Check this dash cam video out from today........

[Baz]

In my truck and on the way home today, my neighbor who lives around the corner happens to be in front of me and I couldn't believe how many times they veered into the opposite lane. I'm not going to get into any personal details here but my goodness - once again my trusty dash cam captures just another goofy scenario in what I observe on a daily basis around here.

Drunk, distracted....or both?

(I was towing my single axle trailer and in the end you'll see me backing into my front drive where I keep my trailer)

[masraum]

You need to get your brakes fixed. Every time you post one of these you just roll right through a stop sign. You're not even in Cali.

Unless you know that your neighbor is a drunk or too old and feeble to be driving, my guess is that they were dicking around with their phone. I see that crap all of the time. It's one of the few things that makes me wish I had a horn on my car off of a freight train.

[stevej37]

Is it legal in Florida to not stop at a stop sign?

[Baz]

Originally Posted by masraum

[COLOR="Green"]You need to get your brakes fixed.-snip-

Originally Posted by stevej37

Is it legal in Florida to not stop at a stop sign?

Guys - I didn't want to reveal this because it might sound like I'm bragging but I have the highest rating possible for peripheral vision, according to my optometrist. No kidding. I can keep my head in a straight ahead position and see both ways left and right. But beyond that......there is no reason to bring my vehicle to a complete stop - instead of the 1 MPH creep you are seeing - when there are no other vehicles at the intersection.

I mean...if you want to do that....have at it.

BTW....those intersections you are seeing in the video are all 3 or 4 way anyway - and the speed limit only 25 MPH.

The way things have become here it's every man for himself on the roadways. People get in their golf carts/4 wheelers and bring an entire line of cars to a snails pace. On this road, it's one mile to my house - 25 MPH speed limit - and no passing. I'm cool with that - but when you see another vehicle veering into the opposite lane and almost creating a head-on collision - somehow a 1 MPH stop sign creep just doesn't seem like "the safety issue" here.

[Jeff Higgins]

As a motorcyclist, I find that behavior particularly distressing.

We are not yet taking this seriously enough. Distracted drivers on cell phones, whether speaking or texting, now kill and injure more people than drunk drivers. We've been very successful in reducing drunk driving injuries and fatalities, through both education and some pretty strict enforcement. It's time we treat drivers distracted by their phones in a similar manner. Custody offense, vehicle impounded, cell phone held for evidence until the trial date. If found guilty, same penalties as a DUI.

[Superman]

I sometimes decline to come to a technically dead stop at stop signs. Sometimes I drive 61 mph in a 60 mph zone.

Driving skill has eroded somewhat over the years, overall. Almost nobody ever turns into the nearest lane. They always swing wide. And let's not even discuss passing lane campers.

[Steve Carlton]

This is the one big reason I’m glad I don’t ride motorcycles anymore. I think texting (or whatever on the phone) is worse than drunk driving.

[DonDavis]

Bazza, know the room. More comments will be about your driving rather than the one you’re posting about. Jus sayin’

My turn, your following distance is much too close. You’re less than 1 second away far too often.

Your neighbor, yeah, their awareness is not very sharp.

But answer this, is it possible they were focused on how close “that truck pulling a trailer” is following?

Whichever it is, their driving is on them. Even with a tailgater ( not saying you in this case, just in general ), the driver should take action to remove the distraction. But by no means “brake check”...ever.

Increasing your following distance to 4 seconds is immensely more peaceful than you can imagine.

[Superman]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

We are not yet taking this seriously enough.

Though it is not a safety issue, I think the fine for driving alone in an HOV lane should be $5000. It is a deliberate, selfish act that brings a small fine, if caught, so it makes sense to ignore the law. If you have commuted on I5, you surely noticed all the single passenger cars in the HOV lane.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Let me be the first to say:

I turned the video on to see what was playing on Baz's car radio!!!

(yeah, and in my part of the county, the guy in the wrong lane happens WAY to much..although once, I caught up to someone. Drunk? Texting? Nope. They were stuffing their face with doritos!)

edit- Munchies perhaps?

[thor66]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

We are not yet taking this seriously enough. Distracted drivers on cell phones, whether speaking or texting, now kill and injure more people than drunk drivers. We've been very successful in reducing drunk driving injuries and fatalities, through both education and some pretty strict enforcement. It's time we treat drivers distracted by their phones in a similar manner. Custody offense, vehicle impounded, cell phone held for evidence until the trial date. If found guilty, same penalties as a DUI.

well said

[herr_oberst]

Entitled Floridian?

[sammyg2]

[onewhippedpuppy]

I vote drunk Baz, and I never come to a full stop at a stop sign.

[sc_rufctr]

The driver of the MB would have to be the worst I've seen.

I'm guessing an older woman with FU blood sugar.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

The driver of the MB would have to be the worst I've seen.

I'm guessing an older woman with FU blood sugar.

It's a couple and she's the one who drives the Benz. He drives a Corolla.

I sent the video to a friend whose parents live across the street from them (my friend stays there a few days a week) and he said they are drunk all the time.

It's sad because I have known them for most of the years I've been here. They had a daughter with some issues who ended up dying before she even reached 30, which may have something to do with their drinking - don't know.

They own a local restaurant here that is very popular so I don't know they could be drunks and run their business at the same time. Good managers, I guess.

Maybe an intervention is in order......what I saw today was no bueno, that's for sure....

[recycled sixtie]

Baz I would suggest you phone up the police and get them charged before they kill somebody. Just do it anonymously or keep your name out of it.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Superman

I sometimes decline to come to a technically dead stop at stop signs. Sometimes I drive 61 mph in a 60 mph zone.

I guess there are just things that some folks are happy/comfortable with and other folks aren't.

I ALWAYS come to a complete stop.
I'm almost always speeding (except in a school zone, that's a never).

turns into the nearest lane. They always swing wide.

Right, that's a law in FL. In Texas it is absolutely legal to turn into whatever lane you feel like. When I moved here, I checked and double checked that. The really crazy thing is that they often have dual turn lanes here, and I've been hit once and almost hit or run off the road several times in the past 26 years that I've been here. I usually try to ensure that I'm at least partially in front of someone when on the outside of a dual turn lane so they see me. The times that I haven't been in front of someone are the times that I've either been run out of my lane or hit.

And let's not even discuss passing lane campers.

That's another one. I've checked, and as far as I can tell, it's not illegal to pass on the left in Texas AS LONG AS THERE IS A LANE FOR YOU TO DO IT IN. If you pass on the left on the shoulder, THAT'S ILLEGAL. If you're on an interstate and there are 4 lanes going your direction, I haven't been able to find a law that says that I can't go around someone as long as I'm in one of the lanes.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Baz

It's a couple and she's the one who drives the Benz. He drives a Corolla.

I sent the video to a friend whose parents live across the street from them (my friend stays there a few days a week) and he said they are drunk all the time.

It's sad because I have known them for most of the years I've been here. They had a daughter with some issues who ended up dying before she even reached 30, which may have something to do with their drinking - don't know.

They own a local restaurant here that is very popular so I don't know they could be drunks and run their business at the same time. Good managers, I guess.

Maybe an intervention is in order......what I saw today was no bueno, that's for sure....

Wow, that's a bummer and kind of surprising. Most of the time when i see folks like that they are on the phone. It sucks that it sounds like a high possibility that she was drunk, and it may be a habit.

[Nostril Cheese]

I mean, it IS Florida....