some driving observations

i had a meeting that required a 180 mile round trip today. some observations about other people's driving: 1. i think many are shocked when they discover i am not driving 100 mph in my p-car. they often try to follow close behind and lose patience when i'm sticking at around 75 mph in the right lane. 2. when those jokers do drive around me, on the left, they often swerve close as if to threaten me for daring to drive a 911 a mere 75 mph on the interstate. 3. most often those jackholes are driving SUVs or pickups. 4. if you are going to drive an SUV or pickup well above the speed limit, understand that you have the aerodynamic properties of a brick wall and the handling properties of a drunken walrus on dry land. that is not a good combination. most of those people swerve in their lane like drunk drivers. for those in pickups with snow plows it's worse because you have the equivalent of an aircraft wing on it's side mounted to your front bumper. 5. it seems that people do not look at traffic beyond the car in front of them. if i'm going 75 and i slow down cause i see brake lights ahead of me, you should not be surprised and have to slam on your own brakes. am i the only one that tries to observe and be aware of my surroundings? i even, gosh!, look beyond the bumper of the car immediately in front of me. 6. to illustrate this point, i witnessed an impala try to drive under the trailer of a semi on us-23 and m-14 near ann arbor. it did not end well. ambulance and police were alerted. the road was dry and it's not like the semi snuck up on him. it was ahead of him when he hit it. just a few observations. but some high points. i drove early in the morning on the way to the meeting and there was no traffic for 90 miles. man i love to drive my car. and man oh man do michigan roads suck.

I feel your rant... people never cease to amaze me... recently I was in Kansas City, wow... the drivers out there make NJ drivers look like Skip Barber graduates.

Marc, that's saying something, since I have lived in NJ and NJ drivers make Nevada drivers look like Hurley Haywood, and that tells me something about California and Washington state drives ;-)

Dont get me started about the drivers in Mass... AKA, massholes.

I know all too well what you mean in Michigan! The drivers suck and the roads are worse. At least you had a nice drive today

And I thought it was just me... The most entertaining times for me are when those over-accessorized ricers play that edge-ahead game on the freeway... and their frustration when I don't bite... I'm not a racer and this isn't a raceway... and there's no amount of crap you can do to that POS or hang off of it to make it as classy as mine... Rudy ------------------------------ '01 Arctic Silver/Black C2 Cabriolet '03 Silver F-150 Supercrew

They need to include an IQ test before handing out licenses.

Funny, that doesn't happen to me. Must be the tinted windows.

I don't get any of that hostility when I am on the highway. They just pull up next to me... point.... and laugh!

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when I lived and worked in that area was to swerve over into area between the lanes and splash my car with snow/slush. Also, when following a pickup truck be prepared for any time to have paper, trash, plywood, even a dog, come flying out of the bed. Used to like it though when taking 470 north on the east side of KC in Independence cross over I-70 and take the exit after. This exit had a decreasing radius turn that would catch some butt head in a pick up or some other vehicle tail gating me off the exit ramp unawares. Never saw anyone run off road, but many the time I heard the tires squealing as my car easily navigated the exit/turn while the following vehicle's driver was desparately trying to stay on the pavement. And radar traps everywhere! My V1 saved me more than once. Sincerely, Macster.

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couple of Michigan's finest waiting to hand out tickets. I was in VW Golf TDi at time and of course wasn't speeding. And have V1 in VW. Later up on I-96 leaving Grand Rapids had V1 alarm on laser. Tapped brakes just to be sure and looked up just in time to spot officer on over pass up ahead shove his arm out with what was the laser gun. Sure enough it alarmed again but thankfully because I slowed his arm motion didn't trigger an speeding infraction. On past and there were several other drivers pulled over that weren't so fortunate. Oh, and the female officer on 28 when I was in Boxster heading east out of Marquette. My V1 again saved me when it gave me early warning of laser and I was then able to spot her and the laser gun. I think Mich. has more bear traps than Mo. and I did not think that any state could have more bear traps than Mo! Sincerely, Macster.

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Hey, I'm a Masshole! Nothing wrong with MA drivers - they're way better than CA drivers!

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So, is that what a Boston accent sounds like, Wayne??

some driving observations : Yep I know all about #1 - #2 & #3 it is like that across the country from wht I can tell. (Chicago area too) Be careful! 99C2

Yes to all of the above,... But in Seattle area we also have "nice people" they are so damn nice that if an idiot tries to get onto the freeway, but is scared to merge with traffic moving at 50 (ish) mph and descides to just STOP on the onramp and wait.....some NICE person will STOP on the freeway while doing 50... wave the other stopped car over... then some sort of "you first, me first" thing takes place for several seconds... followed by a friendly thank you as the previously parked car on the onramp "merges" at 3 mph..... then the two have a huge happy hard on.... mean while 742 cars have had a near massive pile up... skidding tires and smoke which cause a huge mess behind them as they are completely oblivious to anything ever being anything but another glorious day.... the idiot will be back tomorrow.... stopped and waiting for someone to stop on the freeway and let them in.... and someone will

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We have those in PA - PA drivers are terrible at merging and prefer to stop.... never get on a freeway behind a PA driver - when I forst moved here I almost rear ended several people who came to complete stops when they should have been getting up to speed and merging - downright dangerous.

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Hey, my driving style is a hybrid of the UK, France, CA and MA. I took the defensive driving style of the UK (i.e., I actually leave braking distance to the car in front of me), French overtaking and the aggressive components of CA (without the insane weaving in and out of traffic) and MA (including the liberal use of the horn) that allow me to keep a good pace. ...gotta love having the opportunity to learn driving styles from around the world.

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+1 what's funny (well not HAHA funny) is that to get a license they drive you around on a 25 mph road for 10 minutes, test your parking and hand out the license with "UNLIMITED" road use... hell they is no proof the person can handle going over 25 ! ! ! I think they should make driver pass a much faster test with lane changes and reading signs at 50+ mph before passing them off as "good to go" In fact, there isn't any proof drivers can read the signs as written tests are now offered in your language of choice.... are road signs? (and NO ... lets not go there)

Arizona drivers are my pet peeve. It doesn't help that the roads are set WAY low on the limits.

You must be new to Porsches. This has been going on for decades.

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huh? Doesn't AZ have 75mph freeway limits? I've not seen limits that high anywhere else. When I visit my in-laws the limits generally seem a lot higher than here on the east coast.

We Marylanders all drive courteously with other drivers thoughts, feelings, and well being in mind. We always use our turn signal before changing lanes (in the direction we plan on moving no less!), never tailgate, and wouldn't consider butting into a long line of cars sitting at an exit. Our law enforcement officers have much better things to do than sit in wait for speeders, since we really have none! Come take a drive through the Free State, and you'll see what I mean.

The most valuable driving lesson my dad taught me was to watch 2 cars ahead of you, so you can have time to react without having to jam on the brakes, etc. It's important to see everything that's going on on the road, not just what the moron in front of you is doing! That's why I hate mini vans and large SUVs. You really can't see ahead of them, and it limits your reaction time being stuck behind one. I have the most fun driving when there is no one on the road! Call me anti-social!

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+1

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Yes the highway is 75 but it's normally two lanes and they clog up the fast lane so is a rarity to "get going". Doesn't help to have speeding cameras everywhere either. The weird thing is I-8 is great and people actually stick to the left lane but I-10 between Tucson and Phoenix sucks chickens. When I fly into Tucson and start going into town I keep thinking that there must be some sort of accident ahead because everyones poking along. There not, everything in town is 35-45 and it drives me nuts. I think since I drive I-15 almost daily I forget that we all just use "70" as a reference. Now Texas has 80 for it's limit on some stretches. That's nice until you end up in New Mexico and it goes to 70. It's like New Mexico is giving you the finger.

when going thru Montana (few years back when daytime didn't have a limit) then hit Wyoming and it was a painful 60 mph on road where 100+ would not be an issue... really terrible! What idiot descides these limits (in and out of cities) I have an idea... they should have to "test" the raod to set the limit. For in town this wont work because there are pedestrians to consider... but on the highways... drive the biggest pile of crap as fast as you can... over and over... faster and faster... till it crashes off the road. Then back up the max speed obtained by 20% (hell thats a huge safety factor by ANY industry "standard")THEN any car better than the biggest piece of crap will have no problem at all...

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down Phoenix and maybe Tucson way. NM too has 75mph limit posted for its freeways except through a few sections that pass through towns (Grant comes to mind), cities (Albuquerque -- the sections of highway I-40 west and east of town are heavily patroled... I usually pick up more speed radar hits on my V1 on those sections of than anywhere else across 2000 miles of driving). Texas has 80mph limits on long stretches of interstate I-10 and I-20 way out west. Except at night. And night time limit strictly enforced. Oklahoma and Kansas have 75mph limits on some turnpikes posted with "no tolerance". On a short section of a turnpike in eastern Kansas I managed a real high average speed and received a bit of a hassle when I stopped to pay toll. Machine that scans card emits an average speed and if above posted limit.... Might be a citable thing now but all I got was some static from toll taker. Sincerely, Macster.

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Nope, no sympathy here... our freeways are a mix of 55 and 65mph. The surface streets are 35 and 40mph. The roads that used to be 45mph are rapidly being converted over to 40mph. I received a town newsletter this week that mentioned a new parkway that just broke ground on... 2 lanes each direction and they seemed proud that they had set the speed limit at 40mph - depressing. Even more depressing is that my Acura tells me the avg mph for trips - my drive home from work typically has an average speed of 23mph. It makes me wonder why I bother to drive a Porsche.

This is my first P-car, and it is kind of funny how often someone wants to race from a stop sign or, a little less often for me, on the freeway. Not that I ever take them up on it--a little too mature for this. Also, living in MN, no need to worry about racing on the freeway--the slowest drivers line up in the left lane to keep things under control. Also funny how often you get one or both of these questions when filling up with gas: How fast is it? How much did it cost?

When ever someone asked me how much my 996 cost I would always answer "More than it should."

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I have the most fun driving when there's no one in my garage. Call me whatever you wish.

Do you start it, or just make your own noises?

On my trip out to the hill country today, I had a huge black pickup on raised suspension riding my car's tail while my dad was driving. The pickup pulled into the center lane and started throwing rocks at my car. My dad slowed down and I think avoided the rocks, but I really wish he had just slammed on the brakes to get us away from the grenade launchers that pass for pickup tires around here. Seems that having a Porsche driving the speed limit in front of you is a recipe for road rage.

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Bwahahahah! Phil is a master at making vroomm... vroomm noises. It sounds better than PSE.

I need a sound clip of that!

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Honestly, that's painfull. But at least your not fighting againts 90mph Toyota Sequoia's.... I guess we can't win anywhere....

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You got that right. I honestly wish that I hadn't bothered to notice the average speed, as it is truly depressing - what makes it worse is that all of those roads are posted at an average of 40mph and the combination of stop signs, lights and traffic volume means that your average speed never even gets close to the speed limit.

One thing I noticed a lot of when I first got my Porsche was that other drivers began to treat me different. I'd see people put on their turn signals to cut me off that I KNOW would have gone if I was in another car, but then notice I'm in a Porsche and turn them off and just follow behind. I think there's an expectation of speed that pisses people off when they think you should be going a lot faster. Also, don't forget that Porsche's speedometers real $& #$@&%&%$ low so you might THINK you're going speed limit, but you're actually 5 under, so speed the hell up!

Reading all the posts reminds me of the drivers in South Florida, specifically the Dade County Area. Whole crap! Florida was the first time where I watched people blow-by Cops in a slower lane on the highway. Up here in the NE, you would be pulled over and cavity checked. I lived down in SF for 4 years and was always scared or amazed at the outright madness on the highways. Drive-it-like-you-stole-it pretty much sums it up. The closer you were to Miami the crazier the antics verses driving north to Orlando were Mini-vans are doing 90 mph. Needless to say, in the 4 years I lived down there (SF) I drove spiritedly, received no speeding tickets and was never the fastest on the road (by a long shot). But if you drove in the carpool lane without a passenger during the posted times, the Sheriff Department was always there. Negative was the roads were boring! All strait… RI on the other hand is a large Target parking lot in comparison. Crazing drivers, low speeds. But lots of curves!

I do a lot of driving on the interstates around Birmingham, AL, where you can drive by cops all day doing 85mph without breaking a sweat...so I do. The only cars that pass me, and I mean the only cars that pass me...are trucks and SUVS. Hah, now that I think about it, one time a guy in a mid 90s Accord pulled up to me and started revving his engine. This was on the highway, mind you, so he would pull a little bit ahead, clutch in and bounce it off the rev limiter for a few seconds until he fell behind me then pull back up...rinse repeat. He kept at this for about a minute with no signs of stopping so I felt obliged to do a little sprint to get away before he blew his engine. Aside from him I haven't had anyone try to race me.

Here is a game you can play when cruising on the freeway. I follow a car at a reasonably safe distance, but still fill their mirrors. Slowly, I move to one side of the lane...and they do too. Then I slowly move to the other side of the lane...and they do, too. Works great with women on their cell phones, and senior citizens. They are watching you in their reaview mirror and subconsciously maintaining their place in the lane by what they see in their mirrors. YOU HAVE CONTROL! LOL! It is like a virtual reality game where you are driving them . The brighter the color of your car, the better it works. And you haven't even left your lane like you were going to pass or anything. Then you move quickly to one side and they lurch...!!!!! LOLOL!

Had a local youth in his dad's bright yellow audi try to race me this evening on the highway. This honor student apparently wanted to race from 60 to whatever despite the fact that that the road was wet, it was 29F out, and we were heading up into the mountains. I was nervous even going 55-60 due to the possibly icy conditions. Silly.