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When you say they err on the conservative side, the conservative side for who? That could be interpreted both ways. Conservative as in they pay enough so that no one can argue the DV claim should be for more, or conservative in that they don't ever want to overpay a DV claim?
TRUE STORY: an XC90 drove right in to the fender of my NA Miata like she wanted to drive over me. Said she never saw me. Mind you we were crawling forward at 0-5 mph so she had all the time in the world to look.
Bright white car, recently repaint from the previous minivan that also tried to drive over my fender.
I was on my 3rd fender already when I sold it.
I can drive the fintail and have people pull out in front of me like I wasn't there. It's not that they don't see, they don't look. Slowly but surely driving in the US will become as it is in Brazil or Russia, only without the manual driving skill, and the tolerated bribery to get one out of small jams.
No way, man!
In Brazil they SEE you, they just don't care! LOL
Or they make it a point to out-race you to an open slot.
They just celebrated the grand opening of the 41 miles stretch of interstate in TX that has newly minted 85 MPH speed limits.
I'm expecting the news reports of carnage, spilled blood, and twisted metal to be coming in daily now according to some posters here.
The other 0.00000000001% are the old trucks that run in to them and kill them.
Did I get the right number of zeros?
I backed off and left a gap, then people start honking.
Top down that's just one of the things you have to deal with.
For the smoker...oh the sacrifices endured by the convertible driver.
Life is rough I tell ya!
FARS/ NHSTA
Traffic Fatalites Countries
I don't see tons of reasonable gaps here - everyone is either 1" off the bumper in front of them, or 10 car lengths behind.
One of the things I take away from the comparisons are that we might "FEEL" safer with 65 mph speed limits, but the much higher fatality RATES show purposeful higher (German) speeds to be REALLY safer. Flame suit on and activated.
They simply believe in false logic; that's all there is to it.
I'd agree with that. Not as bad as NY, where cabbies will lean over and bang on cars, and horns wear out.
DC gets only a little snow and freezing ice, also, so people here never really learn to drive in foul weather, either.
It is not always easy to interpret statistics by country. It is the same like homicides and gun laws: in some countries with weapons bans they are way lower than here, while in others countries with even the stricter bans they are much higher. Too many other factors are at interplay. Also, I am not sure that small cars are inherently more dangerous if all cars on the road are small; the relative size is what matters.
I cannot attest too much about the most recent driving trends in Brazil and Russia, I can only say how it used to be. Very important factors contributing to fatalities there are mostly old and very old vehicles lacking safety features (typically one driver's airbag or none), lacking proper maintenance, and mostly very poor roads (save for a few freeways). As concerns driving, the most notable differences are: in both countries (as opposed to the USA) driving is still a privilege, not a universal right, so the drivers are typically more competent, but more aggressive too. They are probably less "inconsiderate" on average, but when they are, it is on purpose, and not because of lack of attention. In Russia, an aggressive driving style attests to your prowess and overall human worthiness. In Brazil, not so much, but is still a coolness factor. In this country, even a bit spirited driving is typically perceived like a character flaw and a possible sign of some "personal problems".
There are, of course, big differences also between big-city driving (more tense and aggressive, but people usually adhere to most basic rules, if only for their own safety), and rural driving (in Russia, too many rural drivers are just plain drunk) or, FTM, suffocating suburban and smaller-city driving in this country. Well, there is also a complete mess which defies any classification, like, say, in India, but not in Brazil or Russia.
Certainly safe cars are a factor. Also likely even less training than here, a more corrupt law enforcement system, and a general "anything goes" attitude that applies to most other aspects of life as well.
This video reminds me of ateixera mentioning the small cars in Brazil - the big old tank crashes better than the tin cans:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jfato_55w8
Some basic emergency handling was taught in Russia (but regrettably not required at testing); foul weather was common though. In Brazil, I questioned the qualifications of many driving instructors who typically taught leaving the car in gear at traffic lights (with the clutch disengaged, naturally). I think, they took inspiration from their North American colleagues, but kept forgetting the difference between automatic and manual transmission.
And yes, small bribing often made a part of the whole experience in Russia, no matter your skills and training.
WOW GREAT!!! Now I'll drive that 41 miles 4 minutes faster then if I was going 75mph!!
...and if you filled German roads with average American drivers then I'll bet the accident rates would go through the roof!
The same would be true for those American drivers wanting to go 55 mph on German Autobahn's.
How about:
Piddlers and Pods?
Trundling in Toasters?
Pious in my Prius?
Righteous Right Laners?
Slow but Superior?
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Backing into a spot? Some seem to think that's the inferior way :shades:
Saw a few idiots today. First was the worst - got behind an early Mazda 6 that was driving normal for awhile, but eventually got to 5 under the limit on a wide open road, weaving all over and hugging the fog line. Dark tinted windows of course, but I suspect phone yapping. As the guy rides that right line, I flash my lights, and he straightens out, but doesn't speed up. Road ahead widens, so I move past, and he (little poster child for roid rage) rolls down his window and yells a I go by. Didn't get a chance to see, as I got to a whopping 10 over for a few seconds, and was past him like he was parked. Then saw a fancy new F150 4x4 urban cowboy special, commercial tax dodger plates, weaving in and out of traffic without once using a signal. I wonder what kind of small businesses uses that as a write off.
Noticed something annoying today - people can't make u-turns. A Focus hopping a curb made me start observing others (lots of permitted u-turns in my town). Some go insanely slow, others seem afraid to turn the wheel fully, others cut in front of oncoming traffic.
The Associated Press
GARY, Ind. —
Indiana State Police have a new tool to determine whether drivers are tailgating and should get a ticket.
Laser speed guns used by troopers can capture the time elapsed between the back bumper of one vehicle and the front bumper of the one behind it. The guns also take an accurate image of the license plate and driver's face.
Two of the guns, which cost $5,500 apiece, have been deployed along the Borman Expressway, the Post-Tribune reported (http://bit.ly/S0d8SX ).
Sgt. Ann Wojas said every Indiana State Police district will eventually receive one of the guns.
Anyone traveling within 2 seconds of the nearest vehicle is considered too close and can be ticketed. Wojas said the fine for following too closely is about $140, including court costs.
State police say the guns remove the need for troopers to make judgment calls about what's too close.
"It's awfully hard to dispute this in court," Wojas said.
Troopers can use the gun on an overpass or more along a shoulder of the road.
"I catch them before they get to me," Master Trooper Russell Hayes said. "I have the evidence right here," pointing to his laser gun. "It's definitely been helping."
Sgt. Wanda Clay, a trooper in the commercial vehicle enforcement division, said police already had the speed gun technology, but that she got the idea to mesh it with the software to detect tailgaters because she was frustrated by having to investigate many accidents involving truckers.
"We're tired of coming out here, we've got so many, so I'm the spark of this project."
Clay said the project's goal is to remind motorists of the dangers of tailgating.
"We have the tools now," she said.
http://www.daytondailynews.com/ap/ap/indiana/troopers-target-tailgaters-with-new- -laser-guns/nSpyy/
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
On the surface, it's not unreasonable. It's what we were taught in driver's ed. BUT... some states, including NC seem to have given up on it. There the manual says "1 car length per 10 mph" which is roughly 1 second.
Two seconds at highway speed is almost 200 feet, which is rarely seen with any kind of traffic volume. I bet those cameras are worn out within about two days from taking pictures non-stop!
I wouldn't expect law enforcement or public sector planners to think of every detail, however.
Proportionally, I see much greater tailgating issues from trucks vs cars, maybe the enforcement should be specific.
That one sounds pretty good
Maybe we should change the name of this forum to some of these titles:
Whining Speeders?
Fast and Impatient?
What Doesn't Everyone Drive Just Like Me?
This Lane Is My Lane?
Why Is Everyone Trying to Slow Me Down?
It's Never My Fault!
2) Driving 10 or more below the speed limit.
3) Failing to Signal.
4) Taking up and impeding 2 lanes at the same time for more than a couple seconds when changing lanes or failing to make up your mind about which lane to be in.
5) Accelerating like a snail in the left lane from a red light; so that the Prius or Big Rig in the right lane is smoking you to the next intersection.
6) Middle lane camping going under the speed limit.
7) CHP vehicles which stay on the freeway too long and create a bottleneck because no one has the courage to pass them; further proof if everyone drove the speed limit or less we'd have 10 times worse traffic congestion.
8) Not looking when you change lanes and impeding traffic by doing so.
9) Passing at a snails pace (+1 MPH over the vehicle you are overtaking).
10) Not looking or paying attention when the light turns green to move forward within 2 seconds.
1) Braking on the freeway when no one is within a mile in front of you in your lane.
What if there's no one behind you, either? (If a tree falls in the forest...) Anyway, there's many legitimate reasons to touch the brakes while on the freeway... e.g., disengage cruise to prepare to exit; realizing you're going too fast for conditions (especially when your radar detector bleeps at you--right?); avoiding an idiot who isn't yet in your lane but will be REAL soon; etc.
2) Driving 10 or more below the speed limit.
Then it would follow that driving 10 or more OVER the speed limit is also inconsiderate? :P
Again, there's many legitimate reasons for driving under the speed limit, including "driving according to conditions." Just keep right when doing so and it's not inconsiderate.
The brake tappers amuse me. I don't buy the disengaging cruise idea either - shouldn't be using cruise in any kind of traffic volumes, and I anyway disengage mine the way I engaged it, by moving the lever. Braking to turn it off is clumsy and ugly.
Today I got behind a Prius that would brake for turns in the road. Not corners, just changes in direction. Those things must feel roly-poly. Cruising on I-5 between Seattle and Tacoma, idiots always randomly tap their brakes. Keep that wild Camry under control!
Other suggested names for this thread:
"Speed Kills"
"Speed Kills"
"Speed Kills"
"Lane Discipline Is An Un-American Socialist Communist Conspiracy"
"Speed Kills"
"Speed Kills"
"Share The Road, Bow To My Slowness"
"Speed Kills"
"Speed Kills"
"Speed Kills"
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Fin, I gotta say, your friends & neighbors on the wet side seemed to be behaving themselves this weekend - very few LLC's, minimal dawdlers, and only a couple full stops on 405 (I still don't get how or why THAT happens!)
I'm not a big fan of left-lane off ramps, though. I-5 around Paine Field is just plain nuts. Is that Boeing's fault?
Seems like "Dweebs That Speed" rhymes better :P
405 is a disaster. It has two big things stacked against it - needs twice as many lanes from before the 167 interchange through at least Bothell, and many of those who venture onto it are unfit to drive more than 50mph - so they go 45. Then the timid idiot going 47 will get in the left lane - and the backups begin.
There are a few left lane exits in Seattle itself, too. I try not to drive there. Could be Boeing, in the Everett case.
There was a list, this was just one example of where braking while on a freeway when no one within a mile in front of you is not inconsiderate.
Even though you would never think of touching your brakes while the car is on cruise control, how is it inconsiderate to do so? Recall I said it's when you're going to exit. So you're going to have to slow down anyway.
What I'm complaining about is brake lights that signify a significant loss of speed and for no apparent reason. A radar reading would be apparent to those with radar detectors
If I'm going to have to slow down anyway, might as well just go 40 down the interstate. Sadly, that would make some here positively giddy with joy.
If I'm slowing down for traffic in front of me, then the slowing down behind me is NOT unnecessary.
Pin maps may be created showing locations of fatal crashes for any custom query in the Query FARS Data section. Intensity maps can be created for custom univariate tables based on State and County geographic boundaries.
FARS