Pelican Parts Forums - Gee, thanks for the offer, but...

Pelican Parts Forums (http://forums.pelicanparts.com/)

- Off Topic Discussions (http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/)

- - Gee, thanks for the offer, but... (http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/745476-gee-thanks-offer-but.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins (Post 7396101)

Great. Just effin' great. As if there aren't enough nit-wits on the road already, merging into 70+ mph freeway traffic at 35 mph, getting on their brakes half a block before a red light and slowing to a crawl for the next half block, stopping two car lengths behind one another at those lights (in already heavily congested traffic), and on and on.

If this sort of insurance program is at all widespread, it may very well explain the increasingly unexplainable behavior I see from too many other motorists. It certainly has seemed to be ramping up in recent years. Where we mostly used to yell and shake our fists at the ass hole who was driving way too fast and weaving in and out of traffic, today the absolutely clueless slowpoke just puttering along and getting in everyone else's way is the object of out ire. Maybe they are all simply looking for an insurance break, at everyone else's expense.

Now throw a hybrid into the mix - maybe those pin-head Pious drivers are no longer just trying to stay on the electric motor, they are actually trying to earn an insurance discount through their "safe" driving. God help us.

all the more reason to have mass transit

I have State Farm and their discount for this is up to 5%. Woohoo!

Quote:

Originally Posted by RWebb (Post 7397679)

all the more reason to have mass transit

After all, our subjects shouldn't be allowed to travel where and when they wish. We must have control over their movement.

Quote:

Originally Posted by widebody911 (Post 7397656)

I've started a couple of threads on this in the past. I see this ending up where they can't force you to use one, but your rates will be a lot higher if you don't. I'd love to hack one to replace the collected data and transmit "f*ck you" once a minute.

Yup, absolutely - that's next. Anyone who can't see this coming just isn't paying attention.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RWebb (Post 7397656)

all the more reason to have mass transit

For everyone but me... Wouldn't that be great? And therein lies the problem.

Just for a moment, consider the possibilities of combining these two concepts. Discounted insurance because you can show you drive less through your use of mass transit. That'll force 'em to ride...

Here in Washington, we already pay for mass transit with gas taxes. Now the state is adding a surcharge to our yearly vehicle registrations to help pay for mass transit. In the meantime, the vast majority of busses drive around empty. The ones that do manage to get packed to the gills - the rush hour commuter runs - can't charge enough to actually cover costs, when all those empty busses driving around the rest of the day are factored into the equation. If people had to pay what it really costs to ride the bus, they would drive instead.

Would could, however, continue to make it seem financially attractive by subsidizing it. Why not have the state encourage "discounts" on car insurance to twist our arms even harder? Lots of behaviors can be encouraged or discouraged through insurance rate manipulation. Just wait for Obamacare to see how bad that can get...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins (Post 7398009)

For everyone but me... Wouldn't that be great?

Yup, absolutely - every person (or, Peon Paul) on transit is a person not yakking on their cell phone, texting, etc. while they are next to me or in front of me.

Your concern is that transit interferes with your driving? or just that it costs money?

Where do I plug that thing in with my 85 Carrera or 86 El Camino?