Aren’t we trying to live in a society?

[brabus]

Today while running some errands I pulled into a parking lot that was totally full except for a spot where a guy had parked about a foot into that space. Since I am about the most impatient person ever I made the foolish decision to squeeze into the spot. That’s when I notice his passenger door was freshly keyed. I almost backed out thinking he might retaliate on me if he saw it, but then I figured at 10 o’clock on a Wednesday morning there was a slim chance he had a passenger so I parked there anyway.

When I finish shopping and go to my car I see the whole left side of my car was keyed. Of course I about died, but luckily I had just waxed my car the day before coupled with Mercedes super hard paint most of it came off with some graffiti remover.
There is about a 4 inch area where it dug into the paint and put two 1/8” chips in it.

Now for the bigger picture…
I spend a large amount of my time on the road and have been noticing more and more how people are becoming more self serving. Bullying on the highways and streets has increased many fold. Drivers are spending more time forcing others to drive how they want with tactics like break checking, swerving into others lanes, and even driving in two lanes on highway entrance ramps. What happened to teamwork, can’t we get out of the way of faster moving vehicles, leave openings for people to get out of parking lots etc.?

I am not even sure where this behavior from those who apparently want to be the official pace car of the open road comes from or what rationalizations they use for such behavior but I do know that if every one in the world only cared about their self there could only be one winner. However if people work together as a team maybe we all could get home a little earlier, have room to park, and not have to buff out undeserved key marks from the sides of their cars.

As I see it, the problem in the US is due to lack of driver education and driver accountability.

In Germany it takes about $1500 and more hours of instruction than it does for a pilots license in the US. The behind the wheel test involves about 50km and if the student makes the slightest error they must go back for 10 or so more hours of instruction before they can retake the test. Because these people have put so much into getting a drivers license, they are not about to do something to cause them to lose it which is EXACTLY what will happen if they start driving the way you describe.

In the US, a person must be 16 and their heart must be beating. That's about all it takes to get a drivers license. In Texas now, if they take drivers education, they don't even have to take a behind the wheel test. Once on the road they just about have to kill someone before the license will be taken away.

Have a great day,

[brabus]

That’s interesting. I have noticed how some of my friends don’t understand what could be life saving rules about what solid Vs. striped road stripes are, when to yield, and so on.
I guess Americans are making it up as they go along.

[mctwin2kman]

Most American Drivers Suck! The tests are too easy and no one is punished enough for what they do! I have noticed in the last few years alone that the number of people that hang in the left lane on a highway has just about increased 10 fold. So much so that there are big gaps in the right lane and a solid line of cars in the left. I hope that someday we as a country stiffen our driving laws and tests so that we can be more like Europe as far as how hard it is to get a license and how hard it is to keep a car on the road. There are far too many junkers out there that should not even be on a back dirt road let alone a public highway. Personally I am starting to hate driving due to the amount of stupid people on the road.

[ILUVMILS]

You think it's bad in Texas? Try living in New Jersey!!!

[dtf]

I've said for a long time (to my wife) that states should have commercials ~ 15 - 20 seconds long reminding people about things like 'keep right except to pass', what the solid /striped lines mean, get up to speed when merging on a highway and other things. I try to be as safe and courteous as possible. I fail sometimes but I'd rather be alive than try something foolish to save 20 micro seconds of time along the commute.

[dtf]

Actually - I'll admit guilt here: What does the double striped lane usually in the far right lane going uphill mean? I can't figure that out. I know it is never OK to pass on the right so it can't be that.

Well everybody does it, so it must be OK...go with the flow, blast your horn, get right on that bumper and intimidate the hell out of them til they speed up to your standards. Pass on the right whenever there is a chance, and even if there isn't one, especially at lights, and don't forget to pack the pistol in your glove box, cuss were in a hurry, and we don't care about your stinky measly life, just get out of my way because I"M COMING THROUGH! ............... BB

[boneheaddoctor]

Originally Posted by dtf

Actually - I'll admit guilt here: What does the double striped lane usually in the far right lane going uphill mean? I can't figure that out. I know it is never OK to pass on the right so it can't be that.

thats the special lane for those of us that are better than the rest to drive on....

[yal]

Originally Posted by ILUVMILS

You think it's bad in Texas? Try living in New Jersey!!!

Dude, ditto New York!!!

I saw the show about the autobahn on discovery, if we implemented half the rules they do in Germany the number of people driving with suspended licenses would triple. They actually had a special camera to catch you tailgating, I would wear a blonde afro wig to work all year if they implemented that here in NY , you can't drive through a 30mph town zione without some moron on your a$$ because he needs to get to the red light up ahead as quickly as possible

[kramlavud]

It requires both education and manners. Unfortunately both seem to be declining in our country.
regards,
Mark

[wbain5280]

That's why I now drive a Crown Vic. Driving is so peaceful now.

[tvpierce]

Originally Posted by wbain5280

That's why I now drive a Crown Vic. Driving is so peaceful now.

That's a great idea Warren.

To really complete the package though, you need to add some accessories (if you haven't already):
1) At least one magnet-mount antenea (of course, don't even connect it to anything).
2) Clear driving lights mounted on the rear deck of the interior, pointed rearward. (Again, they needn't be connected to power. They just need to look like there might be red or blue lights in them)
3) A vanity plate that consists of a fairly random number/letter combo. Anything that's not standard. Most states use something like a 3 letter/3 number or 3 letter/4 number combo.
(My dad was a police chief in a small town, and the plates on his partrol cars were the radio call signs for that car: 7B-335 and 7B-336)

Heck, you may even be able to fool the cops.

Jeff Pierce

[wbain5280]

The car's trunk lid had two antennae on it. They were removed before the car was sold by Fairfax County. The screw mounts were left with lots of coax. I originally used a spare mag mount but visited a local Ham radio store and bought the correct style. They are mounted in the reverse order the local cops use, most cannot tell.

No lights, I don't want to go there.

Standard Virginia 400 year plates, 1607 - 2007.

Cops do look, I wave.

I also behave myself. The other drivers do too. ("Hmmm, that could be a cop, I'd better not do that, I could get a ticket, I don't want the hassle.")

[kramlavud]

Warren, great way to get some space. Do you still have the 300SE, and are you attending the DIY at ASC on the 20th?
regards,
Mark Duval