Do you drive? Or do you aim?

a reply to: Klassified


I'm an extremely defensive driver. I watch the other cars around me and I'm very cautious of them because I know there are a lot of nutjobs on the road who got their license out of a cracker jack box. They don't pay attention, they're on their phones, their eating, their putting on make up, yelling at their kids, etc... When I pull into a parking space, I take one space, I try to get near the cart return, that way only half my car is exposed. I could be an jerk parker, considering I own a SAAB convertible, but I don't. I just put full coverage on my car. As long as my car is protected, I hope and pray I'm ok when I go to the store. It's all I can do, really. I've never in my life owned a car as nice as this. Ever! My dad bought it for me as a birthday and Christmas present for the next two years. The dealer wanted $8000 but I got him down to $5000, so not bad! Even though it's a 2001, I put full coverage on it, because it's in excellent shape. I've always been a very careful driver. I used to have to drive in Florida a lot. They can go a little psycho down there when it comes to driving and you have to be slightly psycho to survive the road. I-95 is a WITCH to drive with those truckers sometimes doing 95 mph! So yeah, slightly insane. LOL There's been a couple of times when a semi tried going through my back windshield. You end up learning some good defensive driving skills on I-95. Not that you want to, but if you want to live, you HAVE to.

My nice car I finally have that I will pamper until one of us dies.

originally posted by: ketsuko
a reply to: VoidHawk

It's no the same, but I took plenty of bus rides in college and that's about the same distance up as a truck driver. You're right, people do some amazing things in their cars. We went through Dallas during rush hour once and we saw people shaving, putting on makeup, etc., in their cars.

I took a ride with a friend to her house for Thanksgiving in college. I should have signed my will before I left. She drove like a Nascar driver over cliffs. I thought I was going to die! I swore I was never going to get in the car with her again, then I realized I had to get back to the college somehow. I prayed the whole way back! Scared the living crap out of me. The speed limit was 45 on the cliffs, she was doing 80! Lord have mercy!

I'm so glad I'm not the only one observing this. I'm a driver. It has kept me safe from serious injury for a lot of years now.
I'm not usually a road rager but yesterday on a trip to town, it seemed that every driver I saw was on a cell phone and being totally stupid. I muttered a lot under my breath right up until I encountered the lady sitting the middle of the intersection on her phone. When the light turned red her way, rather than making the turn or backing up---she sat there chatting on the phone. It was just a bit too much for me and I shocked my husband by YELLING as I drove around her, "HANG UP AND DRIVE!"
For me the worst offenders are the cops on their cell. I make it a practice to attempt to get the number of the unit and report them since both the county and city have departmental policies that prohibit them being on the phone while driving on duty.
I truly believe that a goodly portion of this plague of "zombie" drivers is a result of the medications that about 40% of the adult population is consuming.

Believe it or not ... I was stuck in a long of traffic this evening ...

The traffic was moving but slowly ...

I look in the mirror at the guy behind who is also chuntering forward a few feet behind ... head down reading a newspaper ffs

a reply to: Klassified

I try to drive - but there's no leisurely driving where I'm at. I watch my speed, and most of the cars around me every time when I go out. I don't yell at bikers (with exception to the time that the dumb guy didn't bother to stop at a red light), and I make sure I catch the other driver's eye, nod, or wave to let them know what I intend to do.

However, sometimes I end up being the "intentional" aim person - For example, there is a spot on my route where a street will have 1 lane going straight, one lane that can turn right or merge in, and one that turns right completely. Now, any bonehead can tell that if you want to go straight, you need to be all the way on the left side (which is usually backed up).

Well, guess what happens when the light changes, some...moron, always goes zooming down this merging lane (hint: It's called a merge because the lane that doesn't merge in has the right of way). The last time, a truck went barreling into that lane and almost creamed a car that was safely trying to get in.

Another couple of aim'rs that are worthy of a Darwin Award.
1. I saw a guy that was in the left-hand turn lane (this was one of those lanes in the middle of a 4-way street; two lanes of traffic in either direction). He nearly plowed into the guy in front of me. Why? Because, we were almost on top of him, and then he suddenly went for the turn, halting the traffic.

2. Same trip, I had right of way on a left turn, and I almost was where I needed to be when some...moron on her cell phone practically rolled through her right-hand turn and almost t-boned me (I almost came close to breaking my policy of never flicking a woman off).

-fossilera

The real problem is almost zero driver training required in order to get a license in the USA. Also combined with the loss of vehicle inspections in many states means unskilled drivers are out there operating unsafe vehicles that drive unstable and could have a mechanical failure at any moment.

I see a horrific crash about once a week here in FL, sometimes more. When I lived in Europe for 3 months I saw 1 crash total, and it was a criminal fleeing a robbery.

originally posted by: 8675309jenny
The real problem is almost zero driver training required in order to get a license in the USA. Also combined with the loss of vehicle inspections in many states means unskilled drivers are out there operating unsafe vehicles that drive unstable and could have a mechanical failure at any moment.

I see a horrific crash about once a week here in FL, sometimes more. When I lived in Europe for 3 months I saw 1 crash total, and it was a criminal fleeing a robbery.

It used to be they had driver's courses in the schools here in the US. Then most schools dropped it. Now you have to specially pay to go to a specific class, and usually it's court ordered, or unless you want a lower insurance rate.

a reply to: Stonecutter45

If its up close to the door of a place then yes I`ll spot you when you park LMAO, however there are those that park at the END of the lot away from other cars on purpose so inconsiderate people wont ding the side of their car up they just got finished painting or waxing. I don't mind a 10 minute walk into Lowes but when Ive got someone who parks like you described next to my car at the END of the parking lot, it pushes my jackass buttons, I parked WWAAYY out there for a reason. Thankfully you seem the type to be a look but don't touch sort pertaining to those at the back of the lot.

And this happens more often, like people take it upon themselves to discipline others that are not hurting any one or anything to the point I hardly even drive some of my cars anymore favoring my old beat up technical that you`d have to dive into to hurt.

a reply to: Anyafaj

Nice, those Swedish cars last forever when properly taken car of. Try and get a service manual in English to help you make it last.

originally posted by: StratosFear
a reply to: Anyafaj

Nice, those Swedish cars last forever when properly taken car of. Try and get a service manual in English to help you make it last.

Already got one in the glove box. Going to get an oil change the week after next. I got it in December. Between December and now I've put 750 miles on it, but that because of moving from one town to the next. Now that I've moved and I'm settled, I hardly put any miles on her. I'm the 4th owner of the car. According to Wikipedia only 738 models of the 2001 SAAB 93S Convertible (Viggen) were imported to the US. (Scroll down to SAAB Viggen to see the numbers of how many cars were imported for first edition) Apparently it's related to the Saturn L Series. (Would this men interchangeable parts, like Ford with Mercury, etc..? Curious.)

The world would be a better place if automatic transmissions had never been invented.

originally posted by: FaceMyBook
The world would be a better place if automatic transmissions had never been invented.

I had an ex boyfriend begin teaching me manual, but he didn't want to take it to the next level, so after 6 months, I left. Obviously I can't drive a partial manual. I began learning on a MG Midget convertible classic. If it wasn't for automatic, I'd never drive. Maybe I should have stayed with Mr. Boring until I mastered Manual. LOL



Edit we need a car forum, I am SUCH a car chick!

I spent over 5 years hauling logs out of the bush and a couple years during this time driving school bus part time. I eventually transitioned to training truck drivers and bus drivers, as well as heavy equipment operators but that's another story. I used to get uncomfortable when someone would get too close to the back of the truck until I realized that if someone hit me from behind (40 tons of pulp on a huge truck), I would hear about it before I felt it so, it stopped being a problem to me. I tell people now, " If you can see a trucker's mirrors as you are behind him, that is likely a safe following distance. Also, never speed up to pass a truck/bus just to make the next left turn. The safest way to avoid backing into someone is to never back up. That means, if you are parking in a mall, try and find a spot where you can drive through to the next aisle. Always back into a parking space if you can't drive through. It is safer to back in that to back out. This goes for your driveway too.

I'm a very.....assertive..driver

a reply to: Klassified

What gets me is when people run red lights or stop signs or cut you off and you almost hit them and honk and they act like im the one who did something wrong. I had a sixteen year old hit me once while she was texting and she got pissed at me because I made her stop and she was late for school.
Pay attention people and get your faces outta your phone while driving.



Peace.

originally posted by: Lichter daraus
a reply to: Klassified

What gets me is when people run red lights or stop signs or cut you off and you almost hit them and honk and they act like im the one who did something wrong. I had a sixteen year old hit me once while she was texting and she got pissed at me because I made her stop and she was late for school.
Pay attention people and get your faces outta your phone while driving.



Peace.

Lol. "Amen!"