interstate etiquette: a brief primer - Page 4 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Air&Road · #46 09-23-2011, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

Brian you need to update to something with a bit more mass. Than when the DB's try to force their way over you can just keep going straight and run over them, saying they were in your blind spot.

My dad ran over one in a dump truck because they decided to cut around him in the gutter as he was making a right turn. Well dump trucks have big blind spots, thought he hit a curb as he flattened the front of their car.

Great idea! Where can I get one. I'm not interested if the armament and ammunition is not part of the package.

retmil46 · #47 09-23-2011, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cscmc1

If there's an EMERGENCY, I'll make a quick decision, but I'm talking about a police car pulled over on the shoulder, or a truck sitting on the shoulder, etc... then I'm just going to merge to the left lane. And yes, the right lane is where folks should be if they're just "cruising." The right shoulder is the one to use for emergency stops, too. Why you see folks on the left shoulder with a flat tire or looking at maps is beyond me. DANGEROUS!

There was one time in Norfolk, going around the beltway at rush hour, I was in the left lane when the timing belt let go on my 87 Subaru - ie, engine dead as a doornail. Solid line of cars in the right lane wizzing by, no one would let me over to the right even with my emergency flashers on, had no choice but to pull off into the center median.

But otherwise you're right, unless it's an extremis situation, it should be the right shoulder.

Hatterasguy · #48 09-23-2011, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retmil46

I've contemplated getting a paintball gun for the same reason. And doing the "tailgater" mod to the rear windshield washer for the Speed Racer types.

Considering what I just read on Autoblog, that OnStar is data mining info on vehicles, even after people have discontinued the service, and selling it to law enforcement and insurance companies, some of these Top Gear contestants may be a little bit PO'd when they get their next insurance bill.

Yeah if I had Onstar in my truck I'd figure out how to kill it. Must be a wire you can clip somewhere.

Edward Wyatt · #49 09-25-2011, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retmil46

Considering what I just read on Autoblog, that OnStar is data mining info on vehicles, even after people have discontinued the service, and selling it to law enforcement and insurance companies, some of these Top Gear contestants may be a little bit PO'd when they get their next insurance bill.

Not only that, there is the black box that records data when an accident happens. My '97 Eldorado had this, and I imagine technology had come a long way since then.

Speaking of O*Star, I think they can turn the mic on at any time and listen in if the have the proper court orders. My lawyer got rid of his GM product for that very reason.

t walgamuth · #50 09-25-2011, 12:03 PM

In my forty plus years of driving it seems that every year or so I get someone playing a variation of this lane changing game thing.

One night I was coming home from up north somewhere in my big dodge truck pulling my 18 foor utility trailer empty. I was on SR 43 which has a speed limit of 55. I was running about 63 on cruise.

I came up to a shytebox of come kind and just went on around. They then speeded up and passed me then slowed down to whatever they were driving before. This repeated itself at least three times, each time them speeding up when I went to pass but the big dog even with a trailer has enough power to go faster than the shytebox.

So after doing this at least six times (I kept thinking they would get tired of the stupidity) the next time when I passed them I set the cruise again and went right down the center of the two lane.

After a few minutes it got to be more than they could stand and they went clear over past the white line and passed me with their left wheels on the 2 foot shoulder. Although at this time I was seriously considering moving to my left as they passed I did not.

This time they went on past and sped away turning off at the next town.

It is just very very difficult for me to understand why folks play these games, endangering other persons. And why anybody would mess around with a 6500pound pickup towing a 2000 pound trailer just goes one step further in bafflement.

Brian Carlton · #51 09-25-2011, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

It is just very very difficult for me to understand why folks play these games, endangering other persons. And why anybody would mess around with a 6500pound pickup towing a 2000 pound trailer just goes one step further in bafflement.

It's not difficult for me to understand it................

t walgamuth · #52 09-25-2011, 01:56 PM

Morons?

HuskyMan · #53 09-25-2011, 01:56 PM

According to FBI statistics, 1 in every 100 people is a psychopath. I think this helps to explain some of the neurotic behavior you see on the highways. And, it seems the driving is just getting worse by the day. It is as though they are having a bad day and they want to take it out on everyone else.

Now, if the driver's license exam included a psychological exam, we might be able to take a few of these nut cases off the roads.

HuskyMan · #54 09-25-2011, 03:39 PM

actually, why don't we have a psychological exam to test for someone's right to breathe air. that way, we weed out the nut jobs early on......

Brian Carlton · #55 09-25-2011, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

Morons?

You're finally coming around to my way of thinking..............although you vehemently deny it...............there is no other explanation.

Holmesuser01 · #56 09-26-2011, 10:55 AM

I live within a few miles of Interstate 40, near where it goes thru the Biltmore Estate near the connection to Interstate 26.

I entered the interstate in my truck one morning heading for work. I was doing nearly 55 by the time I merged. This woman in a Toyota truck came screaming up behind me, flashing lights, and rode my bumper, while honking that horn. I decided to ignore her, as she could just go around me, since there was little traffic. The honking continued. I touched my brake pedal just enough to turn on the brake lights. I never slowed down, and she got right on my bumper. I could not see the front of her truck in my mirrors. That horn blared non-stop. She stayed right on my bumper, even when I got off the interstate at Black Mountain. When I came to the first stop light, and stopped, she pulls up beside me and starts screaming at me with a little old lady in her passenger seat that looks mortified. The screaming continued, and when the light turned green, I pulled away from her. She popped back in behind me with the lights flashing again, and a Black Mountain police car pulled in behind her with his pretty blue lights flashing. She stops, and I pull off, and I told the policewoman what this woman had done to me for over 10 miles on the interstate. The Toyota woman told the police that I was driving like a maniac and had flipped her off, and had cursed her poor mother in the passenger seat. The mother told the police that her daughter had issues, and that I had done nothing. The Toyota was towed, and she was arrested. I've seen nothing else on this since it happened in August.

The Clk Man · #57 09-26-2011, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holmesuser01

I live within a few miles of Interstate 40, near where it goes thru the Biltmore Estate near the connection to Interstate 26.

I entered the interstate in my truck one morning heading for work. I was doing nearly 55 by the time I merged. This woman in a Toyota truck came screaming up behind me, flashing lights, and rode my bumper, while honking that horn. I decided to ignore her, as she could just go around me, since there was little traffic. The honking continued. I touched my brake pedal just enough to turn on the brake lights. I never slowed down, and she got right on my bumper. I could not see the front of her truck in my mirrors. That horn blared non-stop. She stayed right on my bumper, even when I got off the interstate at Black Mountain. When I came to the first stop light, and stopped, she pulls up beside me and starts screaming at me with a little old lady in her passenger seat that looks mortified. The screaming continued, and when the light turned green, I pulled away from her. She popped back in behind me with the lights flashing again, and a Black Mountain police car pulled in behind her with his pretty blue lights flashing. She stops, and I pull off, and I told the policewoman what this woman had done to me for over 10 miles on the interstate. The Toyota woman told the police that I was driving like a maniac and had flipped her off, and had cursed her poor mother in the passenger seat. The mother told the police that her daughter had issues, and that I had done nothing. The Toyota was towed, and she was arrested. I've seen nothing else on this since it happened in August.

Justice is good isn't it.

cscmc1 · #58 09-26-2011, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holmesuser01

I live within a few miles of Interstate 40, near where it goes thru the Biltmore Estate near the connection to Interstate 26.

I entered the interstate in my truck one morning heading for work. I was doing nearly 55 by the time I merged. This woman in a Toyota truck came screaming up behind me, flashing lights, and rode my bumper, while honking that horn. I decided to ignore her, as she could just go around me, since there was little traffic. The honking continued. I touched my brake pedal just enough to turn on the brake lights. I never slowed down, and she got right on my bumper. I could not see the front of her truck in my mirrors. That horn blared non-stop. She stayed right on my bumper, even when I got off the interstate at Black Mountain. When I came to the first stop light, and stopped, she pulls up beside me and starts screaming at me with a little old lady in her passenger seat that looks mortified. The screaming continued, and when the light turned green, I pulled away from her. She popped back in behind me with the lights flashing again, and a Black Mountain police car pulled in behind her with his pretty blue lights flashing. She stops, and I pull off, and I told the policewoman what this woman had done to me for over 10 miles on the interstate. The Toyota woman told the police that I was driving like a maniac and had flipped her off, and had cursed her poor mother in the passenger seat. The mother told the police that her daughter had issues, and that I had done nothing. The Toyota was towed, and she was arrested. I've seen nothing else on this since it happened in August.

Beautiful!

chilcutt · #59 09-27-2011, 05:25 AM

I recollect being subjected to driving in Detroit. It never failed that a car would wobble out of a side street/liqour store, oblivious to the oncoming traffic, making cars slam on their brakes, veer sharply to avoid them, or just crash into the DA.

Across the pond (where I am at)..is a whole differant ball game.
In Vietnam,Indonesia, Malaysia, motorbikes rule the roads.

Since many places in large metroplolitan areas either do not have traffic signals..or a traffic signal seems to be a suggestion at best, how to cross the street if you are a pedestrian can present a challenge to a Westener who is un-enlightened.
No one is going to stop for you so you can cross, so you just go !
The firrst time I did this, I thought I would ***** my pants. But to my amazement the motorbikes just flowed around me as I walked, never coming close to hitting me.

Operating a motor vehicle in Indonesia, Malaysia also has hidden surprises.
The Polisi set up road blocks at differant intervals.
The first time I encountered one of these I ask my companion what it is they are looking for..ie:'Drivers liscence-proof of insurance etc..', he said "Let me talk"..so I dummied up.

When the cop came to the window, my friend handed him a note worth about $20.00 U.S. currency, the cop took the note, pocketed it, and we were on our way.

cscmc1 · #60 09-29-2011, 09:45 AM

Alright... one more pet peeve: folks who use their driving lights (particularly when they're improperly aimed) in town. Why is it that every boy racer whose car is equipped with said lights has them burning anytime the car is running?

On the topic of lighting, I had a fool in an beat up old Ranger pickup tailgating me on the interstate last week. His high beams were on, and I kept tapping the brakes to try to send a message to either dim the lights or pass. I finally started just slowing down hoping he'd pass. I was down to 45mph before he took the hint and passed, glaring at me as he did so.