Bad Drivers

[Superman]

Okay, I gotta vent. Throw me OT, call me a liberal, whatever but I gotta vent. In my 911 I get some respect, but in my '73 Datsun PU I surely don't. I pulled onto the freeway (60mph) and was doing about 74 when I moved into the center lane. The SUV about 60 ft back got pissed and roared past me on the left and stayed in the passing lane. The car in front of me was going about 68, so I eventually got into the left land and behind the SUV. The SUV had no one in front but wanted to go 68 also. After a time I could see that the SUV had no intention of using any lane but the left one. When there was no traffic in the center lane, I used it to resume my 74 mph chosen speed.

SUV didn't like that and made a series of fairly dangerous maneuvers, finally squeezing right in front of me just before I exited the freeway from the far right lane.

Okay. EVERYBODY feels like they need to get in front of my pickup, no matter how fast I am going, and no matter how slowly they intend to drive. Okay.

But this reminds me of my believe that in this great country, driving skill and knowledge about driving is almost completely unnexessary. Few cars EVER undergo an official safety inspection and many, many, many, many drivers CLEARLY do not know the rules of the road. MAny, many, many do not even look where they are going.

I'm clearly not aligned with Big Business because I believe that costs would decrease dramatically and lives and property would be far better protected if we were to get these idiots off the road. A motor vehicle license is not an easy thing to get in most locations on this planet. In my area, $14 is about all it takes! Obviously.

[island911]

. . .deep down; the problem is. . .you Really miss your SC.

[Superman]

I'm starting to get motivated to complete the project.

[Jdub]

To paraphrase Falstaff, "They hate us youth..."

John

[emcon5]

Maybe your truck doesn't look threatening enough? My old Toyota 4x4, complete with big honkin' pipe bumpers, missing body panels and Bondo patches usually got a wide berth, even from the biggest Monster-truck wannabe SUV's.

Tom

[pbs911]

I agree SM. In my SC, noone really even comes close to me and rarely, if ever, cut me off or follow to close.

I blew an oil line last weekend and have been driving a Buick Le Sabre until I get the parts from PP. That will be fixed tonight but that is another story.

Funny you should bring this up. This morning I had to appear in court in a criminal matter, no not me. It started as SUV getting frustrated and cutting off a truck. The truck caught back up, flipped off the driver and acted as if it was retaliate by sideswiping the SUV. This was all happening at 100 mph! Well the SUV lost control rolled across 4 lanes of highway and the SUV ended up on its side with the guys arm trapped between the passangers door and the ground. Needless to say he lost his arm. Both drivers are in prison for felony assault with dangerous weapon. Both had a pretty impressive rap sheet. Alcohol also played a part apparently.

The moral, you have to be careful. As a Porsche owner and driver you are probably more of a defensive and capable driver. It are the other drivers who take a multiple choice test and shell out the money to the auto manufacturers that are a danger to others. You never now who the other driver is or what he will do.

There should be special tests for each type of car a person is licened to drive, i.e. sports, truck, SUV. It should also be more difficult to pass the test.

[Kurt B]

Well, I hate to admit it, but when I see a bleeding heart liberal struggling to pace 74mph, I usually give em the bird.
But I don't drive SUV's, so you know it wasn't me.

I have special spectacles and actually detect liberals via their heart valves, which are always enlarged and weeping flowers and little pink hearts for all the people of the world.

I'd give you a wedgie, S-man, if I was around, but I'm down here in So cal

:P

[Oldporsche]

I drive an '85 Nissan pu to work. It doesn't get any respect either. Maybe its a brand thing? It doesn't even get regular oil changes.

Good luck,
David Duffield

[Planter91C2]

well superman, i'm suprised that you didn't say that a solution to the poor driver problem would be to instill a new tax. or, we could mandate an expensive driving course with many fees and surcharges, so our elected officials can be responsible for us and protect us.

[Superman]

Okay, it seems I may be The Board's "token liberal." I'll serve proudly.

Kurt, you'll shiver with fear when I say that if you were here, you'd have to catch me in order to administer the wedgie. "Struggling to pace 74 mph" indeed! I'll have you know that under ideal (steep downhill) conditions, my pickup can exceed 90 mph. You should hear the engine when that happens!

Seriously though, PBS-man and I agree. If proficiency tests were what they should be, at least half the drivers out there would need to use public transportation. The beneficiaries would include:

All taxpayers' wallets (transp infrastructure is expensive)
All injured motorists
All non-injured motorists
the environment
public transportation systems
The public's general health
My mental health

Losers would include:
Oil companies
Auto manufacturers
paving contractors
The idiot that cut me off today

Hey Kurt, notwithstanding our very different world views, beware that if I catch you in Western Washington, I'll probably buy you a beer and ask you questions. I know that's vicious, but you deserve it.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

How about summary execution for all SUV drivers exceeding 55 mph?

Joking aside, Super, a proficiency test isn't going to fix the fact that people drive like idiots. Some of the more intelligent people that I know drive like hyper-aggressive maniacs with deathwishes. In 3/4-ton pickup trucks. They could pass any test you throw at them--but once they're in "the wild" they'll drive like idiots again.

This is a psychology problem, not an education problem. Public whippings and/or hangings for first-time offenders would have a greater deterrent effect than any test.

[Superman]

True. So the only really effective measure would be to subject these people to liberal propaganda. Bet that would slow ol' Kurt down a bit!

[cary]

Ask my kids what the disease most other drivers have :

The answer will be.

HEAD UP BUTT ...................... I'm trying to teach my 10, 11 and 14 year old. That a car is a 3000 lb. weapon when the driver has their HEAD UP THEIR BUTT ( pardon my "French" ). Driving a car can KILL YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS. When you drive with your HEAD UP YOUR BUTT !!!!.

My .02c.

[island911]

Thanks Cary. . .I had forgoten where I left my cell phone

[emcon5]

Cary, something like this? You can't see it from this angle, but his hands are on the wheel of his Excursion.




Tom

[Tyson Schmidt]

Superman, I think I may know the REAL reason people want to get in front of you. Ever been behind a VW van, or a '60's or '70's era pick-up truck? I don't care if these things are doing a buck-50, I want to be in FRONT of them. STIIIIIINKY!!!!!!!

Do you have soot on the back of your truck? Maybe you are gassing out the people behind you. Even if your truck burns clean, it has the distinct look of a gross-polluter. I honestly think that is the biggest reason for the behavior of other drivers around you in that thing.

I know that's exactly what goes through my head when I see a rig like that. I give it a wide berth, or try like hell to get in front of it.

[old_skul]

Solution: Drive a 911 as a daily driver. Most people, when the see me behind them, have one of two reactions:

1. The hell with it. He's in a 911. I can't possibly keep up with him in terms of speed or general coolness. I'll just let him pass, give him room, and let him go about his business, since my car and my driving skills haven't a chance versus this minor diety in German engineering.

2. That rat bastard! He has a 911. Bet he thinks he's king of the world! I'll show him! I can go just as fast in my Taurus as he can in his snooty sports car. Who does he think he is?! I'll teach him a lesson! Oh...uh, I'm doing 115! My steering wheel is shaking! Damn! Well, if I wasn't so close to being out of gas, I'd show him! I think I'll get over now, I'm going to be exiting in 30 miles.

A Toyota pickup just kinda blends into the background, and a lot of folks just see themselves flying past the background when they're in their SUV. I've had a few of them not see me in the 911, though, so be careful. One of 'em even hit me once.

[cegerer]

I drive 40-50K miles per year. So I have the 'pleasure' of seeing many of these idiot drivers on a daily basis. Here's 2 gems from today's adventure:

1. Salesman-type guy in a new Chevy Malibu doing around 90 MPH in the left lane of the interstate. Can of Pringles between his legs. Left hand stuffing Pringles into mouth. Right hand holding cell phone to ear (of course). Open notebook on dash. Steering with knee. Apparently.

2. Overweight white-collar guy in Japanese econobox reading the newspaper while driving down the interstate. Looked like he just got pink-slipped. Maybe looking at the help-wanted ads (or maybe the escort services). Now books propped up on the steering wheel are common, but a newspaper??!! Well, at least the guy was going slowly way over in the right lane .......

Anybody remember the Highway 17 Hall of Shame website? That was the funniest damn thing on the web. Shut down now. I wonder if anybody has some of that stuff archived? -- Curt

[RoninLB]

In my travels I wait for the egoless male or the beauty queen doing her make up in mirror. The male gets hard when he feels he can drive faster than a 911. The female is clueless of her speed. I follow at 1/8 - 1/4 mile at big speeds. My Valentine goes off, they get nailed. Happens routinely. Gotta fed the bears. I think I am being environmentally aware.

[Turbo]

Okay. EVERYBODY feels like they need to get in front of my pickup, no matter how fast I am going, and no matter how slowly they intend to drive.

I agree SM. In my SC, noone really even comes close to me and rarely, if ever, cut me off or follow to close.

I agree too, if I am driving my Pathfinder in the right lane and overtake a car traveling in the passing lane they will speed up and block the pass . If I am in my car they slow down and let me in.

Jeff
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