Do you like to drive?

[Bird]

Lots of things change as we get older. There was a time when I kept the radio on in the car, back when all we had was an AM radio. Now my pickup has AM/FM/6 CD changer and is almost never turned on. The van has AM/FM/cassette/single CD and is almost never turned on. I carry a cell phone, hate it when the darned thing rings while I'm driving, and I try to get off the road and stop if I need to place a call myself. I still enjoy driving, if I'm doing the driving myself, but do not like to ride with someone else driving.

 

[dubba]

Most people that know me would say that I like to drive because it's what I do for a living. NOT!! I drive because they keep paying me. If they ever stop, so will I. It's hard to get a job that all you have to do is sit on my arse & talk on the phone all night.

Last years numbers..

118,631 miles in the work truck
26,195 miles in my travels to/from work
~12,000 miles on the weekend pickup (it doesn't have an odometer)

Hours on the phone? I only use the cell phone "on the job", turning it off as soon as I leave the company lot. I average 5000-6500 minutes/month (~1000 hrs per year)

Yes, most of the time I'm driving, I'm also talking on the phone. Bored? Yes, bored of the same 153 mile stretch of road & yes, bored of most of the people I talk to on the phone..

 

[scott_vt]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Most people that know me would say that I like to drive because it's what I do for a living. NOT!! I drive because they keep paying me. If they ever stop, so will I. It's hard to get a job that all you have to do is sit on my arse & talk on the phone all night.

Last years numbers..

118,631 miles in the work truck
26,195 miles in my travels to/from work
~12,000 miles on the weekend pickup (it doesn't have an odometer)

Hours on the phone? I only use the cell phone "on the job", turning it off as soon as I leave the company lot. I average 5000-6500 minutes/month (~1000 hrs per year)

Yes, most of the time I'm driving, I'm also talking on the phone. Bored? Yes, bored of the same 153 mile stretch of road & yes, bored of most of the people I talk to on the phone..

)</font>

Hi Dubba,
That was a good read, with just the right honesty and flair /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Im with you on a lot of what you said, boredom does set in at times no matter what you do! Ive been in my trade 35 years and the excitement isnt there any more, just a paycheck /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Ive got other things on the outside such as projects that get my adrenalin flowing /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

scotty

 

[dieselsmoke1]

I enjoy driving most of the time, about 30k per year. I don't know how much some others on the road care for my driving, as I'll probably average posted limit plus 15 on any given day.

It's a game, manuver through traffic with a certain amount of respect, don't be stupid or rude, evade the bears, find a couple of good running mates and cruise about 85. Never gets boring, too much stuff to watch out for.

My biggest aggravation, those who have not grasped the meaning of "slower traffic keep right".

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I'll probably average posted limit plus 15 on any given day.

It's a game, manuver through traffic with a certain amount of respect, don't be stupid or rude, evade the bears, find a couple of good running mates and cruise about 85. Never gets boring, too much stuff to watch out for. )</font>

I sure hope you're kidding. Most of us current and former "bears" sure got tired of picking up the dead and crippled that result from that kind of driver.

 

[dieselsmoke1]

Your concern is no doubt well founded, Bird. I should qualify my remarks by saying my driving is 95% interstate in relatively low traffic areas.

I don't drive fast on country roads, that falls in the stupid catagory. I'm a good driver, I just do it a little faster than some others /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[HGM]

It also depends on the part of the country.. In Atlanta, thats standard, 80-90 in a 75.... Untill you get a do gooder that does 65 in the left lane and causes accidents..

 

[Gatorboy]

<font color="blue"> ( in a 75.... Untill you get a do gooder that does 65 in the left lane and causes accidents.. ) </font>

What exactly would be the GOOD in doing 65 in the left lane in a 70 mph zone? That's a do-BADDER.

 

[Gatorboy]

<font color="blue"> ( But they pay taxes and are entitled to drive wherever they want and however the want ) </font>

Uh, actually NO. They are breaking the law and can be ticketed for not moving to the right.

State 'KEEP RIGHT' Laws
Slower Traffic Keep Right

 

[HGM]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( <font color="blue"> ( But they pay taxes and are entitled to drive wherever they want and however the want ) </font>

Uh, actually NO. They are breaking the law and can be ticketed for not moving to the right.

State 'KEEP RIGHT' Laws


Slower Traffic Keep Right )</font>

Yea, I intended that to represent their thoughts, not mine..... Wish the laws would be enforced though....

 

[dieselsmoke1]

I'm just doing my part to keep the economy running and keep the natural order of things. I pick up a ticket every few years, the lawyers are happy, the courts are happy, the insurance company is happy, and I get to drive as I like so I'm happy.

Folks that hold up traffic are a far greater hazard to the general public than I perceive myself to be.

BTW, I do not talk on my cell when driving.......period. Too distracting to suit me. Leave a message, I'll call back when I stop.

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Folks that hold up traffic are a far greater hazard to the general public than I perceive myself to be )</font>

The operative word being "perceive". /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Your perception and theirs is quite different. But you're right that speed doesn't cause accidents; only adds to the severity when one happens, and of course, adds to the liklihood of being unable to avoid an accident when someting unexpected happens. Speed differential; i.e., a mix of fast and slow traffic can certainly cause accidents.

And I tend to be a bit of a lead foot myself so I use the cruise control more than anyone I know so I don't get to going too fast. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Sigarms]

Back before my real job, once put on 86k in one year between the east coast, Montana, Idaho and Canada for the love of one sport. Knew a couple of guys who actually put more on in mileage than myself. Then it was fun, didn't think anything of it, and some great memories.

Now I drive alot for work, between two vehicles average about 50k a year. Really don't think about it, but all things considered, probably would rather do something else. Hate the jobsites that are in the 200-400 mile range. Rather fly, but by the time you get to the airport, get a vehicle and deal with security, just figure your better off driving, works to be the same amount of time, plus I get mileage soI can't complain.

Did bring back a memory. When my dad first taught me to drive stick, I used to drive him up the wall stalling and grinding gears and such. He's in his mid 70's now, and while we were taking an out of state drive together, he told me he would drive for a while. Chevy truck, 5 speed at the time. He took over, came up to a toll both and as he was slowing down, stalled the truck while trying to shift gears (while grinding some) and I was going crazy with what he was doing.

After we paid the toll, I thanked him. He asked me what for and I told him for not killing me with what I did to his car when he taught me to drive stick. Funny when you grow up how you realize what you put your parents through.

 

[3RRL]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( so I use the cruise control more than anyone I know )</font>
So do I...
Your point is well taken about about speed differential. I find it amazing how many morons there are that can't keep a constant speed regardles what lane you're in. Freeway driving in So Ca is crazy.

I hate to drive in traffic but love to drive in the country...without the traffic. I can fondly remember the Sunday drives my Dad used to take us on back in the 50's. It was pleasant. We'd always stop at the A&W Rootbeer place to get a burger and a float. Most driving now drives me crazy but I like driving to my property once I get out of the big city.

I do have a cell phone but rarely use it. Heck, I hardly answer the land line. Used to drive my wife and friends crazy when it rang and I would not answer it. My wife would say "what's the matter with you, why don't you get that?" I'd say "well, it's my phone and I'll decide when I want to use it, not some other sucker." Sounds stupid, but think about how many times you get interupted. Like when driving as this thread is about, but also when watching a movie or working on the milling machine...whatever?

I do think that if more people used their cruise control on the freeways it would lead to less accidents from speed variation and cutting in and out of traffic. The slow pokes are just as annoying as the speeders. Both accidents waiting to happen.

 

[orangebluegreen]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Maybe driving would be more enjoyable if people would learn to obey the rule, "Slower Traffic Keep Right )</font>



When I lived up north that’s the way it was, slow pokes get out of the way, it works. When I moved to Fla I couldn’t believe how people drive in any lane at any speed and change lanes without looking around them. Governor Jeb Bush had on his desk this year a proposal to make it law that slower drivers must drive in the right lane. He vetoed that bill and said it would encourage speeders! So now we have “speeders” who have to pass on the right and left (vs. just left) to get around the elderly and vacationers who drive slow in any lane and don’t look when they change lanes. There are a lot of accidents in Florida and my county has one of the highest per capita death tolls in the US. and they can’t figure out why.....DUH. There are a bunch of other reasons but no point in this thread.


I remember the days of 55MPH limits and the “do gooders” who used to ride side by side on the interstate to make sure everyone obeyed the law. Funny how a guy who drove 70-80-90 at that time was thrown in jail, and today in Fla you’re not ticketed (a GOOD thing) for such speeds.

I like driving when it is leisure and not a necessity, especially out in the country seeing things never before seen. It would be even better in a Porsche or Ferrari etc. I also like speed and aggressive driving (and no I don’t endanger others) but laws don’t agree. I feel shackled from enjoying driving because the US. can’t deal with speed. My opinion has always been build safer roads and make drivers actually take REAL driving courses....like on a track at speed. Then issue differing levels of drivers licences to those who qualify as skilled enough to handle speed and make that apparent by the color of their license plate.

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Then issue differing levels of drivers licences to those who qualify as skilled enough to handle speed and make that apparent by the color of their license plate. )</font>

Sounds good on the face of it. I'd prefer driving fast myself many times and probably have the experience and training to do it in relative safety. But I can see a couple of problems. First, how often would they be required to take a driving test and who is going to administer the tests and where would the tests be given? It costs money to hire license examiners. I'm getting on up in years; still think I'm a reasonably safe driver, but know I wouldn't even attempt some of the things I did 30 years ago, such as high speed police pursuits. Secondly, different color license plates? What happens when I get the plates for high speeds and then my wife drives that car?

 

[orangebluegreen]

Safer roads are obvious and don’t necessarily have to be very costly. Simple things like unprotected ditches, culverts, trees, undivided hiways all add to problems. Locally we have had many cross over the median on I-75 and have head-ons with deadly consequences. They are now installing guardrails down the center to keep this from happening. The strange thing is it has happened many times and no one is sure why. My wish (which is very costly) would be to add a high speed lane to interstates where only those with the high performance license could legally drive....that one will probably never happen but a nice thought.


Actually I have pondered this idea for many years though not worked out the details. I think cost could be passed on to the person who wants high performance license and those seeking it would willingly pay and as always the taxing authorities would tack on extra in their revenuing pursuits. Many race tracks offer courses in high performance driving similar to what police officers or race drivers often undergo. This testing could happen at the same facilities for high performance license. It is far too easy and cheap to get a drivers license. Even a regular license should be far more stringent. Obviously race track training is overkill for a regular license, but even skid pad spin outs on wet pavement in a shopping center in cooperation with locals would work for the average license at little extra cost. The problem of license plate color may not be a perfect one, but at least a start, that’s why we have you Bird, to figure out the details of the plan.

If one looks down a list of drivers at a world class road racing event they’ll notice few US names. I’ve often wondered why that is? Culture? European countries better being able to deal with speed producing better drivers? I used to road race at all the major tracks years ago. I know when I was racing my skills were heightened and improved which made driving on the street much easier and safer. What I find is experience at speed slows things down and makes them feel normal. I don’t drive as fast now as I did years ago either (not that I don’t want to) and I can tell my skills are not as sharp because of it.


BTW....since you’re from TX you probably remember this. About 30 years ago while visiting family in Houston/Galveston I can remember it was legal to drive with an open container of beer as long as one was not intoxicated. Now I hear TX has made it illegal to be drunk even in a bar. I do not advocate intoxicated driving, but I do like the thought of that freedom to do so if for no other reason than it is just that....FREEDOM. A touchy subject no doubt, but TX used to stand for wild west in my mind, and that to me was part of it.