Driver's Here suck (someone's rant)
01-17-2006, 03:32 PM
#1
Attracts tree branches
Thread Starter
Driver's Here suck (someone's rant)
I read this on craigslist somewhere...and thought others could chime in/disagree 
'Driver's Here Suck' (here as in US)
In Germany, there's this thing called the autobahn. It's a road, where people don't sit on their cellphones, don't eat and drive, and the cars don't have cupholders. On the autobahn, if you want to go slowly, you move to the right. If you want to go fast, you go towards the left. This arrangement works great, and allows people to move at the pace they want to move.
On the autobahn, driving a piece of junk is a liability. If you break down or run out of gas on the autobahn, there is a hefty penalty. You are not allowed to leave your car broken down on the autobahn, you are required to use one of the many phones located along the autobahn to call your car in to be towed immediately, and the polizei will assess you your fine at that time.
In Germany, like many other european countries, the licensing procedure is much more intense, and the testing is far harder than our laughably easy behind-the-wheel test here. I see more danger every day from those abiding by the speed limit laws than those who are not. I think we should have to take a much more difficult driving exam which focuses on actual ability to drive rather than your knowledge of road laws.
I think if you "speed limit enforcers" in the left lane realized you're not doing the world a favor, and that going 10-15mph over the speed limit is actually not a safety issue at all as you may have been told by less informed folks, you'd realize you're doing a lot more harm than good. Also, by driving the speed limit in the left lane, you are actually breaking a law. The left lane is a designated passing lane. If you are pacing traffic to the right of you, you are in violation of that law and just as guilty as any speeder is.
Please, move over to the right. The left lane is for PASSING ONLY. It is a law, and you should be following it.
'Driver's Here Suck' (here as in US)
In Germany, there's this thing called the autobahn. It's a road, where people don't sit on their cellphones, don't eat and drive, and the cars don't have cupholders. On the autobahn, if you want to go slowly, you move to the right. If you want to go fast, you go towards the left. This arrangement works great, and allows people to move at the pace they want to move.
On the autobahn, driving a piece of junk is a liability. If you break down or run out of gas on the autobahn, there is a hefty penalty. You are not allowed to leave your car broken down on the autobahn, you are required to use one of the many phones located along the autobahn to call your car in to be towed immediately, and the polizei will assess you your fine at that time.
In Germany, like many other european countries, the licensing procedure is much more intense, and the testing is far harder than our laughably easy behind-the-wheel test here. I see more danger every day from those abiding by the speed limit laws than those who are not. I think we should have to take a much more difficult driving exam which focuses on actual ability to drive rather than your knowledge of road laws.
I think if you "speed limit enforcers" in the left lane realized you're not doing the world a favor, and that going 10-15mph over the speed limit is actually not a safety issue at all as you may have been told by less informed folks, you'd realize you're doing a lot more harm than good. Also, by driving the speed limit in the left lane, you are actually breaking a law. The left lane is a designated passing lane. If you are pacing traffic to the right of you, you are in violation of that law and just as guilty as any speeder is.
Please, move over to the right. The left lane is for PASSING ONLY. It is a law, and you should be following it.
01-17-2006, 03:39 PM
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Originally Posted by truemagellen
I read this on craigslist somewhere...and thought others could chime in/disagree
'Driver's Here Suck' (here as in US)
In Germany, there's this thing called the autobahn. It's a road, where people don't sit on their cellphones, don't eat and drive, and the cars don't have cupholders. On the autobahn, if you want to go slowly, you move to the right. If you want to go fast, you go towards the left. This arrangement works great, and allows people to move at the pace they want to move.
On the autobahn, driving a piece of junk is a liability. If you break down or run out of gas on the autobahn, there is a hefty penalty. You are not allowed to leave your car broken down on the autobahn, you are required to use one of the many phones located along the autobahn to call your car in to be towed immediately, and the polizei will assess you your fine at that time.
In Germany, like many other european countries, the licensing procedure is much more intense, and the testing is far harder than our laughably easy behind-the-wheel test here. I see more danger every day from those abiding by the speed limit laws than those who are not. I think we should have to take a much more difficult driving exam which focuses on actual ability to drive rather than your knowledge of road laws.
I think if you "speed limit enforcers" in the left lane realized you're not doing the world a favor, and that going 10-15mph over the speed limit is actually not a safety issue at all as you may have been told by less informed folks, you'd realize you're doing a lot more harm than good. Also, by driving the speed limit in the left lane, you are actually breaking a law. The left lane is a designated passing lane. If you are pacing traffic to the right of you, you are in violation of that law and just as guilty as any speeder is.
Please, move over to the right. The left lane is for PASSING ONLY. It is a law, and you should be following it.
'Driver's Here Suck' (here as in US)
In Germany, there's this thing called the autobahn. It's a road, where people don't sit on their cellphones, don't eat and drive, and the cars don't have cupholders. On the autobahn, if you want to go slowly, you move to the right. If you want to go fast, you go towards the left. This arrangement works great, and allows people to move at the pace they want to move.
On the autobahn, driving a piece of junk is a liability. If you break down or run out of gas on the autobahn, there is a hefty penalty. You are not allowed to leave your car broken down on the autobahn, you are required to use one of the many phones located along the autobahn to call your car in to be towed immediately, and the polizei will assess you your fine at that time.
In Germany, like many other european countries, the licensing procedure is much more intense, and the testing is far harder than our laughably easy behind-the-wheel test here. I see more danger every day from those abiding by the speed limit laws than those who are not. I think we should have to take a much more difficult driving exam which focuses on actual ability to drive rather than your knowledge of road laws.
I think if you "speed limit enforcers" in the left lane realized you're not doing the world a favor, and that going 10-15mph over the speed limit is actually not a safety issue at all as you may have been told by less informed folks, you'd realize you're doing a lot more harm than good. Also, by driving the speed limit in the left lane, you are actually breaking a law. The left lane is a designated passing lane. If you are pacing traffic to the right of you, you are in violation of that law and just as guilty as any speeder is.
Please, move over to the right. The left lane is for PASSING ONLY. It is a law, and you should be following it.
Stupid, if you're not paying attention, but legal.
In the UK, people sit in the passing lanes, with no cars visible for miles. Technically it's illegal to pass on the inside, but if they are doing less than the limit you are unlikely to be prosecuted...
01-17-2006, 03:46 PM
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I suspect it isn't a fine, but a recovery charge.
However - Ve Haff Vays Of Makink You Maintain Your Car. Or something. I'm all in favour of encouragement to maintain cars properly.
However - Ve Haff Vays Of Makink You Maintain Your Car. Or something. I'm all in favour of encouragement to maintain cars properly.
01-17-2006, 03:49 PM
#5
Originally Posted by zoom44
how is it better to be fined when your car breaks than not to be fined when your car breaks? i dont understand that.
01-17-2006, 03:51 PM
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Sounds about right. I am an American and have only driven in the US.....and I agree with almost everything the guy says. The only thing I disagree with is some information provided about the Autobahn. I recently watched a special on Discovery about the construction and maintainence of the Autobahn. Being an American that has never been to Europe, I assumed the Autobahn was entirely a super-speed highway......when in fact, only about 10% of the total distance spanned is authorized for 'no-limit' speeds. The majority of the Autobahn is speed limited and traveled by 'normal' automobiles. If anyone has the time, I urge you to check this documentary out. The Autobahn has it's own mobile repair service for stranded motorists, and a fleet of helicopters used to patrol and assist in emergencies. It's pretty amazing.
But back to the point, I agree that our licensing requirements are inferior to those of other countries. I would not be against the US instituting a tougher, more driver influenced testing requirement......but I am not your typical American driver. I never use the cell phone and food is never allowed in my car. I will not go as far as wearing driving gloves
.....but I take driving seriously and I like to drive fast. Basically, I own an RX8 
But back to the point, I agree that our licensing requirements are inferior to those of other countries. I would not be against the US instituting a tougher, more driver influenced testing requirement......but I am not your typical American driver. I never use the cell phone and food is never allowed in my car. I will not go as far as wearing driving gloves
.....but I take driving seriously and I like to drive fast. Basically, I own an RX8
Last edited by bascho; 01-17-2006 at 03:55 PM.
01-17-2006, 04:03 PM
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Originally Posted by bascho
But back to the point, I agree that our licensing requirements are inferior to those of other countries. I would not be against the US instituting a tougher, more driver influenced testing requirement......but I am not your typical American driver. I never use the cell phone and food is never allowed in my car. I will not go as far as wearing driving gloves .....but I take driving seriously and I like to drive fast. Basically, I own an RX8
.....but I take driving seriously and I like to drive fast. Basically, I own an RX8 People soon forget the testing procedure and pick up bad habits, and in the US, restricting people's ability to use the car simply wouldn't be fair. Without a car, you are really stranded in many parts of the US.
Canadian drivers are generally quite good, but hilarity ensures when used to dry packed snow, they come and drive on the mush we get in the UK, saying "Hah! This isn't snow! Y'all are driving like wusses!" before smashing into the nearest tree.
01-17-2006, 04:32 PM
#8
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Hmm. Canadian drivers aren't all exposed to the same kind of snow, and certainly not all of them get the slushy-hell experience similar to the UK. Toronto - sure, maybe. Montreal - perhaps, if the city ever clears the snow, salts it, or does any sort of timely road maintenance. The rest of the country basically gets hard-packed snow, once the muncipalities have their way with the roads.
Except for the West. Vancouver doesn't get any snow. And the prowess of their drivers in the snow is proof of the fact.
Except for the West. Vancouver doesn't get any snow. And the prowess of their drivers in the snow is proof of the fact.
01-17-2006, 05:06 PM
#10
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Originally Posted by FABRO
it's only cali drivers that suck in the us
I completely agree with the testing. I believe we should have a more rigorous drivers license process, and maybe even periodic testing throughout.
01-17-2006, 05:19 PM
#11
RX8 and a Truk....
Originally Posted by truemagellen
On the autobahn, driving a piece of junk is a liability. If you break down or run out of gas on the autobahn, there is a hefty penalty.
(shrug).
But mostly he's RIGHT ON target..in principle.
01-17-2006, 05:21 PM
#12
RX8 and a Truk....
Originally Posted by FABRO
it's only cali drivers that suck in the us
No - it's 'most' drivers. Chances are most drivers on this board are a driver somebody ELSE Complains about. Very few of us actively 'drive'...most of us just get in the car and go w/o thought or care of Consideration of others/strategic driving habbits.
01-17-2006, 05:34 PM
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Speak for yourself - though, it isn't that I drive like an angel, I'm just fully aware when I'm being an *******.
OTOH, I am the WORST person to get a lift with/have a conversation with in the car. My dad used to look at scenery, chat for hours... I'm absolutely, completely focused on the road and direct hazards. Janeane Garofalo could strip naked whilst presenting a sarcastic monologue on the state of the global car industry and I'd still remain scanning the road for hazards and so forth...
I have a kind of mental image in my head when I drive. It's like the spatial expansion or whatever it's called - where frequent tool users gain an extension of their body map to include the tool they are using, but more detailed, less... Hmmm... less sensory? I can picture the suspension, steering, drivetrain, like an X-ray, and what each component is doing. I was most at ease in my Fiat X1/9 like that, and I'm hoping that the RX8 brings it back to the best stage. The Beetle is kinda numb, I'm never sure on the wheels and grip.
Not that I am saying I am a brilliant driver or anything of the sort, simply that, I am not an oblivious driver. I am perfectly aware when I am tailgating, or getting road rage, or driving too slowly and inconveniencing people. Sometimes you just can't help the aggressive habits (though controlling them is best), and if you know you're holding people up you can at least make it easier for them to pass you. Otherwise, they might get frustrated and aggressive too.
I think retesting is a good idea. I am not in the slightest bit afraid of doing a regular driving test, though annual would be a bit tricky - perhaps every 5 years would be good, with a 'points reduction' scheme for people who overlook it - in the UK, we have 12 points available before we lose our licences, so say you miss a year, you lose 3 points, miss two, you lose another 6... and really, with speed cameras, all it takes is one offence and the license is gone. Means that people COULD miss the test (for whatever reason) and still drive legally, but it would be in their best interests to go take the test - and people who had already acquired points would have to retake the test.
OTOH, I am the WORST person to get a lift with/have a conversation with in the car. My dad used to look at scenery, chat for hours... I'm absolutely, completely focused on the road and direct hazards. Janeane Garofalo could strip naked whilst presenting a sarcastic monologue on the state of the global car industry and I'd still remain scanning the road for hazards and so forth...
I have a kind of mental image in my head when I drive. It's like the spatial expansion or whatever it's called - where frequent tool users gain an extension of their body map to include the tool they are using, but more detailed, less... Hmmm... less sensory? I can picture the suspension, steering, drivetrain, like an X-ray, and what each component is doing. I was most at ease in my Fiat X1/9 like that, and I'm hoping that the RX8 brings it back to the best stage. The Beetle is kinda numb, I'm never sure on the wheels and grip.
Not that I am saying I am a brilliant driver or anything of the sort, simply that, I am not an oblivious driver. I am perfectly aware when I am tailgating, or getting road rage, or driving too slowly and inconveniencing people. Sometimes you just can't help the aggressive habits (though controlling them is best), and if you know you're holding people up you can at least make it easier for them to pass you. Otherwise, they might get frustrated and aggressive too.
I think retesting is a good idea. I am not in the slightest bit afraid of doing a regular driving test, though annual would be a bit tricky - perhaps every 5 years would be good, with a 'points reduction' scheme for people who overlook it - in the UK, we have 12 points available before we lose our licences, so say you miss a year, you lose 3 points, miss two, you lose another 6... and really, with speed cameras, all it takes is one offence and the license is gone. Means that people COULD miss the test (for whatever reason) and still drive legally, but it would be in their best interests to go take the test - and people who had already acquired points would have to retake the test.
01-17-2006, 06:22 PM
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The reason American driving generally sucketh is manifold:
1. We're a Nanny State, where it's the Goverment's job to protect you, instead of encouraging and helping people learn the art of the drive. The dynamics and physics of it. Why it is a bad idea to stomp on the brakes and turn at the same time. Why it is a bad idea to tailgate. Why it is a bad idea to have one hand on the wheel, one hand on a double-latte, while yelling at the kids, with a phone held by your shoulder to your ear.
2. We're cursed with the worst Interstates there are.. flat as a pool table and straight as a ruler.. perfect for putting people to sleep
3. We have these artifically-low speed limits to boost the local constable's coffers. After so many decades of this, peope equate goign slow with being safe. That's what the Government tells them, so they believe it, hook line and sinker.
4. Up until very recently, American cars, as a rule, were ill-handling, ill-stopping and just not suited for any kind of spirited driving. I swear, these people fear pulling Gs. They feel the slightest sideways pull on their bodies and they slow down even more.
5. These people do not want to learn. They really don't. They're content with their level of knowledge, they think they are excellent drivers, and when all hell breaks loose they don't know how to threshhold brake, they don't know how to brake-and-steer properly (trail braking), they simply lack the most basic understanding of the physics and dynamics of a car in motion.
So yes, I"ll say for a supposed super-power, we have the worst drivers in the world. I wish it were like Germany here, but it isn't, and it won't be, because Joe American is just too goddamned ignorant, and too lazy to do anything about it. We won't see better training (on the order of something like a Skip Barber school would work for a bare-minimum,) we won't see tougher licensing tests.. we won't see any of that. Because this country is lazy, content and fat.
1. We're a Nanny State, where it's the Goverment's job to protect you, instead of encouraging and helping people learn the art of the drive. The dynamics and physics of it. Why it is a bad idea to stomp on the brakes and turn at the same time. Why it is a bad idea to tailgate. Why it is a bad idea to have one hand on the wheel, one hand on a double-latte, while yelling at the kids, with a phone held by your shoulder to your ear.
2. We're cursed with the worst Interstates there are.. flat as a pool table and straight as a ruler.. perfect for putting people to sleep
3. We have these artifically-low speed limits to boost the local constable's coffers. After so many decades of this, peope equate goign slow with being safe. That's what the Government tells them, so they believe it, hook line and sinker.
4. Up until very recently, American cars, as a rule, were ill-handling, ill-stopping and just not suited for any kind of spirited driving. I swear, these people fear pulling Gs. They feel the slightest sideways pull on their bodies and they slow down even more.
5. These people do not want to learn. They really don't. They're content with their level of knowledge, they think they are excellent drivers, and when all hell breaks loose they don't know how to threshhold brake, they don't know how to brake-and-steer properly (trail braking), they simply lack the most basic understanding of the physics and dynamics of a car in motion.
So yes, I"ll say for a supposed super-power, we have the worst drivers in the world. I wish it were like Germany here, but it isn't, and it won't be, because Joe American is just too goddamned ignorant, and too lazy to do anything about it. We won't see better training (on the order of something like a Skip Barber school would work for a bare-minimum,) we won't see tougher licensing tests.. we won't see any of that. Because this country is lazy, content and fat.
01-17-2006, 07:05 PM
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Well.. IMO, I think the current speed limit we have should serve as the MIN speed limit instead of the max with the slow traffic keep right rule strictly enforced. For majority of the roads, you can safely go double the speed limit however, you're limited by other cars which is holding up the road. As a result, you get traffic congestions.
So solution would be to eliminate the speed limit, enforce slow traffic keep right rule and lane camping, and ban cell phone, eating and any other distractions from cars! We'll all be safer that way
So solution would be to eliminate the speed limit, enforce slow traffic keep right rule and lane camping, and ban cell phone, eating and any other distractions from cars! We'll all be safer that way
01-17-2006, 07:06 PM
#16
I'm not sure you understand how a speed limit is decided upon. It has little to do with how fast you could possibly go on the road.
Last edited by BlueEyes; 01-17-2006 at 07:10 PM.
01-17-2006, 10:39 PM
#17
Extraordinary Engineering
Originally Posted by missinmahseven
The reason American driving generally sucketh is manifold:
1. We're a Nanny State, where it's the Goverment's job to protect you, instead of encouraging and helping people learn the art of the drive. The dynamics and physics of it. Why it is a bad idea to stomp on the brakes and turn at the same time. Why it is a bad idea to tailgate. Why it is a bad idea to have one hand on the wheel, one hand on a double-latte, while yelling at the kids, with a phone held by your shoulder to your ear.
2. We're cursed with the worst Interstates there are.. flat as a pool table and straight as a ruler.. perfect for putting people to sleep
3. We have these artifically-low speed limits to boost the local constable's coffers. After so many decades of this, peope equate goign slow with being safe. That's what the Government tells them, so they believe it, hook line and sinker.
4. Up until very recently, American cars, as a rule, were ill-handling, ill-stopping and just not suited for any kind of spirited driving. I swear, these people fear pulling Gs. They feel the slightest sideways pull on their bodies and they slow down even more.
5. These people do not want to learn. They really don't. They're content with their level of knowledge, they think they are excellent drivers, and when all hell breaks loose they don't know how to threshhold brake, they don't know how to brake-and-steer properly (trail braking), they simply lack the most basic understanding of the physics and dynamics of a car in motion.
So yes, I"ll say for a supposed super-power, we have the worst drivers in the world. I wish it were like Germany here, but it isn't, and it won't be, because Joe American is just too goddamned ignorant, and too lazy to do anything about it. We won't see better training (on the order of something like a Skip Barber school would work for a bare-minimum,) we won't see tougher licensing tests.. we won't see any of that. Because this country is lazy, content and fat.
1. We're a Nanny State, where it's the Goverment's job to protect you, instead of encouraging and helping people learn the art of the drive. The dynamics and physics of it. Why it is a bad idea to stomp on the brakes and turn at the same time. Why it is a bad idea to tailgate. Why it is a bad idea to have one hand on the wheel, one hand on a double-latte, while yelling at the kids, with a phone held by your shoulder to your ear.
2. We're cursed with the worst Interstates there are.. flat as a pool table and straight as a ruler.. perfect for putting people to sleep
3. We have these artifically-low speed limits to boost the local constable's coffers. After so many decades of this, peope equate goign slow with being safe. That's what the Government tells them, so they believe it, hook line and sinker.
4. Up until very recently, American cars, as a rule, were ill-handling, ill-stopping and just not suited for any kind of spirited driving. I swear, these people fear pulling Gs. They feel the slightest sideways pull on their bodies and they slow down even more.
5. These people do not want to learn. They really don't. They're content with their level of knowledge, they think they are excellent drivers, and when all hell breaks loose they don't know how to threshhold brake, they don't know how to brake-and-steer properly (trail braking), they simply lack the most basic understanding of the physics and dynamics of a car in motion.
So yes, I"ll say for a supposed super-power, we have the worst drivers in the world. I wish it were like Germany here, but it isn't, and it won't be, because Joe American is just too goddamned ignorant, and too lazy to do anything about it. We won't see better training (on the order of something like a Skip Barber school would work for a bare-minimum,) we won't see tougher licensing tests.. we won't see any of that. Because this country is lazy, content and fat.
01-17-2006, 11:15 PM
#18
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Thread Starter
Originally Posted by missinmahseven
The reason American driving generally sucketh is manifold:
1. We're a Nanny State, where it's the Goverment's job to protect you, instead of encouraging and helping people learn the art of the drive. The dynamics and physics of it. Why it is a bad idea to stomp on the brakes and turn at the same time. Why it is a bad idea to tailgate. Why it is a bad idea to have one hand on the wheel, one hand on a double-latte, while yelling at the kids, with a phone held by your shoulder to your ear.
2. We're cursed with the worst Interstates there are.. flat as a pool table and straight as a ruler.. perfect for putting people to sleep
3. We have these artifically-low speed limits to boost the local constable's coffers. After so many decades of this, peope equate goign slow with being safe. That's what the Government tells them, so they believe it, hook line and sinker.
4. Up until very recently, American cars, as a rule, were ill-handling, ill-stopping and just not suited for any kind of spirited driving. I swear, these people fear pulling Gs. They feel the slightest sideways pull on their bodies and they slow down even more.
5. These people do not want to learn. They really don't. They're content with their level of knowledge, they think they are excellent drivers, and when all hell breaks loose they don't know how to threshhold brake, they don't know how to brake-and-steer properly (trail braking), they simply lack the most basic understanding of the physics and dynamics of a car in motion.
So yes, I"ll say for a supposed super-power, we have the worst drivers in the world. I wish it were like Germany here, but it isn't, and it won't be, because Joe American is just too goddamned ignorant, and too lazy to do anything about it. We won't see better training (on the order of something like a Skip Barber school would work for a bare-minimum,) we won't see tougher licensing tests.. we won't see any of that. Because this country is lazy, content and fat.
1. We're a Nanny State, where it's the Goverment's job to protect you, instead of encouraging and helping people learn the art of the drive. The dynamics and physics of it. Why it is a bad idea to stomp on the brakes and turn at the same time. Why it is a bad idea to tailgate. Why it is a bad idea to have one hand on the wheel, one hand on a double-latte, while yelling at the kids, with a phone held by your shoulder to your ear.
2. We're cursed with the worst Interstates there are.. flat as a pool table and straight as a ruler.. perfect for putting people to sleep
3. We have these artifically-low speed limits to boost the local constable's coffers. After so many decades of this, peope equate goign slow with being safe. That's what the Government tells them, so they believe it, hook line and sinker.
4. Up until very recently, American cars, as a rule, were ill-handling, ill-stopping and just not suited for any kind of spirited driving. I swear, these people fear pulling Gs. They feel the slightest sideways pull on their bodies and they slow down even more.
5. These people do not want to learn. They really don't. They're content with their level of knowledge, they think they are excellent drivers, and when all hell breaks loose they don't know how to threshhold brake, they don't know how to brake-and-steer properly (trail braking), they simply lack the most basic understanding of the physics and dynamics of a car in motion.
So yes, I"ll say for a supposed super-power, we have the worst drivers in the world. I wish it were like Germany here, but it isn't, and it won't be, because Joe American is just too goddamned ignorant, and too lazy to do anything about it. We won't see better training (on the order of something like a Skip Barber school would work for a bare-minimum,) we won't see tougher licensing tests.. we won't see any of that. Because this country is lazy, content and fat.
01-17-2006, 11:43 PM
#19
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id have to agree with most everything he/she said, in cali, its legal to pass on the right, and if your vehicle stalls on the freeway, you are suppose to have it removed within 24 hrs because it is a hazard. after that, the CHP is suppose to impound it.
01-17-2006, 11:48 PM
#20
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Funny... I've been saying something similar on this board for the last two years or so and almost everytime several people tell me that I'm crazy.
look out...
beginning
With exception for residental areas, school zones and such, a serious change in the speed limits is reasonable when coupled with significant driver education and training. A small change is reasonable without. Reasonable educate and train people, then let them go. It's a LICENSE! Professional licenses are given after significant training and the people are expected to handle themselves accordingly. No nannying. Why are driver's licenses any different?
Speeding tickets, law enforcement, insurance and the goverment. What a dirty "quid pro quo" arrangement! The government gets kickbacks (campaign funds and such) from the insurance industry. They in turn establish more ridiculous laws that do nothing other than cost people (us) money and justify it by brainwashing the masses into believing it's for their own good. Law enforcement gets kickbacks from the insurance industry in the form of "donations" of things like speed detection devices... which they just happened to also have funded teh development of. Law enforcement then goes and does their job which just happens to bring more money in for the municipality. At last the insurance company gets their share by raising everyone's premimums because of speeding tickets and then moronic practices like "profiling".
I should start my own insurance company. It's a great racket. They make money on gambling... playing the odds of your chances of having an accident, natural disaster, health problem, etc. (which means they have to pay out). But these guys are even better than casinos... they don't just set flat rate odds... they try to tailor the odds to each person based on "factors" and then charge you accordingly for playing. Then when the inevitable happens in all gambling... the house eventually loses and they have to pay out... they have the nerve to start whining about it!
I'm no fan of "big brother", but we have to have health insurance to live a healthly live. The government is making us have car insurance (and in the litigious US you need it!). Prices are getting out of control as this mafia industry keeps trying to ensure that "the house" never loses. So sorry it happens... what? You expect to get something for nothing?! Other industries have a "product" that they give customers in return for the money they get... so should insurance companies. Paying when "**** happens" is your job. Charging people more because **** MIGHT happen or even when **** does happen is unacceptable. Like Canada and like Japan... the government needs to take control and control prices. Market regulation. They do it for utilities. Making billions on luxury items I have no problem with. Making billions on necessities of life... that I find immoral.
look out...
beginningWith exception for residental areas, school zones and such, a serious change in the speed limits is reasonable when coupled with significant driver education and training. A small change is reasonable without. Reasonable educate and train people, then let them go. It's a LICENSE! Professional licenses are given after significant training and the people are expected to handle themselves accordingly. No nannying. Why are driver's licenses any different?
Speeding tickets, law enforcement, insurance and the goverment. What a dirty "quid pro quo" arrangement! The government gets kickbacks (campaign funds and such) from the insurance industry. They in turn establish more ridiculous laws that do nothing other than cost people (us) money and justify it by brainwashing the masses into believing it's for their own good. Law enforcement gets kickbacks from the insurance industry in the form of "donations" of things like speed detection devices... which they just happened to also have funded teh development of. Law enforcement then goes and does their job which just happens to bring more money in for the municipality. At last the insurance company gets their share by raising everyone's premimums because of speeding tickets and then moronic practices like "profiling".
I should start my own insurance company. It's a great racket. They make money on gambling... playing the odds of your chances of having an accident, natural disaster, health problem, etc. (which means they have to pay out). But these guys are even better than casinos... they don't just set flat rate odds... they try to tailor the odds to each person based on "factors" and then charge you accordingly for playing. Then when the inevitable happens in all gambling... the house eventually loses and they have to pay out... they have the nerve to start whining about it!
I'm no fan of "big brother", but we have to have health insurance to live a healthly live. The government is making us have car insurance (and in the litigious US you need it!). Prices are getting out of control as this mafia industry keeps trying to ensure that "the house" never loses. So sorry it happens... what? You expect to get something for nothing?! Other industries have a "product" that they give customers in return for the money they get... so should insurance companies. Paying when "**** happens" is your job. Charging people more because **** MIGHT happen or even when **** does happen is unacceptable. Like Canada and like Japan... the government needs to take control and control prices. Market regulation. They do it for utilities. Making billions on luxury items I have no problem with. Making billions on necessities of life... that I find immoral.
Last edited by Japan8; 01-17-2006 at 11:52 PM.
01-18-2006, 01:41 AM
#22
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I agree with the original post. I'm on the roads all day. I'm in sales and 50% of the problems I see are caused by those self-appointed supervisors of the fast lane, people not moving with the flow of traffic and/or needlessly camping in the right hand lane and causing merging problem at offramps, onramps and, in the process, unknowingly slowing down the momentum of 18 wheelers trying to build speed to go up hills. The remaining 50% of problem drivers are distracted, foreign, or too old. That's how I see it.
And the highway patrol and local law enforcement are really lazy. They're at a stoplight and watch 3 or 4 cars toast the red and they pretend to be looking the other way. The other day I watched a cop do nothing as a little old man and his wife drove the wrong way down a one way road. He just looked and shook his head. WTF? That's what we're supposed to do. He's supposed to pull them over. Not an isolated incident either. It's worse on the freeways. On the highway a Mercedes could be doing 90mph and a Pinto could be doing 80mph and they'll always pull over the Pinto. The more cars I see pulled over, the more I realize what it's all about. They'll never admit it, but it's not about tickets or warrants or any of that other stuff. It's all about making sure that when another cop drives by and sees the citing officer pulling that car over, in that instant he flies by and solely based on what he sees of the car/drover, he'll think "looks guilty of something to me". They just wanna cover their *** and not stick out. Nothing against the grain. Clock in and clock out. That's why they pull over minorites, young drivers, beat up cars, modified cars...anything that "STICKS OUT" in law enforcement circles. It's a "safe" car to pull over as far as potentially arousing criticism amongst their peers.
I have friends and family in law enforcement...sister, brother-in-law, uncle, father-in-law, best man, etc...but the more and more I see, the more and more I begin to resent traffic cops. They are not real police to me anymore. They've become a waste of space to me because they're no better than the people they cite. I consisently watch them speed like there is an emergency up ahead (no lights or siren tough) and end up seeing them 5 minutes later at a Starbucks or a Taco Bell meeting up with their buddies and having a laugh. I also notice their abusive tactics...find the beater car and tail the person so close you scare them into a mistake. I'm white, but I'm not above admitting that they pull over black guys all the fricken time even in "liberal" California. One of my coworkers is black. He's a wealthy 40 year old man with 2 kids but he asked for a different territory because he got tired of all the harassment out here in wealthy Bay Area cities like Walnut Creek, Lafayette, Alamo, Danville and Moraga. I don't blame him for leaving. He doesn't need or deserve that crap from some punk on a power trip.
If I sound angry I am. The more I'm typing the more pissed off I'm getting because the more I think about it, the more images keep popping into my head of things I've seen. Like a motorcycle cop pointing his radar gun down a passing lane, finding somebody doing 10mph over the limit (to pass a car they probably just spend 20 minutes behind on a 2 lane road, only for that person to speed up on the straightaway and not allow them to pass without breaking the speed limit) and quickly CLAPPING his hands in joy as he holsters his radar gun and turns the ignition on his motorcycle. My sister (a peace officer) got pulled over one time with me in the car by CHP and the guy was so condascending when he found out my sister was cop. He made a joke about quotas and said "he knows what I'm talking about" and pointed at me. Turns out the guy's been in law enforcement for 28 years. What a role model. Her husband had words with the guy (he works for the Sherrif's Dept) but the guy was in his own world.
I know I know. When there's an emergency who's the first person I'll call? The cops. Maybe. My wife would for sure. I think I would go for the 30-06 and try to protect her and myself on my own terms before even thinking about picking up a phone. Anyways...I'm getting even more OT...LOL. Just wanted to post what I see out there on OUR public roads on a daily basis.
And the highway patrol and local law enforcement are really lazy. They're at a stoplight and watch 3 or 4 cars toast the red and they pretend to be looking the other way. The other day I watched a cop do nothing as a little old man and his wife drove the wrong way down a one way road. He just looked and shook his head. WTF? That's what we're supposed to do. He's supposed to pull them over. Not an isolated incident either. It's worse on the freeways. On the highway a Mercedes could be doing 90mph and a Pinto could be doing 80mph and they'll always pull over the Pinto. The more cars I see pulled over, the more I realize what it's all about. They'll never admit it, but it's not about tickets or warrants or any of that other stuff. It's all about making sure that when another cop drives by and sees the citing officer pulling that car over, in that instant he flies by and solely based on what he sees of the car/drover, he'll think "looks guilty of something to me". They just wanna cover their *** and not stick out. Nothing against the grain. Clock in and clock out. That's why they pull over minorites, young drivers, beat up cars, modified cars...anything that "STICKS OUT" in law enforcement circles. It's a "safe" car to pull over as far as potentially arousing criticism amongst their peers.
I have friends and family in law enforcement...sister, brother-in-law, uncle, father-in-law, best man, etc...but the more and more I see, the more and more I begin to resent traffic cops. They are not real police to me anymore. They've become a waste of space to me because they're no better than the people they cite. I consisently watch them speed like there is an emergency up ahead (no lights or siren tough) and end up seeing them 5 minutes later at a Starbucks or a Taco Bell meeting up with their buddies and having a laugh. I also notice their abusive tactics...find the beater car and tail the person so close you scare them into a mistake. I'm white, but I'm not above admitting that they pull over black guys all the fricken time even in "liberal" California. One of my coworkers is black. He's a wealthy 40 year old man with 2 kids but he asked for a different territory because he got tired of all the harassment out here in wealthy Bay Area cities like Walnut Creek, Lafayette, Alamo, Danville and Moraga. I don't blame him for leaving. He doesn't need or deserve that crap from some punk on a power trip.
If I sound angry I am. The more I'm typing the more pissed off I'm getting because the more I think about it, the more images keep popping into my head of things I've seen. Like a motorcycle cop pointing his radar gun down a passing lane, finding somebody doing 10mph over the limit (to pass a car they probably just spend 20 minutes behind on a 2 lane road, only for that person to speed up on the straightaway and not allow them to pass without breaking the speed limit) and quickly CLAPPING his hands in joy as he holsters his radar gun and turns the ignition on his motorcycle. My sister (a peace officer) got pulled over one time with me in the car by CHP and the guy was so condascending when he found out my sister was cop. He made a joke about quotas and said "he knows what I'm talking about" and pointed at me. Turns out the guy's been in law enforcement for 28 years. What a role model. Her husband had words with the guy (he works for the Sherrif's Dept) but the guy was in his own world.
I know I know. When there's an emergency who's the first person I'll call? The cops. Maybe. My wife would for sure. I think I would go for the 30-06 and try to protect her and myself on my own terms before even thinking about picking up a phone. Anyways...I'm getting even more OT...LOL. Just wanted to post what I see out there on OUR public roads on a daily basis.
01-18-2006, 02:55 AM
#23
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Originally Posted by Steiner
I know I know. When there's an emergency who's the first person I'll call? The cops. Maybe. My wife would for sure. .
And oh yes, the aforementioned enforcers and oblivious drivers cause far more mayhem than speeding. I like to call them "Obliviots."
Last edited by 280RX-8; 01-18-2006 at 02:58 AM.
01-18-2006, 05:05 AM
#24
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Originally Posted by missinmahseven
The reason American driving generally sucketh is manifold:
1. We're a Nanny State, where it's the Goverment's job to protect you, instead of encouraging and helping people learn the art of the drive. The dynamics and physics of it. Why it is a bad idea to stomp on the brakes and turn at the same time. Why it is a bad idea to tailgate. Why it is a bad idea to have one hand on the wheel, one hand on a double-latte, while yelling at the kids, with a phone held by your shoulder to your ear.
1. We're a Nanny State, where it's the Goverment's job to protect you, instead of encouraging and helping people learn the art of the drive. The dynamics and physics of it. Why it is a bad idea to stomp on the brakes and turn at the same time. Why it is a bad idea to tailgate. Why it is a bad idea to have one hand on the wheel, one hand on a double-latte, while yelling at the kids, with a phone held by your shoulder to your ear.
I wish we had as many traffic cops as the US. Real Cops are not always that bad. I've been done for doing over 100mph, and been let off after they made me sweat for six months. Real Cops can assess the situation. It doesn't mean they won't be ******** about it, but it means you have a chance, and they might also catch the people driving without insurance, driving a stolen car, with broken lights, with their foglights on (this is one of the worst things in the UK, especially the rear foglight) - all stuff speed cameras can't see.
And... yes, I know many US cars were ill mannered, but I always feel I have to defend some of them. I found the Chrysler 300M to be harsh when revved hard, but handled exceptionally (and this is confirmed by one of the car mags I read, where it was 4mph faster through the slalom than an Audi Quattro of some type), and my 1982 Eldorado, which had touring suspension, was astonishingly capable - it was also one of the Eldorados most frequently criticised, having the 4100HTi, but on the freeway gave 27mpg. (It was horrible in town, though, and delivered a mere 125bhp from that 4.1 injected V8).
Horses for courses. People say "American Cars sucked", but in context, some of them were engineered correctly for the environments they were expected to operate in. A big part of why SUVs and Pickups exist in such great numbers is that the US buying public are denied the body-on-frame, V8 powered cruiser that might not appeal to enlightened petrolheads, riceboys or track-day enthusiasts, but becomes extremely compelling when you want to drive 2,500 miles across the country with cruise on and a car full of people.
01-18-2006, 08:48 AM
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I am not a cop, nor do I want to be one. I tend to give cops a little latitude in that they do a job that most citizens are not willing to do. Of course there are cops that abuse their power....but there are just as many that do not. I have several black friends and all have been pulled over for nothing other than DWB. I feel for them, but I can never 'really' understand what that is like for them.
But there is an arguement that can be made for 'why' cops use profiling? I lift weights with a black cop (a friend of mine since high school) and even he profiles young black drivers. Surprised? I was. He told me that 'profiling' is a product of reality. Yes, they're many honest, hard working, law abiding minority citizens.......but there are also law breaking ones. And as sad as this fact is, the % of law breakers is higher for minorities. It is fair that everyone in a particular race is profiled because of this? Hell NO!!! BUt who said life was fair? Just my $.02 about life in the US.
But there is an arguement that can be made for 'why' cops use profiling? I lift weights with a black cop (a friend of mine since high school) and even he profiles young black drivers. Surprised? I was. He told me that 'profiling' is a product of reality. Yes, they're many honest, hard working, law abiding minority citizens.......but there are also law breaking ones. And as sad as this fact is, the % of law breakers is higher for minorities. It is fair that everyone in a particular race is profiled because of this? Hell NO!!! BUt who said life was fair? Just my $.02 about life in the US.