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Today I saw an Echo with a bunch of paperwork and a couple little decorations crammed into the center hole where the speedo is. The gender was what I expected.
I'm in NY and I didn't need no stinkin' study to tell me we have the worst drivers. it gets proven to me every day. :mad:
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
I might have been distracted thinking about what else it could be powered by, and crashed...
Today a Suburban pulled out of a church parking lot, directly in front of me although there were no cars behind me as far as the line of sight, and then preceded to dawdle around before finally making an illegal left turn. The horn on the fintail is nice and loud... How would Jesus drive? :shades:
Taco Time!
Today I got behind a little old lady in an immaculate ca. 2000 E430, who was going maybe 12-15 in a 30. It was fun being the car directly behind her as a long line built up behind us.
I then got behind another little old lady in a MB, this one in a ca. 2003 ML. She was going about 18-22 in a 30 (this one in a more open low density residential area that could be justified to be 35-40), hit 25 once in a downhill stretch, where she then hit the brakes, to prevent that wild beast from getting away from her and causing havoc. She then lurched into an intersection at a light, started to turn, and then hit her signal. Nice.
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2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
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The chaos involved something like 12 cars over a path too wide for me to get in the pic...the highway was eventually closed for a while due to fuel spilling from the truck when it was towed.
I was taught (45 years ago) "leave yourself an out". Currently (for me anyway) that has evolved into trying to see the "traffic schema" or conditions and either interrupt the (sets of ) conditions that would contribute to a domino effect; (in the worst case) or don't bet (your [non-permissible content removed]) that it won't happen (if the hammer falls when the trigger is pulled on a shell in the chamber-so to speak) .
And to be honest, I greatly prefer that driving to city driving. Concentrating on city driving is much more irksome.
I recall years back on a Saturday afternoon in Columbus on I71 all of a sudden there were large pieces of steel sliding on the roadway. A truck hauling scales like used for weighing sacks of feed for animals had lost one and it broke into parts at over 60 mph. Lots of dodging.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
A few years ago in my area they finally implemented a law to deal with unsecured lods.
Sometimes the "surprises" come from unexpected places and can't be seen. Several years ago my sister was driving in Colorado down a segment of interstate that was somewhat sunken below the area it was going through. All of a sudden a herd of elk jumped into the road right on top of her car. They never saw it coming.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I've seen stuff in the "Charm City" that would make a cage fighter cringe - especially on the inner loop beltway, topside towards the JFX (sorry for the local colloquialisms), I don't know how they derived these metro areas but I would say the "study" is more opinion than factual.
As for New York City, given the sheer daunting monster amount of traffic with no room to spare, they're doing pretty good from my limited experiences in Manhattan and the boroughs.... New Yorkers are not mean, they're just very focused. If you start driving like a twit - they're going to let you know about it and then meet up later with you for a beer - nothing personal mind you......
About steel. Some years back, going into work (7-8 AM) eastbound on I90 and 3 lanes each way, was in left lane. Traffic flowing maybe 60-50, left to right. Eastbound has the rush traffic. Westbound traffic light in AM.
In peripheral vision I notice Westbound long-bed dump truck semi with dump bed box at angle (60 deg perhaps) and apparently going up. The next thing I notice is dump box at vert and hitting and knocking down much of overhead support structure for road signs and signs. Perhaps I was half-block away when impact occurred. Fortunately there were no vehicles adjacent to the dump truck, nor immediately behind. Believe that debris stayed on pavement of Westbound lanes. In any event, median was wide enough that debris would not be a problem for we Eastbounders and we just continued on at speed.
This happened many years ago and was recounted to me by relative. Relative's buddy, in early 20's, had a newish car and with real bumpers in that era. Buddy was driving down alley in Chicago and saw a larger cardboard box ahead in his path. He merely wanted to hit it to bunt it out of the way. Turns out there was a safe hidden in it. Car was damaged and driver was just shaken and bruised up a bit.
Isn't that why they invented NASCAR?
I live in a "smallish" community with a traffic infrastracture that is outdated in my view and the city/county, while trying hard isn't or can't really do anything about it because of the lay of the land and the way the town has built up around the roads. A lot of people also seem to drive with that small town mentality of "no where to go and no where to be." \
For work I have to drive about 80 miles each night. On my way out of town the SL is 55 on the highway. This is a highway that the county has tried very hard to make so that you can indeed go 55 with out fear of running off the road. It is a major highway to get to many tourist spots and towns in southern Oregon and so traffic volume this time of year is increased. However, passing zones are few and the highway also cuts through a small town with a SL of 35. After the small town the SL resumes 55, but the road becomes curvy and somewhat mountainous. However, you can still go 55 or better with out any real issue with the exception of a couple of corners unless you happen to be driving a double decker bus (or Gargantuan RV, which is also common this time of year). If you happen to be driving one of those your speed will more than likely be lower, and the county (state?) anticipated this and put in a couple of passing zones, but only intermittently and not often enough.
I generally try to take the highway before the small town at around 60-65 MPH. It it wide and fairly straight, although with traffic volume, opportunities to pass can be rare. More often than not, I will come upon someone who is going 40-45, maybe 50 MPH. Even at 55 mph, I don't think I could complain although I still think that the limit is low. These people that go this 40-45 mph will just dawdle along and let 4-5 cars pile up behind them and not take any notice of it.
The highway then enters this small town with a limit of 35. Again, I will often (as I did tonight) come upon someone who insists on going 25. There is no passing while going through town and the lanes stay single, although there is a center turning lane. 35 is a good safe speed. Again no complaints as long as you maintain that speed. I even maintain that speed if I happen to be the only one on the road. After you get out of town the SL resumes is 55 limit but the road becomes curvy. I have and can with no trouble and no fierce driving or tire squealing or jamming of the brakes drive this road at 60-65 MPH. This is in a vehicle not designed for hugging corners driving like it's on a race track. If pushed I could do the road at 75 MPH, although you then really have to "drive" it.
Invariablely, I will happen upon someone you again takes this road at 35-45 mph. They hit a corner and they go around it like they are turning into a parking lot. Passing zones are provided about every 6 miles or so but in between you are stuck behind someone who is unable or too afraid to drive the road. If you are towing a boat or driving that gargantuan bus ya okay. But in you're little Honda Accord, I would expect that you can go just a little faster.
So maybe I am being inconsiderate and impatient. Maybe it's just me that I feel I have to go faster than everyone else. But is it too much to ask for you to at least go the speed limit? When I do happen upon someone going much slower than I would like, I do my best not to ride their tail. That is easy on an uphill stretch because I actually have to use the gas pedal to gain forward momentum. On downhill stretches, I find it very difficult when even no gas pedal pressure is applied I find myself either dropping a gear or riding my brakes, both of which I would never have to do if I was just going down the hill. The slope is gentle enough and the curves swoopy enough that you can just cruise down the hill.
Okay - rant over. I will do my best to be courteous to those going slower than me and those of you going slower than me (at least slower than the posted limits) will be courteous and speed up to those limits so as to not hinder those who just might have some where to be. :shades:
I just go around, no matter if its a passing zone or not. If its clear and you know you can make it safely, go for it.
Actually, I remember some dopes on a Harley pulled into the median and started taking pictures of the carnage :confuse: ...that doesn't help keep traffic moving either.
I felt a bit tailgated this morning on a surface street route I take to town. The speed limit goes from 40 on a parkway (most of us do 45) to 35 in the neighborhood. A younger woman in a New Beetle seemed to be in a bit of a hurry, even as I was going 4 or 5 over the limit myself.
I fixed her by waiting an extra two seconds at a four way stop so that a minivan had time to approach and stop, insuring that the minivan would be next in line and buffer me from her. :shades:
Anyway, we got stuck at a few more lights than usual, and two newer pickups both had "don't tailgate me" kind of decals on the back window. And both had similar, but different, foot or sandal logo decals too.
Naturally I had to creep up pretty close behind them at the lights to read the decals. :shades:
Southern Oregon is very dependent on tourists so be kind and considerate of the travelers who support your local businesses. Many out of state folk are not used to your scenic area so will be expected to drive slower so as to take in the bucolic area.
We look forward to being in Ashland for the Shakespeare Festival in September & will drop a couple of bucks at the tourist dependent businesses.
When we tourists are in your way - remember to start your trip earlier to accomodate us. Thank you.
CSPAN show this morning had an elected Oregon politician (Rep or Senator, don't recall) on for interview. He wore a suit coat with a bicycle logo in yellow on the lapel and a red bow tie. Visually, sure gets attention. I suppose Oregon is a very bicycle friendly state. Hopefully, the bicyclists are mostly considerate, obey traffic rules.
It's the locals that think they have all day to get somewhere.
Anyway, enjoy the Shakespeare Festival. You should also check out the Bitt Festivals in Jacksonville as well. They are well worth it as well.
We went through there and saw the W bound backed up for 5-6 miles.
The Budweiser cans and boxes fell onto W bound I70 and apparently someone was picking up the cans. Motorists? Workers? So traffic was stopped. Interesting not one radio report mentioned that the semi was carrying Budweiser. I'll bet all the directions would have had people trying to get to the scene to grab a few cans.
video and story
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I remember being taught that when you are making a left turn and there is a median used for this purpose you are supose to turn into the median and slow down immeadiatly. When traffic allows you my then complete your left. You should travel only the minimum distance in the median that is required to slow for the turn. You can't use the median/turning lane as a driving lane.
Twice in the past week people have done things that make me doubt my training.
First I was turning left to go into my work place. I noticed a minivan riding in the median for such a distance that I assumed that it was turning left way before I was. Later at work a co-worker came up to me and said I cut her off. I said if she was planning on making a left turn in the median she should not have been driving for a half mile in the median before she did. She seemed to think that driving for a long distance at the speed limit down the median was just fine.
A few days later I was preparing to make a left turn off a 4-lane highway that had a median/turn lane in the middle. I usually signal and about 100-200 feet before the turn merge into the median/turn lane. Just enough space to come to a stop if traffic is coming the other way.
This time I see a car traveling towards me, from the opposite direction, in the median signaling for a left also. He was maybe a half mile up the road traveling the speed limit. There were many side streets he could have turned into and I assumed he would take one of these. I started to move into the median/turn lane to make my left.
To my shock, this guy continues to come straight at me at full speed causing me to swerve back into the travel lane. He blew past me and continued another 500 feet down the road and made his left.
Now I have to ask, were these people inconsiderate drivers or have I been misunderstanding the rules all this time? :confuse:
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
..."center left turn lanes
A center left turn lane is in the
middle of a two-way street and is
marked on both sides by two painted
lines. The inner line is broken and
the outer line is solid. If a street has
a center left turn lane, you must use it when you
turn left (CVC §21460.5[c]) or start
a permitted U-turn. You may only
drive for 200 feet in the center left
turn lane. This lane is not a regular
traffic lane or a passing lane. To
turn left from this lane, signal and
drive completely inside the center
left turn lane. Do not stop with the
back of your vehicle blocking traffic.
Make sure the lane is clear in both
directions and then turn only when
it is safe. Look for vehicles coming
toward you in the same lane to start
their left turn..."...
pg 27, 39/100
link title
Your state's v/c would obviously take precedence.
In the sticks where I spent my weekend, people also like to use street parking areas as turn lanes (luckily when no cars are parked there)...they will get into the parking lane about 1/3 block before their turn, and complete it as normal :confuse:
Thank you for confirming that I have not lost my mind...yet.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
I see that a lot too. People trying to merge and driving along side of you in the median.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
To make a right on red without stopping right? I see that often around here where they use the shoulder to pass a dozen or more cars on the right and then blast around the corner without stopping.
I see more and more examples of people using "lazy" driving habits.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
All the better reason to not drink anything while driving at all. Drinks are banned from my cars.