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Choose your opposition carefully to enhance your ego.
Auto ads have become ridiculous (or deplorable) depending on you point of view. I recently saw an ad for the new Toyota Tacoma touting it's "Menacing Torque". Just who are we supposed to menace with our abundant torque? Talk about fantasy-fuel for future road-rage.
james
"Choose your opposition carefully to enhance your ego."
People can be dumb at that. I've had 2 people try to race me in the 126...a S10 and a Caravan. I schooled them both.
How? By participating in a drag race in a public highway? I submit to you that this urge to "teach others" is exactly the problem.
Well my car's a Subaru Impreza. Even though it's not at the WRX level (mine's the Outback Sport model) I guess it's reasonable to think he mistook it for one.
That's more than likely what happened.
People have attempted to race me in the most ridiculous cars the past few years. A Malibu with an engine that sounded like it was going to fall apart (probably from repeated racings), a Tercel, and a low end CRX. I usually don't realize until I hear the blaring engine of their car.
The Malibu: I didn't attempt to "win" and the teenage girl driving it couldn't get ahead of me. I just kept hearing this engine reving REALLY high behind me
The Tercel: I had three people in my car he had one. We leave from the traffic light. I was going at my normal speed which doesn't make the engine rev all that high. He had this bound and determined look on his face and he had his engine reving rather high. He didn't gain much ground over my car for all his effort though. We were cracking up.
The CRX driver looked at me like "C'mon" and floored it away from a traffic light. I just laughed and let him go.
Years ago my sister had a Subaru XT Turbo. As racy as the car looked it didn't have a lot of power to back it up. The turbo enhanced that engine from 95 to 110 horsepower if I remember right. Woo hoo. Still a fun car though. Anyway, this guy in a Camero pulled up next to her and started doing the usual "I wanna race you" engine reving thing. She did the same. Light turned green, he took off like a bat out of hell. She turned right. ;-)
And the car didn't say "Dart" anywhere at all on it. I think originally it was supposed to have a badge on the side that said "Dart GT", but if it did it was gone by the time I got ahold of it!
Well, for all its tough looks, it only had a 225 slant six under the hood. I used to get challenged at stoplights by Mustang GT's and the like all the time! It really got annoying!
That car gave way though, to a plain-jane Dart 270 that had a built-up 318 though, that more than vindicated the Dart nameplate!
My sister borrowed it once and was at a stop light when a similarly tarted up S-10 pulled up next to her and the couple inside started hooting and hollering about how Chevy Rocks, Ford sucks, revving their enging, torque braking, the works. MEanwhile my sister, 19 years old and in college at the time, is sitting there shaking her head at the foolishness of these two full-grown adults. End result is the light turns green, my sister drives away normally, and the S10 takes off leaving about 6 feet of rubber on the ground and redlining first gear, only to have to stomp the brakes in another 10 feet an stop short to keep from hitting a SEPTA bus.
Strange, but I don't get goaded like that in My V8 Quad Cab 4x4. Closest I've come is people deliberately speeding up to keep from getting over, which almost never works. V8s are nice. NEVER get bullied like I used to.
One, the alarming propensity for uncared for vehicles to pull out in front of me on a local 50mph highway. It happened twice yesterday as I was driving different cars...nobody behind me for a mile, and some ignorant rube dawdles right out in front of me anyway. I am sure that's an easy way to get shot at in some areas...and I wouldn't mourn if it happened to these people. My cars aren't invisible. It's an impossible road to pass on as well...the kind of people you hope slam into a ditch soon.
Also, we have a new roundabout in my area, and most people handle it pretty well. But some people...esp young females...will screech to a panic stop when they approach it. Then they will lurch out into it if there are no cars to be seen. It's always been a Jetta or Civic as the offender.
(I'm guessing about that [me] in there.)
I'm not saying it's justified, but I would do the same. I'm guilty of special maneuvers to avoid ending up behind a vehicle that I can't see past. I don't have the engine power to succeed if the other driver cares, but I don't see it as a race anyway.
Just letting you know what at least some of us drivers are thinking.
Pick-ups are not as bad unless they have a a huge cab on the back.
Out of the corner of my eye I catch movement in the right side mirror and turn my head just in time to see a Lincol Navigator trying to fit in the bicycle lane on our right to turn into the shopping center. I guess when you're THAT important, you can't wait the 15 seconds until the light changes. You are FORCED to almost take off the right side of my car.
Incredible
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If we're driving normal speeds on city streets and you're not following too closely, seeing around me shouldn't be a worry. If we're on the highway and you can't see around me, you're following too closely.
Regardless, it feels like punishment for doing the right thing and changing lanes in the proper and safe manner. An SUV or truck driver trying to do it the right way, signalling and giving plenty of warning, and his reward is to have someone actively try to impede him? But of course the same people who pull these kinds of tactics will be the first ones to rant about how truck-owners drive like they own the road.
Next time you see an SUV or big truck lurch into your lane cutting you off abrupty with inches to spare, instead of automatically getting angry give him the benefit of the doubt. Assume maybe he was so tired of people moving to block him out of the lane he needs to be in to make his turn or his exit that now he just barges over to keep it from happening. I know that's the way I change lanes now. I guess I will just have to be the big, rude, bullying, ultra-macho, hot-headed truck guy in order to make sure I get where I need to be in traffic. If you're next to an Atlantic Blue Quad 4x4 one day when you pull your maneuver and and all of a sudden you hear a V8 roar and find yourself getting an eyeful of the rear differential, you bought it on yourself. I'll make sure to wave.
In heavy traffic though... I don't do it in anger; I know I'm the inconsiderate one. All I can say is that in that kind of traffic I don't like keeping my eyes pegged to the taillights in front of me when I have the option of being able to see several cars ahead. When I can see up ahead, I follow the movements of the second or third car in front of me, and I end up accelerating, braking, and shifting less. It's nice.
Keeping a long following distance isn't always an option in heavy traffic (when traffic fluctuates between full stops and several-second stretches of 25mph, and everything in between). But when I can keep long following distances (and I do just because it's less stressful), I can't see any more. An Explorer will totally cover a Corolla no matter how many miles back I am.
Oh and as for trucks that signal; I'm so surprised that they're actually signalling that I'm stunned while they move into my lane.
A Ford Focus wagon in front of me will block out more of the view ahead, from ANY distance, than any old battlecruiser from the 70's would have.
And some SUVs are big enough that they can completely hide cars in front of them or behind them. Once upon a time, it was really easy to look up ahead of the car in front of you, to see who was camping in the left lane, holding everyone up. Nowadays it's often difficult to see past the car immediately in front of you!
And dangerous driving is dangerous driving, no matter what kind of vehicle you're in. Just because you're in a Navigator or some other blockage of vision on the highway, doesn't give you any more right to make me slam on my brakes than if you're in an Echo.
And if you start to come over dangerously close, with no turn signal, while I'm gaining on you, I'm going to take that to mean that you're wandering in your lane and not paying attention. You're more likely to get honked at then you are to get let over.
FWIW though, if I see a truck, SUV, or anybody, for that matter, put on a signal to get over because their exit is coming up, I'll always let them over. If they do it to get in the passing lane so they can pass the car in front of them at 1 mph faster, when I was doing 10 mph faster, again, they're most likely going to get the horn. As far as I'm concerned, it's all need-based. If your exit is coming up, you NEED to get over to it. Although, honestly, if you knew it was coming up you shouldn't have waited until the last second, but sometimes traffic just gets so bad that you get stuck in the wrong lane. Or maybe you're pulling out into traffic, but have to get all the way over left really fast.
It just all depends on the situation.
The idiots who designed the cars gave them rear fog lights that are much too bright and that seem to turn on with the fronts. The idiots who drive Jaguars turn the fog lights on, regardless of need.
Bright lights, dim drivers. Arrrgh!
I don't know why Ford is putting such bright lights on those Jags. Even the little Jag has them buried in the red tailens.
Where are the police???
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
What is wrong is the switch that turns on both the front and rear fog lights at the same time. The automaker was just saving money in not using two separate switches. There are times when it is nice to have the front fog lights on when there is no need for rear fogs. In light rain at night they provide extra light down at the road level when the roads are wet, but the overall visibility level is OK and other drivers can see you from the rear with the standard tail lights. Front fogs also help you see a little farther around a turn than the headlights, that is if they are aimed properly or of a good quality that doesn't glare into oncoming traffic. A properly aimed, good quality fog light should not blind other drivers. The problem is with cheap aftermarket fog or driving lights that just blast the light in all directions without good control.
The way people drive these days, I think a rear fog should be an available option. I have added red LED brake lights on a separate switch to several of my cars so that the guy coming up on me from behind at 80 mph in a snowstorm might have time to slow down before he hits me from the rear.
I use them mainly on two-lane country roads when visibility is impaired by fog/rain. Most of the time I only turn on the front lights, but will use both if fairly foggy/overcast and visibility is impaired.
When the fog lights are on, an icon appears on my dash board so I am aware they are on. I do not run the fog lights at other times. I believe those that misuse their fog lights are simply not paying full attention to their driving experience.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Same goes for those with lights burned out, parts falling off, or blowing clouds of blue smoke. I was behind a Chevy pickup a few years ago that had it's bed so rusted out it was almost scraping on the ground.
Take some responsibility for your cars, you are putting everyone else around you in danger with your negligence.
I'm done rambling now. Thanks.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Once in awhile, a nut-case gets on my backend, tailgates me for a few minutes then begins to pass on the right. Usually when they start passing I step on gas and race them. Man, I love the look on their faces and the funny gestures they make with their hands. Where do these people come form?
Anywho, today I saw (and almost participated in) a real doozy. I was at a six-way intersection (Damen/Clybourn/Diversey, for those of you familiar), heading south on Damen, waiting for my light to turn green. As soon as it did, driver in front of me guns it (not smart at any intersection in Chicago, let alone a six-way with no arrows in any direction), turns right and barely misses hitting the leftover driver making a sharp left from eastbound Diversey onto northbound Clybourn. As I'm laughing about that, driving north onto Damen (dangerous in any case, as the intersection doesn't 'line up', so there's always some moron from the left lane ending up in your right lane), the dingbat heading south on Clybourn decides that MY green light is hers, drives through the intersection (from a dead stop) while I am, and we narrowly escape collision. I blare the horn and she looks at ME like I'm the idiot. I love Chicago drivers!!
Just kidding. I'm sure that's a joke post. lol
And going 5 miles below the speedlimit in Chicago will get you killed. At that speed, I'd likely be hammered by an SUV with "Go Bobby, Your #1" sprayed on it's side running at 80-90 mph.
And you are correct. Even in the right lane around here you don't dare go under 75 in a 55.
Hmmm reminds me. Yesterday some lady in an Expedition wasn't paying attention and NEARLY rear ended me while I was behind a bunch of stopped cars. I saw her barrelling down the road quickly in my rearview. Thankfully I had enough room where I could turn onto the center lane and she realized soon enough to slam on her brakes, swerve right and nearly take out a guard rail. (no her intent was not to go into the center lane, she was just not paying attention) I nearly turned around in my seat and started yelling except I realized she can't hear me or see me (I'm too low and she's too high) anyway. gggrrr
Probably had a bunch of kids jumping around in the back seats. It's hard to eat, talk on the cell phone, drive and tend to your children all at once I guess. ;-)
The things you see when you don't have a club to take them out of their misery!
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People that are convicted of more than one DUI, should have to drive witha DUI marked license and something like what driving schools have on their training vehicles such as Student Driver or c'd of >1 DUI !! They should be subject to random stops and field and station house sobriety testing.
I had that happen a couple Saturdays ago, in the Lowe's parking lot. Two ladys in a newer Altima back out as I'm coming up the aisle in my pickup. I was close enough that common courtesy would've dictated that they wait until I pass before backing up, but that would be just, well, too courteous! So, they back out, right in front of me, making me wait for them. But then to add insult to it, they back up J-U-S-T enough so that when she puts it in drive, she swings around in front of me, and then motions for ME to move out of her way!