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Debris on freeway caused significant damage. Be careful!

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by LeMeowz, Aug 22, 2013.

  1. BZzap!

    BZzap! Senior Member

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    Oh, Boy!!! This type of commentary could open a real "Can-O-Worms". I don't mean to yank you air horn chain but I've seen plenty of professional, class "A" drivers display some lobotomy required procedures to correct their bad habits on the road.
     
  2. LeMeowz

    LeMeowz Member

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    Thanks for all the replies! To all those who've had something similar happen, I'm sorry it happened, but glad you're okay!

    GiiiG, it went just as teamsc10190 mentioned. Because it was airborne when it struck, I paid a relatively low deductible for the comprehensive insurance and rates did not go up.

    Rude person's, thanks for the link! Had a hard time finding a dash cam that did not look like a radar detector.

    In response to ponderosabob that I was driving way too fast and following too closely, I agree. However, I'm sure you've been in this type of traffic many times in your 30+ years of Class A. At least where I live, when rush hour is just beginning, traffic speed is slightly slower than normal, but everyone including the big rigs are going about the same speed (about 70mph in this case). Cars are also spaced about 2 car lengths apart-- much shorter than is safe. If I had slowed to allow a greater following distance and decrease my speed, I would 1) have that newly created gap filled in by another driver, 2) cause worse traffic by slowing down everyone behind me and 3) be tailgated by drivers behind me because they are being tailgated themselves by the big rig driver behind them and so on. I understand this isn't safe, but what SF Bay Area freeway is safe during rush hour?
     
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  3. BZzap!

    BZzap! Senior Member

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    In LA freeway traffic you are hard pressed to leave two or three car lengths of space. If you do, two or three cars will inevitably fill in the blanks. As for the 18 wheeler's,you are also hard press to try to off ramp because they are riding three feet from one another. Usually a turn indicator is ignored.
     
  4. 32kcolors

    32kcolors Senior Member

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    Absolutely correct. I'm now in the habit of starting the turn indicator immediately before a lane change, thanks to the inconsiderate drivers who speed up to close the gap as soon as they see a flashing turn indicator.
     
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  5. ny_rob

    ny_rob Senior Member

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    It's the same around here... you try to be safe and leave some open space ahead of you... and some jerk-wad takes it as a personal invitation to shoehorn himself in there creating an unsafe situation once again. :mad:
     
  6. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

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    The general rule is, if you hit this "jerk," and since you are the car behind the same, it is generally "your fault."

    That's where the camera comes in. I you can show they pulled up quickly in front of you and slammed on the brakes before you hit the "jerk," it is the jerk's fault.

    In the US there are so few people with dash cams that they usually assume that you don't have one.

    While the charging party, aka the "jerk" or the PD must disclose all evidence of culpability in discovery, the defense does NOT have to immediately.

    You could easily "blind side" them with your video.
     
  7. BZzap!

    BZzap! Senior Member

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    Dash cams are so cheap now, it's foolish not to have one in you car. I have scores of video of cars turning left way after the left turn arrow has turned red. These cities that claim they are broke, need to get off their fat arses and start enforcing traffic laws to boost their revenues. It would pay for itself ten fold.
     
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  8. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

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    I recall a recent story on Fox News, where one driver reported another for road rage. The cop was going to arrest the reported driver, until the guy showed him the video from the dash cam.

    The cop ended up arresting the first driver.
     
  9. 32kcolors

    32kcolors Senior Member

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    Yeah, they already tried that with California red light camera tickets but they didn't pay for themselves because of too much commissions to whoever operate the cameras and they don't have enough resources to give tickets in person. Additionally, the length of yellow lights was shortened at many red light camera intersections to make them easier to catch. Yes, people should not run red lights, but it's highly unethical of them to rig their cameras and signals to maximize profits.
     
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  10. ny_rob

    ny_rob Senior Member

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    Sorry for the OT question, but..
    Anyone successful in getting any sort of insurance discount because they have a permanent, passive dash cam?
     
  11. BZzap!

    BZzap! Senior Member

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    A lot of drivers aren't aware that traffic lights are calibrated to stay yellow for 1 second for every 10 MPH of posted speed limit. In other words, 35 MPH posted, the light will stay yellow for 3.5 seconds. 45 MPH, the light will stay yellow for 4.5 seconds. This allows plenty of time for a driver to safely stop rather than try to beat the light. So, in the eyes of the law, there is very little tolerance for running a red light. Yellow does not mean, SPEED UP!!!
     
  12. 32kcolors

    32kcolors Senior Member

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    That's pretty much beside the point. The real point is those short-sighted cities deliberately shortened the length of yellow light specifically at red light camera intersections to make ticketing more likely and yes, they were caught red-handed, so to speak.
     
  13. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

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    It was Samuel Clemmons, under his pen name, Mark Twain, who said, "Figures don't lie, but liars can sure figure."


    Does anyone here think, just because they got elected to office, that they have gotten an infusion of ethics? They are truly politicians. As the doctor examining Forrest Gump's back said to Forrest's mother, "His back is as crooked as a politician."
     
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  14. Nora

    Nora Member

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    How does this mount? Do you replace the mirror with a new mirror? Or does the camera clamp to the Prius mirror? And how does your installation look? Cord long enough to make it to the power plug under the dash without unsightly dangling? I'm intrigued. I thought only the Russians had car cams. ;)
     
  15. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

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    The camera includes its own mirror that camps over the Prius mirror. The cord runs above the right front sun visor and is not visible much at all. Then, it goes under the edge of the vinyl molding that covers the edge of the door pillar, under the glove compartment under the dash where it goes to the power outlet. It is very discrete. From the outside you can hardly tell that it is there.

    The dash cams that the Russians use are mounted to suction cups like add on GPS's and radar detectors. I tried two of them and returned them both. I was worried that some fool would break into the car just to steal it.

    In daily use, it requires no driver interaction. It automatically records everything just like any DVR like a TiVo. When the SD card is full, it just records over the oldest video. It has a shock sensor that locks the DVR to save the video, should there be an accident. It is absolutely easy to use.
     
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  16. FroggyTaco

    FroggyTaco Member

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    I'm not seeing a link for the cam...
     
  17. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

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    Just read the reviews. It's the only one getting more than three stars.
     
  18. WE0H

    WE0H Senior Member

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    What do we search for and where to find these camera's?

    Mike
     
  19. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

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    Go to amazon.com Search for ABEO mirror dash cam. You want the one sold by KIWAV.
     
  20. WE0H

    WE0H Senior Member

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    Awesome thank you Mike ;)

    Mike