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It's hard to say what is the worst since I live in NJ and driving in general around here is pretty much a circus. Take all the "worsts" you have ever seen, and imagine them taking place day-to-day in the most densely populated state in the country. Some people say NJ drivers are the "worst". On the contrary, I think we are some of the best given that most of us manage to get from A to B without dieing while lunacy reigns around us.
There was one "stunt" that I personally thought was beyond retarded. I was on the NJ Turnpike where it is only two lanes in each direction (four total) and trucks and cars are intermingled. I was in a construction zone where both shoulders were closed which basically meant we were running through a cattleshoot. Traffic was moving at about 45mph and I was sitting next to an 18-wheeler. Had a guy on motorcycle blow past me on the lane marker lines between the truck and I. He must have been going about 70+. Considering how tight the truck and I were he probably had just enough room to squeeze between us without hitting either one. He actually startled me when he went by and thankfully for him I didn't yank the wheel or he would have been road kill.
It's hard to say what is the worst since I live in NJ and driving in general around here is pretty much a circus. Take all the "worsts" you have ever seen, and imagine them taking place day-to-day in the most densely populated state in the country. Some people say NJ drivers are the "worst". On the contrary, I think we are some of the best given that most of us manage to get from A to B without dieing while lunacy reigns around us.
There was one "stunt" that I personally thought was beyond retarded. I was on the NJ Turnpike where it is only two lanes in each direction (four total) and trucks and cars are intermingled. I was in a construction zone where both shoulders were closed which basically meant we were running through a cattleshoot. Traffic was moving at about 45mph and I was sitting next to an 18-wheeler. Had a guy on motorcycle blow past me on the lane marker lines between the truck and I. He must have been going about 70+. Considering how tight the truck and I were he probably had just enough room to squeeze between us without hitting either one. He actually startled me when he went by and thankfully for him I didn't yank the wheel or he would have been road kill.
I was on the 99/50/I-5 interchange area in Sacramento (traffic is always horrible there) and saw a motorcycle being a bit too aggressive in his lane splitting. Now, I do split lanes when I ride, so I'm not at all opposed to it in principle, just not the way he was doing it. Too fast, splitting lanes in a turn, didn't look like he was looking far ahead (why split when there's an opening about to come up?).... A minute later he'd spilled his bike and was blocking traffic picking it up. Looked okay, bruised ego and probably your typical damage to the fairings in a low-speed parking lot spill. I didn't stop, but I wonder if he ever learned anything from the experience.
Traffic was moving at about 45mph and I was sitting next to an 18-wheeler. Had a guy on motorcycle blow past me on the lane marker lines between the truck and I. He must have been going about 70+. Considering how tight the truck and I were he probably had just enough room to squeeze between us without hitting either one. He actually startled me when he went by and thankfully for him I didn't yank the wheel or he would have been road kill.
I seen the same thing in California, bikers speeding down the lines between lanes at 60+ MPH when traffic is moving less then 30. I was very surprised to learn this is perfectly legal in California.
Speaking of lane splitting, that reminds me of this Youtube video showing a lane splitting motorcyclist in Japan. It's an old one, but in case you've not seen it, here is a link. Apparently it's common in Japan, although I don't think most are this aggressive.
The dumbest things I have seen on the road have just about all been on crotch rockets.
- Passing slowed traffic on the shoulder going 100+ mph
- People pulling wheelies going down the interstate at 70-80 mph, with a passenger on the back. I have seen people do this with ATVs as well.
- Stoppies
- Shoe surfing. I guy I know hit a metal light pole while doing this. Wrecked his bike and gave himself a concussion despite him wearing a helmet, and he was going "only" around 20 mph.
The dumbest things I have seen anybody do on four wheels besides the wheelie pulling ATV riders pale in comparison. I saw an oblivious person who had at least two flat tires continuing to drive down the highway showering sparks from the rims. I saw another oblivious person continue to drive a late model Taurus with a locked up driver's side rear wheel for several miles down city streets, stopping at several lights before they realized what was going on (the pull to one side and the massive cloud of acrid smoke didn't give it away?) I have seen people blow engines doing burnouts and such, I don't think that quite qualifies as they weren't really on the road. Although, a runaway diesel pickup engine after the overboosted turbo's oil seal blows is pretty impressive to watch.
One behavior I'll never understand is people's tendency to tailgate somebody pulling a trailer.
When my sons & I did a sideline lawn-care service, we were usually pulling an open 20' tandem-axle trailer that was loaded with equipment. EVERY day there would be somebody driving within 3' - 5' of the back of the trailer. It happened ALL the time, and at all speeds. I have no idea why.
Hypermilers do this to maximize fuel economy by riding the slipstream created by your trailer.
I've been down a two lane carriageway with a vehicle coming the wrong way at me. I was in a driving school car, learning to drive in the 1970s.
I've seen so much over the years but I guess one memorable event was a car coming across the median from the opposite direction in the wet and missing me by a few feet.
I had a tire from a truck explode and bounce over my car, overtook a car just as his rear wheel came off, had a trailer shed its load right in front of me, had a suitcase come off a roof rack of the vehicle in front of me on the freeway, a brick come off a lorry and take out my sump.......................
Location: The Circle City. Sometimes NE of Bagdad.
24,458 posts, read 25,995,249 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by josh u
Yeah, women have definitely caught up to men in many areas such as wages, suffrage, and now aggressive driving. While the average male is probably more aggressive than the average female, I think the most aggressive drivers are women.
I was once driving in moderate traffic at 65 MPH on the right lane. Traffic was flowing 65-75. Out of nowhere this dumb 20ish chick in a Toyota goes flying past me at 85 MPH like a bat out of hell -- ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER!!!!!
Definitely have notice a up tic in young girls/women driving unsafely.
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Death wish I guess.
