When I bought my Miata 25-plus years ago, most local highways were still limited to 55 mph. The average vehicle on the road was a Toyota Camry.
Today we’re easily doing 80 on the highways, sharing the road with 5000-pound Ford pickups. Lifted. With giant tires. Possibly with the nose pointed up. Likely helmed by someone who never attended a …
Even in my not-as-small Fit, or really any other car, I've found driving to be less stressful when I assume every other driver is going to do the wrong thing.
That way, when most actually do the right thing, it improves my mood.
And if my hypothesis is correct, and the other driver does the wrong thing? I'm much better prepared to respond.
When I got my motorcycle many years ago the salesman told me to never assume that other motorists see you. To this day I follow that advice no matter what I'm driving.
I became keenly aware of this when I used to ride motorcycles on the street, and was reintroduced to it when I dailied my Fiat 124 Spider Abarth a few years ago.
In particular, there was a an eye-popping moment on the Washington Beltway that comprised part of my commute, which was often stop-and-go. On a damp spring afternoon ride home with the top down, I rolled up from 60 mph in the left lane to stopped traffic and glanced in my mirror.
To see a huge yellow construction dump truck behind me approaching at full speed, the driver slewing back and forth trying to stop - and I knew he wasn't going to. Leaving aside the question of what a full dump truck is doing in the left lane for a moment, I had another moment - "Well, maybe this is how I die."
Fortunately, there was enough room on the median to my left for him to wheel it over, 2 tires on the pavement, 2 on the wet grass, and slew past me and the other cars in the traffic jam - a hundred yards back and forth until he gathered it up, and merged slowly back onto the lanes, managing to do so before hitting the overpass abutment that was in front of us.
I got 100% lucky that day that the guy driving that truck managed to save it without killing myself and others, and possibly himself.
And I got a good cold water bucket reminder of how exposed and vulnerable those of us driving smaller sports cars and motorcycles (and pedestrians and other smaller vehicles) are to the larger heavier vehicles on our highways these days.
Stay alert and don't assume, my friends.
- Bill C
Definitely stay alert.
Also related to this: If I have something in Orlando one evening, I’ll try to head into town before rush hour.
I remember taking my Motorcycle Safety course years ago, guess it would be about 21 years ago. The instructor taught us always ride like the everyone is actively trying to kill you. When you're next to a vehicle or semi, you're in the "death zone."
I've always driven like that since.
JimS said:When I got my motorcycle many years ago the salesman told me to never assume that other motorists see you. To this day I follow that advice no matter what I'm driving.
This..................
I expected some two-wheeled content, but yeah, a person shouldn't take anything for granted regardless the number of wheels.
A slightly different take: I felt much safer in my Miata than in my massive 1963 Imperial Le Baron.
The Miata had crisp handling, aftermarket suspension, 200tw tires, modern brakes, etc., that all aided in avoiding the bad decisions of others.
That Imperial had none of that. Even the lap belts were a dealer installed accessory. Other drivers didn't give a crap about cutting off a 5,000lbs., 19ft long car with 1960's brakes, suspension, chassis, etc., and instantly hitting their brakes as they forced their way into the space between the tail of the vehicle in front of me and the nose of the old Imperial.
The behavior of others made me almost hate driving my classic in anything more than a Sunday morning at sunrise. I finally sold that old car after being in the family since new for 61 years.
Be aware and safe out there no matter what you're driving or riding. Even bicyclists have stories of murderous behavior to share.
In reply to BillCuttitta :
Getting rear-ended like that is up there on my list of fears–it doesn't matter if you are the safest driver on the road, it won't stop you from getting into a wreck. I'm glad no one was hurt, especially you.
On a somewhat-related note, I was caught in some traffic going to pick up my kid because of RV on fire that closed all eastbound lanes on I-4, and there was a motorcyclist arguing (in stopped traffic, mind you) with the driver of a semi-truck.
I didn't see the transgression that started the argument, but a truck driver is the last sort of person I'd want to get angry at me, especially if I'm on a motorcycle.
In reply to z31maniac :
I did MSF school years ago–back when I had my CBR600–and, you know, those lessons translate to four wheels nicely.
And, yes, next to a semi is the death zone. I make my passes clean and concise. No dawdling.
The latest thing I've been seeing here is "drivers" using the left turn lane to pass cars at a traffic light... sometimes even blowing through the red light.
Oh, and there was the time I was sitting at an intersection and this guy comes from the left and does two or three laps IN the intersection and then departed the opposite direction.
My wife had a winner the other day.
We have a school crossing at the exit of our subdivision. It’s to the right of the intersection.
The road out of our subdivision has two lanes: one lane in and one out. So, you gotta wait.
My wife was waiting for the kids to cross the street so she could make her right turn at the light when someone passes my wife and several other cars–all against a double yellow on a curve–to make a left at the light.
You're invisible, no matter what.
I've been merged into on a Goldwing.
Many years ago I was driving my 87 MR2 to work on I45 in north part of Houston. I was in the center and had one of those HUGE dump trucks pull in behind me and accelerated. He tapped my back pumper and continued to accelerate. He pushed me a little bit. I sped up and raised my arm out the window. His eyes looked like dinner plates and I almost needed a new pair of underwear. He had changed lanes and could not see me over his front hood!!! Gave me a great appreciation for leaving plenty of room in front, beside and behind my little cars when I am driving. And prompt use of the horn if they get too close!
David S. Wallens said:In reply to z31maniac :
I did MSF school years ago–back when I had my CBR600–and, you know, those lessons translate to four wheels nicely.
And, yes, next to a semi is the death zone. I make my passes clean and concise. No dawdling.
Yep. I don't ride anymore since my wreck at Hallett although I desperately want a Ducati.
After I completed the course (I didn't have my motorcycle yet, and even if you did they made you use their bikes). I read the big 4 books.
Proficient Motorcycling
More Proficient Motorcycling
Twist of the Wrist
Total Control
Everytime I drive I automatically assume someone in front (or around) me will something unexpected/stupid and its had me pretty safe even in the smallest of cars (Miatas). Basically, drive like you're on a motorcycle.
In reply to David S. Wallens :
When I started riding there was no MSF. One of the magazines published Prof Harry Hurt's (that's his real name) report and that was the best we had to stay out of trouble. I think the MSF course is based on that.
I drove a slammed 1972 Mini on the interstate once. I think it was scarrier than even my first time racing(with 120 cars on track!). I am not a defensive driver usually but in the Mini I sure am. It's not just assuming they don't see you, but in a car like that you're worried somebody will see you and stare at you and run into you! Object Fixation is a concept I remember well from MSF.
In reply to buzzboy :
Yeah, I took our ’71 Mini on the highway once or twice. That was enough for me as well.
Every time, I MEAN EVERY TIME, I'm driving on a two-lane, urban or rural, I'm thinking of an exit strategy to use when that oncoming car comes across the dividing stripe because the driver is eating, texting, rubber-necking, reaching between their legs for their dropped CD, sleeping, or just plain checked out. There's no magic force-field keeping them on their side of the road, duh.
Why? Not quite ten years ago, on a supposedly clear morning, just half a mile from my house, my Mazda 5 was hit nearly head-on by a clapped-out Chrysler Aspen driven by a distracted driver...I was told later, because I still can't remember anything about that day, except that, thank God, I had just dropped off both my young kids at school just ten minutes before. I'm fortunate to be able to walk today, and I can cope with the constant hip immobility and pain in both of my legs.
I tell my wife, my now-grown kids, my friends, everybody, that when I was a USAF instructor pilot training just out of basic flight school 22-year-olds, how to land a 200,000-pound four-engine jet at 170 miles per hour in a 25 knot crosswind in bad weather, I WAS SAFER THAN WHEN I WAS DRIVING TO THE HARDWARE STORE.
Lesson learned.
Got my first bike when I was 18, a old Yamaha Seca 650 Turbo. Drove it a little more responsible than most 18 year olds, but I was still 18. I am sure glad I got that bike because it instilled major defensive driving that transferred to the miata.
I ended up finding a busted power antenna and breaking the antenna out, and sticking one of those 6 foot fiberglass whips with the orange triangle flag that those dune buggies use in the spot. That flag is right in the eyes of every lifted truck out there. Plus it kind of looks like a go kart now...
Driving in the Charlotte NC area, is everything and all of what most of the above posts have stated. Daily commuter ride is an 2018 RAV4. It is dwarfed by the lifted Pickups, the Sprinter Vans with 5 foot of ladders stacked on the roof, and the Landscaping Rigs.
Multi-le car pileups in the rain, drivers running Red Lights, 10 seconds into the RED.
As the Sargent in Hill Street Blues used to say" It a Jungle out there, be safe":
Coniglio Rampante said:Even bicyclists have stories of murderous behavior to share.
That's where I learned to believe that anyone wearing sunglasses while driving or sitting three across in a pickup is completely oblivious. Maybe it's a bit callous but I've also only been hit three or four times and never had any serious injuries.
I still am amused by the time someone (wearing sunglasses) turned right in front of me. I banged up the usual bends in my limbs and had to true both of my brand new bike's 700C wheels (it was going to be used to demo for a prospective customer as we didn't normally carry bikes as high end as the one I bought) BUT it also completely caved in the door of her Lumina APV.
I was ready to feel bad but then she rolled down her window, nonchalantly asked if I was okay without any actual human concern, then drove off before I could even respond. Well, have fun with your insurance claim I guess.
David S. Wallens said:And, yes, next to a semi is the death zone. I make my passes clean and concise. No dawdling.
In a conversation about zipper-failures of truck tires, one guy who "retired" to long haul OTR trucking ("it's like RVing but they pay ME to do it!") mentioned one hot sunny day in Texas, where a CRX was parked in the shade next to the semi in front of him, driving the same speed. Then the semi blew a tire, which caused the CRX to get blown entirely off the road.
Never drive next to semis if you can avoid it!
When I rode motorcycles, I started out riding like no one could see me. I learned that wasn't entirely accurate. I taught my daughters to drive as though everyone can see you and they'll get a thousand dollar bonus if they hit you.
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