Intimidating Drivers

[cqaigy2]

It's far too easy to shoot down this type of rhetoric with simple logic and deduction but I'm not going to go into that in this thread. Plus, it's hard to read because of the punctuation, probably caused by copying and pasting from another app. If you like to discuss this type of thinking, submit your ideas to a forum like Straight Dope where folks will be glad to take you on. Straight Dope Message Board - Powered by vBulletin

Please don't feed the animals.

 

[troutsqueezer]

Yes RobertN, as I recall, you and I both worked for the same company until I retired last year. Speaking of retirement: in my later years, I've learned that staying in the slow lane makes for a much more relaxing drive. I don't need to get my blood pressure up just because some dimwits are in a hurry. I know from reading this forum for a while now that many on here do the same thing. These are all people who have been around the block a time or two.

The drivers I referred to in my original post are those who come up behind me on the 8 miles of rural road I must take to get into town. This is a dangerous road (Salmon Falls Rd.) and many people have been killed by taking turns too fast and driving recklessly. Since the road winds around Folsom Lake, there are all sorts of recreational users who bicycle, raft, hike and drive motorcycles in any given stretch and around blind curves. Couple this with drivers that have no regard for safety nor courtesy and you have a recipe for disaster. There are only so many places to pull over and let someone by. Fast lanes and slow lanes don't play into my rant, nor does any better-than-thou attitude.

 

[RobertN]

Ah yes, Salmon Falls Road. I have been on it, with a loaded truck, and had people ride my bumper. Or the horse trailer. Same running Highway-49 thru the canyon. Scary thing, even though I like motorcycles myself, are the Ninja/Cafe riders who blast thru there, going 90mph, and come up on normal traffic on blind corners.

It was simpler on those roads 30-40 years ago when there was less population and traffic. Now though, you just have to be patient. Unfortunately, too many people are'nt.

Yes RobertN, as I recall, you and I both worked for the same company until I retired last year. Speaking of retirement: in my later years, I've learned that staying in the slow lane makes for a much more relaxing drive. I don't need to get my blood pressure up just because some dimwits are in a hurry. I know from reading this forum for a while now that many on here do the same thing. These are all people who have been around the block a time or two.

The drivers I referred to in my original post are those who come up behind me on the 8 miles of rural road I must take to get into town. This is a dangerous road (Salmon Falls Rd.) and many people have been killed by taking turns too fast and driving recklessly. Since the road winds around Folsom Lake, there are all sorts of recreational users who bicycle, raft, hike and drive motorcycles in any given stretch and around blind curves. Couple this with drivers that have no regard for safety nor courtesy and you have a recipe for disaster. There are only so many places to pull over and let someone by. Fast lanes and slow lanes don't play into my rant, nor does any better-than-thou attitude.

 

[Relic]

It's interesting, when I drive the wife's Prius, I noticed that some folks who are driving in much larger vehicles, usually with over-sized tires, tend to tailgate me, pass unsafely and generally try to intimidate, using the size of their vehicle as a weapon. I don't get this behavior much when I drive my truck. Now, I'm going to generalize here, I'm aware: Sometimes, after something like this happens, the other driver and I will happen be headed to the same destination and when we each get out of our vehicles I can't help but notice that the other driver tends to be on the small side, physically. Rarely does this happen with big people in big trucks. I think perhaps they don't have self-image problems nearly as much, or at least don't use their vehicles to make up for their small size. I'm guessing they buy those big trucks to actually haul something big. I'm 6'2" at 220 lbs. and I sense that the other driver is sometimes a little surprised that the person they just tried to intimidate is not the person they envisioned driving a smaller car so they avoid eye contact at all costs. I'm not the type of person who intimidates others, the opposite in fact, but sometimes I would like to pick them up by the collar and say, "Hey, do you feel like intimidating me now, Punk?" :laughing:

BINGO

 

[houstonscott]

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/08/16/whatever-happened-to-the-chevy-volt/


HS

 

[greasemonkeyok]

Seriously HS, how many links do you make in a day, and do you get paid for that? 500 links and you get a free trip to The Mens Club maybe?

I think the subject of the thread is driver attitude and safety, not politics.

 

[hawkeye08]

I considered this conversion a few years back...

Pontiac Fiero - Electric Conversion

 

[houstonscott]

Just trying show that the idea that people are clambering to buy electric cars and hybrids is not true. They are propped up by government sales, by tax and government rebates, by green propaganda. If they had to compete in the market on their own they would stop producing them. Their green reputation is a hoax. Im not telling you not to by one, but drop the holy roller, I'm doing something for the environment or world or fighting those bad oil guy by driving one. The idea that any one whom is driving one is saving gas is a laugh. It's not true.

HS

 

[aczlan]

Just trying show that the idea that people are clambering to buy electric cars and hybrids is not true. They are propped up by government sales, by tax and government rebates, by green propaganda. If they had to compete in the market on their own they would stop producing them. Their green reputation is a hoax. Im not telling you not to by one, but drop the holy roller, I'm doing something for the environment or world or fighting those bad oil guy by driving one. The idea that any one whom is driving one is saving gas is a laugh. It's not true.

My parents neighbors with a first generation Prius that has over 250k miles on it would beg to disagree with you... I wouldn't go that route (I'd get a TDI and drop it into my Volvo V90), but they are saving money with their Prius and beater Dodge Dakota over their previous cars (Caravan and VW Rabbit pickup) while driving around in a far more comfortable fashion.

Aaron Z

 

[houstonscott]

You just proved my point, you wouldn't go that route, means to me you wouldn't buy one.


HS

 

[aczlan]

You just proved my point, you wouldn't go that route, means to me you wouldn't buy one.

Only because MY driving route is mostly rural/interstate. If I had a suburban commute, I would look very hard at one.
Buying a $4k used car vs a $15k+ used car leaves a LOT of money to buy gas though...

Aaron Z

 

[MossRoad]

Scott, over 2 million people disagreed with you by 2010.
Worldwide Toyota Prius sales crack 2-million mark,10-year anniversary celebration planned - Autoblog

Even more sold since then.....
Toyota Prius: Now in Top Three in Sales Worldwide | TIME.com

Toyota Prius - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Listen. I don't care for the Prius. Its unattractive, uncomfortable for me to sit in and not F U N to drive. But as I dump $100.00 worth of gas in my Suburban and my guage only hits 3/4 full and I have to run another credit card cycle through the pump and spend another $50.00 to top it off and I see some dude drive by in a Prius and he hasn't been to the pumps for a month, I cannot possibly fathom how you can claim "The idea that any one whom is driving one is saving gas is a laugh. It's not true." and not be expected to be laughed at and ridiculed in a public forum. I have friends that own them. I have friends that own other brands of hybrids. They are all spending significantly less on gasoline each year than I do. Gasoline has exceeded our grocery bill each week. Unfortunately, I need my Suburban to haul with. And I need a large 5 passenger car that I can fit in for car pooling and vacations. And I need a car that has ZOOM when I step on it for health reasons (my mental health). But really, the Prius is a modern marvel and marketing success that really does use less gasoline than most other cars. No matter how hard you say it doesn't it really does. Time to stop making yourself look foolish and admit it.

 

[Midniteoyl]

And I need a car that has ZOOM when I step on it for health reasons

:thumbsup:

 

[troutsqueezer]

Don't underestimate the acceleration of the Prius. The electric motor has high torque and it kicks in when you put the pedal to the metal and has no problems passing on a hill or on the freeway. The inside room of the Prius is the same as the Camry. It just looks smaller, so it can fit 5 no prob. It is classified as a mid-size sedan, not a compact car (except for the Prius C).

 

[dave1949]

The models and varieties of electric cars is a bit limited for my use. I still would like to have one, if and when they make the car I need. It would need the capabilities of 4X4 or AWD, and have a good heater/defroster that doesn't kill the range.

Our 40 mpg Honda Civic sits much of the winter because it is not good in a snow storm, light weight and narrow wheelbase in heavy slush, etc. Replacing that with most of the EV's currently available doesn't make usability or personal economic sense.

It's good to keep the technology aspects separated from the marketing choices. The technology is capable of serving my needs if it were packaged the way I need it to be.

I've replaced 300 gal per year of propane with sunshine, I would do the same with vehicle gasoline in a heartbeat.

 

[aczlan]

The models and varieties of electric cars is a bit limited for my use. I still would like to have one, if and when they make the car I need. It would need the capabilities of 4X4 or AWD, and have a good heater/defroster that doesn't kill the range.

Escape hybrid? Ford Escape - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Aaron Z

 

[Midniteoyl]

The models and varieties of electric cars is a bit limited for my use. I still would like to have one, if and when they make the car I need. It would need the capabilities of 4X4 or AWD, and have a good heater/defroster that doesn't kill the range.

Our 40 mpg Honda Civic sits much of the winter because it is not good in a snow storm, light weight and narrow wheelbase in heavy slush, etc. Replacing that with most of the EV's currently available doesn't make usability or personal economic sense.

It's good to keep the technology aspects separated from the marketing choices. The technology is capable of serving my needs if it were packaged the way I need it to be.

I've replaced 300 gal per year of propane with sunshine, I would do the same with vehicle gasoline in a heartbeat.

Remember that Dodge Ram hybrid? Was something I hoped would pan out even though it was only an 'electric assist' and not a full hybrid... But now...:

 

[QRTRHRS]

When I drive the wife's CTS, I notice people pushing me. Not sure if they think I am a rich B88888 or what? Hardly since we bought the CTS used for 15k. Regardless, if someone gets to close for comfort, I back off a bit at a time until they either pass or get the message. Should the worst happen, I have always told my wife (and mind you, I hate dime store lawyers) the key word is neck pain. Also, I do not pull out in front of people and I run the speed limit or maybe five over.

This thread reminds me about a time in the mid seventies when I had a Toyota pickup and lived where such a vehicle was still a "no no". I guess this other driver took a bit of delight in running me off the road on pretty much a daily basis while on my way to work. Well, long story short, one day I met him when I was in my work truck, a tri-axle. Guess who got run off the road that day. And I do mean off the road.

Of course these days such an encounter would likely lead to gunfire.

 

[dave1949]

The Escape hybrid and the RAM PU are cool, but for a run around vehicle to do errands and shopping, all electric with a 75 mile range would be ideal for me. Paired with a regular gasser or diesel, for long hauls and trips, would cover our vehicle needs. I would guess that very few rural folks could have just one vehicle that covers all their needs while minimizing their energy use--like MossRoad's situation.

 

[troutsqueezer]

Most of us on here with tractors probably also have/need a truck. I couldn't live without mine but I don't want to drive it into town unless I need it.