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A method of adjusting outside mirrors that is becoming increasingly popular positions each mirror so that the driver does not view the side of the vehicle. This position allows a trailing vehicle to be observed immediately after its view is lost from the inside center rear-view mirror; assuming that this center mirror is properly adjusted.
To adjust the side-view mirrors properly, one moves slightly to the left and right of normal driving position, and adjusts the mirrors to just view the side of the vehicle. This can be accomplished by placing your head on the driver's window while adjusting the left side mirror, and by sitting in the center of the vehicle while adjusting the right side mirror.
Always remember that to be 100% certain there is not a car in your blind spot - LOOK - when preparing to change lanes.
I pretty much drive the speed limit in the far right lane (although I've long since given up on 55 on interstates) and I have NEVER been brake checked by anyone in my 37 years of driving for being "obstructionist." Not once.
I, OTOH, have brake-checked others when they were riding my rear. This was in my younger days. But I almost always just "flashed" the brake lights using my left foot without actually slowing down.
I remember one time about 25 years ago doing this on a Louisville freeway when an old gent was glued to my rear with the passing lane wide open and no interchange in sight. I was driving my wife's '75 Corolla at the time, which made a very audible "click" when pedal was pushed just enough to make the brake lights came on. I "clicked" the pedal 4 times rapidly, and sure enough he came around, cussing up a storm at me! But my windows were closed, so I couldn't hear a thing. :P
Needless to say, I don't do this anymore. On multilane roads, I just wait for them to go around, which eventually they do. On 2-lane roads, I give people encouragement, if necessary, by pulling to the right side of the lane and slowing slightly in a legal passing zone. I'll even go so far as to wave them around with my arm if I have to. For some reason, women much more so than men seem reluctant to pass on 2-lane roads.
The most serious brake check I got was when some idiot pulled the "thread the needle" effect on me: He couldn't wait for a car approaching me from behind in the left lane to pass me (I was in the right lane), but zoomed up on my rear in and then zipped left into the shrinking space between me and the other car to get around me. I flashed my high beams at him when he got in front of me (this was in the pre-dawn in December) and he suddenly braked to a near-complete stop. I managed to avoid rear-ending him, but boy was I MAD! :mad:
I had recognized this guy's license plate and realized I'd seen him driving like a bozo many times before. Sorta like the obnoxious cabby I once yelled at from my office window for blowing his horn once too often. This was years ago also....
Would you rather he/she drink a cold brew?
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Driver B gets the last widget that was in stock, or closes the deal with the client first, or gets the better parking spot at WallyWorld, etc... all of which may be worth WAY more than the cost of the extra gas he uses.
But that doesn't mean others wouldn't brake check. And to some dawdler cradling a cup of coffee that he's attending to more than his driving...I can't say it isn't deserved.
I don't eat or drink in any of my cars
The driver is in the right hand lane with the trucks whose speed limit is 55.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I took an 11.5K mile trip from Alaska to Oregon to Pennsylvania and back to Alaska in 1999 driving my '69 Chevy C20. I got about 11.5 mpg, averaged over the whole trip driving 60-65 at all times, depending slightly on what type of road I was navigating. At 75, the mpg would have been more like 9 or 9.5. Over 11.5K miles, that is a lot of gallons. No thanks, I'll enjoy the scenery and take my own sweet time.....
No deals to close, no WallyWorld. Just had to be at x place at y time. 55 probably could have delivered me there, but I wouldn't have had a whole lot of time to rest and mpg differential between 65 and 55 was only .5-.7 mpg versus around 2 from 65 to 75.
I've never quite figured this one out. Why would someone do this to "scare" another driver? I can just see the police officer scratching his head.. "and why were you backing in an intersection?" "Well officer, I felt that the driver behind me was too close and wanted to scare him." "Uhuh, well here's your ticket for improper backing."
I was riding in my father's motorhome many years ago driving through the Portland, OR area and a little compact car did this at multiple intersections to us. I think he felt we were too close because all he saw was this monster grille behind him, but shoot, we gave him far more room than any passenger car would have. Two vehicles could have parallel parked between us. Finally, on the 5th or 6th time, my father decided he'd had enough. The light turned green, the guy backs up. We drove forward. We gently connected him to our bumper and helped him along the street almost all the way across the intersection before he managed to get his act together and pull away. I wouldn't have wanted that repair bill to the drive train, but I doubt he ever pulled that nonsense again.
that said, add the firearm element and someone could very well end up dead.
why would anyone go to these extremes to "make a point"?
it doesn't matter what size of vehicle you are driving.
better to back off and let some crazy bother someone else. there won't be a cop there to defend you when the crazy pops out of the car and starts popping off some rounds at your vehicle. you're one sitting duck.
at that point, "being in the right" means nothing. nada. zip. zero. possibly flatline brain and heart activity. weren't you so smart?
not.
I'd use the mileposts but I'd use them to test my odometer. Then I wouldn't have to maintain a constant speed and I assume my odometer and speedometer would be part of the same system.
If I got an early start, I drove slow. If I got a late start I'd keep it around 9 over so I'd get as far as possible before the sun went down. But now I never drive that fast because I have my precious dog with me. Either way, it's between you and the law if you speed but don't endanger others and don't be a bully and try to force others into your bad habbit.
WallyWorld doesn't exist, by the way...
On that note...I used to do a little trick...if I was in the right lane and someone flew up on the left lane wayyyy too fast...like 20-30 mph over the speed limit, I'd wait 'till they got real close and put on my left turn signal just to scare them.
I have found that with the possible exception of one or two of those warning signs they all show speeds that are about 3 MPH slower than what my speedometer says. So I feel safe following the invisible 5 rule knowing that doing so only puts me a few miles over the limit.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I live on a hill, and I have to pull into my driveway slowly as it is not far from the street, and I have to hit the door opener as I am pulling in. When I am being tailgated up the hill, I always pull into the driveway especially slow.
Drinking anything is a distraction that probably shouldn't happen, especially in urban driving.
I'm retired Air Force Intelligence. I'm very nervous about terrorists so I leave a lot of space at intersections. But I don't get that nervous if someone pulls close behind me. I just think you need to pick your fights, but maybe that's important to you.
I think the most important thing in driving is that your eyes are on the road and that you can react if necessary. Although drinking would give a small lapse, I think if you watch the road while you are drinking and can drop the drink in a hurry if you need to, there is minimal danger. It keeps you alert if you need to drink a little coffee. I wouldn't drink unless there was a little space between myself and other vehicles...if you have a little space you'll have plenty of time to react.
People get all up on others' bumpers and zip in and out and go too fast and too dangerous and think they're getting somewhere. It's a lot of work and danger for such a small increase in speed. As I said before, when I commuted at Langley AFB I would see people trying to 'get ahead' and I'd sit calmly in the right lane and usually end up being ahead of them or just a car or two behind them. Was it worth it?
I see that here in Indiana too. You hardly gain any time and you risk your car, your license, and your life.
I agree on the distance issue. There's been one or two times that the extra distance has come in handy. I've never had to out-n-out "get out of there," but then there's the times when the vehicle behind cannot get stopped, but is almost there. The room to give an extra 10-20 feet prevents the collision. The space wouldn't prevent bumper cars if the driver behind failed to stop entirely, but on a dry road it could absorb a 20 mph hit.
Fin... sorry 'bout that. I mis-read your post re: backing lights....
Since we know a lot of things that are going to come up, let's not try to get into a deep discussion of the details on any one item, but let's come up with a list that should be included when someone new gets a driver's license.
I guess they don't have to be in order of importance for now.
I'll start with:
You SHALL learn to use your turn signals properly
You folks can add on, but let's see if we can come up with a list of 10 that covers it.
Perhaps it is more about your purpose for driving than anything. For me, driving in the summer is about getting a task accomplished. I only drive to get it done. I'll find myself making up reasons to go somewhere in order to get in some road time in the winter..... it is more about the drive itself than the destination.
I'd bet that most people know HOW to use them.... they just do not use them.
How about: Hmm.... we should restrict this to one commandment per poster!
You SHALL be familiar with and respect the dimensions and capability of your vehicle.
OK... I'd go for the simpler "You SHALL use..." makes sense
I don't know if these commandments are up for rebuttal but let me just respectfully qualify the mirrors thing. Unless you are changing lanes you are really responsible for what's in front of you. Some people get too pre-occupied with checking their mirrors and being concerned about what's behind them and rear-end someone or do something stupid like that. I like to know what's behind me but I can only control what's in front of me.
We also need to add a female clause,"Check your mirrors regularly, but not to check your hair and makeup"
Let's get back to chiseling them in stone... :P
I realize some highways have left exits and that people do have to turn left from multi-lane urban/suburban streets, but neither act requires getting into the left lane 10 miles before the turn/exit. One mile will generally suffice. I also realize that many highways become virtual parking lots in peak travel periods. I am referring to times at which traffic is moving.