Driving Anti-Patterns - Necro Edition
-
Look, I'm not arguing for speeding but I honestly don't see any reason for you to be sitting in the fastest lane on an empty 3-lane road. Leave it to the cops to deal with speeding idiots.
Because I was going to make a left turn at the next intersection.
And again-- there's no such thing as fast lanes. All three lanes have the exact same speed limit.
-
You're driving someone to the hospital who's having a heart attack.
Citation?
Because otherwise "bzzzzz" you're wrong. The correct procedure is to do one of the following:
- Call an ambulance
OR - Call 911, tell them where you are and request a police escort
However, YOU cannot exceed the speed limit, legally. The officer may say "okay, forget that, I'll give you an escort". You may still get a ticket. If you try to explain to a judge "I was speeding to save someone's life", the judge will kindly explain to you how in doing so, you put everyone elses' life at risk.
- Call an ambulance
-
-
@Lorne_Kates said:
I've honestly never understood this maneuver.
It's probably not like that in overly polite Canada, but in Soviet Russia it's called a "teaching maneuver". Let's say someone is merging into your lane and you (in their mind) fail to properly let them squeeze in (even though it's obviously not required of you by any rule or even guideline, but perhaps you drive a tiny cheap-ass car and they are in a brand new SUV).
They then feel entitled to teach you that they haven't spent all that money for nothing and it should give them priority in every situation on the road.
Now I don't claim to know what's going on in their mind since I haven't had a desire to do so myself, but my understanding is they don't actually want you to rear-end them, but rather cause you a high level of stress by having to brake suddenly and/or maneuver around them.Classical example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTIS8SC5SjIMy personal favourite with a more funny ending. Don't pay attention to them both being in a bus lane, it might be a weekend and it's legal to use that lane for all then.
-
@Lorne_Kates said:
I'm just waiting for the day the tiny-penis man decides to do it to a truck
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdopw7XRFMw
From the video description: the articulated truck was overtaking slower vehicles on a road with 2-lanes in each direction. Škoda's driver was unhappy with how fast the truck could do it, started honking and flashing high beams as if the truck could suddenly accelerate to finish overtaking faster and accomodate him.
Police, upon watching the video, found Škoda guilty. Happy end.
-
@Lorne_Kates said:
Because I was going to make a left turn at the next intersection.
Which clearly was ways off:
@Lorne_Kates said:he could have gotten into one of those lanes at least a KM before he reached my bumper
@Lorne_Kates said:
And again-- there's no such thing as fast lanes. All three lanes have the exact same speed limit.
So might as well save yourself all the trouble and drive in the one generally understood as "slower".
-
WAI. The Škoda driver is obviously TDTL and will be eligible for his Darwin Award any day now.
I know people have said the newer models of Škodas aren't so legendarily absurd as the old ones (which I gather were about as safe as a Pinto, as reliable as a Yugo, and as stable as a Robin), but simple mass considerations mean that the truck could have gone over that car like it was a roadbump.
-
"teaching maneuver"
In #1 - the minivan merged, slowed down, blocked the lane and did the "I'm an asshole with a small penis" stare.
In my case, it was being cut off with about 5cm of space between the cars and the other idiot slamming on the brakes for a few seconds, then speeding off.
In both cases, fucking idiots.
In #2, I feel bad for the parked car guy-- but HAHAHAHAHAHA.
-
Going anywhere with my late father was a course in what not to do while driving. For example, steering with his
massive erectionknee with both hands off of the wheel doing two different tasks that required more than a trivial amount of hand-eye coordination (e.g., eating and handing me his cellphone). At speed.Or leaving only a weak grip on the steering wheel with one hand and letting the misaligned front wheels drift over to another lane, then jerking the steering wheel in the opposite direction to correct. Repeatedly, often two or three times in the span of one minute. At speed.
Did I mention that he kept driving after he lost sight in his left eye, and that he almost never wore his corrective glasses for the other eye, which had about 20/14 vision?
His biggest flaw as a bad driver, though, was that he thought he was a great driver, and it was everyone else's fault that he kept getting into accidents.
-
newer models of Škodas aren't so legendarily absurd as the old ones
Volkswagen, Audi, Škoda and Seat are pretty much all the same under the hood.
If your dick's length doesn't require you to overpay for a more prestigious badge on your car, you can go for Škoda and get pretty much the same Volkswagen.
-
@Lorne_Kates said:
In my case, it was being cut off with about 5cm of space between the cars and the other idiot slamming on the brakes for a few seconds, then speeding off.
I believe the idea is still the same - to cause you stress. I don't know though why they feel that risking integrity of their rear end is worth that.
@Lorne_Kates said:
I feel bad for the parked car guy-- but HAHAHAHAHAHA.
:D
-
If your dick's length doesn't require you to overpay for a more prestigious badge on your car, you can go for Škoda and get pretty much the same Volkswagen.
Or if you think that (for example) the Golf looks better than the Leon. Or you think the Golf is better inside.
VW isn't really the prestige brand, that's what Audi is for.The Golf and the Leon ranges cost about the same.
Same with the VW Polo and the Skoda Fabia.
-
Golf looks better than the Leon
Yes, my point was exactly that - the difference is primarily visual, they tried to leave each brand's style intact.
So the reasonable person's choice should pretty much be what you like more.The Golf and the Leon ranges cost about the same.
Prices are similar but Golf is 1-2 k more in similar versions.
Same with the VW Polo and the Skoda Fabia.
Cheapest Polo is 12.5k, cheapest Fabia is 9.5k here.
BTW I didn't realize Fabia is so small, I always thought of it as a C-class car (Golf competitor).
-
@Lorne_Kates said:
In fact, I would challenge ANYONE in North America to come up with a provision of their version of the Highway Traffic Act that allows for non-emergency vehicles to speed.
State "Keep Right" Laws State Keep Right? Law Comments California Slower The duty of slower traffic to keep right applies "notwithstanding the prima facie speed limits." Virginia Yield [46.2-804(1)][1], [46.2-842.1][2] Yield left lane to faster traffic on signal. [State police say][3] this applies even when faster traffic is speeding. Not exactly what you asked for, but this law has always baffled me.
1: http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-804
2: http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-842.1
3: http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2006/022006/02092006/166829
-
For example, steering with his massive erection knee with both hands off of the wheel
When I just met my girlfriend, we used to always hold hands when driving. Now this doesn't sound too bad in city, but driving 180 km/h on the autobahn with just one hand, in retrospect I think it wasn't a good idea. To my credit, I only did it on straight stretches of road, but still...
Anyway, somehow we survived, and nowadays after three years together she holds my hand only if she feels I'm angry and/or upset at/with her. Sigh.
-
Prices are similar but Golf is 1-2 k more in similar versions.
Golf starts £17595, Leon starts £17700. That's close enough.
The "special" models (GTI, Cupra) are similarly priced too.Cheapest Polo is 12.5k, cheapest Fabia is 9.5k here.BTW I didn't realize Fabia is so small, I always thought of it as a C-class car (Golf competitor).
10k vs 11k here.
And yes, me too until just before I made that post.
-
but this law has always baffled me.
Why? It's perfectly reasonable. People will speed, and it's much safer for everyone if all traffic keeps to the right, only moving to left lanes when necessary.
I can tell from personal experience it is a lot nicer to drive when people are abiding this.
-
Why? It's perfectly reasonable. People will speed, and it's much safer for everyone if all traffic keeps to the right, only moving to left lanes when necessary.
Bingo.
It's the other way around in the UK obviously (slow traffic on the left) but every lane other than the left-most lane is considered an overtaking lane and should only be used when going faster than the traffic in the lane to your left.
-
Golf starts £17595, Leon starts £17700.
Here they start at 16.4k€ vs. 15.2k€.
GTI 27.3k€ Cupra 27.2k€.
I'm too lazy to compare it further, so I guess I'll have to agree with you.
-
Golf starts £17595, Leon starts £17700.
Holy crap. I just looked up the MSRP for a 2016 Golf and it says $18,495, which google tells me is £12177.78. I've never heard of a "Leon" car before. Looks like "Seat" (the apparent make) isn't in the US, so I can't compare prices.
-
Why? It's perfectly reasonable.
It makes sense in a lot of ways, but it comes across as a tacit acceptance of speeding, which just smells wrong here.
-
Here they start at 16.4k€ vs. 15.2k€.GTI 27.3k€ Cupra 27.2k€.I'm too lazy to compare it further, so I guess I'll have to agree with you.
It's close enough. My point about VW not being the prestige brand still stands.
-
I think the only place where I really saw everyone following this simple rule is Germany but it was a pleasure driving there.
-
Looks like "Seat" (the apparent make) isn't in the US
SEAT is Spanish.
Holy crap
I knew you had American cars really cheap compared to what we here have to pay for them, but why would a VW cost less there?
-
I just looked up the MSRP for a 2016 Golf and it says $18,495, which google tells me is £12177.78.
Even the Golf S (the UK basic model) is the equivalent of ~£13,200.I've never heard of a "Leon" car before. Looks like "Seat" (the apparent make) isn't in the US, so I can't compare prices.
Probably not. I think Seat is mostly Europe. The Leon is basically a Golf in a different skin.
-
I think the only place where I really saw everyone following this simple rule is Germany but it was a pleasure driving there.
Most people don't follow those rules though.
why would a VW cost less there?
The cheapest Golf available in Germany is 17650€ (about £13k). They're made in Germany. Go figure.
-
I knew you had American cars really cheap compared to what we here have to pay for them, but why would a VW cost less there?
It's probably taxes. That's usually the answer. I mean...we'd have to pay sales tax (which is about 6% locally for me, some states have 0%, YMMV), which isn't part of that price, but @loopback0's quote probably includes a fat VAT or some other outrage.
-
tacit acceptance of speeding
What's wrong with that? Speed limits are usually way too low and there are usually tolerances of how much over the limit is ignored even by cops.
Over here it's generally up to 20km/h over the limit. The first offence (in a 2 year stretch) gets you a warning, subsequent a very small fine like 5 euros on the highway or 20 euros in the city. No points on the license.
If you drive more than 21km/h over the limit, the fines are higher and there are penalty points.So generally if you drive up to 113 in a 90 zone (radars have 3km/h error margin which is always counted to the driver's benefit), cops won't even bother to stop you unless they have a very boring day.
Everyone is better off if slower vehicles keep right and faster vehicles have free lanes to overtake safely regardless of how fast anyone goes and whether they are over the limit.
Edit: corrected speed, I fail at math today
-
My point about VW not being the prestige brand still stands.
I didn't try to argue it wasn't. Except maybe a Touareg, that is somehow considered to be a symbol of wealth over here.
-
but @loopback0's quote probably includes a fat VAT or some other outrage.
Yes.
Removing the VAT from the UK price is still ~£14k though :/
-
Why? It's perfectly reasonable. People will speed, and it's much safer for everyone if all traffic keeps to the right, only moving to left lanes when necessary.
Yes, it does seem to fall under "let shitheads use the left lane. We'll park a cruiser and a radar on the shoulder. You just let them come to us".
Still doesn't give any provision for exceeding the speed limit.
Oh, from what I can tell from the Ontario HTA:
-
Commercial vehicles aren't explicitly banned from left lanes, but municipalities may enact by-laws to do so
-- unless vehicle is being used for construction or maintenance of highwy
-- OR it is an emergency -
passing on the right is allowed
-- if it can be done safely AND
-- car being passed is signalling to make a left turn and is in a left turn lane
-- the roadway is of sufficient width for two lanes of traffic in one direction (ie: two lane road, or a very wide road)
-- OR on a one-way road
And finally, the "drive to the right" rules say cars should drive to the right when moving at less than the speed limit.
Fuck, what did people do before the Internet made it possible to actually read the laws you're subject to? This traffic act has thousands of laws just in the amendments section!
-
-
Except maybe a Touareg, that is somehow considered to be a symbol of wealth over here.
The starting price makes it one, I'd imagine.
-
What's wrong with that? Speed limits are usually way too low and there are usually tolerances of how much over the limit is ignored even by cops.
It pisses me off. The solution isn't to selectively ignore the law. It's to fix it. I'm kind of big on the whole rule of law thing, and this is a relatively petty example of fucked up governance.
I totally agree that most speed limits should be raised to the obviously safe and common limits.
-
Removing the VAT from the UK price is still ~£14k though
Looks like ours are made in Mexico:
http://blog.caranddriver.com/u-s-bound-volkswagen-mkvii-golfs-will-be-made-in-mexico/So...cheap labor, etc, plus NAFTA means no import tax (I assume). There seem to be different levels of Golfs, so that could also be a factor. I didn't do an exhaustive price search, so there might be a lower model than what shows up in bold type on the first page of google. Do you guys have tariffs on cars from Germany or wherever yours are built?
-
sales tax
I understand the reason (from the previous flamewars) but American tax system seems to effect a hugely fucked up experience for the buyer - you see one price advertised in the shop but you can't really estimate how much you will have to pay in the end.
-
Looks like ours are made in Mexico:
That'll help then.There seem to be different levels of Golfs, so that could also be a factor. I didn't do an exhaustive price search
I picked the Golf S, which isn't the cheapest in the US, but is the basic model here. Other than that, didn't bother going into more detail.
Do you guys have tariffs on cars from Germany or wherever yours are built?
The cheapest Golf available in Germany is 17650€ (about £13k).
-
@loopback0's quote probably includes a fat VAT or some other outrage.
AFAIA everywhere in
civilised worldEurope what you see is what you pay, so the listed price already includes VAT and all other taxes if applicable.
-
I understand the reason (from the previous flamewars) but American tax system seems to effect a hugely fucked up experience for the buyer - you see one price advertised in the shop but you can't really estimate how much you will have to pay in the end.
I guess. It's generally not a big deal, though I guess if you were super low on funds, it could be. There's far more WTFery in the final outlay for a car than sales tax, though.
The cheapest Golf available in Germany is 17650€ (about £13k).
Hmm...most of the stuff I'm seeing now is showing $21K, but that's something called a TSI, so I have no idea. Meh...I've never wanted a VW car and if I did, it wouldn't be a hatchback. I rented a Tuareg one time and my wife and I both hated it.
AFAIA everywhere in civilised world Europe what you see is what you pay, so the listed price already includes VAT and all other taxes if applicable.
It pretty much has to, because it's such an outrageous amount. Plus, they don't want you to be terribly aware of how high the tax is.
-
Plus, they don't want you to be terribly aware of how high the tax is.
We gotta pay for our free healthcare somehow…
-
pretty much the same Volkswagen.
With that typical VW tinkering to get past emission norms?
-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Jyg2UzM7cU
Red light runner today folks. There's also a surprise WTF near the beginning.
<Walking in the center lane
-
I need to fix/replace my dashcam and get back to catching footage of idiots.
-
Does my video look grainy to you?
-
Nah, looks fairly clear.
-
-
Most of the time yes.
-
Most of the time yes.
That's what I was thinking. It seems like a somewhat convoluded solution looking for a problem... Does it actually have a reason to exist?
-
TRWTF?
They use variable speed limits to try to manage congestion so that the road keeps moving rather than seizing due to awkward merges at busy junctions. I truly hate them, but they appear to actually work most of the time.
-
but they appear to actually work most of the time.
Doesn't work most of the time on the M42 where the limit often changes up/down as you drive along the road.
-
Doesn't work most of the time on the M42
That's because that road is just completely over capacity too much of the time. Not much can be done to fix that except full-on widening (which is the expensive option).