DRUNK? WHO CARES?
Subject: Re: Drunk? Who cares?
Date: 1999/10/14
I'm not saying he deserves 5 years, but I am saying that falling
asleep behind the wheel is just as bad or worse than someone driving
completely wasted; he definitely needs to be punished. Just as bad or wore
that driving completely wasted......
how do you figure?
Driving completely wasted is completely and totally preventable.
Falling asleep while driving is not.
It is (relatively)easy to measure and (relatively)easy to know before
entering a car if you are totally wasted. It is not easy to know and not easy
to measure before entering a car if you will fall asleep while driving.
For this reason and maybe more, falling asleep while driving is not as
bad as driving completely wasted.
[ todd ]
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my
reaction
I agree with Todd that driving completely wasted is completely and
totally preventable. But I disagree with him that falling asleep while driving
isn't as bad. I think being self aware is very important in being a
responsible driver. Being self aware is knowing what you can and cannot do. By
knowing this you can prevent yourself and the other drivers and people around
you from getting seriously injured. Drinking and driving is totally
unacceptable and so is driving a vehicle when you think you'll fall asleep. If
possible you should find another way of getting to your destination for
instance call someone to come get you or call a taxi. If driving yourself is
the only solution, then you should do everything possible to keep yourself
awake and alert. Maybe you should go get some coffee or Mountain Dew or
anything with some caffeine in it. If you still feel like dozing off then try
singing out loud or anything to get yourself to stay awake. In the end
drinking and driving and falling asleep at the wheel can end in the same
tragedy. Therefore I believe one is no better than the other.
SUV SAFETY -A TRAGIC STORY
Subject: Re: SUV safety -A tragic story
Date: 1999/10/06
ä When the passenger starts saying his prayer, wait another 10ft, heh
heh heh;-) ã
This reminds me of quite possibly the most irresponsible thing I ever
did on the road. I was giving a lift to a female friend of mine (yes, Emma G,
this *is* you!), who had not travelled in a car with me driving much before.
As I made my first stop at some lights, I heard this "woah!!" sound from the
passenger seat. I enquired as to what the problem was, and she said she wasn't
used to people braking that late. Admittedly, my family are a bunch of late
brakers... Anyway, I happen to be fairly sure of how much grip my tires have
under different conditions (don't ask why!), so I said: "Okay, next time we
come to some lights, *you* say when I should start braking". Sure enough, a
little later on, doing about 40mph, we come to some red lights with some cars
at them. At about 90 yards out she says "stop!"... I counted fairly slowly to
3 and *then* hit the brakes with about 30 yards to go. Yes, we stopped in
time. She didn't say anything, but just gave me *that* look, which, roughly
translated, meant "If you ever do that again, I'll not take any more lifts off
you!".
[ MH. ]
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my
reaction
I can relate to this discussion. I was recently told by my passenger
that I was a late breaker. I didn't realize this until it was pointed out to
me. With the help of my passenger I could work on my self modification. I
don't recall when I first started doing this and I didn't realize how scary my
breaking is. Maybe I learned this habit from my older brother or from my
parents since we first become drivers when we are passengers. I use to ride
with my brother a lot and he breaks right when he needs to. The funny thing is
I always hated that and I use to imagine I had a break peddle in front of me
to slow the car down. That's why I couldn't believe I was doing the same thing
I always hated. I really need to work on this because I don't want my friends
to be afraid to ride with me. Also this is very dangerous and one day I could
be sorry.
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SPEEDING DOES KILL
Subject: Re: Speeding Does Kill
Date: 1999/10/14
Traffic is also moving in the *same direction* on freeways (a major
bit of context you left out). On two lane country roads and city streets the
connection between speeding and crashes is obvious. It causes a good number of
crashes on freeways too. A pack of unidirectional speeders encountering an
unexpected event (like a dust storm or a mattress in the road) are in more
trouble than a pack of cars going slower in the same circumstances. Uh, oh,
the Carl troll has struck the auspices of aus.cars. For those who don't know
him, Carl has been trolling the rec.autos.driving newsgroup for quite a while.
His modus operandi is to make ludicrous assertions, and run for cover when a
decent counter argument with evidence is put to him.
CARL: Run for cover? Give me a break. If you're so bright let's see
you refute the above paragraph (i.e. refute the laws of physics). You know you
can't do it honestly so you resort to the oldest trick in the book for liars:
the ad-hominem attack. A "troll" is merely someone you disagree with. Address
my logic about kinetic energy, will you?
DENNIS: The classic was when one of the posters there stated that he
would have an IQ 30 points higher than Carl. He then used an IQ test on the
web; he had an IQ of about 155 according to that page. Not a peep was heard
from Carl.
CARL: I don't even know what you're talking about (I can't read every
single post). Regardless of IQ, some people take *greater risks* than others.
My gripe is with people who routinely exceed limits in excess of 10 to 20 mph
and impose their flawed perception of risk on the public.
DENNIS: Anyone wanting a laugh can have a look at Carls webpage with
his scenario of a "proof" that "speed kills".
CARL: Feel free to visit it. The animation should ring true with
anyone who's honest with themselves. Liars and morons will think up freak
scenarios where the faster driver was in less trouble; the old
exception-disproves-the-rule fallacy. See the URL below. Increasing your speed
by only 10% will double the impact if a crash occurs. Bollocks. The impact
will be 10% greater at a 10% higher speed. Kinetic energy is a different
story, but let's not get into that as you probably wouldn't have the
brainpower to comprehend anyway. Kinetic energy and "impact" energy are the
same thing, idiot. Crash energies increase in a non-linear curve as speeds
rise.
DENNIS: Yep, but a 10% increase does not double the energy. Folks,
Carl is the physics wizz who came up with F = mv. And this is the guy trying
to preach his version of physics to the world. Carl, physics ain't your
friend!
CARL: Are we supposed to think that if X mph doesn't precisely double
the energy, speed has NOTHING to do with crash severity?
DENNIS: Do you see how you changed the subject on a trivial
technicality? That's a classic tactic of people who know they're full of shit
but don't care. (And I never used the word "double." That was a previous
poster). The fact remains that you're much more likely to die (or not be able
to run out of the way) when a car hits you or approaches you at a higher
speed. You are using the tired slippery-slope argument and defying common
sense. Carl, as has been pointed out to you numerous times, there is a huge
difference between driving too fast for conditions and exceeding an arbitrary
speed limit.
CARL: How does that address my previous paragraph? You live in a world
where any speeder who *says* he's safe IS safe. You live in a world where no
speeders are subject to the unexpected. In your world the only speeders who
cause crashes are invisible ones that nobody knows.
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my
reaction
I found these discussions about Carl to be interesting. Everyone
seemed to be picking on him and his opinions. I suppose in forums you can say
whatever you feel, but you better be able to back it up. I think the other
people should respect what others have to say even if they do not agree with
it. But I think in Carl's case he set himself up for the rude and cruel
remarks he got. To claim he has an IQ of 155 and say all kind of nonsense and
disappear, he deserved what he got. I also think that the topic of speeding
already makes people defensive and adding big talk to it makes things worse.
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TAILGATING
Subject: Re: tailgating
Date: 1999/09/09
The scary part about that is I could make up the entire story.
Let's say that I write down the plate of someone that simply cut me
off, call up the police and say this guy just hit me on the highway at 60. You
would write a ticket for "Following too closely", "Dangerous and Reckless
manuever", etc. Then this guy goes to court and my testimony convicts him?
I think your wrong on this one.
äIn the rest of the world,
äFrom my experience in court this is just not true. In NYS the burden
is on the prosecution to prove "Beyond a reasonable doubt". The testimony of a
civilian alone would not pass this test and no court that I have ever been in
would convict.ä
Are you telling me that you have seen a case like this prosecuted?
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my
reaction
I think it is absurd how this person thinks by him calling the police
to complain about a person who cut him off could lead to anything. In the
first place I don't think the police would do anything about it after they
hang up the phone. They were not there to witness the incident, so how can
they give a ticket or take action. If they did take action then that's
pathetic. Then anyone could call and make up all kinds of stuff. For example
to get revenge on an enemy you could make up a story, give their license plate
and the police would go arrest him. Then where would this end? This kind of
"tattle tailing" would be endless.
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LEARN TO DRIVE A STICK SHIFT!
Subject: Re: Learn to drive a stick shift!
Date: 1999/10/18
äThey invented automatic transmissions, what, 60 years ago. Time to
put away relics from the past.ä
äThey invented automatic transmissions, what, 60 years ago. Time to
put away relics from the past.
There is nothing wrong with driving a manual transmission. It's more
fun, and in other countrys all car are manual transmission.ä
äCorrection - NOT all cars are manual, just the majority of cars!! The
rest of the world isn't living in the stone age. How are manual cars 'stone
age'? A manual transmission provides the driver with infinitely more control
over his/her vehicle than an automatic. Better performance and fuel efficiency
too. Automatic transmissions suck. I'd rather be driving my car than let an
auto tranny do it -- poorly. ã
[ John ]
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my
reaction
Like many things in life with time, new technology come out to make
things easier and more efficient for humans. But some of the things from the
past are still preferred over these new technologies because its is cheaper.
For instance the manual transmission is still preferred by many because of the
cheaper cost and they get better gas mileage. Even if the automatic
transmission is easier to use, there are some that still prefer the manual
one. I think that it doesn't matter that the manual trans. is from the "stone
age" because some things from the past are still the best things to use. For
instance the cassette player and the compact disk player. CD's may have a
better quality of sound, but it cost way more. The cassette player is just as
good, it's easier to record with and it is way cheaper.
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ROAD RAGE
Subject: Re: Road rage?
Date: 1999/09/16
Uh, don't. Obey the law, and the speed limit. Tough cookies. If you
assault me, I'll likely be able to protect myself, as well as sue the shit out
of a dumbshit like you. Assault you? By passing you? It seems you have a
pretty sensitive ego there.
Woody wrote: LOL, the funny thing is that if Tootles actually does
this in real life...then his life is pretty miserable....imagine how many
episodes of roadrage he brings upon himself....LOL nobody has got the balls to
do this to approaching cars after cars after cars....Tootles is just
lying.....or he's going to end up in a fiery crash sooner or later if he's not
lying....LOL i still get a good laugh thinking about his pathetic life
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my
reaction
I found Woody's reply to Tootles rather funny. I think sometimes the
best way to handle things is to turn it into a joke and laugh about it.
Tootles is obviously an instigator who suffers from road rage. He is just
waiting for someone to give him a reason to "go off". I wonder if Tootles is
this small guy who is all mouth. I agree with Woody that Tootles is probably a
liar and all talk. I also agree that if Tootles is telling the truth, then he
does have a sad life. Who wants to wait around being mad at the world? He
seems to be always waiting with his fist up and ready to throw the punches. I
don't think this is healthy. He must have some major self esteem problems
where he needs to feel stronger and better than someone. He should think of
another way of making himself feel better. Because if he continues with this
attitude things could turn on him and he could end up dead. Plus if he is
lucky and survives this sure is a miserable way to live your day to day life.
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SHOULD RADIOS IN CARS BE BANNED TOO?
Subject: Re: Should radios in cars be banned too?
Date: 1999/10/05
I actually would be in favor of a device installed by the automaker
that would transmit a frequency to a cell phone. when the cell phone hears
this frequency it disables outgoing or incoming call, turns on voice mail and
caller id. that way if you get a call you will have time to pull over and call
the person back. the exception on this would be to dial 911. a similar device
would be inside car radios that would mute the sound when a emergency vehicle
is within a quarter mile.I thought of this because in my city I find that
drivers rarely pull to the right when a emergency vehicle is aproaching I
think part of the problem is that newer cars are a lot more sound proof and
car stereos are louder than they used to be. If I get a call while driving, I
put it to my ear just long enough to say, "Hi, wait a minute while I get off
the road and then I'll talk to you." It's rare that people will react badly to
this; and if they do, I have Caller ID. And the only time I'll place a call
while driving is to call 911 in an emergency (when I can't safely get off the
road). It's >happened exactly once. I recommend these safety measures. Still
and all, I'm convinced that the crusade against cell phones is mostly class
envy. Otherwise we would ban things like driving with screaming kids in the
car.
[ John ]
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my
reaction
I disagree with this person
that the crusade to ban cell phones is mostly due to class envy. I think the
crusade is for safety reasons. The person recommended good ideas like caller
ID and only being able to dial 911 when the car is in motion. But I think he
went overboard when he said what's next they going to ban crying babies from
riding in cars. I think he is comparing apples and oranges. There was life
before the cellular phone and radio and it seems that it wasn't until recently
that people began depending on them more.
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Subject: Re: Downshifting
Date: 1999/10/18
When you talk about downshifting from 5th to 4th at 50mph and
'blipping' the throttle while the shift lever passes through neutral. What
exactly are the actions there. This is how I have been trying to do it. I am
cruising along at 50mph in 5th. I take my foot off the gas completely as I
press on the clutch, move through neutral and into fourth, give the gas a good
stab, and release the clutch smoothly. I have trouble being consistant at it.
Am I attempting this correctly?
Just practice.
That's the best advice you'll get. Practice it in situations where an
unexpected velocity change won't be an issue. I did it when approaching stop
signs going from third to second. Took me about two months to nail it down
right. But once you get it, it feels great. --
Good judgment comes from experience,
and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.
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my
reaction
I agree with Brandon that the best way to get better at driving stick
is practice. Somethings you can read and talk about forever, but it is the
experience that you can learn from the most. I think that when you get hands
on training in addition to the reading, you learn better and faster. I had
this experience with driving standard. I use to be very jerky and my brother
took me up and down the street numerous times so I could get the feel of it.
When I was done I could see the difference after all those hours of practice.
back to top
LOST KEY
Subject: Re: Lost key
Date: 1999/10/15
Has anyone had a bad experience as far as cost and length of time
replacing a lost car key?
Yes indeed. I laughed so hard upon hearing about the lady who was
forced to pay Toyota over $4000 for a new chip-equipped, souble-secretly safe,
ultra-high-security replacement keyset upon losing the key to her mahhhvelous
new Camry Solara Coupe that I nearly launched Cheerios out my nose. Later that
day, I swung by the local hardware store, tossed my key ring on the counter
and said "one of each". Six minutes later I had eight brand-new keys and my
wallet was a whole $12.92 lighter. And as if that wasn't traumatic enough, my
computer monitor could have suffered expensive coffee damage had I not turned
my head at the last second when ICQ chatting with a friend whose brand-new
Jetta is equipped with a similar computer-key system that can be duplicated
only at the dealer and only at extremely high cost. This is in addition to the
fact that the trunk lock isn't really a lock, but a key-activated switch that
energizes a solenoid to unlock the trunk. That would be the same trunk where
most folks keep their jumper cables. There is no mechanical manual override,
either. Talk about doglick engineering! No thanks.
my
reaction
I guess when people really need something they will do whatever it
takes to get it. The lady needed a new key chip for her car and she was
willing to pay out the $4000. If she didn't buy it what could she do? Maybe
she has no one to help her and she just has to rely on the manufacturer to
maintain her vehicle. I feel sorry for these people because they get ripped
off. I realized this with my car and when I needed servicing. I thought I got
a good deal on my car, but with all the price cuts they get it all back some
how. But going back to the lady she needed that key. Isn't that one of those
starter kill ones. In order for the engine to turn on you need to stick the
chip one in and then stick the regular ignition key. The chip key is like an
alarm so no one can hot wire it and steal it. Even if that was the case I
think the lady got ripped off because she could have probably bought a whole
new alarm kit for that price. Isn't it like only a few hundred dollars and not
in the thousands?
back to top
TOW BALLS THAT BLOCK LICENSE PLATES
Subject: Re: Tow balls that block license plates
Date: 1999/10/18
There are even places where you have to have a front licence plate and
people either drive around without them or replace them with vanity plates.
Some people cover up state mottos, which is also illegal. The only thing cops
are on the eye out for is expired stickers. So if you've got the proper
sticker showing on your rear plate, you generally won't get stopped.
Here's something that happened to me a number of years ago that is
really surprising: I was driving on a freeway (2 lanes in each direction) with
a 50 - 70 foot grass divider, when a cop did a u-turn and pulled me over for
not having a *front* license plate. I didn't even know it had fallen off. I
was really surprised he noticed, since we were both moving in opposite
directions around 60 mph, and he had time to slow way down. He gave me a
warning. I really wondered why he didn't have anything better to do.
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my
reaction
I think it was just the wrong place at the wrong time. I think that it
also depends on how the cop feel that day to whether you get a ticket for
missing the whole license plate or if your sticker is expired. I think thats
what's unfair about cops. It depends on how the person feels to whether hes
going to be a jerk and give his victim a hard time or if hes goign to let him
off with a warning. Then again I guess they are only human too but why do we
drivers have to pay for it. I just hope and pray that the cop that pulls me
over is having a good day and lets me off with a warning.
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