Just drove home from work 20 miles in stop and go traffic on highway. Seven separate accidents , all the same scenario, some idiot, not paying attention rear ends the car in front. My "boy" is safe, unscathed and although shaken, ready to go out to dinner latter. So I ask.

How stupid are these people?

Thanks feel better.

 

Sorry your drive was so sh*tty. Mine was great! I was drafting after a Targa 4 and he was drafting a Maserati in bumper to bumper traffic. FUN!

 

Very.

Be ever vigilant but enjoy your ride!

 

Fun? Drafting in bumper-to-bumper traffic? you're lucky your little escapade didn't end in a multi-car pileup. Not preaching here, but there are right times to let it hang out, and there are times to dial it back.

 

Heh, you didnt get my sarcasm... 5mph drafting wont cause many accidents.

 

It's not as simple as calling them "stupid" . In my opinion it's worse .
Part of the problem is that many accidents occur with a high percentage of people who already have had a long list of citations . So why are they on the road ? Because they make it to court only to have their case either dismissed or reduced . In short they are not being held accountable so they repeat the same mistakes over and over . And what if they had their license revoked ? They would probably drive anyway even without a license. Is there is enough room in jail to actually place every person who is driving without a license ? Probably not.
In fact .. at least they have a license because this way they can be traced . It's that pathetic.
They simply don't know how to follow the rules because they haven't learned from their experiences .

Another issue is the driving test . Once upon a time it actually used to be difficult to pass a driving test. I passed it on my first try but many of my friends did not . Nowadays .. it almost seems like there is no real standard of excellence which lowers the bar to the privaledge of driving.

Lastly -- it's not the Porsche drivers or even the drivers of other high end cars which are the biggest culprits . Most high end car owners have worked hard , have assets, and have too much to lose .. so they actually have a license , follows the rules, can afford to go to the track, have insurance , and values driving .

 

Ahh, different perspective!! Seems I've been stuck in a lot of "drafting situations" myself lately!

 

Is that a rhetorical question??

 

A question asked merely for effect with no answer expected. The answer may be obvious or immediately provided by the questioner.

Since we all know the answer I think it is.

 

It's called texting and phone dialing.

It used to be simply having your head in the glove compartment or playing with the radio or looking at the sights along the road.

 

I think cars are just too easy to drive these days and are seen as an isolation chamber that moves. I'm shocked at what I see people doing while driving at 80mph. Talking on the phone with one hand loosely on the wheel, eating, drinking, reading dancing,......... People are comfortable and are driving for what's happening now, not what could happen in the blink of an eye. They look at the taillights in front of them instead of a couple of cars ahead. One dip**** drops a cigarette and by reflex stomps on the brakes and a chain reaction of crushed metal ensues.

My nephew just turned 16 and I can't wait to teach him how to drive. It's war out there kid..... the goal is to stay alive.

 

Given the result......on average,....quite.

Sure accidents happen. A tire blows. A dog runs out in front of your car. Whatever. Fact of life. But negligence happens too, and one heck of a lot more often.

Cell phones? Blackberries? Touch screens? Mobile isolation chambers? They all contribute. But there's a different force at work IMHO. It's the "I'm the only person in the world who matters" phenomenon. You see it every day - people totally self-absorbed, oblivious to their surroundings and their neighbors. On the ski hill. At the airport. All over on the roads. Everywhere. Modern life may contribute, but people act.

Just a thought here - If every car carried a hefty load of glass shards and rusty nails in the passenger compartment, I'd bet that texting / idiot driving would just about cease. And in a big hurry.
Not exactly practical. So maybe caning is.
Just a thought.
------End of Rant-------

 

The cell pnone/texting thing infuriates me. Not a day goes by when the light turns green but the idiot in front is staring at his/her lap. If I were rearended I would have the phone records of the other guy checked to see if it was in use at the time of the accident. Imo this should be part of every accident investigation and insurance policies should not cover the insuree for his loss if he was on the phone. It made people pay attention to seat belt laws.

 

Serious distractions cause serious problems! Some people think they can drive and multitask, and it is a myth.

 

Good rant. I totally agree. I was raised from an early age to have situational awareness...I had to honk at an SUV today. Light turned green, I counted to 10, HONK! Gotta say, 911's have an especially annoying horn. Haven't seen posts on that. Comes in handy :-)