I'm a sensitive American - who thinks that most Americans drive well

[yamahammerFJ]

Funny thing is, lawson will be back again, trolling for info when something breaks or needs fixing on his FJ.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT0OqHr3wHQ

[Lotsokids]

Just alot of rude and inconsiderate people out there, locked into their own little world with no regard for the other people around them..

At least when I'm on the FJ I can easily overtake, out run these troubled drivers and separate myself from what could become a bad situation.
Not many car drivers are going to ring up 130 mph on the speedo to stay in the fight.
I like my separation while traveling, no matter where I'm going, and I will make adjustments to provide myself with clear distances ahead and behind me, making my own 'safe' zone.

There are idiots everywhere on the road, and it's those that make driving a challenge.

Be safe out there guys, and hold back on the road rage, it will be your undoing.
Concentrate, use your head, and pick your battles, the one you give in to may be the one that saves your life.

Leon

Well said, Leon. While on my way home from work when I lived in Tacoma, WA, there is a 3-lane exit. The far right peels off and connects to another road, then the other two exit left and under the freeway. I was in the center lane (that exits left) and a car came up on my right and at the last minute, merged left INTO MY LANE, pushing me left toward the car to my left. Picture going into a corner riding the center line BETWEEN TWO CARS. That will make a person angry. This happened to me not once, but on TWO occasions. All I could do is gently let off the gas and get out of that situation! Then after-the-fact I think of how I could have got his attention by kicking his driver's door. Who knows...

[Kopfjaeger]

agreed. the problem is no longer a problem if its behind you. i reckon thats why cagers dont get bikes.... most dont create space cos they are "in" a space. but the flip side of the coin is everyone just tends to see "motorcycle hooligan speeding past". and lotsokids apologies for not reading your profile properly and seeing you were an eniginecycle instructor. bit of an aside.... having never kicked a door to get attention... i d like to knock up a holster and a super soaker type water pistol that holds brake fluid. likes paint i believ that stuff.... chuckles ... or the old handful of ball bearings over the shoulder.... but im not that silly to actually provoke cagers like that, because, although they are perhaps driving dangerously its not my job to help them kill them selves. get out get past get away and enjoy the ride.

[billwest]

When wifey and I visitied the US last year, we drove 5000 miles, from California through to Texas.  We were quite impressed with the way people drove over there, except maybe in New Mexico, where they resembled some of the lousy drivers where I live (nothing against New Mexicans, btw, some of them are relatives).

My favourite "revenge" on errant drivers who upset me when I ride, is to knock off their off-side mirror.

Bill.

[andyb]

The left lane is the "Hammer Lane" and that means if you are doing the max speed limit or slower, you still belong in the right lane...GET IT? LOL!!

Best drivers I've ever seen were actually in MO around St. Louis.  People would see you catching up and actually move.  It was lovely.  Worst may have been in SD, where the speed limit was considered far too fast, setting my cruise at the limit meant I passed nearly everyone.

As far as the hammer lane, 294/190 (or whatever it is, the n/s bypass in chicago) is insane.  Posted 65mph, and anything under 80 will get you blown off the road, in any lane (5 each way).  Really fun to play on it with a good bike though, the cars don't have nearly the thrust at those speeds

And night time drivers that gain on me on a 2 lane black top at a high rate of speed, but then refuse to be brave enough to make the pass, just piss me off with their damn headlights shining in my mirror.
I even slow to make it easier for them to go around, and they still don't.
And forget about speeding up, because they will just speed up with me...WHY?

Because they're not good drivers, they're on autopilot.  It's very common for someone to stop watching their actual speed, and instead "lock on" to the car in front of them, where they will maintain whatever speed that car does.  It takes about 25mph over their default speed to get them to realize that they're really going faster than they want to.  It drives me absolutely batty, also; it means there's someone out who's not paying attention.

As far as idiots on the road, yes, they're out there.  I must say that I feel much safer on a bike than in a cage though, because I'm blessed with hugely better brakes and power when I need them.  Almost every wreck I hear about can be attributed to the rider doing something wrong.  Defensive driving/riding isn't about going slow and being annoying, it's about not putting yourself in a position where someone else's inattention can hurt you (and minimizing the odds when you absolutely don't have any choice).

When I had a Miata, I drove it in the winter months on icy, slick roads.  Being a light RWD car, it was a bit of a handful, but it was so controllable that if you didn't mind being a little sideways constantly it was a total riot to drive.  What annoyed me was people in their great big SUVs or trucks who would sit right on my bumper while I drove through town, as they very obviously were thinking "hurry up, I've got 4wd, this isn't that hard!"  The reality is their 4wd means that they have four wheels to accellerate with, but the same two to turn and the same two doing the bulk of their braking as I did.  So I'd often intentionally slide sideways for a good distance, and you could see them thinking "Holy shit, this guy is one of those idiots that I've always heard about, I'm going to give him a LOT of room so he doesn't hit me!" whereas in reality I just wanted them to back the hell off.  Usually worked really well, and then I'd have a nice pocket to drive home (safely, albeit a pinch sideways) in. 

The best part of having that car was the RWD, by far.  A car was riding on my bumper through town one summer, and I knew that a road was under construction and gravel for the construction, so I turned onto it and their nice shiny caddy impatiently went by... right as I mashed down my right hoof and coated them with gravel   Silly, silly....

[Ganboy70]

Yeah - that's the same guy who had that other issue with the guy selling his FJ who I ended up banning (the one and only person I've ever banned).  It seems that drama follows him wherever he goes...    negative  Obviously it is now clear that he provokes it.  Our job is to not bite...

...Go somewhere else Lawson, we've all had enough of your drama.

[Lotsokids]

Being a light RWD car, it was a bit of a handful, but it was so controllable that if you didn't mind being a little sideways constantly it was a total riot to drive.

I had one of those also. You actually steer with your gas pedal on slick surfaces. Ha ha!