Quote:
Originally Posted by peetzakilla
My biggest suggestion would be to always drive and behave in a way that is least likely to cause problems. Cutting people off, passing in unsafe ways, giving people the bird when they cut you off, "brake checking" tailgators.... etc.
As a matter of fact, it's a pretty good way to go about your everyday life whether in or out of the car. Basically, don't cause trouble and don't aggravate or respond to those who do.
Very wise words my friend. I am lucky to have survived my younger and stupider days. If some jerk wants to cut you off and then drive slowly, how much time will that cost you versus getting into a shootout? I get shot... I lose. I shoot him and get arrested... I still lose. Cooler heads usually prevail.
One other piece of advice... Get a car that can outrun most cars or drive over most cars! That is a great tactical advantage.
It's hard for people to do this, driving a car does funny things to people. Some of the nicest mind mannered people turn into monsters behind the wheel of a car.
Really though, it's not that important, life is just a journey that we meander through, sometimes it's important to stop focusing on what is going to happen if we're late to the appointment or whatever and all it's repercussions, and instead say, hey, I'm probably going to be late, so what? In the overall scheme of things this isn't a drop in the bucket, there's nothing I can do about it. Roll down the windows, enjoy the rest of your drive.
I'm usually a very mellow driver, I like to drive fast though, and people who don't leave the passing lane open, don't signal, cut you off, or otherwise disobey rules making the road dangerous for others can really steam my hat.
I find there is very little use for horns, usually if you have time to use the horn that time would be better used for maneuvering and getting out of the way. Most people just use them out of anger or because they think that's the proper responce to someone about to hit you.
I'm sure we've all heard or seen accidents where one person has 3-4 seconds to blare the horn before you hear the crash. I've always been bemused by that, if I see someone coming and have 3-4 seconds all they're going to find when they arrive at the end of that 3-4 seconds is a little puff of dispersing smoke from my tires where I had been sitting...
I watched a truck ram into line of stopped traffic, ramming about 5 cars all over the place. I ran up to see if anyone needed assistance, but luckily no one was hurt too badly and we just waited for emergency crews to arrive. I was getting ready to walk back to my car when I heard one of the drivers talking to a fireman. She said, "I saw him coming, and I knew he wasn't going to stop". She then sat there and watched him crash into her.
There was construction going on, the right lane was merging into the left.
That merge lane was clear for a good 1/2 mile forward and back (traffic was backed up about 2 miles). Any number of the people in line, had they been observing their surroundings, should have noticed that truck. The one person who did, didn't react. If she had left the space to get out of line, she could have pulled into the merge lane. Any of them could have. She froze and sat there.
I'd feel bad about getting out of line and leaving someone else to take the brunt of the impact, but to just sit there and watch a 1/2 chevy truck going 50+ MPH hit you? I'm not sticking around, unless I"m in my truck and there's a little compact car in front of me that would probably be obliterated. Then I might pause, take my foot of the brake, and wince.
Road rage is for the birds. Ya know I've never been a fan of obscene guesters or any of that, but one day some twit cut me off, and I was having a bad day, and I kind of flipped the bird at the rear of their vehicles. I was surprised at myself, I'd never done that before. I've never done it again though, because being chased down the highway for countless miles by an angry black man in a minivan, while I was in a 4 banger PieceOrubbish S10 that could barely break 80mph, and was unarmed, not even a tire wrench in the truck. (good think I didn't blow out a tire ehh?
)
Emotions, they'll get you killed. It doesn't pay to have them.
That last bit though, about having a fast car, that's good advice. My usual car won't win any races, but it's turbocharged and out on the highway it gets up and goes, at least you don't have to worry about playing tag with minvans.
There's a pretty good book out called "Drive to Survive". I'd recommend it. It goes into mindset, being aware of your surroundings, and finally techniques, how to properly adjust your mirrors and seat, how to control your temper and how dangerous road rage and emotions are, how to corner, spin the car around, how to get away from people, how to escape carjackings etc. It's worth reading.
I recall a example he used to illustrate to people how unaware they are of their surroundings. Using colored stickers he had them put one on their mirror every they found someone behind them, beside them, or in their blind spot that they hadn't been aware of or noticed. For the average person their mirror will get plastered with stickers in no time. Using little tricks like that will really sharpen up your awareness, many of us don't even notice how unaware we are in the car.
I've had a horrible kink in my back for years, and me and my chiropractor finally figured it out. When I drive, I sit with my head and torso angled in towards the rear view mirror because I constantly scan the left mirror, front, rear view mirror, and right mirror. With my head and torso twisted in slightly it allows me to flick my eyes from one to the other without moving my body. It's killing my back for some reason though. I'm really having to fight to remember to change my posture and just move my head and look.