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Hey road warriors!

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by nicknielsen

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All you guys that put in the major miles between calls or jobs and even those who just commute to work. What's the most stupid thing you've ever seen or, for that matter, done while you were behind the wheel.

For example, here in South Carolina people tend to move immediately to the left lane (regardless of traffic) from an on-ramp if the person in front isn't moving fast enough. One day I watched a pick-up try this without making sure the lane next to him was clear; a big orange Schneider semi rig was in his way. He moved back toward the right shoulder with his cab about four inches closer to his shoulder than it had been when he started. The semi didn't stop; I had to pull off at the next ramp to finish laughing.

360 replies

by mjd420nova

In this major metro area (SF BAY AREA) I was headed south in the right lane of four lanes. Out of no where for no reason that I could immediatly see, A large 18 wheeler suddenly jack knifes across all 4 lanes. He was in the slow lane and after I collected myself, cleaned my shorts I saw the reason. A single deer had crossed the road in front of a standard sized car with a lady driving. She was in the slow lane and jammed the brakes to avoid the animal. The diesel did an excellent job not to hit her but almost collected a dozen behind him. Whew. Pretty stupid, almost took her own life to save a deers rear.

by nicknielsen

where the car runs off the road to keep from hitting the squirrels? I've seen that or the equivalent so many times I just shake my head any more. The first few times it was funny.

by deadly ernest

1. Some years back I lived at Lithgow and went ten pin bowling at Bathurst every Friday night, they're about 64 kilometres apart (about 40 miles). Then, part of the was 2 lanes each side of a divided road (about 10 metres, or more, of land between the east bound and est bound lanes) and part was old 1920s built concrete road, one lane each way. Very few places to pass on the concrete road, about 32 kms worth (ie 20 miles).

I'm running late and doing a tad over the limit, driving a little suzuki hatchback 1.6ltr motor but lightweight and shifted well with a 5 speed box. Part way into the concrete I come up behind a fellow in a v8 holden panelvan doing just under the limit, more concerned with groping the girl sitting beside him. We come to one of the few passing places and I pass him.

Pissed that my little thing passed his monster he speeds up and sits on my tail, for the next 26 kms, when we reached the two other passing points he couldn't pass due to oncoming traffic - but he did try. Anwyay, we reach the divided road and he pulls up along side me making rude gestures.

I put the foot down, he does like wise. Now this section of road is almost dead straight down on side of a valley, along the flat, up the other side and down the hill for about 15 kms. By the top we're halfway up the hill, both vehicles are side by side and doing about 50kms over the limit, at 150 kph.

I'm sure you've got the picture. Just short of the top I stop accelerating and ease the break on. By the time I crest the hill, well after the van, I'm down to 100 kph - the legal limit. The van is half way down the hill pulled over by the police on radar patrol who set up there EVERY NIGHT of the week.

The cop waved me down and spoke to me, the radar said I was legal so no tickets, but he wanted to wanr me about the fellow in the van. Seems his ego went wild when my little thing passed him, and then suckering him into a heavy speeding ticket, add in that the girl is now pissed with him for risking her life with the tailgating, he aint happy. The fellow vented his outrage at the cop. The cop suggested that I follow him into town at the legal limit, which we did, finding the van on the side of the road new Bathurst, the girl long gone. One extremely angry youth glaring as we drive past.

2. Same road some weeks later, another stretch not often patrolled by police. I've got the Suzuki loaded with gear, taking it to my parent's place a few hours further west. Lat at night and going up a long hill, accelerating from the bottom. Blue light flashes, I pull over, Cop gets, I get out and get my licence. Cop looks at the car, takes another look, gets his torch out and looks at the load. Starts to ask about the car and the motor. I show him and explain about the motor and the difference the 5 speed box version makes. 25 kph over the limit and I got off as, in his word "No one at the station would believe that little thing with that laod was able to go that fast." A few weeks later I saw the same cop in Bathurst, off duty, he was filling up his wife's new town car - yep a brand new Suzuki 1.6lt 5 speed like mine, and he was grinning when I saw him.

3. Going through a round about in Wagga recently, I had to laugh. Two lanes in, through, and out the round about. the car in front of me (in the lane nearest the centre of the road) went into the round about and tried to take a straight exit, that is change lanes and leave in the other lane. The car in the other lane, hit their horn and an accident was narrowly avoided. The first driver is holding a mobile phone to their ear with their right hand (an unlawful activity here), so they take their left hand off the wheel to make a rude gesture at the driver of the other car. One action too many by a super dumb and super blind idiot. The cop driving the marked police car, just hit the lights and siren and waved them over. Talk about getting rude with the wrong people.

4. Some weeks back, driving along a road, fairly straight 100 kph blacktop, one lane each way. Car infront of my is a marked police car, bubblegum machine on top, the lot. We're both doing the limit, when this v8 sedan comes up from behind like it's jet powered and passes us both, on the only curve and only section of double unbroken line for about 20 kilometres. You can guess how much that cost him after he got pulled over.

5. A few years back in Canberra, they were having a speeding blitz. I lived near a section of road, dead flat one lane each way, straight as an arrow for 10 kilometres. At this end is a round about.

Speeding blitz in this area is announced for a week before they start. Cop parks his motor bike in the middle of the roundabout and aims the radar down the road. A policecar with three other officers is parked nearby. They booked 120 people in the first hour on Monday, got 104 in the same hour on Tuesday, for that hour period they issued 485 tickets in five days, a total of 2,156 for the week at that spot. Police there from 6 am to 6 pm.

About 60 people got booked for speeding at that point morning and night for all five days. Talk about slow learnings. A few weeks later, most were taking taxis to work - lost their licences for some time.

NB any typos in the above can stay, I can't be bothered to check.

by deadly ernest

Over the years, I've driven a few million kilometres, mostly country roads and highways. I used to get a sore ankle from working the gas all the time, rarely the brake out there. I've never driven the big rigs, mostly light trucks and some 4 ton and 10 ton jobs.

Three years ago, I bought a car with cruise control. Where I live now, it's a two plus hour drive to any major city, via a nice two lane each way divided road. SO I get up to speed, set the cruise control and cross my legs - sheer pleasure to drive that way. Now all i need is a 'drive control' to keep the car on the road and brake when needed, then I can sleep at the wheel.

by deadly ernest

A road train was what caused me the biggest fright of my life behind the wheel. In 1979 the highway (term used very loosely) between Adelaide and Darwin, through Alice Springs, was, for most of its length, not much to look at. The flat bulldozed area was about four cars wide, three cars wide at drainage ditch crossovers, with a section of tar about a truck wide in the middle. Everyon drove up the centre of the road, only way to keep all wheels on the tar, and you split off to the side when passing and oncoming vehicles, each kept one wheel on the dirt. When overtaking you did a similar trick, but went full dirt until the vehicle being overtaken saw you and went wide.

I was driving a Toyota Carona, 2 ltr, 5 speed box, in top gear headed south. Come up behind a road train, nothing in sight down the road, can see for about 10 kilometres or more - road dead flat, dead straight.

I pull out into the dirt and start passing, 6 trailers he had on. Previously when passing road trains, they pulled over and slowed down a bit, this one didn't. I don't think he saw me until I was upto the last trailer. He's doing 120 kph (limit for trucks was 100 kph), I'm doing 140 kph.

I've passed 5 trailers when another roadtrain, headed the other way, comes into sight. I'm too far up to get back on the correct side of the road, either in front or behind. So I go wider, almost eating scrub. The truck headed north hits his horn, suddenly the guy I'm passing pulls wide, almost to the scrub. For what seemed hours, probably only about 20 to 40 seconds, all three vehicles are passing each other, with only centimetres between us, a hiccup by anyone would have created the most spectacular crash. The poor guy headed north was sweating bullets, I was doing the same. A minute after that I was back on the tar in front of the road train I was passing. After that I never tried to pass another road train in the Northern Territory, I found out later, that many don't know they're being passed until AFTER the car passes the cab - other traffic is so low, they don't really look behind them.

by deadly ernest

in that lot. Some show a few drivers who don't watch where they're going.

Pretty nice ride you got too, now stop showing off.

by jdclyde

was on my way back from the other side of the state. Two lane road going 60mph, out in the country. Some a$$clown in a pickup decides he is going to pass the people in front of him (coming straight at me).

When he realized he didn't have enough time to make it around, instead of dropping back he went off the OTHER side of the road. I had no where to go and was about to swerve off the road when I saw him go instead. Yes, there were several cars behind me. If that pickup would have nailed me, it would have been a pile up and there was no way I would have walked away from that going that speed and having people pile up from behind.

Times like that, I wish road rage was legal AND I had a weapon. I would have hunted that a$$wipe down and cleaned up the gene pool once and for all and never thought twice about it. X-( A perfect case of someone being alive only because there are laws that prevent others from solving that problem.

In case you couldn't tell, I was not happy.

by deadly ernest

I was out riding my motorbike with a friend, an off duty cop on his way home on his bike, an ex police bike. An idiot in a big car cut me off and nearly ran me off the road, I ended up doing the best damn stunt riding I've ever done in my life, and hope never to have to repeat.

My mate pulls the guy over and asks for his licence. Now this is early evening, my mates is on an ex-police bike and still in uniform, so the driver thinks he's gone.

Mate takes the guys licence, checks it, and reads him the riot act, all the while he's tearing the licence into little pieces. Final act is to throw a hand full of confetti into the guy's face, the confetti used to be his licence. It falls into the guy's lap.

I still get a good laugh, imagining him when he's explaining why he needs a duplicate licence - "Please this police office tore it up as he said I shouldn't have one." yeah right, an image how the issuing people will react to that one.

by jdclyde

but when you are talking a larger pickup vs my low to the ground Chrysler Concorde, he would have rolled right over me like he was "Bigfoot" at a monster truck rally. X-(

It has been a long time since I have had that close a call, and the first time that it wasn't from me being a dumb kid! :0

by problemsolversolutionseeker

I drive in 'tlanter a lot. I have dozens of stories like these; ask my friends! They will roll their eyes, they have heard them all.
But, when you have seen all of the variations, a new one pops up.

I am turning left onto a street. On that street, someone wishes to turn left, but he has a stop sign; I do not, and so I have the right of way.
I am 'blocking' him, while I wait my chance to turn left. This redneck in the pickup truck blocks my oncoming traffic and charges my SUV and stops one foot from my door! Huh?
The beauty of it is that I did not flinch, did not even look at him. He had to back up since he saw that I was not budging and was not fazed.

One of my favorites deal with another redneck in a pickup truck. This guy pulls out in front of me while I am doing 60. I end up on his tail, he slams his brakes. Does this a second time, A third time. I decide to pass him. He swerves to prevent this. (I am in a Camaro.) I cut back. He slams the brakes again. I try to pass him again. He swerves again to block me. This time I try to pass him on the right. He swerves again, loses control and goes straight into a ditch! I stopped for a second, then thought, he is on his own. Moron!

by deadly ernest

"Intentional failure to cleanse the gene pool when given an opportunity" you should have made sure he was beyond help, a bottle of whiskey is very useful in those cases. The cops will never believe he drank it AFTER the accident, especially if you take the empty bottle with you.

by gadgetgirl

Just to confirm that a lot of them have a heart of gold:

- work colleague on a motorway was hit by an idiot joining the motorway (without looking, of course), was side-swiped, spun, and left hanging off the central divide. Within 30 seconds, two truckers had called the emergency services, pulled my colleague and his wife out of the car (too unsafe to leave them inside)and got them to a safer location. Neither would leave their names: Alan sent letters of thanks to the companies concerned to find that neither driver had even mentioned the fact they'd saved lives that day.

- BBC Radio 2 has traffic flashes in the peak hours, which are on every 30 minutes. Drivers actually call in with alerts, it's an extremely helpful and effective service. Couple of months ago, they did an ad hoc traffic flash. There was a car broken down, in the outside lane of a motorway, peak time, without the ability to show hazard lights. There was no central reservation; the car contained kids. The driver had called the Beeb requesting immediate help despite knowing the emergency services were on the way, and it was put on the air immediately. Within three minutes we had an update - two trucks had immediately positioned themselves in a safety cordon around the car: one behind, with hazards going, and the other to the side of the car, with hazards going, and top lights spinning. The kids were put in the cab of the second truck, and it all ended very safely. It was touching to hear the catch in the DJ's voice as he personally thanked both drivers on air.

I haven't driven that much, but I'm getting better..... Although I've had a driving licence for a lot of years, I had a spell of 12 years where I didn't drive at all. Then only intermittently since, until I got this job. I still think I'm an awful driver (nervous, tense, extremely cautious) but most people who know me think it's just lack of practice.

Having said that, I did my first motorway driving since I passed my test only four months ago.

Believe me, there were a few people worrying about me that day. Managed no problem - my only hitch was that it took me 15 minutes at the other end to send the seven texts to let everyone know I'd made it - so I was still late for the meeting!!

Oh, and Nick - I had to have a real good giggle when I read the title of the thread - Road Warriors - erm....well..... you see .... I drive an 800cc Daewoo Matiz, called Roger....

Roger the Warrior! Oh, he'll like that! :p

:D

GG

by nicknielsen

The story about the idjit merging on without looking reminded me of the closest I' ve come to a major wreck in a long time.

I was on my way from Columbia to Myrtle Beach, SC, driving down I-20 at 80 mph (130 kph for you metrics) about 200 yards in front of an 18-wheeler truck. As we come up to the merge lane, two trucks are accelerating to merge. I and the truck behind me move to the left to free the lane for merging. The next thing I know, there is a 3-ton delivery truck less than 50 yards in front of me and moving at half my speed. The driver of the second truck on the ramp has decided the 18-wheeler in front of him isn't going fast enough. Luckily, there was enough room on the shoulder and center median for me to get over without hitting the barrier (but I did have to clean a lot of grass from the undercarriage!). Just as I passed the back end of the delivery truck, it lurched as the 18-wheeler hit it. If I hadn't been able to get over, my little Ford Escort (about the size of an Opel Astra) would have been the meat in a truck sandwich, with me being the filling.

When the State Patrol arrived, the kid driving the delivery truck tried to pass the blame off onto the semi driver since he'd been hit from behind; the kid told the patrolman that he had been in that lane all along. At that point, the driver of the first 18-wheeler (who had also stopped) spoke up and said that he had something we should see. Seems he was somewhat security-conscious with his loads and had installed a door-cam on his trailer.

The playback showed the delivery truck coming up the on-ramp behind his truck, then pulling out in front of me just as I came into frame. As I disappeared on the back side of the delivery truck, the second semi came into frame. The cop happened to be technologically literate (was carrying a thumb drive) and asked if he could have a copy of the file. Then he cited the kid for filing a false report (lying about the wreck), failure to yield, unsafe lane change, and reckless driving.

Found out later from the same patrolman, the kid lost his license over that. Sometimes good things happen...

by jck

hmmm...I drive a 1.4L Kia I have named with the "Balkanesque" name of Peessohvsheet ;)

by tig2

I drive a very small Saturn. Last year, I was commuting 53 miles one way to work. That equals a lot of driving.

My path to work was pretty heavily travelled. As I was pretty accustomed to the drive, I knew where the snarls would be and how to avoid them. Speed limit was 70 mph on that stretch and I am pretty neurotic about doing the speed limit or less. In this case, there was slowing ahead of me so I had begun to slow as well.

A brown minivan decided that the traffic speed in her lane was too slow. So she decides to jump into the next lane. Unfortunately, two masses cannot occupy the same space. As she is pulling into my lane, she suddenly notices that I am there. So she pulled back into her lane. As I see her begin to move into my lane, I am braking for all I'm worth and praying that the guy behind me is watching. He was likely doing the same.

Minivan sees that the accident has been avoided (not by her) and swings in front of me missing my front end by inches. I continue to brake so that idiot woman has plenty of space- heaven knows what she is going to pull next!

We get all the way into the Metro to a freeway interchange. She has made the entire trip in the left most lane- as have I. Already know that she's an erratic driver, I have no intention of trying to pass her at any point on the drive. Anyway, we get to the interchange when she suddenly figures out that she wants to go south on the alternate freeway- we had been travelling east. Instead of changing lanes about a half mile sooner- southbound traffic at that interchange is always heavy- she bulls her way onto the southbound ramp cutting off two other vehicles.

When you drive the same stretch of road at the same time every day, you get to recognise the cars around you to some extent. I was acutely aware of that vehicle from that moment on and gave her a WIDE berth- absolutely not to be trusted.

There has been a series of amusing radio ads lately reminding people that the speed limit is the law, not just a suggestion. They refer to "brief roadside consultations" with law enforcement to "counsel" frequent speeders. My partner and I rather enjoy seeing people at the roadside being "counseled" in the rules of safe driving.

by jamesrl

The one things that strikes me about ads for car insurance in the US, is the low low prices.

Having now driven in Toronto for 20 years, I understand why.

What happened to you in the minivan has happened quite a few times with trucks. In Ontario, in a three lane (in one direction) controlled access road, trucks are not supposed to be in the far left lane. But it still happens, and a couple of times, they either had badly adjusted mirrors or simply didn't care to check. The first time it happened I was in a rather small car, so I swore I'd drive somethign they wouldn't miss. These weren't cases of being cut off by trucks, this is a truck changing lanes into a space you currently occupy. Twice its happened where there has been no left shoulder to escape to - very narrow escapes by hitting the brakes and praying no one behind me was tailgating.

I've twice been rear ended by inattentive drivers, both when driving at a slow speed. I always run with my lights on, but even on a clear day thats no guarentee they will see you. One was distracted by something going on in a park we were driving by, another was having an animated discussion with his wife.

There is no shortage of idiots on the Toronto roads, to the point where my father, someone who has driven a truck and taken defensive driving courses, will not drive. I have been nearly hit by street racers on a few occasions.

I drive a minivan, used to drive a Chrysler Intrepid (same basic vehicle as JD).

Do I speed - yes, only under ideal conditions in light traffic and good weather, and within reason. Speed in and of itself isn't a problem, so much as the recklessness that some speeders seem to have. Both of my accidents were at approximately 20 kms an hour(my speed not theirs). You don't actually get much opportunity to speed in Toronto traffic - its too heavy.

The hour each way to work is quite often the most stressful part of the day.

James

by deadly ernest

Morris Mini Minor van that is, stands about 2 feet 9 inches high, about 2 and a half feet wide and about 3 and half feet long. That was back in the 1970s. Amazing how many cars passed the car behind me and then got a surprise to see me in the space they were about to dive into, the top of the van was lower than the bonnet of the light commercials and most of the bigger sedans. Pull up beside a slightly taller than average 18 wheeler and he could use it as a step down to the ground.

by tig2

Just when there are idiots driving them.

Most commonly here, and this actually varies by suburban location, a minivan sighting tells you the driver is (a) terminally blonde, (b) trying to discipline her children in the back seat, (c) having a cell phone conversation without a hands free device, (d) all of the above. While driving.

Yes- that is a generalisation. But pretty close to truth.

That is not to say that all minivan drivers are poor drivers. I have friends that drive them. But there are areas where you learn to be wary of them.

I don't believe that I have ever seen a minivan the size you describe.

by Member 25348569

hammering down the A3 on a lovely sunny April day at around 95 and ran into a very sudden, very heavy rainstorm. I was listening to talk radio. The guy in front of me ran into a stationary queue of traffic and stopped without warning and I hit the brakes but aquaplaned into the back of him.

I hit him doing about 40 and, at the moment of impact, my sunglasses shot off my nose and the tape (classical music) loaded itself into the tape player.

So, the world went suddenly bright and loud, heavenly music started playing. For a few seconds, at least, my atheism wavered.

]:)

by jdclyde

I had left work early to take the loving wife out for a lovely dinner. Was driving down the back roads that day as the highway was all backed up.

Big subburban in front of me which all of a sudden veered into the oncoming lane. STOPPED right there in the road was a jeep. DOH! Was still doing about 20 at the time of the impact, and the spare tire was at just the right hidth to destroy the core suppore, radiator and waterpump, but not much else.

When the cop got there and we told them what happened, he never gave me a ticket for it. The Subburban, if they would have stopped, would actually have gotten that ticket, believe it or not. I had stopping distance from the time that it could have stopped, but NOT for something already stopped, popping out of thin air.

Funny enough, that was our last anniversary together. How fitting, as the whole relationship was just one big accident waiting to happen! :D

I DID fix that truck. dodge dakota with the magnum v8. If I put a new grill on and change the hood, you wouldn't even know that I "totaled" it. B-) I am giving this to my bud this week. I don't need the expense of two vehicles on the road right now, and giving it to him still keeps it available anytime I need it. I just don't have to pay for up keep anymore! (not to mention, it is in better shape than his current vehicle. What are friends for?)

by jck

A month or so ago, my friend from Cornwall, her mother, and her 2 month old son were going somewhere on a day trip...and they decided to take an alternate motorway because traffic reports said their original route was backed up with a mishap.

Hadn't been on the alternate motorway more than 20 minutes...when a lorry (sp?) came barrelling down an entrance ramp and forced them into a rail...the car stopping about some 35 feet before the end of said rail...and from them being pushed down a hillside.

Needless to say, that was bad enough...but...also that the driver of the lorry was an illegal immigrant with no licence to drive there.

And...she and her husband are getting a brand new auto...as well as the driver of the truck spending time in jail...and his employer being penalised as well.

That's why I want to ride a BIG BUS if I move over there :D

by deadly ernest

The Perentie is based on the long wheel base Range Rover and is specially made for the Australian Army. The design tests included driving over a 10 metre, 30 foot, cliff and still drive off. And keep going after driving over a land mine. Talk about tough.

It's the Aussie version of the military Hummer and much more comfortable, also bullet resistent.

I can image it, car hits you, its a mess, and you need a dollars worth of paint.

by Member 25348569

Thank you, Department of Transport :)

Lorry is correct. You may use truck because we all understand it. "Semi" tends to cause some of us to scratch our heads, though. NITS (tm) to the rescue! "Semi" is equivalent to the UK "Artic" - "articulated lorry".

Neil :D

by ontheropes

made for the best bellylaugh I've had all week.

Tooooo funny.

I can't top it but here's one.

Years ago my best friend Larry had parked his car in front of a bridge abuttment and went into a bar for some brews. At closing time he came out and noticed his car windows were frosted up when he turned on his headlights so he ran his car to let the defroster clear the window. He fell asleep while it was warming up.

When he woke up his foot was on the accelerator with the engine racing with a now cleared windshield and right in front of him in his headlights was a bridge abuttment that he was going to hit so he grabbed the steering wheel with both hands and mashed the brakes with both feet... any second... any time now... man life goes slow when you're going to die... Oh... Wait. ;\ :|

What an idjit! Partially 'splains why he was my best friend I 'spose. B-)

by tig2

We were headed to a team gathering last night on a highway where the speed limit is 50 mph. As there was a bit of traffic, our average speed was closer to 45. We drive a good sized SUV, reasonably high off the ground.

Woman in a Taurus picked us up and followed for about 2 miles before we were able to get into another lane. Once she was clear, Mike looked at me and said, "I don't like to say she was following too close, but I could tell she was smoking a Marlboro."

Do people not realise that if they can no longer see where the tire of the vehicle in front touches the pavement, they have no escape room if something goes horribly wrong?

by jdclyde

of thinning the herd.

It is just tragic when these morons take someone else out with them.

by deadly ernest

think if they leave to big a gap, someone else will get infront of them.

The best is the 3 second rule, pick a spot and count the time between when that car passes it and when you pass it, if you count 3 seconds or more, you should have enough time to stop. This supposes that they have enough time to stop as well.

But being to close is the main reason for so many multi-vehicle accidents. Another is people swerving into cars of people, to avoid a stray animal on the road. I can understand swerving on an empty road or if it's a large animal, but a small one, safer to run over it. Especially in a high ground clearance vehicle, don't even touch most small animals, but gives them a fright.

by nicknielsen

You know the kind...it's jacked up so high the the driver climbs the tires into the bed so he can swing into the cab...that kind is actually street-legal in South Carolina.

This guy was following me so close down US 1 that his headlights were shining [b][i]over[/i][/b] my car. He was notorious for tail-gating and getting so close he could barely see the car in front of him. I later heard that he wrecked his truck. His brakes were so good and the truck so high that when he stood on the brakes to keep from running into another truck, he went over nose first. :^0

Edit: Forgot to laugh. Felt so good, I'll do it twice :^0

by jdclyde

I am constantly watching my mirror, and not just to admire how pretty I am! ;\

It amazes me how many "accidents" are caused by rubber-neckers too. It isn't an "accident" if it was cause by stupidity and just not watching where you were going.

There is road work on I69, and you can see in the west bound lane down by Vernon where a Semi had to pull off the one lane road to keep from plowing into people and stopped about five feet from hitting the bridge supports. This was about two weeks ago, and when I drive by there, you can still see where the truck went off because MDOT had JUST got done grading and planting the median and in the middle of all that are the nice deep trenches. He was lucky the ground was so wet and loose so he sunk in or he would never have stopped in time.

by jdclyde

turn your friggen head lights on in rain/fog/snow/dim conditions. I know they don't always help YOU see better, but they sure as he11 help others see YOU so they don't pull out in front of you!

That and the a$$clown driving down the highway, looking through the small section of wind shield that doesn't have frost or condensation obscuring it. There is NO WHERE that you have to be that is do damm urgent that you have to put everyone else on the road at risk! X-( grrrrrrr!

by tig2

You must use at least half-light (or headlights if your vehicle doesn't have "always on" headlights- mine does) in foul weather. As I am from Southern Cal originally, ALL the weather is foul unless it is clear, sunny, and 75. Hence a vehicle with always on headlights.

It is illegal to drive any distance with obscured windows. Before I had a garage to park in, I always covered the windscreen and rear window with lightweight blankets- faster than a snow brush and as I still had to do the sides, I could start the defroster and warm the vehicle while clearing side windows.

It is also against the law here to leave your vehicle running while you dash inside for something. I can't imagine why one would leave their keys in an unlocked running vehicle at the curb but they do. Never seen a ticket issued for it though.

I don't think it is legal to spay/neuter stupid drivers. Hopefully they are self-correcting without collateral damage.

Edited for typo

by nicknielsen

it's illegal to operate the vehicle without "full visibility," meaning all windows are clear of frost, snow, mud, etc.

Here in the US ( :D ), each state has its own laws, but I'll bet most say the same thing. It's just not enforced unless there's a wreck. When I first started driving (upstate New York), there was a story about the guy who was in front of the wreck, but held responsible. He was driving a station wagon and an 8-inch thick chunk of snow blew off and blinded the driver behind him, who drove into the ditch. Three witnesses, all of whom knew the driver of the station wagon. Don't you love small towns?

by tonythetiger

Most people realize that trucks are responsible if their load comes off and causes an accident, but they don't realize it also applies to the "load" of snow they are carrying around on top of their car.

by jck

What if I said "tractor-trailer"?

That's a term for an articulated lorry as well ;)

I love that phrase by the way...articulated lorry...sounds so...cerebral :D

That's my Dad...emperor of the cerebral :)

by deadly ernest

some have Kevlar body panels, designed to operate in the middle of a live war zone. Variations for troop transport, communications, ambulance,command centre, various medium to heavy weapons carriers, etc.

Most are about as long as a car and a half, normal car width. Double rear axle.

by jamesrl

The Canadian Forces bought a number of Nyala, an uparmoured patrol vehicle designed to be mine and IED resistant. Its a lot tougher than a HMMV for protection from underneath.

James

by tig2

Do you think it cured him of tailgating?

The truck my partner drives has been affectionatly nick-named "The Behemouth". It takes up half the garage. The only reason it isn't bigger is because it wouldn't fit in the garage if it were. Just the way the truck is made, no special mods.

I personally think that any smaller car would be wise to take special care around a vehicle that big. Having been a passenger in it, I know that if you are in a small car and climb up its tail pipe, you are no longer visible to the driver.

Partner always follows the three second rule as well as the pavement/tires rule. We live in a place where it snows. Just makes sense to be a safe driver. Easier on the insurance too.

by nicknielsen

Better yet, give them a ragtop 2-seater and let them loose on the Blue Ridge Parkway or Pacific Coast Highway. Guarantee them sole ownership of the road for a 10-mile stretch. I'd almost bet that less than 1 in 10 would finish the course and the survivors would have learned something.

by Member 25348569

Some years ago, I hired a Harley for the day and set off south from Monterrey to do a hundred miles of the Highway past big Sur and back. After the first half dozen bends I took it back (slowly) and swapped it for a Kawasaki just like the one I had at home. I change my underpants and [b]then[/b] I went for the drive...

I know it's one of your national icons and all that stuff but Harley's don't handle at all well and brake like slugs. It's a bend - no problem, I'm only doing 80. It's a bend on a f*cking cliff and I'm doing 80! It's a bend on a f*cking cliff and I'm doing 80 and [b]I'm not slowing down[/b]! F*CKING BIKE WON'T TURN!! Nice beach down there - wa-a-ay down there - now just ease the front wheel back...

I STILL wake up sweating!

:D

Hoping to make it back to Monterrey for two or three days this October. Might just keep to the car, though. Getting old... :D

by tonythetiger

My ex hated them. She'd freak if a big truck got beside us. She got broke of that but not by me. One day my nephew accidentally shot his self in the leg while hunting. My ex went with my sister to take him to the hospital, and on the freeway, a truck was beside them and my ex freaked.

My sister calmly slapped my ex in the mouth and told her to shut up :)

(Why didn't I think of that?)

by nicknielsen

Got to the top of the old bridge one day just as the 4pm thunderstorm hit. Was driving a Dodge RAM 2500 USAF-blue van and got blown from the right lane almost to the center divider before I even knew what happened. Thank God there was nobody next to me; that would have been ugly,

by deadly ernest

car, ultra cheap and small, smaller than a VW Bug. front wheel drive very economical and went like a rocket, especially when fine tuned for racing.

by tig2

Drove till I got to Arlington, IL. Bout 4:00 a.m. or so. Slept and hit the road again, was back to MN (or my part of it) around 5:00 p.m. if I recall correctly.

Have no idea what mileage I actually covered. I was moving pretty well considering that it was February.

Used to have a client in Grand Papids, MI that I saw about twice a month. I could do the run in eight or ten hours depending on traffic when I left and traffic through Chicago.

by Member 25348569

London to Marbella, Southern Spain, plus a thirty mile ferry trip to get the bike across the channel. BMW K100, 1000cc smooooooth tourer. I averaged just under the ton despite the fact that most of the trip was night.

I did the same coming back.

by jamesrl

Just recently, with wife and kids, on my way from Toronto to PEI.

Did the 1900 kms over two days, long haul the first day, scenic ride the second.

Left Toronto at 4 AM to avoid the traffic.

I am sure there are others that do more. I regularly do a 600 km drive instead of flying, given the hassles at the airports.

James

by nicknielsen

Although I've never been a professional driver, I do have some professional-length drives. Both of these trips were during the "National 55 MPH" speed limit era.

By myself, from Edwards AFB, CA to Oklahoma City, OK (about 900 miles) in a Ford Courier U-Haul truck (8 am to midnight). Going through the mountains on I-40 was heck. The d*mn truck had a governor on the engine, but it didn't take me long to figure out that as long as I never pushed the gas pedal past the detent, I could get that truck going as fast as it would go: almost 65 MPH (105 KPH).

With others, from Biloxi, MS to Phoenix, AZ (about 1600 miles) on the way back to Riverside. Four of us in a van, change drivers on the fly (you weren't the only one, NB), only stop for gas and food to go. Only 11 hours to cross Texas; supper in Beaumont and breakfast in El Paso. Once we got west of San Antonio, we flew. Course, there's nothing there except miles and miles of miles and miles.

Edet

by deadly ernest

most of it on roads with 110 kph zones, only stopped for fuel. That was in a Toyota 2wd Petrol Hi-lux ute - pick up for your Americans. Then I slept for 24 hours. Had to rush from south eastern NSW to mid western Q'ld to collect someone, and back again. Never again. I know cars don't have 9 headlights, but I'm sure I saw some like that, towards the end of the trip.

by deadly ernest

and put it into the cab of most tractors. Seriously you could put one on the roof of most tractors and it would fit behind the winf deflector up there. The most common sized motors were 4 cyl 650cc to 860cc. Get four 12 year olds in one and your playing squash. hence the jokes like:

How do you get 4 elephants into a mini minor?
Two in the front and two in the back.

---------

You never want to be in one with the windows shut, wehn someone sneezes in it, major pressure change.

The mini van variant was a touch longer than the sedan and had only two seats. I've seen a broken down mini being carried about in the back of a pick up truck and had to be tied down as it had too much room to move about.

by Member 25348569

I spent on the beach! I'd travelled down to meet family who'd booked a couple of villas so I had a free bed.

One day I looked at the map and saw a road that went to the top of the second highest peak in Spain. Off I went with one of my cousins on the back of the bike. We got to the top of the mountain after about 350 miles, had a picnic, played in the snow, admired the view and set off back. We decided to go back "another way" and went past a large sign and down a steep incline. (The sign said - we later found out - unsuitable for motor vehicles). It took us about half an hour to get the bike out of the scree and onto a dirt farm track and then we were on this track on the edge of a cliff at about 9,000 feet up for forty miles - doing about 50 as I wanted to get off the mountain before dark and I reckoned that my aunt would be having kittens over the fate of her daughter.

The first bit of tarmac was in a small village and we entered doing 70 and exited doing 130.

As we were passing through Torremolinos (resort town) I spotted some Spanish m/c cops and they saw me - the limit was 25 and I was doing 110 - and I though "f*ck it" and opened the throttle. They got off their bikes and turned their backs...

Oh, I was a bad lad! ]:)

by Member 25348569

Was that my bike would do 135mph if I pushed it and would cruise at 115-120mph.

Night was best; no cops and it was before the age of automatic radar speed traps. No iPod but I did have a cassette player plugged into headphones set in my helmet.

Just south of Bordeaux I was passed by a Porsche going so fast that the wind made my bike swerve. I caught him up at the next gas station, got chatting and he told me that he'd come over on the ferry nearly two hours after me! This was about 800 miles into the journey. That man had the hammer down!

Happy days! Now there's a speed camera on every bend and if you get caught in France, they'll have the fine off you in England.

by nicknielsen

Did you go back up the PCH, or did you take the Grapevine (I-5 for you non-west coast types)? In this case, I think going back up the PCH might constitute "failure to learn."

by nicknielsen

but not the others.

Added: Did the Cajon Pass on I-15 numerous times. What makes that one fun is that you don't expect snow or ice in "sunny" Southern Cal. You're bopping along on a dry road, then you duck into the shadow of one of the mountains and hit black ice. (Skater's Waltz plays) Scares the living crap out of you, especially if you are on a bike. I did this riding my Yamaha SR500 from Victorville to what was then Sunnymeade (on today's maps, they call it Moreno Valley). Somehow managed to keep it upright, but I had to stop and empty my no-longer tidy whities.

It's amazing the things that trigger these memories; I had managed to forget all about that.

Added more: Fancy Gap on the southern border of Virginia is also a fun hill.

by nicknielsen

I know that he was saved by his light rail; it kept the cab from compacting completely. I don't know what he replaced the RM (rednickmobile, of course) with.

Rednickmobile? :0 I meant, of course "redneckmobile." B-)

Sigmund Freud, your slip is slowing.

by oz_media

Canadians are perfect drivers, not like those crazy American mofo's.

Ah, sure I wouldn't know where to begin, especially after the drive home today.

The posts here have made me realize I'm not alone in my bewilderment though, which is good as I was starting to wonder.

I think I'll just just sigh and leave it at that then. Thanks :)

by johnny bee

And they don't have to be in Montreal either.

Travelling to see family in my Ford P.O.S. Taurus, I watched a Beemer fly past me as we cruised through the Barrie area (1/2 hour north of Toronto) when a freak downpour hit the area.

Rain was so heavy that it was literally running like a river as I crested the first in a set of hills. All I could think of was that guy flying past me in the Beemer with his low-profile tires and hoped he had the sense to slow down.

NOPE - as I cam over the next hill, there he was flipped over in the right hand shoulder. He and his passenger just starting to climb out of the car as I and several others started to pull over.

I've never felt better about the fact that I drive safe "family" vehicles that look silly when driven at excessive speeds.

by tig2

I have driven in both the US and Canada. I am from So Cal and learned to drive there.

Washington State has, hands down, the worst drivers. So Cal, the fastest. MN is clueless.

In short, they all suck.

I was in Phoenix, AZ on the desert floor- maybe a mile, mile and a half from home. I am coming to an intersection, travelling north and was to turn west when I see a half tonne PU in the opposite lane. He's moving pretty fast and I have just seen the directional turn yellow. So I am slowing, anticipating a full stop before making a right hand turn.

Guy in the red half tonne doesn't even slow. Barrels through the intersection and takes out a Chevy 4 door sedan. As I see this happen, I turn into a depression in the sidewalk and place my vehicle so that he will only ram my back end... I hope. Fortunately, there is a phone pole between me and him. He hit that. The man travelling behind me has also pulled tight into the curb. And stopped.

Driver of the half tonne gets out of the vehicle after pulling a few things from the glove and, sticking what I recognise as a .45 semi auto into his waistband, walks off. Onlookers had gathered by this time and the man in the car behind me had gotten out and was to my window. He started to say something but the gun shut us all off. He did get on his cell and start giving descriptive information to the police.

Then he hauled my wheelchair out of my backseat and got me to the curb. His 3 and 6 year old sons were in the back seat of his car. In child safety seats- thank God.

No one was hurt and we were all very happy to go on our way after the police were finished, but I was very happy after that to be a VERY observant driver.

Was able to give up the wheelchair about a year later. Still have the cane but try to never use it.

There's all kinds out there on the roadway...

by jdclyde

get a mop for all that sarcasm that is dripping all over the place!

Speed limits in Canada are more of a recommendation than an actual limit.

Oh, and don't even get me started about the complete lack of safety standards in Quebec with their truck drivers. just one example from a few years back. http://tinyurl.com/f557r

I have always said Canadians are some of the nicest people you will mean, UNTIL you get them behind the wheel of a car that is.

by tig2

Hit Ohio and had some @$$hole on my tail on a deserted highway for close to a hundred mile. I broke every speed law ever written for awhile.

One of the things I learned on that trip was to trust the truck stops. When I could finally get off the road to one, I mentioned the "last few miles" to a couple of OTC guys. After I got my coffee, they checked my ride and kept me with them. Figured out that I didn't have radio or phone but was willing to drive like a bat outta...

When I pulled off at Arlington, one of the guys pulled off with me and made sure I got to a hotel- was meeting a (cop) friend for lunch. Made sure I got there with NO problems.

I will go any place, any time in my car. But I will only stop at truck stops. Good people and marginal coffee. Who could ask for more.

(Although I got some REALLY good coffee a couple of thos places!)

by tig2

I was driving a Saturn SC2. VERY small car. I could have parked it easy in a sleeper cab. Unfortunately, she couldn't jump that high...

The OTR guys that whole trip were great. I had gone from MN to CT by way of MD on the trip out. Left in a snow storm. Highway advisory said don't take 94, cut through Iowa from 35W instead. So I did. Got as far as Peoria before I figured I should get off the roadway. Snowing too hard and drivers were getting stranded. Some VERY slow miles. Pulled off to a truck stop and asked a few of the guys what they were hearing about road conditions. Was told that THEY were pulling off for the night as it was still snowing and the roads were crap.

So I got off the road too. Hit a hotel and got some sleep. Hit it EARLY the next morning and stopped at the same stop for coffee. Asked the guys again what they were hearing. They asked me what route I was on. Told them I was a tiny Saturn speed bump headed for 94. They set it up so I could stay close and safe till I had to split off at 94.

I always got great service at the stops, found great people too. Figured out that even if you were on four feet, they were helpful and respectful. I have never hesitated to drive long distances alone because my experience is that the OTR drivers would watch out for me. As long as I stay to the truck stops, I am perfectly safe.

Yep. I would be the choir... But you knew that! :D

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