!$@# Idiot on the freeway

ianc · 09:27 PM

So,

Yesterday I'm cruising to work in the morning. I'm in the left lane, doing about 70. I'm just about one carlength behind a Toyota truck going 55 or so in the #2 lane, when suddenly he decides that he needs to be in the left lane, even though though there's nobody in front of him for a good 10 car lengths. It was like one of those video games where someone's trying to block you for the sheer bloody-mindedness of it.

My heart leapt into my throat, and I stabbed quick at the brake pedal, locking up one or more wheels hard. I really thought I was going under his bumper, but I managed to haul her down in time (while laying into the horn), although not (admittedly) doing a very good job of it. Complete panic situation with only milliseconds to respond. After the distance had opened up a little, I glanced in the rear view mirror and spotted a pretty good rubber-smoke cloud behind me.

I didn't notice it on the fwy there or back, but after starting up from cold this AM, I noticed a little thwackety-thwack from the front on smooth pavement. Think I flatspotted one (or both) of the front tires. Have not had time to examine them yet. It wasn't noticeable on the fwy again either. Temperature related?

If a tire is flatspotted, does it every really recover over time, or am I just looking at a new set of front shoes? TIA,

ianc

Edit: One's usual reaction would be to veer radically back into the lane you came from, if you heard a horn wildly honking when making a lane change. This fellow did nothing of the sort; just serenely kept wandering into the left lane. He stayed there and after I fell back and regained my wits, I was finally forced to pass him on the right to get by him! #@$%!@ I think I may have resorted to a hand gesture to express my displeasure while passing. Kinda makes you think about what can happen at any time though...

ayglass · 10-20-2006, 09:54 PM

Been there, seen that.

A couple of weeks ago I wound up behind a red minivan via the same route. Fortunately he pulled out in front of me a little earlier so I didn't have to brake quite so hard. I followed him for a couple of miles while he tailgated a half dozen vehicles. Funny, he was going 55 when I originally came up on him.

I finally pulled up even with him in the right lane and paused. He was driving with a hard set jaw, one arm firmly gripping the top of the steering wheel. I mused that it was the "master of the universe" pose. He didn't look over even though my 930 is LOUD. I rolled on the boost in 4th and passed him and the truck he was following. Funny thing is, he stepped hard on the gas in a futile attempt to stay ahead for a few more seconds.

If the minivan bothers his ego that much maybe he needs to save his pennies and buy an older but more ego-friendly sports car...

I asked a Lotus driving friend at work if this happens to him in his car. He replied "nearly every time I drive it". Apparently bizarre behavior isn't just for Porsche drivers.

ayglass · 10-20-2006, 10:07 PM

In a related tale, back in the early 80's I was cruising fast in the left lane and came up on a VW rabbit in the right lane. He suddenly changed into my lane and I had to brake hard. A couple of seconds later and I see a State Trooper bob out of the right lane a half dozen cars ahead of us.

The Rabbit driver had obviously seen the Trooper and was saving me from a ticket. I smiled and waved.

I don't honk as much now. I look around and try to figure out if the loon is helpful, malicious, or dumb. There was a quote: "Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity." I think it's called Hanlon's razor. I suspect that there is a lot of dumb out there.

Good luck with the tires. You might be able to have your local tire store shave them lightly to remove the flat spots.

ianc · 10-20-2006, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Apparently bizarre behavior isn't just for Porsche drivers.

I don't think it's for a particular marque, I think there're just idiots out there; luck of the draw. Gotta watch for that; particularly in the right lanes!

So how's about them flatspotted tires?

ianc

IX11rsr · 10-20-2006, 11:15 PM

ianc,
try shaving them 1st,but if they're at the wear bar?- new shoes.

Emission · Emission's Garage

Flatspots are permanent.

I did it to FOUR tires when I was dating my wife 15 years ago (I was driving her car on the freeway and not paying attention)! I had to buy her all new tires. It really sucked.

One benefit of ABS - no flatspots.

safe · safe's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by ianc
So,

Yesterday I'm cruising to work in the morning. I'm in the left lane, doing about 70. I'm just about one carlength behind a Toyota truck going 55 or so in the #2 lane, when suddenly he decides that he needs to be in the left lane, even though though there's nobody in front of him for a good 10 car lengths. It was like one of those video games where someone's trying to block you for the sheer bloody-mindedness of it.

My heart leapt into my throat, and I stabbed quick at the brake pedal, locking up one or more wheels hard. I really thought I was going under his bumper, but I managed to haul her down in time (while laying into the horn), although not (admittedly) doing a very good job of it. Complete panic situation with only milliseconds to respond. After the distance had opened up a little, I glanced in the rear view mirror and spotted a pretty good rubber-smoke cloud behind me.

I didn't notice it on the fwy there or back, but after starting up from cold this AM, I noticed a little thwackety-thwack from the front on smooth pavement. Think I flatspotted one (or both) of the front tires. Have not had time to examine them yet. It wasn't noticeable on the fwy again either. Temperature related?

If a tire is flatspotted, does it every really recover over time, or am I just looking at a new set of front shoes? TIA,

ianc

Edit: One's usual reaction would be to veer radically back into the lane you came from, if you heard a horn wildly honking when making a lane change. This fellow did nothing of the sort; just serenely kept wandering into the left lane. He stayed there and after I fell back and regained my wits, I was finally forced to pass him on the right to get by him! #@$%!@ I think I may have resorted to a hand gesture to express my displeasure while passing. Kinda makes you think about what can happen at any time though...

The exact thing happend to me 2-3 moths ago.
A volvo v70 doing ~80 started wandering slowly over to the left lane while I was in the left lane doing 110.
I really had to stand on the brakes, fortuanatly I didn't lock up the tires.
It gets your heart pumping for sure....
On the other hand why the hell was I doing 110 on a 55 mph road

Rick V · 10-21-2006, 03:58 AM

Situations like that are why the good lord equiped us with middle fingers, and horns.

It happens all the time, the fellow was more than likely thinking about too many thing (driving not being one of them).
I drive with my lights on even in the middle of the day, it does help and people seem to leave the left lane more often when comming up behind them fast.

charleskieffner · 10-21-2006, 04:09 AM

this is a classic example of employing the "DEATH RAY"!

Quicksilver · 10-21-2006, 04:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by charleskieffner
this is a classic example of employing the "DEATH RAY"!

I'm actually waiting for a "tractor beam". Then I can pick them up like "the hand of god" and fling them off the freeway.

Back to the original question...
Like a couple people have said: You can try having them shaved. If the flatspot is not very deep and you have plenty of remaining tread depth it might work out.

Porsche_monkey · 10-21-2006, 04:21 AM

Obviously a situation that calls for the mute eloquence of the up-turned middle finger.

charleskieffner · 10-21-2006, 04:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by PBH
Obviously a situation that calls for the mute eloquence of the up-turned middle finger.

and the death ray!

dont feel bad.............with temps cooling off and chamber of commerce weather, we get all the snowbirds. they come in many flavors and from far away. the general M.O. is to be in fast lane as you come driving up behind them. they are going 55 in 65mph zone. STATE LAW is slower traffic shall always YIELD to faster traffic. in other words if you aint going 65 get the hell over a few lanes. this is posted every where in state. and its on drivers lic. test(i checked). anyway the best part is they will not move over..........despite being flashed by hella h-4's numerous times. then as you turn your turn signal on to go around them, they decide NOW, is the time to change lanes, thereby you swerve back into fast lane to avoid them and then THEY FLIP YOU OFF!

whenever this occurs i memorize lic. plate of the great offendi, i have seriously contemplated on a number of these idiots calling 911. its amazing that road hogs still exist, with all the semi traffic barreling 20mph above limit. you'd figure the entire species of road hoggius maximus dumbassenoughious would have been wiped off the planet and the gene pool vaporized by now!

H-4's and HELLA HORNS and the DEATH RAY are our only hope!

imcarthur · imcarthur's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by charleskieffner
despite being flashed by hella h-4's numerous times

In North America, this almost always means that there is a serious jerk behind you. I have been flashed while passing slower vehicles at 20+ over the speed limit. Impatient? Noooo.

I too, had a serious idiot this week in Jensen Beach while driving a rental. A diesel RAM tried to ram me. A quick evasive action saved my butt. He was accelerating & wasn't about to back off.

Ian

jester911 · jester911's Garage

Isn't funny how these type of threads allways compel us to tell our own similar story.

Living in a big metro area and driving any length of time will make for countless situations like these.

I drive a lot in my job(not p-car) and I have to tell you that I have incidents like these almost daily. I have come to the conclusion that driving on the track is much safer than driving on the freeways around where I live.

I have gotten to the point that the joy of driving my car on the street is seriously reduced because of the traffic.
I look forward to the day my wife and I can move away from the city and I can once again enjoy the open road.

goldgunner · 10-21-2006, 05:25 AM

JAMMERS

What you are describing is a fairly recent phenomena on the interstates, freeways and highways.

Regardless of the flow of traffic, or whether there are 2, 3 or 4 lanes each direction - the JAMMER will be found in the far left 'fast' lane going the exact speed limit. Especially aggravating on 2 lane each direction interstates with the semi's filling the right lane.

The JAMMER mission is to jam and slow the traffic - their philosophy is that they are going the speed limit and BY GOD you will also~!

This phenomena is growing everywhere - I see it on Texas interstates the most.

Perhaps the JAMMERS have a personal reason: someone they knew hurt or killed on the road; or perhaps this is a strain of vigilantism.

Regardless the JAMMERS do this purposefully and when the speed limit is 65 on the interstate and the flow of traffic is near 80, it can be aggravating and sometimes dangerous.

SLO-BOB · 10-21-2006, 05:29 AM

My biggest gripe is with semis. I travel a LOT by highway and usually in my "stealth" car- a red Grand Caravan. Why stealth? Because the police just don't seem to see it. I can set the cruise at 80 and let the world cruise by. Apparently semi-truck drivers don't see it either. I can pretty much count on the offending truck pulling out to pass the other truck he's been glued to for the last 5 miles just when I reach his bumper. I don't know what it is?? Fact of the matter is they must see me because it happens like clockwork. Must be their way of staying awake.

On 911s. I live in Wisconsin where traffic, for the most part, is light. Also, there are precious few 911s here as compared to most other states. I've had numerous people ask me what kind of car it is and fail to recognize the name even when told. Therefore, there doesn't seem to be that resentment issue that many of you are experiencing on the road. I'm glad for it!

rooked 930 · 10-21-2006, 06:14 AM

These stories (and my own city driving woes) all contribute to my continued temptation to rig my car up with James Bond gizmo's (smokescreen/oilslick for tailgaters, "harmless" missiles for the slugs in front).

charleskieffner · 10-21-2006, 06:37 AM

jammers = road hoggiest maximus. your correct ...........if they are going 55 in the 65 mph fast lane by god you are mandated to do the same. p-car or not. this is especially true of hispanics w/mexican plates.

as much as i would like to flip them off i cant. not that i dont want to, not that they dont deserve it, not that they are morons of the highest order....................but because i really want to avoid at all cost.....................PUTTING A .45 thru their freeking skull when they come into my lane , oblivious to the fact that i am there!

one clown redneck at an intersection, in a beat to hell p/u, in williams ,az. ran the stop sign as i was going thru intersection going the posted 25mph limit. had to do to major evasive maneuver to avoid hitting him! my comment to him w/my cab top down...................ISNT IT RED ENOUGH FOR YOU?

after doing track time you really do risk it all on the streets. i drive like a grandma, due to all the idiots. havent had a ticket in over 25 years! knock on wood! and no accidents!

brendon · brendon's Garage

I AM a Jammer...but only on residential streets. I can't stand idiots that feel that the 35mph speed limit on the road that passes through our subdivision isn't fast enough for them. Kids cross that road to get to the park!! When I am on that road I make sure any cars coming up too fast behind me get slowed down to the appropriate speed (if not even below the limit).

On the other hand, the freeway should be just that - free of speed limits; and I say let loose there.

ianc · 10-22-2006, 05:41 PM

Quote:

I AM a Jammer...but only on residential streets. I can't stand idiots that feel that the 35mph speed limit on the road that passes through our subdivision isn't fast enough for them.

Then dude, my foot needs to be up your butt to the knee.

What gives you the right to control anybody else in the world? Who died and made you God?

You've no right to do anything except cook your own dinner. Stay off the road and spend your time teaching your kids not to run in front of cars,

ianc