I don't think Civics get as much hate, if any, up here in the SFBA. Agreed on Southern Cal though. From my various visits and that half a year I lived in San Diego, my conclusion is nobody cares about anybody else anymore the second they get into 2+ ton vehicles. The variations ranging from "abject hostility" to "utter disregard" were quite a sight to behold at times..
It's getting to the point now where things are almost bad enough to justify getting some of the better digital dashcams - one for the front and one for the rear - so that when the inevitable time comes that you are in what should have been an avoidable accident - you have the video evidence to backup your story as to the other drivers incompetence/stupidity.
And New Jersey. It is s-l-o-w. I can pump my own car in one-third of the time. Typically I will have the tank full before an attendant even shows up! Sad. As outdated as operators dialing numbers for the customer. I don't mind stations making the *offer* for full service (and many do where I live), but I prefer self because it's faster. No government should be allowed to outlaw my right to pump my own gas. Or dial my own phone.
There are disrespectful drivers all over, wether you are the tailgater or tailgatee. I see it this way if you drive slower than the ongoing traffic speed get off the fast lane or carpool lane. Also, if the car in front of you is 100yards away, please go to the slower lanes to let the car behind you pass. I know I got made fun off when I first got my 2nd gen years ago, and people will tell me stories about stupid Prius drivers, I take no offense to it because I see it too. It's easier to single out the Prius because it more memorable than saying "this civic did this..." iPhone ?
I live in one of the major ricemobile capitals of the world. Yeah, the Civic may shift up to 3rd gear in a few seconds quite franticly, but I guess that distracts people from realizing it's still only reached 20-25mph.. Also we've got a lot of Civics around these parts..
I'd like to see cam coverage on all four sides of the car... lots of T-Bone and parking lot accidents/incidents that would benefit from N-E-S-W coverage.
If California cared about the environment, the state would install new parallel highways or additional lanes to eliminate stop-and-go traffic (idling cars == pollution). Other states do such expansions but not CA. In California you are never Not within sight of a prius. If I took a drink every time I saw one, I'd be DUI in about 5 minutes. Northern New Jersey near NYC they drive 80-90 miles/hour bumper-to-bumper.
Other random thoughts: (1) I've had people yell at me: "Why don't you drive faster???" Well we're in the middle of a traffic jam. I am going the same speed as the guy in front of me, and the guy in front of him, and the gal in front of him. Do you expect me to speed-up & ram the next car's trunk?!?!? I would happily drive faster but right now I can not move any more than 10-20. Clear? :| (2) I get the same disrespect in my Civic. There's no difference whether I'm driving that or the Prius. People in Socal are just the rudest drivers in the nation (I've visited every state & lived in several; yes they are the rudest). (3) When I travel in the slow lane, inevitably someone will come-up at 80 miles/hour, almost rearend me, and then start cursing me (as if the slow lane is not meant to be driven slowly). I often wish I was a cop so I could ticket these people for reckless and/or aggressive driving (also illegal passing maneuvers). (4) The SIGNED speed range is 40 to 65. I am obeying the law, and somebody going outside that range is a criminal. Criminals have zero right to lecture a law-abiding citizen. IMHO (5) I need to install a horn on the rear of my car. (6) QUOTE: "everyone has that stereotype of a Prius owner. Either an earth-friendly hippie, or just a homosexual." ..... Well the Infowars sticker disavows any notion I'm a liberal tree-hugger (though I may possibly still be gay). (7) Last year I was rear-ended by a tailgater. Not directly. He rearended a Prius and the Prius rearended my insight (the only car I had at the time). I asked the prius guy if he was okay, then walked straight to the tailgater and said, "Are your brakes not working?" He started to give me lip so I just gave him the finger & drove off. Stupid klutz was probably texting on his phone when he rear-ended two hybrids at the same time! (That must be some kind of record.) (8) QUOTE: "Try to do that in a VW TDI diesel." ..... Several TDIs come with engine-off technology... the manuals let you coast along at 20 miles/hour so you're not burning gas. The Volvo TD has an EV mode. But unfortunately these technologies only exist in Europe (for now). (9) On US 101 south I almost met my end. Another texting klutz was going straight while the highway curved. Luckily I avoided the 120 mie/hour collision by driving into the gutter. (10) Bottom line: A lot of people are bad drivers & a continual danger to other citizens on the road .
Unfortunately, California doesn't have the room for expansion. To construct more highways or freeways means a lot of land which we don't have. (Some land are under protection by the government for reserves.) There's a lot that goes into planning freeways/highways..California has the most stringent air pollution control. We are ahead of all the other states.. Just because some jerk on the freeway hates on/tailgates Prius drivers doesn't mean the state doesn't care about the environment. On the other hand. Hahha I completely agree with you. There's plenty of Prius here in California. SPH-D710 ?
Also keep in mind that California already has the highest state population in the country as well as the most vehicles on the road. I believe a lot of our highway systems have already gone through various rounds of expansion past their full capacities at the time since the Eisenhower freeway infrastructure builds as well.
On the way to work today, a Gen II was going from lane to lane to lane and without signaling. When he hit a spot where the lanes have solid lines and there's a sign that says "Stay In Lane", he decides to start cutting across the lanes again. He deserves no respect on the highway.
I will say that Prius drivers can develop annoying habits. I was trying to turn right on a local road but the Gen II in front of me was obviously trying to max out his regen brakes and taking a long time to get to the light. I admit that I drove around him on the shoulder so I didn't have to wait the extra 4 seconds and have someone cut me off before I could make my turn. I'm fairly certain that Prius driver felt slighted by one of his own
LOL. I notice most drivers of "German" cars around here seem to wait to the last second to lay on the brakes before a red light(Its probably the same for other cars, but our car demographics here in Vancouver are 50% German Cars and 50% Hybrids.) I think the Prius just "encourages" economical driving(driving without brakes, and not wasting gas on accelerating to the next red light) whereas most other cars are designed(even my previous semi-sporty Honda Fit) for race car style driving, launch on the green light and late braking on the red.
I try to be very conscious of those around me. If I'm in stop and go traffic lll just let the ICE cycle for charging.
Ironic that more and more cars on the road are " hybrids" Honda Hyundai Mercedes Cadillac Tesla lol Ford Nissan I see them everyday in Cali. I'm in mpg heaven
I am seeing more and more Nissan Leafs around the Atlanta suburbs. I have only seen one Volt that I can recall.
Some numbskull in a construction company pickup rolled down his window and threw his lit cigarette at me while yelling expletives about my "faggoty car". That's when I seriously considered a dash cam. iPhone
Lol it would have been incredibly easy at that point to make a note of the phone number for that company and call them to complain. Maybe he was the owner of the company (who knows) but someone in a company vehicle with the company name and probably phone number on the side should know better than to jeopardize the company image just because he's a prick.