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Hey road warriors!

By NickNielsen ·
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.

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Edited out

by OnTheRopes In reply to Hey road warriors!
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Peggy Fleming?

by NickNielsen In reply to Edited out

She wasn't the one driving the skating car, was she?

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Edited out

by OnTheRopes In reply to Peggy Fleming?
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I thought I was the only one that used the term "Idjit"

by laduerksen In reply to Edited out

Let me guess. A cross between an idiot and a mental midget?

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Edited out

by OnTheRopes In reply to I thought I was the only ...
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Driving south bound on I-680

by mjd420nova In reply to Hey road warriors!

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.

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Remember the Geico ad

by NickNielsen In reply to Driving south bound on I- ...

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.

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You know what they say

by TonytheTiger In reply to Remember the Geico ad

Art imitates life :)

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Been there,,,done that.

by bill.herde In reply to You know what they say

When stationed on Guam a few (?) years ago I was driving down the freshly rained on road when a dog ran out in front of me. Instinctively I hit the brakes and although only traveling about 40 mph the car started skidding sideways. Guam roads you see, use coral instead of limestone for base, and when it gets wet it secretes a soap like enzyme. A soon as it started to twist I abandoned any ideas of missing the dog, (who got out of the way just fine) Attempts to control the car never took as the rear bumper was plowing down the ditch on one side of the road, then the other, all in slow motion. The real entertainment was all the mud and water being thrown up by the rear bumper and fenders was being thrown in the open windows. When it stopped, my passenger and I were covered with mud, and there was about another six inches deep mud oozing down the seats, doors and dash to collect on whatever horizontal surface was there. A military police officer pulled up behind us, having watched the automotive acrobatics, and asked if we were OK, but could not keep from laughing out loud at the sight of us sitting in the front seat in our dress blues covered in mud.

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Laugh all you want, but the lady wasn't wrong

by noo-yawker In reply to Driving south bound on I- ...

The lady who tried to avoid the deer was making a judgment based on maintaining control of her vehicle. Her responsibility and instinct was to avoid the crash which is correct. She was not obliged to hit the deer, damage her vehicle, possibly injure herself, and risk losing control of her vehicle.

The driver of the vehicle behind her has the responsibility to maintain a safe stopping distance. Yes, large trucks require a longer stopping distance but that has to be factored in by that vehicle's driver. The facts of life are that all types of vehicles must share the same roads.

Whenever we drive we have to expect the unexpected which is why it helps if auto drivers observe the Three-Second Following Rule.

This is it. Focus on a stationary spot ahead on the road like an overpass or sign. When the car immediately ahead passes it, begin counting "one-thousand, two-thousand, three-thousand". If you pass the same spot before reaching three-thousand (three seconds) then you're too close. Back off and leave more space. It it's raining, increase the time to four seconds, snow to at least five.

The AARP offers an excellent eight hour Driver Safety Program for $10 focused on people aged 50 and above and is open to anyone. It includes the three-second rule and other advice. One additional benefit is a three-year insurance reduction in many states.
www.aarp.org/families/driver_safety

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