kid in a snowier climate, my dad never put chains on the car, but my mom insisted on it. Today, she still hates driving in the snow, and will try to talk my brother into giving her a ride. I've only put chains on a car in driver's ed or some time around then.

Today's winners: Prius with nothing but foglights, something (Scion tC I think, it was some distance away) with nothing.

Was coming home from dinner the other night (right after sunset), and noticed the following:

F-series pickup - turned on lights just as he was going past us
Honda Del Sol - no lights at all

fintail

DelSol, that's an obscure sighting, too.

I've noticed the no-lights issue is almost non-existent in the mornings here, the inattentive must not be early risers. I have yet to see one in the morning.

I do notice that local roads are sometimes slathered with de-icer, it is going to be messy when it rains again. The "authorities" here now over-react when the air temperature hits around 35F, where in the past they did very little ever. Must be a fear of litigation.

xwesx

It would not surprise me if this was the case. Apparently, people are no longer responsible for having their vehicles equipped for the weather!

I am the commissioner of my local roads, and I receive relatively frequent calls from people about how the "roads are so bad." So, we talk a little about what sort of equipment they have on their car, and I explain to them that I do not prepare the roads for the unprepared. It is winter in Alaska - roads will be slick! My job is to address accessibility issues, such as snowfall and exceptional weather events (e.g., freezing rain, like what we had the other night). If I can drive my vehicle over the complaint areas and not have any problems, then it is not bad enough to warrant special treatment.

Usually, the complaints come from those who use all-seasons on their cars. And, they explain how they have "always used these tires" and how they have "never had any problems before this year." I suggest to them that they can sipe their tires, keep a small supply of traction gravel or other traction devices, carry chains, or use winter tires.

xwesx

Also, last night, I saw one oncoming vehicle with no lights. I am not sure what it was - either a smallish CUV or a minivan. It was in the oncoming lane, and I made a u-turn at the intersection. Thankfully, it was going slow enough that there was no immediate danger, but I could not see it in the total darkness until it approached the lighted intersection (which was WAY too close for comfort). Even then, the driver didn't turn on the lights.

I really need to install dash cams on all my vehicles. /sigh

I actually have a BlackVue in my Amazon basket for a while now; I just haven't yet pulled the trigger.

berri

I think part of the light problem is that the DRL turn on the dash illumination, so a driver can believe they are on, particularly if it is like sunset, rainy or an illuminated night scene. The auto setting can help, but their placement on the turn indicator can make it easy to bump them out of that position on some vehicles as well.

xwesx

berri said:

I think part of the light problem is that the DRL turn on the dash illumination, so a driver can believe they are on, particularly if it is like sunset, rainy or an illuminated night scene. The auto setting can help, but their placement on the turn indicator can make it easy to bump them out of that position on some vehicles as well.

Yes, I agree. DRL is something I see with reasonable regularity, particularly on Subaru and Nissan vehicles (for some reason?). Last night's driver was completely non-illuminated (probably in more ways than that!), which is certainly a dangerous scenario for oncoming traffic....

Interesting that you mentioned bumping the dial out of position. I have my Q7 set to "auto" because it screams at me if I leave it in the 'on' position (even though it still turns the lights off when parked). It sometimes turns itself to full 'off', despite the fact that it is in a position where I cannot possibly bump it when going in or out. It's quite random, and it often catches me by surprise when it happens (e.g., I am already driving before I notice it). Thankfully, this us usually during daylight hours and it happens infrequently.

fintail

In every MB I have owned or driven, the light controls are on the dash (where they belong). Never had the issue of accidentally turning off the auto function. Maybe stalk controls are part of the problem.

fintail

It's a weird thought to me that people live in AK and don't have winter tires. Even in Seattle, some people insist on studded tires.

Here, even a decade ago, there was little concern for road treatment in all but extreme cases. Today, it can be 35F with 20% humidity, and the de-icer trucks are out in force.

xwesx said:

It would not surprise me if this was the case. Apparently, people are no longer responsible for having their vehicles equipped for the weather!

I am the commissioner of my local roads, and I receive relatively frequent calls from people about how the "roads are so bad." So, we talk a little about what sort of equipment they have on their car, and I explain to them that I do not prepare the roads for the unprepared. It is winter in Alaska - roads will be slick! My job is to address accessibility issues, such as snowfall and exceptional weather events (e.g., freezing rain, like what we had the other night). If I can drive my vehicle over the complaint areas and not have any problems, then it is not bad enough to warrant special treatment.

Usually, the complaints come from those who use all-seasons on their cars. And, they explain how they have "always used these tires" and how they have "never had any problems before this year." I suggest to them that they can sipe their tires, keep a small supply of traction gravel or other traction devices, carry chains, or use winter tires.

berri

Fin - in all fairness Seattle seems to me to be one of those places where the weather can rapidly change, not to mention lots of microclimate type things such as raining on one block and dry in another. When you fly in the typical scenario as you are approaching Sea-Tac is clouds, blue sky, precip, partly cloudy and touch down (or some combination thereof). I think the topography explains it all.

fintail

Explains the lights or the wacky de-icing?

I think it has a legal/political bent to it. Seattle absolutely botched cleanup from the snow event of December 2008, and it ended up becoming a talking point that cost the mayor re-election (his street got plowed when more important streets did not).

Tonight's dim bulbs (see what I did there); early 90s Toyota pickup - nothing, late model Corolla - nothing, BMW E38 - parking lights, 70s era 911 - nothing.

berri

Nah, the sometimes over cautious nature of things you mention. Of course, a traumatic event may cause it too as you just mentioned.

fintail

Sharp ones tonight: Altima - parking lights, Mazda3 - parking lights, late model GLS - illuminated star - I motioned to the driver, who actually acknowledged me and turned on the lights. That seems to happen in maybe 1:20 cases.

tjc78

berri said:

I think part of the light problem is that the DRL turn on the dash illumination, so a driver can believe they are on, particularly if it is like sunset, rainy or an illuminated night scene. The auto setting can help, but their placement on the turn indicator can make it easy to bump them out of that position on some vehicles as well.

Most cars with backlit dashboards have a symbol to tell you the lights are on.  In the picture below,  it’s the green symbol above the trip computer   

berri

Yeah, although sometimes not as obvious as on that IP. But I'm not sure a lot of drivers pay that much attention to the dash readings when in heavy traffic driving. May not be right, but I think it may be true.

fintail

Obliviousness is a trendy thing these days.

To be fair, the vast majority of cars new and old have their lights on, so that's good.

berri

I also think people are just stressed and preoccupied a lot more these days than even a decade ago. The middle class keeps getting screwed over.

fintail

I like to blame stereotypical "not with it" penalty box driver mentality, but my anecdotal observations show they aren't alone. Distractions might be more behind it than the growing socio-economic chasm.

xwesx

berri said:

Yeah, although sometimes not as obvious as on that IP. But I'm not sure a lot of drivers pay that much attention to the dash readings when in heavy traffic driving. May not be right, but I think it may be true.

I'm sure that has something to do with it. Also, seating positions relative to the dashboard play a role. I typically cannot see the upper end of my dash because the steering wheel and sun shade (the part of the dash that protrudes above the instrument panel) block my view.

If I adjusted my seat and/or wheel to have a clear view of the dash, it would make for a very uncomfortable drive.

However, if nothing else, it just makes me be a little more active in monitoring my readouts, with a brief dip and nod once every few glances.

kyfdx

Yeah.. when I adjust the steering wheel where I want it, I lose sight of the top inch of my instrument panel. No way around it. Remember the Subaru XT, where the instrument panel went up and down with the steering wheel?

xwesx

kyfdx said:

Yeah.. when I adjust the steering wheel where I want it, I lose sight of the top inch of my instrument panel. No way around it. Remember the Subaru XT, where the instrument panel went up and down with the steering wheel?

I didn't know it did that, but wouldn't surprise me one bit! They built so much 'wacky' in to that car.... !

tjc78

kyfdx said:

Yeah.. when I adjust the steering wheel where I want it, I lose sight of the top inch of my instrument panel. No way around it. Remember the Subaru XT, where the instrument panel went up and down with the steering wheel?

First gen Ford Probe did that too, right? 

Michaell

tjc78 said:

kyfdx said:

Yeah.. when I adjust the steering wheel where I want it, I lose sight of the top inch of my instrument panel. No way around it. Remember the Subaru XT, where the instrument panel went up and down with the steering wheel?

First gen Ford Probe did that too, right? 

Didn't the Nissan Z and Infiniti G35 also have that feature?

fintail

Sharpies tonight: late model Corolla (I think, was moving away from me at a good clip), Mazda 3. Saw a Dakota almost drive into a bus-only transit mall, then clumsily back up and slowly got out - I guess they need eve more "bus only" "do not enter" signs. A nearby cop just looked and I assumed smirked. Also had a couple close calls on foot from people pulling out of commercial driveways - they never look right. A red light runner while a crosswalk had green finished up the jog.

fintail

On the road to and from the south end earlier today - LLCs galore. I know I passed 5 or 6 on the right, some of them completely oblivious with poor lane tracking. Saw a couple of WSP earlier, probably going after the speed bogeyman and nothing else. I flashed and honked at one LLC who was pacing a dawdly Prius - she actually sped up. Also poor lane tracking, I suspect phones.

fintail

I'll be taking a road trip Sunday morning, hopefully the scene of the horrific train wreck will be cleared by then. If not, I'll be adding an hour or two.

On a positive note, I spotted zero no-light dorks at my usual hour after sunset observation time today.

xwesx

fintail said:

I'll be taking a road trip Sunday morning, hopefully the scene of the horrific train wreck will be cleared by then. If not, I'll be adding an hour or two.

On a positive note, I spotted zero no-light dorks at my usual hour after sunset observation time today.

Safe travels!

Yes, that was quite the tragedy. Shocking that so much could go wrong on the very first run....

fintail

Horrible, and probably a set back for high speed rail that exists in most of the rest of the developed world. I think I read all lanes should be open by late tomorrow, that will make my drive better,

Only two derps in the dark tonight - Odyssey with DRLs, Camry with nothing. Traffic was awful too, a mix of the timid and aggressive.

xwesx said:

Safe travels!

Yes, that was quite the tragedy. Shocking that so much could go wrong on the very first run....

berri

New Amtrak slogan "come fly with me" - that's bad!

fintail

berri - booooooo

Tonight's winners - Accent with nothing, Camry with nothing.

xwesx

Interesting one last night. After spending 25 minutes traveling about a half mile due to what was, as far as I could tell, simply the result of a traffic light not working properly (it seemed to be turning red far too quickly, as it was only allowing 6-7 vehicles through per light, as opposed to its normal timing of 20-25), I came across a newer F150 (perhaps 2011-2014?) with no lights at all. And, this is not in the city, where artificial lighting might make for an honest mistake. No, this was 1730 in the evening, pitch black, and on unlit highway.

cdnpinhead

I've had police and others tell me that running in the dark without headlights is one of the first indicators of DWI. That, or being from Taiwan.

xwesx

cdnpinhead said:

I've had police and others tell me that running in the dark without headlights is one of the first indicators of DWI. That, or being from Taiwan.

I just couldn't tell with this guy. He was going about 50 in a 55, driving steady and true. but, totally unresponsive with the lights. When I came up on him, I flashed my lights from behind, then passed him (it was a divided two-lane highway), pulled in front, and shut my lights off/on twice. After a few more seconds, I double-tapped the brakes.... still nothing. So, whatever, I was around him at that point. I popped it up to 70, headed off to home, and let him be somebody else's problem.

fintail

I look at lights off in the afternoon or early evening as simple distraction or obliviousness, sometimes not connected to other traits. Late at night, I bet it is indeed a positive indicator of the inebriated.

I am still amused that I very rarely (maybe a couple times a year) see a no-lights car on the morning drive, but it might just be an odds game, as traffic volumes are low (which is why I go early).

xwesx

fintail said:

I look at lights off in the afternoon or early evening as simple distraction or obliviousness, sometimes not connected to other traits. Late at night, I bet it is indeed a positive indicator of the inebriated.

I am still amused that I very rarely (maybe a couple times a year) see a no-lights car on the morning drive, but it might just be an odds game, as traffic volumes are low (which is why I go early).

Far more common in the mornings are high beams, on my drive!

berri

berri - booooooo

OK Fin, how about on Amtrak it's just a hop, skip and jump away

fintail

I think now it will be Amtrak: We need some good lawyers

Out this morning, many roads slathered in de-icer, even though the dewpoint appears to be fairly low, and I only spotted frost on exposed cars. The brine substance used here turns into a gunky mess when it rains, and irritates me to no end. I suppose it is likely because of the city having lawyers, too.

Saw a good one this morning, but the angle wasn't good for my dashcam. A late model Legacy made a left turn from a divided straight only lane. It just went around the divider and cut into the left turning traffic. Not exactly a first world motoring experience here sometimes. There's a U-turn area two blocks ahead - if you miss your turn, just turn around. If I was a cop, I would have given the idiot every ticket possible.

berri

I think your Seattle driving adventures make you ready to take on DC and the big northeast cities now - maybe even Boston

fintail

Is a Boston Turn when you turn left in front of oncoming traffic (who has the right of way)? I bet I could handle it. I've never driven in NE, but I have in many other parts of the country, and in several other countries - bring it on

fintail

No issues on the drive early yesterday - beat the rush, beat the snow (no snow out where I am now).

A couple of clips - first, a mid 80s Prelude flying down I5 with no lights. I flashed my lights a few times, no dice. About 20 minutes later I saw what looked like a similar car on the shoulder, maybe he finally figured it out:

https://youtu.be/-mZHolZyllU

The bridge I drive under is the site of the train crash a week ago - remarkable job cleaning it up, you'd never know it happened:

https://youtu.be/zlfQYQc5y0M

grahampeters

G'day

I usually presume that drivers without lights are either drunk or drug affected. However a new cause is drivers unfamiliar with the car they are driving, as their daily driver has automatic lights.

Both my fourteen year old Toyota Kluger and my four year old Mercedes B250 have set and forget lights, left on all the year. I have to think how to turn them off now, but get caught when I grab a hire car.

Cheers

Graham

Michaell

I spotted two yesterday here in CA. First was a 90’s F-150 with no lights. 

Second was a Diamond Star Motors - couldn’t tell you which brand. Again, no lights. 

tifighter

We’re going to Winthrop WA for New Years; it’s 15degrees there today with an overnight low of 8. That should make for an interesting road trip. Stop rolling your eyes @xwesx ...

fintail

Back in the rat race world now, drive back was fine - all of the major roads were clear of snow, and mostly dry. Just a couple random clips. First, the typical idiocy when it snows, people who don't clear their windows - got a nice pair on this clip. I couldn't drive like that, it would drive me nuts:

https://youtu.be/0JGG6YFx4CA

And what I think is the longest-lived cosntruction zone in the area, I swear this place was under construction when I was in high school - now just marginally more interesting thanks to a little snow on the ground:

https://youtu.be/sOw3AisSEr4

berri

Primary issue in Boston: road sign - forget about it

berri

So the night vision equipment comes out!