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At least you'd ruin her evening.
Another bad one was a big work truck (not like a 1 ton, but a 2 or 3 ton thing), I think from "888 Pavement" or something like that towing a similarly big wide utility trailer - which had no brake lights or illumination lights. It was the same width as the truck, so from behind it was very hard to spot. Driver was also keeping up the skilled trades stereotype and driving like an idiot, varying his speed from 50-65 in random spots. It's going to be an easy transition to the second and third world.
I was on a side street and the light was green for me to proceed. As I entered the main highway and began my left turn. A woman driver had her cell phone to her left ear, and failed to stop for the red light. She continued and almost struck my left door panel. She at the last minute saw me, and veered into the opposite traffic lane and sped up to avoid my middle finger "hand sign".
Really scared me because I would have taken the force from her bigger vehicle right near my left side. But then here in Disneyland, er No. Cal. we have all kinds of insanity on the roadways.
Our son and his family live in Rockford Ill. Their oldest son got into his first t/c. No one was injured except his pride as he now has to wait and earn his next car. Good lesson.
Good luck to all and stay safe.
jensad
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
"Police say the three had removed the engine cowling between the two front seats of the van and used a water bottle to transfer gas from the bucket directly into the carburetor in order to keep the engine running as they drove east on Kamber Road, said police spokeswoman Carla Iafrate."
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
A shame about the van, though; it looked to be a nice conversion unit.
tick, tick, tick, tick..... boom!
Play on words there?
Some people don't deserve to be out without supervision, This proves that.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
But I can't believe someone would dish out glasses of gasoline into the carburetor from a two-gallon open bucket inside the van!!!
The fumes would have me looney without the danger.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I feel iffy when I fill up the fintail and can see gas sloshing around in the tank...an open bucket in a car, crazy. I have to wonder about who would do that.
So there could have been a side-impact crash if my friend hit the car, and then the tractor-trailer would have rear-ended his Wrangler -- I don't see how the truck could have stopped in time. I could have been hit also if anyone swerved or slid to the right, and there would have been a lot of pipes thrown onto the ground!
Hope no one got hurt. Good luck to all and stay safe.
jensad
On the inconsiderate driver front, I almost got hit in a crosswalk this morning by a woman in an Odyssey...I won't stereotype her, but anyone from my area can probably make some educated guesses. I also had a woman in a newer ML jerk out in front of me, phone in one hand....then she saw me and threw it in reverse...problem solved by looking before you pull out. But the local rich housewife set isn't known for logic or accountability.
I also saw 2 motorcycle cops nab people during my 45 minute jog...end of the month, money is always needed. What I mean by that is speeding is dangerous, and any increased enforcement during the last week of the month is coincidental :shades:
Edit: My morbid curiosity got the best of me and I had to find that video. Oddly, I did not find it disturbing at all. I think that, all things considered, the burned folks (not shown for the most part or with any detail) were handling it pretty well. An oven burn is bad enough - I cannot imagine the intensity of that over a significant area.
Maybe the cries in that video put me off when I first heard it - I didn't see it again.
I still can't get over it, an open bucket of gasoline?
I've seen guys trying to get an old car running pour a little gas down the carb before starting it, but never while its running. Heck i've seen bottle fed engines before but the gas container was out in the open air and had a hose running from from it.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
Here's some ideas of more "civil" driving behavior, in no particular order--what do you think?
* Slow the f*** down. What is your big hurry? Why drive 10, 20, 30 or more mph over the speed limit, zig-zagging in and out of traffic, endangering your life, the lives of your passengers, and the lives of fellow drivers? What is so important that you feel you need to do that? Are you racing to get a loved one to the Emergency Room because of a serious injury/illness? Fine--but please turn on your flashers and be careful of other drivers.
* Give people merging onto the freeway a break. It's hard enough merging onto a busy freeway; help those people out. If you can move over, do it. If not, adjust your speed if needed to allow the person entering the freeway to merge in as easily as possible. Yes, that takes a little driving skill and consideration, but you can do it. And you might help avoid an accident.
* Use your signals. Let others know your intentions for turns and lane changes. If they know you want to change lanes, they just might...
* Be considerate of people trying to change lanes. Why take the "Hah hah hah, I'll cut this sucker off!" attitude? If you can safely let someone change lanes in front of you, why not do it? They might have to catch an exit, or maybe they see something up ahead they are trying to avoid. Again, you might avoid an accident.
* Turn on your lights. Some people apparently don't know where their car's headlight switch is, because they drive around in near darkness or bad weather without lights. In most states, lights are required when it's raining/snowing. There's a good reason for that. Yes, you might have to replace your headlight bulbs a few weeks sooner. But you might avoid an accident by turning on your lights. Which costs more?
* Be courteous when parking. Don't park in handicapped spots unless you are legitimately handicapped (and I'm not talking impaired judgement here). Try to center your vehicle in the parking spot--others might want to park in that lot also. Park only where you are supposed to... not in fire lanes, or blocking other cars, etc.
* Don't tailgate. It makes other drivers nervous and can cause an accident. Especially, don't tailgate someone if they are going the speed limit and you want to break the law and go faster. Wait until it's safe to pass them, then do it. If they are in the passing lane, give them a polite flash of your headlights to ask them to move over. But give them safe clearance until they do.
* Respect "no turn on red" signs. There's a reason they're there, e.g. heavy pedestrian traffic or heavy traffic period. Avoid thinking, "I am more important than everyone else so I can break the law and turn on red." Also, remember to STOP and look around before turning on red--good way to avoid hitting a pedestrian or another car.
* Be mindful of drivers around you. If you like to coast up to lights for example, fine, but check to see if anyone is close behind you first. Maybe they need to turn up ahead and there's a turn lane you are blocking them from getting into.
* Keep your car in repair. Nothing like a car with a bad exhaust system driving by at 2 am to spoil a night's sleep. (Also see above re using signals and headlights.)
* Watch the sound system. You might like ear-splitting noise and thunderous bass when you drive, but maybe the folks in the homes you pass by don't--especially late at night.
* Learn the rules of the road. For example, do you know that a car turning left on a green light must yield to a car turning right (also with the green light)? From my experience, a lot of people don't seem to know that traffic rule, and many others.
That's enough (more than enough!) for one post.
I can certainly agree with the turn on your lights bit - in my area where it is dreary and rainy a lot, too many idiots still drive around at dusk with no lights on. Ridiculous.
And the amount of non-signalers seems to be increasing. That coupled with phone yappers (I swear there's more now that it is "illegal") is mindblowing...no doubt revenue collection is behind enforcement priorities.
An emphatic +1. My county was the 1st jurisdiction in the US to outlaw the use of hand held cell phones by drivers. That law has been on the books for at least 10 years, but I have seen the police stop a grand total of 1 violator. (Lost in conversation, she made an illegal right turn on red & nearly hit me while I was crossing the street on foot. I then started kicking her E-class, which attracted the attention of a nearby cop.)
People who keep left with the intent to obstruct other drivers are obviously not driving in a "civil" manner. But tailgating them won't help the situation.
Around here I have to remember to clean my lights. I'll wash them when I fill up and then don't think about 'em until I happen to drive somewhere and it gets dark and I can't see worth a flip. Then I remember and pull over and grab the bottle of Windex I keep in the back.
A related point is, keep headlights and taillights clear of snow/ice. And windows of course. It's amazing how many people I see driving around with windows covered so they can't see, or haven't cleared off the lights. A lot of this is just common sense. Maybe that is in short supply these days too, along with civility.
What this driving culture needs as much as anything is lane discipline.
I try to jog at least a few times a week, and more times than I want to count, I've had close calls in crosswalks - mostly with "drivers" playing with their toys. Much of the time it is the local overmonied population distracted while in a X5/ML/Rover etc...eventually I might just let one hit me, so they/their insurance policy can buy me a house, because I'll milk it for all I can :shades: The white lines on the road mean you stop before them, not between or after them. I also carry my keys, attached to a left finger, as I jog. Might be handy for making a mark :shades:
Thankfully, I don't live in an area that gets a lot of snow but I'm amazed at the number of people who just clear off windows and not the rest of the car. I hate to follow someone who causes a blizzard behind them with the snow blowing off the roof or trunk.
I was traveling across a bridge once when an oncoming car had a chunk of ice/snow blow off and hit my car. Scared the snort out of me. :sick:
Just got on I90 (a tollroad) about a mile back and noticed Illinois State Police officer sitting in car just beyond ramp toll booths. First quick thought was that Charger did not pay toll and was being chased by police. Being there was a lot of salt residue on shoulder, Charger was kicking up lot of dust. Also, excluded possibility that Charger was unmarked police car since no red, blue lights flashing on top of dash board.
Not wanting to possibly be sideswiped, moved into slot in left lane, and Charger "charged" past me going maybe 80. He passed me, stayed on shoulder for maybe another half mile including on a bridge over railroad tracks. Then he left shoulder, and was changing lanes back and forth to advance.
Next, a state police car is coming up fast behind me also driving on shoulder. Many drivers trying to move out of right lane into left to give cop room. Then, see a helicopter overhead going west and in the chase. Then, 2 more state police cars in the chase. For next 5-8 minutes, caught sight of red/blue lights on police cars, and then out of vision.
It was an 80 mile chase that ended in Rockford when Charger ran a red light and was hit by a car and spun out. Later that night, Chicago and Rockford tv stations had helicopter images of the crash, spin-out, driver running from Charger and police cars and police on foot converging and tackling the guy.
Charger was initially stopped in Forest Park by police, then took off. Police started chasing him, but then called off the chase. Soon afterwards, the Charger was caught in traffic and blocked by a woman and Charger passenger pointed a long gun at the woman who then called 911 and the 80 mile chase began.
It sounds like the Charger "inhabitant" had committed a crime and was trying to get away. Glad no one got hurt because over 80 miles, driving that fast is scary. I used to do it and afterward I needed to get out of my patrol car and just walk for a couple minutes or just sit in my patrol car and calm down.
And watching tv at night it was interesting that the local tv station in Rockford presented faces and names of the scofflaws. Oh I also found "Culverts" resturant too.
Good luck to all and stay safe.
jensad
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Saw a douchey suit in a 5er almost hit a woman in a crosswalk today (she had the green walk symbol too)...keep the stereotype going...probably a financial sector "worker" speeding home to his ill-begotten mcmansion.
Like many Americans, I have seen live and taped chases of vehicles trying to elude police. Like many, saw the live OJ event.
Was well aware when Charger was approaching that he might do a stupid move, or hit someone, start chain reaction.
Through the years, have seen live and taped chases where the police officer will try to get up to rear bumper, then push slightly to cause evader to spin out. Understand this is very dangerous to evader, police car and innocents around. Just look at Nascar race.
Would imagine that there are very strict rules of engagement of when this can be attempted. Such as only do if on interstate with concrete barricade in center and no other cars in immediate vicinity.
I love the country and especially reminded me of our Bay Area. And we drove to Galena and stayed one night. Delightfully old churches that bring back memories.
Oh, when we had a high speed chase, i remember another CHP car chasing the same one we were after but the other CHP car was ahead of us. So the officer with his pushbumper, struck the back of the strong armed robber's car.
It lost control and crashed into a cement barrier, and stopped. We put some revolvers on them and they went to jail and did not pass Go to collect $ 200. (I enjoy playing Monopoly with my grandsons)
Reflecting, sometimes the excitement almost got me killed but I finally retired and don't miss the 100 mph chases at night/day, anytime.
Good luck to all and stay safe, and enjoy an exciting (I hope) Super Bowl.
jensad
On Sunday morning I ignored the GPS and turned left onto an empty one way 4 lane in San Juan and some guy walking down the street whistled and got my attention and i whipped into an alleyway. That was much appreciated before the light turned a block away.
I know of someone in the city where I lived who received a ~$3K settlement due to damage from some kind of road grate issue.
The roads here really seem to be aiming for second world quality. I doubt I'll ever own another car with low profile tires.