Dealing with morons on the road

Which is why I wish people wouldn't ride my butt when I'm driving in the right lane. I hate ignoring my rear view mirror as much as I hate the stress of having someone riding my rear bumper.

 

Patience is good. Driving is not a race it's a cooperative event! But toss out the old concept of car lengths following space - the new system is to use seconds of following time and three seconds is the best space gap. It works at 30 MPH or 70 MPH. Car lengths? how long is a car? Try three seconds, you'll like it.

 

I wonder if some V8 forum has a thread with the same title about Prii drivers? haha

 

Counting seconds? Nah, I'm more of a visual guy. And with a '70 Coupe Deville as my car length, I think my gap will be fine

 

I commute from San Diego to Orange County and even when driving 66 mph on the right most lane (on a four lane freeway) many drivers basically want to push me off the road. Funny thing is that when I drive my wife's CR-V at the same speed, I have no such problem. There are so many Prius haters out there it is not even funny. I used to react strongly but there is no point. Now when it happens I just remind myself to breath slowly knowing the idiot will pass me and cut me off soon. It is not easy driving 10 feet behind another car for a long time, they must be under stress driving like that. Just let them stressed out and not you.

I have one rule I follow is that I will move away when there is a big rig behind me. Yes, there are some idiot truck drivers who drive 70 mph. I rather go to the left lanes and drive 70+ mph rather than having a big rig behind my back.

 

Man I am glad I do not live in an area with a population.

I do 10% over on single lane (each way) roads. When I have a chance to use a freeway I stay right and do 2 MPH over.
I am bad about altruistic driving, but if you are trying to go somewhere I am not going, I am trying to help you get there.
Police, Fire, Ambulances can NEVER be trusted, they are not just trying to get somewhere, they may change direction at any time.
Other than that I do not sweat the other drivers, they are trying to get somewhere and so am I, we just have different strategies.

 

I have found there are two types of tailgaters:

1. Those who actually think they will get there quicker that way. You know the type. Drives almost exclusively in the left lane on the highway. Weaves back and forth behind you or gets partially in the left breakdown lane with the "I'm looking past you and see a gap, what the hell's wrong with you. CLOSE THAT GAP!" expression on their face.
Now if you're not keeping up with the flow, they have a legitimate gripe, but even if you are, it doesn't matter to them. If you are NOT tailgating, there's something wrong with you. These tailgaters can be turned with the proper treatment.

2. Those who are not necessarily in a hurry, but find it more convenient to tailgate. These people are extremely dangerous (not that all tailgaters aren't), because they have planted themselves right behind you, and only see as far as your rear bumper - you slow, they slow, you speed up, they speed up. They react only to what you do and don't look further down the road or to the left/right/behind to get the whole picture of whats going. A very lazy, hazardous way to drive. Shake people like this off as quickly as you can. They cannot be saved.

 

I do reverse passing fairly often. I find that idiots and maniacs (per George Carlan's defintions) don't bother me as much when I am in the Prius compared to when I am driving other vehicles. I've always seen the Prius as part video game where greater fuel economy is the goal. Without that video game-like experience in my other vehicles, driving in traffic is more hassle than pleasure. And idiots and maniacs are all that more annoying.

The one thing I've learned from a terrible road rage incident is to not escalate a situation. Keep reminding yourself that your role as a driver on the roads is NOT to be a traffic law enforcer. A good rule of thumb: if you are not going with the flow of traffic then you are a road hazard. Anyone questioning that has never driven on major beltway freeways.


new iPad ?

 

On my end luckily we don't have the "hate Prii" mentality (not just yet anyway). Unfortunately though there is alot of the "hate on small cars" mentality, but I do understand where alot of it comes from because over here alot of people who drive small cars just love to weave in and out in the tightest of spots. Not surprisingly these kind of drivers also account for many accidents here. In any case I see people driving big cars doing the same too, and this tends to make me just want to be far away from those kind of drivers. I despise tailgaters the most, especially when there are no other cars in other lanes and they are free to pass and you are going the speed limit. I can safely say I am even more of a defensive driver now than I ever was. I let the impatient ones pass only to catch up with them going at the pace I was hehe.

 

I love it when someone tailgates you all the way to your destination because they often realize that they were being a jackass in that moment. Someone who lives in the same apartment complex and works in the same building as me tailgated me all the way to work one morning (all city, so no passing; I was going at or above the speed limit--and I know she wasn't running late for work!). When we got there, she parked a couple spaces down from me, and wouldn't make eye contact. She hasn't tailgated me since

 

I say let the morons go by as quickly as possible, it's a ticket or a wreck they are looking for and they shall find it eventually. That is just the odds. They also serve as great speed trap finders

No point in elevating frustration or worse blood pressure over someones selfish stupidity. Also I believe that engaging anyone in another car is a recipe for disaster IMHO.

 

On my commute I have a big big downhill that starts about 50 m after a light, and the road officially is only 50 km/h (I take it about 60). So I admit I have the habit of coasting to 30-40 on EV until I hit the downhill and get to use the "free energy". And then I charge up on the way down.

But this does annoy the hell out of some drivers who get very upset with me, and pass me only to end up directly in front of me at the red light at the bottom of the hill. "Was that good for you?"

 

I've pretty much been through all phases of this issue and have reesponded in just about every way possible. I've found that if you in any way confront these people you might eventually find one that will or try to do you harm. After every possible response, I have just decided to stay out of their way. I will speed up to get out of their way. I will pull over to get out of their way although on one occasion, somebody pulled over behind me assumedly preparing for a fight. You just can't take it personally. Just realize that it is their problem, for whatever reason they concoct and rid yourself of them as soon as possible.

 

I would like to add that if another car gets on my @ss, I usually put on cruise control right when the speedometer hits the speed limit. Eff em'. I did that in my old car, too .

 

I had a moron today!

The tractor mowing the edge of the freeway came to a bridge and drove over it going the wrong way on the freeway.

No lights, no warning to oncoming cars, no brain cells involved.

Thank goodness I saw it in my rear view mirror.

 

Experienced one of these fascinating creatures today. I was going 35mph in a 30mph zone. I didn't do anything though. I will not be intimidated!

 

Serenity Now. Insanity Later.

Funny little clip from Seinfeld.

There are always the jackels out there that are in a hurry to get to point A to point B. I was one of them before, but I find it much more relaxing now driving into work in my C than ever before. Slow and Steady to the finish line with the tunes pumped up... Serenity Now!!!

 

Ah, then it should be "C"erenity Now for you, cmergel
Seinfeld-isms, gotta love 'em!

Deb