Learn How to Drive/Passenge/Pedest

[4X4]

I'm hopelessly OCD about driving. I admit it. I see transgressions everywhere. I commit them too. Maybe if I posted some of my transgressions you guys would go easier on me? The confessions thread was locked a year ago, so where would I post these sins?

I never claimed to be the best driver ever (except jokingly in my tag). When I see a stupid thing like this morning, I post it. Does it make me a bad driver because some woman swung her door open in front of me? Really? Is that what you're telling me? Maybe someone will read that post and actually consider whether they look in the mirror before opening the door, and do it the next time they're parking on a narrow street. What's the big deal here? Let me obsess over driving the way you guys obsess over religion and selling cars and engineering oil wells. I'm sorry if my obsession is easier to discuss than yours. Yes there are alot of driving threads, and yes I always have an opinion. If you don't like mine, put me on ignore.

[Komskies]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Another thing that is about to come into play for the next few days are the ######s that drive on the bunched up gravel instead of in the lanes and spray rocks and dirty water all over the cars behind.

This one really gets me. These people are either huge jackasses, utterly oblivious, or most likely both.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Zethrynn

the worst pedestrians are the ones that walk on the side of the road while playing on there frickin cell phones.had one person walk in the side of my truck while waiting at a stop sign.

Last summer I was driving with a bunch of tools in the box of my truck. I had a wheelbarrow on top of everything, with a pair of rubber boots buffering it from my back window. I definitely should have used a couple more straps, but I was only going about 2km. So saturday morning about 9am, merrily driving along, some woman walking down the sidewalk on a cell phone turns and starts crossing the street. I hit the brakes, my load slid forward, and the barrel smashed out my back window.

I learned a lesson that day. I hate pedestrians on cell phones. Oh, and there can never be too many straps on a load.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Komskies

This one really gets me. These people are either huge jackasses, utterly oblivious, or most likely both.

It's usually oblivious. I think people do it so that they can see in front of the car in front of them. Especially when following a minivan with a dirty back window so you cant see through the van at the traffic in front.
Kind of an honest mistake, but anyone that's ever had it done to them should learn and never do it to someone behind them.

[TurnedTheCorner]

I have to say that, when I'm a pedestrian, it annoys me to see other pedestrians rush the crossing lights. It's not a matter of whether or not you can make it across the road before the light is red (of course you can!). It's a matter of pedestrians clearing the intersection, so cars can clear the intersection, so traffic can flow. You might have made that crossing light, but you might have backed up traffic for five more minutes in 2 or more directions. Hope you're proud.

Originally Posted by 4X4

Another thing that is about to come into play for the next few days are the ######s that drive on the bunched up gravel instead of in the lanes and spray rocks and dirty water all over the cars behind.

Inexcusable on a freeway or major artery, but a necessity on a residential. I'm not driving a train, that's why I'm not on train tracks. I don't want to get stuck in ruts on the road if I have to make a quick evasion/correction. So I wear those sumbitches down when I get the chance.

[calumniate]

Welcome to calgary man. All these near misses etc are not news Happens every day!

Just gotta stay on your toes at all times. I walk down 8th street from the train to 17th ave and I always have my head up. Cars are turning, peds crossing, cars playing frogger to cross 8th. I don't assume anything!

[Coach]

Originally Posted by 4X4

It's usually guys that spend half their work day driving to various sites that have lots of driving stories. I bet you have a lot of badass pencil/paper stories, eh?

I got a paper cut today.....

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by pylon

No offense, but you holier than thou attitude towards your driving skill is a little annoying. There is a big difference between being able to follow the rules of the road, and having driving "skill".

Participate in something like the Porsche driving experience or ride I 170 HP motorcycle around a track hitting speeds in the high 200's and then start claiming what an excellent driver you are, because they are entirely different things altogether. I have done both, and been to numerous track events, and until you are in a situation on the absolute edge of control, you don't know what good driving really is. Especially when you are shotgun to a proffesional.

Being able to follow rules does not require skill, just awareness to your surroundings. Also based on a lot of posts I have read of yours over the years, you sound like an arrogant "I own the road" tunnel vision driver, not a good one.

A bit hypocritical of you to rag on someone holier than thou attitude then proceed to brag about racing around a track at high speeds. As if racing on a track correlates to an ability on a city street unless you're getting chased by the cops.

[zamler]

Originally Posted by pylon

No offense, but you holier than thou attitude towards your driving skill is a little annoying. There is a big difference between being able to follow the rules of the road, and having driving "skill".

Participate in something like the Porsche driving experience or ride I 170 HP motorcycle around a track hitting speeds in the high 200's and then start claiming what an excellent driver you are, because they are entirely different things altogether. I have done both, and been to numerous track events, and until you are in a situation on the absolute edge of control, you don't know what good driving really is. Especially when you are shotgun to a proffesional.

Being able to follow rules does not require skill, just awareness to your surroundings. Also based on a lot of posts I have read of yours over the years, you sound like an arrogant "I own the road" tunnel vision driver, not a good one.

You know what's also a skill? Getting your point across without being condescending about it.

[SportsJunky]

Originally Posted by mrkajz44

Is pedest even a word?

It used to be. 4x4 is bringing it back!

[Philly06Cup]

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

I have to say that, when I'm a pedestrian, it annoys me to see other pedestrians rush the crossing lights. It's not a matter of whether or not you can make it across the road before the light is red (of course you can!). It's a matter of pedestrians clearing the intersection, so cars can clear the intersection, so traffic can flow. You might have made that crossing light, but you might have backed up traffic for five more minutes in 2 or more directions. Hope you're proud.

"Blinking hand: do not begin to cross."

If I'm a car waiting to turn, and some pedestrian rushes through the blinking hand, I honk my horn and cut them off. I have right of way.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

I got a good one, stupid people loading and unloading their kids on the drivers side. Its a stupid idea on a nice day, throw in snow and ice and its a tragedy waiting to happen.

Okay Einstein, I've got two kids that are both in carseats. How do you expect me to get them both loaded and strapped in on the passenger side? It's impossible.

[Mazrim]

Originally Posted by 4X4

I SLAMMED on the brakes while she went deer-in-headlights and stared at me bearing down on her. My truck stopped about two feet from her...feet.

Originally Posted by 4X4

I hit the brakes, my load slid forward, and the barrel smashed out my back window.

What I've learned from this thread is that 4X4 drives fast and hits his breaks really hard...stay clear of this man!

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by Mazrim

What I've learned from this thread is that 4X4 drives fast and hits his breaks really hard...stay clear of this man!

Yup, but there there is no correlation between the fact that he constantly talks about speeding, and seemingly having a lot of stories about having to slam on the brakes.

[Sliver]

As a counter to the pile on, I agree with 4x4 on every single one of his driving points. It's the rest of you I'm afraid of if you can't see the logic behind what he says.

[calf]

Every morning after dropping my girlfriend off at work, I drive out of the parking lot on 10th Ave/2nd St - it's a 4 way intersection, and I drive straight through on 2nd St to get to 11th once I have the green light. 2-3 times a week, some jackass turns left in front of me from 2nd to 10th as I'm driving straight through. I get the same deer-in-the-headlights look from them, wondering what they did wrong...it's like the intersection turns people into instant idiots.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by Sliver

As a counter to the pile on, I agree with 4x4 on every single one of his driving points. It's the rest of you I'm afraid of if you can't see the logic behind what he says.

Hey, I agree with him on a few points.
People should look before they open their doors, and driving in the winter does take a lot of extra attention.

However, I just thought it ironic that (and this doesn't just apply to him) for the most part the guys with the the most stories about near misses, are usually the ones who also claim to be great drivers, and will argue to the death that things they do (like constantly speeding) are actually safer than what others do.

I've said it a million times in other threads, I'm usually over the speed limit too, but I don't delude myself by saying it's safer. I'm cool with just saying I speed cause it gets me somewhere faster.

But to mee it seems like this driving attitude/results reminds me of a lot of other things in life.

Usually at work the guy complaining about how everyone else is an idiot, is actually the guy who sucks the most at his job.

Usually the guy who complains the most about crappy service and stupid servers, is actually just an impatient jerk.

I wonder what that says about the guys who claim to be the best drivers, but seem to have way more close calls than the rest of us?

[Raekwon]

I agree also be careful when you open your door. If you open your door and I come by and hit it guess who's fault it is . . .

[Bobblehead]

I don't think it matters how fast or slow you are going; when someone is oblivious to their surroundings and opens a car door in front of you or steps off the curb in front of you, you will be slamming on your brakes.

In crappy weather everyone needs to be more aware, those who aren't are just begging to get their ticket punched that much sooner.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

I don't think it matters how fast or slow you are going; when someone is oblivious to their surroundings and opens a car door in front of you or steps off the curb in front of you, you will be slamming on your brakes.

In crappy weather everyone needs to be more aware, those who aren't are just begging to get their ticket punched that much sooner.

Based on your attitude you're probably one of the worst for opening doors unsafely!