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Now this is really off topic (driving) - 6/6/2006 9:33:50 PM

Termyn8or

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The intelligence of 'normal' people out there driving their cars. There are too many nuts who shouldn't even be allowed to walk around.

It is now law in Ohio that, if able you must change lanes to avoid zapping by the officer who is issuing a citation, but then I don't know the exact wording. It may say a vehicle with red and blue lights. I don't split hairs. If I ever hit a cop pulled over on the side of the road, with my luck he would be cop of the year, after saving like 100 people from who knows what.

My exit ramp is on the left, this was not a traffic stop, but nonetheless I changed lanes to avoid the buzzby and also slowed down (I was maybe ten over) This little red car climbed up my ass.

He then decided to change lanes to the left, into the lane I had gotten out of, partly because of respect for the officer, and partly out of not wanting a ticket. I would always slow down. The little red car just buzzed on by, passing me in a heartbeat. Probably has a V6.

This is not evn the crux of the matter. I live in Cleveland Ohio, want to come kill me or something, have at it.

There are alot less people here, and I am enjoying the heck out of it. I thought the traffic might not be so bad, but (_|_)holes have decided there are too many open spaces on the road. I have seen people pass me even on the left, and have to get all the way to the right very quickly.

When I finally started driving again, I was very meek, "go ahead" was fine. I got there, you got there eight seconds sooner after jeopardizing a hundred lives. Is your time really worth that much ?

People, get into the lane you need to be in as soon as possible. If it stops, stay there. You cannot push the car in front of you so all you can do is slow down. Eventually someone in the next lane is either asleep at the switch or lets you in. This slows down the whole lane.

Perhaps someone ahead of you is doing their hair, talking on a cellphone and reading the newspaper. If you rearend her because she cut you off, you pay. Yes I annotated female, sorry, but let's go with it. She squoze between a bunch of cars that all had to hit the brakes.

If you think about the cumulative response time of each COMPETENT driver, it is not hard to see where a three second stop becomes a three minute stop about 80 cars back.

Now if you drive better, don't tailgate and be cool, these things will abate. Real results will not be in until everybody does it though. Mainly the people in front of you.

Thing is though, if we ALL do it, it works. What say you ?

T

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RE: Now this is really off topic (driving) - 6/6/2006 9:40:09 PM

pahunkboy

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the good news is, no accident, no ticket.

pencil me in for a ride. ;-0

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RE: Now this is really off topic (driving) - 6/7/2006 4:06:39 AM

Quivver

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Sounds like you had a bad day.......
But unless you've got some super powers the rest of us dont, I think your gonna wear yourself out wishing to fix bad drivers. Drive defensively, it's your best bet.

Q ... who's wheels were just totaled on a rual road when rear ended. Grr

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RE: Now this is really off topic (driving) - 6/7/2006 4:51:03 AM

meatcleaver

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I was behind a woman trying to get onto a busy roundabout in London. She saw a gap in the traffic and pulled out, the gap was big enough for two so I quickly pulled out behind her. She then stood on her breaks for no apparent reason and I went into the back of her. My fault, I should have kept my distance but hell, it was London, if you keep your distance you are going nowhere. The woman then got out of her car and came up to me and apolgised for standing on her breaks, she said she had forgot where she was going. I pointed out we were on a roundabout and you can only go one way, just let me give you my insurance details. As the traffic behind us built up and got inpatient with their horns she kept insisting she would tell her insurance company it was her fault. I told her they wouldn't take any notice. She was a very nice woman but she was making my day worse and I could feel all the drivers behind us wanting to get to work and cursing. The police came and told us to just move our cars if they will go. The woman refused and started explaining to the police it was her fault even though I was in the back of her. I started to pray for Scotty to beam me up. Just another day driving. Who said that cars are a great personal liberator?

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RE: Now this is really off topic (driving) - 6/7/2006 7:20:32 AM

LuckyAlbatross

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Termyn8or
It is now law in Ohio that, if able you must change lanes to avoid zapping by the officer who is issuing a citation, but then I don't know the exact wording. It may say a vehicle with red and blue lights. I don't split hairs.

Is THAT what was going on...

When my partner and I went to Cleveland recently we saw cars doing this all over the place and thought it was just really weird- it's just a cop car and they have plenty of room.

Thanks for the understanding of weird behavior.

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RE: Now this is really off topic (driving) - 6/7/2006 7:33:48 AM

pahunkboy

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LMAO! Im glad it did not happen to me!

Many places are confusing to new comers. My area doesn't have roundabouts, that must be very wearing on the car.

In large cities- there is a racket. Someone will slam on breaks if they think you have good insurance...and numerous people servely injured. drs lawyers in on it.
LA and Chicago- has alot of that.

Anyone can have a foggy day. Tho she should have agreed to unblock traffic.

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RE: Now this is really off topic (driving) - 6/7/2006 12:24:37 PM

Termyn8or

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You all know I am radical, Libertarian and against government intervention in our lives, BUT.....

In parts of California I hear you get a ticket even if your car simply breaks down on the highway. Look at the wasted resources due to a traffic jam. Has anyone added up the pollution caused by 1,000 cars sitting there idling ? Even running properly, the heat produced is significant.

Because people will be idiots, cut you short, cut you off etc., and simply don't care because they have good insurance, I think there should be a big fine for getting into an accident during rush hour. Perhaps $1,000 even if you get rearended. Something your wonderful insurance does not cover. Want to see some polite drivers ?

There is a big stink in Cleveland right now about traffic light cameras. I got the perfect solution for these pesky cameras, when the light is red, stop the F______ car !

And no, it wasn't a bad day. I see this crap every day. There was nothing special about it at all. Then sometimes I get tired of driving defensively for everyone else. They should do their part as well. Watching them proves that by and large, people don't give a shit about anyone else. Most present company is probably excepted. Most of the sheeple are not corresponding in forums, they are playing games on their cellphone until the ball game starts. Some are doing this while driving I'm sure.

Another thing is how some people seem to be in a contest to see how many things they can do at once while driving. I know a guy who is at times on TWO cellphones rolling down the road. Think it would be worthwhile to say anything ? This same guy years ago smashed his car. I asked him what happened and he said "I was looking for a thigh in a bucket of chicken and..." There is no hope here, I saved my breath. This otherwise highly competent businessman drives a one ton van with about three tons of equipment and supplies in it. I don't care about the springs, thing is he drives it as if it is a motorcycle or sportscar. Nice guy, but I hope he isn't on the road at the same time as me.

T

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RE: Now this is really off topic (driving) - 6/7/2006 12:34:03 PM

pahunkboy

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How would you adress highway chases? persuits?

CA freeways - the palm trees are pretty- but I can sit in my own driveway in PA, if I want to live in my car. yikes,.

300 mil ppl in US, our infastrauture is bursting at the seems. Notice how the electrical grid infatsrucrure got fix ? [since east coast black out]

[yet] i would refuse to pay $1000 fine for my car breaking down.

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RE: Now this is really off topic (driving) - 6/7/2006 8:15:57 PM

Sheikh

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quote:

ORIGINAL: meatcleaver

I was behind a woman trying to get onto a busy roundabout in London. She saw a gap in the traffic and pulled out, the gap was big enough for two so I quickly pulled out behind her. She then stood on her breaks for no apparent reason and I went into the back of her. My fault, I should have kept my distance but hell, it was London, if you keep your distance you are going nowhere. The woman then got out of her car and came up to me and apolgised for standing on her breaks, she said she had forgot where she was going. I pointed out we were on a roundabout and you can only go one way, just let me give you my insurance details. As the traffic behind us built up and got inpatient with their horns she kept insisting she would tell her insurance company it was her fault. I told her they wouldn't take any notice. She was a very nice woman but she was making my day worse and I could feel all the drivers behind us wanting to get to work and cursing. The police came and told us to just move our cars if they will go. The woman refused and started explaining to the police it was her fault even though I was in the back of her. I started to pray for Scotty to beam me up. Just another day driving. Who said that cars are a great personal liberator?

She had probably dropped a stitch in her knitting.

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RE: Now this is really off topic (driving) - 6/7/2006 8:38:49 PM

champagnewishes

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My favorite is Hollywood....they were shorted when Cal Trans was handing out left turn arrows....the only way to make a left turn is to close your eyes and floor it. Its a total crap shoot whether you make it across the lane or not. Course the alternative is driving in a circle all day long.....

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RE: Now this is really off topic (driving) - 6/8/2006 4:40:29 AM

Quivver

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Termyn8or
sometimes I get tired of driving defensively for everyone else. They should do their part as well. T

T .... Deep Breath Buddy!! your not driving defensively for everyone else, your doing it to save your own Hide! Should is a big word when you look at it. We all should be doing this or that, problem is Humans rarely live by Should!! It's s miserable proposition to have to deal with idiots, but the alternative sucks......

Q

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RE: Now this is really off topic (driving) - 6/8/2006 9:19:37 AM

NakedOnMyChain

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I try to drive as carefully as possible at all times. The way I see it, I can't afford a speeding ticket.

Seriously, though, I wasn't such a great driver when I was just worrying about myself and what I needed to do. Now, though, with my husband and unborn child around, I'm much more careful.

I am, however, an admitted brake-tapper. I only do it when someone is following entirely too close to my bumper, and I never tap very hard (only just hard enough for my brake lights to turn on, never hard enough to crash). It usually makes them realize they're following too closely and get off my bumper. Sometimes you get an asshole, though.

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