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I think as small digital video cameras get smaller and smaller (they'll end up in phones in time), the real jerky drivers will end up being outed en masse online.
But then, using the camera phone would be a distraction to driving safely.
Closed circuit tv (CCTV) color cameras for business or home use are available with pretty good resolution. Price is reasonable. Can get these in cylindrical shape and size slightly larger than thumb of man who wears extra-large gloves. Combine with controller-hard drive in small case and can put in a car. Of course, the police have had motion cameras and recorders in their cars for many years. Thankfully, have never gotten close enough to look at their cameras and recorder.
Don't know if any states have laws about private citizens mounting cameras and recorders in their cars. If laws permit, or no laws banning, hard to imagine where this would lead to. If many people had cameras in cars and activated when driving, would this be deterrent to "inconsiderate" and irresponsible drivers? What about "1984" concern? Would this have same effect that is noticed in states that have private citizen gun-carry laws whereby crime is lessened because of deterrent?
The differerence is someone can walk around you and if they inadvertently bunk into you they can say: "I'm sorry". There is no bent sheet metal and no MDK (Sandra Bullock for those who remember) from an accidental bump. When you're driving down the road an inadvertent bunk has more repercussions, may result in an MDK depending on the severity.
AMEN! We need more rest stops on our highway system! :P That was a great post, by the way. Thanks for the laugh.
Too bad cars don't fill up with foam like they do in Demolition Man.
Someone told me when the Lincoln Navigator came out that the steering wheel was made of wood and in an accident it would blow out leafs instead of an airbag.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
>>this story of a Crestview couple who drove their car to Wal-Mart,
>>only to have their car break down in the parking lot. The man told
>>his wife to carry on with the shopping while he fixed the car in
>>the lot.
>>
>>The wife returned later to see a small group of people near the
>>car. On closer inspection, she saw a pair of male legs protruding
>>from under the chassis.
>>
>>Although the man was in shorts, his lack of underwear turned
>>private parts into glaringly public ones. Unable to stand the
>>embarrassment, she dutifully stepped forward, quickly put her hand
>>UP his shorts, and tucked everything back into place.
>>
>>On regaining her feet, she looked across the hood and found
>>herself staring at her husband who was standing idly by.
>>
>>The mechanic, however, had to have three stitches in his
>>forehead.
http://www.snopes.com/risque/mistaken/unzipped.asp
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Well most posts with jokes don't start off with "From the Northwest Florida Daily News".
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Normally, they aren't interested even if you are going a little faster. They have a lot more on their minds than worrying about a 5 mph over speeding ticket.
On the other hand, we had a local cop here we called "The ticket King". I haven't seen him in a long time so he might have retired or moved to a desk job. My brother, who was on the force at the time, said this guy would write 50-100 tickets a day. This cop would park himself on several large busy streets around my neighborhood and would, literally, jump out in front of your car to stop you to give you a ticket (with speed gun in hand).
Once, he stopped a Doctor driving a Mercedes for speeding. The Doctor was on his way to an emergency at the hospital and told the cop this and the cop didn't care at all. The Doctor started to drive off and the cop hung on the side of the car and then he let go. The cop jumped on his motorcycle and chased the Doctor to the hospital.
The Doctor was already in the operating room performing surgery when the cop burst in and tried to arrest the Doctor... The "poop" hit the fan, this was all over the news. The Doctor was fined (I think) but the cop was never seen on the streets after that. This probably happened about 5 or 6 years ago.
So, some cops can go way overboard but most are 99% great citizens.
Mark
I completely agree with you. Most of the cops out there are just doing their job and are actually quite nice. I have only been pulled over once till now. This was at 4 in the morning in Atlantic City and I hadnt noticed a stop light and jumped it. There was a cop car tight behind me. I was hardly doing 20 mph. The guy came, checked my license, told me that it might have been dangerous. I apologized and told him that I was sorry and it was an honest mistake. He let me go!
I actually see a lot of cop cars on I95 between Richmond and DC and most people do about 75-78 on a 65. Mostly, people are not pulled over.
But then again, it just takes one frustrated cop to mess things up. Inspite of not having any accidents or tickets, I pay a fortune for car insurance. One ticket is all that it will take to kill me. Maybe when I'm 50 and have a steady driving record, I won't care. But for the time being, I wont take my chances!
99% of cops are great people, but that 1% are as slimy and gutless as the criminals they are there to stop. And when they do go overboard...paid administrative leave! Yee haw. And I won't even get started on the mustaches...
And on the inconsiderate driver topic...I had a fun 100 mile I5 jaunt today in the fintail. I didn't see too many idiots, save for an errant semi here and there with bad lane discipline, and a brainless ricer in an old CRX weaving in and out of traffic. I will say traffic was moving along...I didn't want to push the old beast too hard, so I never went over 75 in a 70, and was always in the right or next-to-right lane. I got passed by maybe 80% of traffic, only passing the very old, semis, and motorhomes. It was kind of fun in a sick way to sit back and watch them all fly by. Not much compares to seeing some inbred in a F350 diesel pulling a trailer going 85-90. The gene pool needs some chlorine.
There's also a stretch of I5 in Marysville WA that recently got reduced to 60mph, due to several fatal accidents in the area. The area has grown tremendously in the past couple years, and is divided by a 1940s style wire barrier. Anyway, the cops have been all over the media this past week preaching safety and threatening increased patrols in this area. I saw a total of zero cops on this stretch, as traffic sailed through at 70-80. Nice.
Found just the reverse here in beautiful Western Ohio. Between Dayton and Cincinnati Saturday evening to go out to dinner saw 4 Ohio Patrolmen with criminals on the roadside. More than usual.
>F350 diesel pulling a trailer going 85-90.
Some of the dangerous driving is done by people in vehicles like that that scare me. They don't realize what a little wig and wag can do. I've been in too many backups on interstates when traveling where trailers and the tow vehicle are sprawled across the highway when the occasional towdriver lost control.
I marveled at the Michigan travelers on I75 who are careful and courteous with their speed above the limit. They don't run up and tailgate and flash their lights. They moved over and around slower drivers in the left lanes without dangerous cutting in and out.They are much better than some of my regional fellow drivers here who are dangerous with their speed.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
However, the following is an impossible display of absolute disregard for everything and everyone else. The California air board's new CO2 emission guideline are to be applicable to ALL vehicle classes. However, notice the SUV owner's protest over here, just like the school bully's who does not want any school laws for discipline to be applicable on him. I do not know whether I should laugh or cry at the rant of how lesser pollution will mean weaker engines leading to lower utility and and impossibly unsafe environment because people will have to go to small cars and there will be a resulting carnage on the roads! I guess the socces mom will no longer be able to haul to kids around without a V8 under the hood. Jeez, how fat a** are the kids getting?
"....
So, California bureaucrats decided on a clever strategy that forces CO2 reductions, knowing the only way it can be accomplished is by huge increases in fuel economy for SUVs and light trucks. At today's prices, saving fuel sounds great - until inherent draconian side effects are factored, such as much higher sticker prices, reduced consumer choice and, most important, many more highway deaths and injuries because of the resulting smaller vehicles.
The intent? Force SUVs and other light trucks to be drastically downsized to meet the CO2 reduction requirement. The result? Smaller engines; less utility and towing capacity; higher prices for consumers and as history has shown, diminished occupant safety as vehicle size shrinks. But since there are no motor vehicles made in California, there are no immediate political or economic ramifications and consumer backlash would not be faced for a decade or so - - after it's too late. "
Disclaimer: I don't own, and have never owned, an SUV. I have no axe to grind one way or the other on that point.
I find it REALLY interesting how accidents are reported in our local paper and radio news broacasts. If there's an SUV involved, the wording is invartiably something like this...
...the SUV then veered across the median into oncoming traffic.
But, let the incident involve a non-SUV, and you'll see/hear something along the lines of...
... the driver of the westbound vehicle lost control and crossed the centerline.
The driver of the SUV is almost never mentioned, which I find curious. Not that I suspect an agenda from the media. They're just reporting facts and not opinions, right?
The Hyundai driver I cited in an earlier post ( pf_flyer, "Inconsiderate Drivers (share your stories, etc.)" #5545, 29 Jun 2005 6:07 pm ) was FAR more dangerous, and made stupider moves than anything I've seen in a long time. The choice of "weapon" of the inconsiderate driver, has very little to do with it if you ask me.
Heh... it feels like there ought to be an acronym for these folks... something like I.D.I.O.T.S. (Inconsiderate Drivers Infesting Our Traffic System)
Very good!
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
The media surely doesn't have an agenda, do they? They are impartial in all reporting, including accidents...
How do others handle the tailgating by over-sized, gashogging vehicles with drivers???
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Maybe the larger vehicles are more noticable, but I'm pretty sure the "talent" is spread out across the board:)
I am the same way, the beast is getting old, over 105k miles so I don't push it much anymore. rarely go over 75 and try to keep the rpm's low.
Anyway, the cops have been all over the media this past week preaching safety and threatening increased patrols in this area. I saw a total of zero cops on this stretch, as traffic sailed through at 70-80. Nice.
Not the same here, I was going down I-55 into Chicago yesterday and in less than a mile saw three state troopers with cars pulled over and one more waiting for another speeder.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I've always said this...the bigger and more agressively driven the truck, the smaller the....shoes, yeah that's it. There's obviously something going on upstairs with these vehicles. You don't endlessly tailgate people with your Ram or Denali or go 85 in your big F series towing a trailer unless you have other issues. Surely the idiots are indeed spread across all vehicles...but some offenders are much louder than others. A jerk in a large vehicle causes more notice and issues than one in a Civic.
1. When you are first driving a brand new car, you tend to notice every single person driving badly...mainly because you just want your new car to last at least a week without a scratch or shopping cart dent on it.
2. People are driving at a much higher rate of speed today then they did when I first started driving 30 years ago. This combined with over developing regions clogging highways and freeways, the speed limits rising, and peoples inability to accept delayed gratification...(it has to be now..now..now...or better yet yesterday!)
3. Cell phones, NAV systems and all other distractions being used improperly. I think its a vicious circle. People in a hurry, while the idiot in front of you is doing everything but driving. People used to go fast years ago, but didn't have anywhere near the distractions they have now.
4.Drivers inability to realize that airbags don't necessarily mean you won't be injured in an accident, just reduces the chance of serious injury. I'm an RN and I've seen my fair share of drivers actually using the improved safety and traction control features on the new cars as a "buffer" to drive even faster.
5. Patience...everyone needs to rediscover theirs.
Sometimes, I'd like to write them or their insurance company to let them know how I feel about their driving "techniques".
Of course remember that could work both way as far as people complaining about driving.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
South of Seattle it seems motor homes with toads, pickups with boat/trailers or horse trailers don't mind traveling in the 3rd lane where they are not to be and at speeds 10 to 15 over the limit as well. Most single axle boat trailers don't have brakes and jacknife taking up two lanes after the crash.
Last time I was tailgated in the outside lane, the rear view mirror was filled with "Kenworth" so I coasted with the Hazard flashers on and he passed me sounding his air horn. 30 minutes later he was having a conversation with WSP!
My son got a letter from university security about an unpaid university parking ticket back when he was still in school. The ticket had his sticker number, but a strange license number. His protests were to no avail, and he paid it rather than have his diploma and transcripts frozen. The police said they could not legally run the plate for him.
I am a reserve deputy sheriff, so I ran the plate the next time I was working. Tom's sticker had three zeros in the middle of the number, the perpetrator had two zeros, and the metermaid accidently put one extra zero on the ticket. When the computer truncated the number from the ticket, and dropped the last digit, it reported Tom's name.
With the full information on the plate, by asking to see a supervisor Tom eventually got his fine refunded.
Harry
And on that note: Responsibility - everyone needs to discover theirs. Simply looking before you change lanes would cut down on so much aggravation.
I don't think any state can do anything about bad driver reports unless there is proof, like on camera. Any lawyer who is conscious and breathing would simply have the stuff tossed out. I can't count the number of times I have wanted a hidden grille mounted camera that I could turn on with a button on the dash or something.
I've never seen a vehicle towing anything pulled over, that I can recall. I've seen a couple semis over the years...that's it. And indeed...it is so common to see a horse trailer or boat being pulled at speeds well over the limit. I recall a couple instances of seeing heavy duty pickups with car trailers towing cars going maybe 75-80.
I remember years ago on the horrible twisty highway going to Ocean Shores, a truck towing a large fiberglass boat lost its load, and the boat skidded down the highway for at least a quarter mile. It left a trail.
And kind of on that note...I remember going over Snoqualmie Pass with my dad when I was quite young, and a woman driving U-Haul truck shot past at a good pace. My dad just kind of laughed and said something like 'she'll get hers'. Lo and behold, not more than a half hour later...a WSP had nabbed her.
Did you help by calling WSP about the driving or did he discover them by speed or other accidental encounter.
I often call the trucking company identified on the truck. I've gotten good at finding the truck terminal phone numbers using google and yahoo yellow pages. The 800 numbers of backs of trailers often have part of the digits missing on trucks and the ones with digits missing often drive the worst. I like it when it is a relatively small company and the owner is the one who answers the phone instead of a traffic manager or safety manager.
Had a trucker tailgate into northern Cincinnati suburbs on I-75. He whipped out and passed in third lane then a half mile later I saw all kinds of smoke as he locked up the wheels and skidded to a stop partly on the left berm. When I called the company and gave the the details, the manager was real interested. Seemed the trailer brakes had locked up (when the trucker got too close to a car or the car slowed down rapidly) and he company had to pay a mechanic 2 hours to go out and repair the truck on site on I-75 (besides the trucker blocking traffic for a couple of hours). The manager the reason the brakes had failed was from a quick application due to bad driving.
How do other people handle inconsiderate truckers?
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Side note: A hidden camera in a Dodge Ram's grill would be useless, since it would mostly capture the backs of people's heads.
By giving them a very wide berth.
To be honest, most of the "inconsiderate truckers" I see are the ones who pass another truck, while only traveling 1-2 mph faster than the vehicle that is being passed. I see very few actively aggressive (tailgating, cutting off other vehicles, etc.) truck drivers.
Got 41 mpg for that trip, too :P
PF Flyer
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Cell phone usage does distract, in some cases totally from the job of driving...
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I did not call the WSP, but to my surprise, my passenger did. The dispatcher said that was not the first call received on the "Kenworth". Hope the officer checked for outstanding warrants on the trucker.
Saw large tire tread carcass (guess was from large truck, not whole tire) and related pieces while on Interstate at 14.5 yard stick in the morning on Tues. Then, while driving same interstate, same direction in afternoon, saw similar debris at 18 yard stick. (Yes, debris was gone at 14.5 when I passed in afternoon.) Debris in both cases was in middle and right lane. Got off at 10 yard stick both times (my exit), and then quickly called DOT hot line to report.
Can I assume that truck drivers can "feel" the tread coming off tire when it happens? Is there a noise or vibration? What are the obligations of truck driver if he/she knows tread came off? Should they/do they call DOT hot line? I realize that they can't stop their vehicle on shoulder and then get out to pick up pieces on interstate. This might cause accident or they could get killed. Need DOT orange trucks with flashing lights to pick up the debris.
I guess another question for the truckers would be is there some way to prevent the tread separation? What causes it to happen? Does it happen when a certain mileage on the tire is exceeded? Can a driver spot a bad tire when refueling at a truck stop and then get it replaced before tread separates?
Over the years, I have called DOT hot line for debris in roadway and accidents that just happened (not me) and often they will say thank you and that it has already been reported in cases of accidents. I have not had them ever say that it was already reported when I am calling in regarding debris.
On a related issue, a recent issue of Readers Digest has a good article on road debris/obstacles.
"Can I assume that truck drivers can "feel" the tread coming off tire when it happens? Is there a noise or vibration?" Tires that separate are almost always retreads, and most retreads are used on trailers. It is unlikely a driver can feel it, but they probably see the debris in their mirrors. If a tread separates on the tractor they can surely feel it.
"What are the obligations of truck driver if he/she knows tread came off? Should they/do they call DOT hot line? I realize that they can't stop their vehicle on shoulder and then get out to pick up pieces on interstate. This might cause accident or they could get killed. Need DOT orange trucks with flashing lights to pick up the debris." I would imagine that littering laws could be applied, but I doubt they ever are. A responsible driver would report the debris, but would probably not publically admit to having caused it for liability reasons.
"I guess another question for the truckers would be is there some way to prevent the tread separation? What causes it to happen? Does it happen when a certain mileage on the tire is exceeded? Can a driver spot a bad tire when refueling at a truck stop and then get it replaced before tread separates?" Truck tires can be retreaded several times. A quality Bandag retread will run as long as an original tire, or even longer. But if the tread is not put on correctly (not tire buffed down well, dirty, not well cured etc.) the tread will separate due to heat buildup from the effects of weather and load. Mileage is generally not so much a factor. Most commercial truck tires are leased under a tire service contract, and they are replaced at a predetermined certain mileage. Drivers usually inspect the tires at each stop by thumping them with a hammer. A loose tread will be evident only if he happens to hit the loose portion - which is not very likely. Some trucks have tire pressure monitoring, but since those are the major carriers with lots of money invested in the maintenance of their rigs, they would be unlikely to have bad tires in the first place. Most of the failures we changed were on owner-operated rigs.
I was once hit by a tread on I-5. The Ford 4x4 in front of me hit it and sent it airborne It broke the grill on my 2wd Tacoma and bent the radiator support. It also left a spiral skid-mark down my driveshaft as my vehicle passed over it.
My insurance co. said, "you are covered under your collision policy, $500 deductible". "No, no, no", I replied, "The tread was airborne It hit me, no different than a rock thrown by a passing truck breaking a windshield. It's covered under comprehensive... $50 deductible".
They paid all but $50.
james
Don't trust the wheels and tires on trailers transporting mobile home halves either.
Don't follow gravel trucks and if you drive in Alaska, don't be surprised to need a new W/S when you get home.
Saw a Windstar with the windshield caved in on I71 week ago Sunday between Louisville and Cincinnati. Don't know if tread came off and somebody ran over it and the lady got hit in the windshield by the large piece of casing about 200 feet behind where she stopped in the median.
It's a good idea NOT to stay immediately beside or behind semis. Especially in areas where they let it loose speedwise. States that have 70 as limit now tend to get trucks rolling at 80+ which is even more dangerous for tire parts flying off or up and trucks losing control. Ohio has 55 as limit and they tend to go 65, much safer speed for trucks.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
The good part is that I have, almost without any exception, found truckers to be the most disciplined drivers on the road. They always do exactly SL+7 or 8 and stay in their lane and are in general very considerate. However, a hit from them is enough to take anyone out, SUV or not. I read somewhere on a motorcycling site that one of their wheels exploding is kinda equivalent to a stick of dynamite and so bikers are advised to never drive along them. It is also quite difficuly to pass them over without going into danger zone for speeding (as they always remain right at the limit of allowed overspeeding).
If smaller vehicles are allowed 65, truckers should be allowed less. Converse would also work.
Incidentally, I have found coach drivers to be the most dangerous drivers of the road (at least where I mostly drive, I-95 between NYC and Richmond). They are as big as semis and have as much destructive powers but are driven like cars. Now that is not a nice thing!
Overspeed for the load, or overload for the speed, is what they claim causes the separations.
I found that interesting.
Harry
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,