13-06-2002 21:58									#61
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quote: Originally posted by drake A tailgater isn't inherently dangerous. Annoying perhaps, but not necessarily a danger.

Unless they are planning on passing you momentarially, they pose a danger to you in the instance that you actually do have to make a stop that they don't expect.

	13-06-2002 22:03									#62
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Cal - http://www.bigdig.com/

Only the biggest single Highway project in US history. In the restructuring effort, almost every road near the site is in continual disrepair. Real mess. Very holy, very confusing, very rough on the vehicle

	13-06-2002 22:07									#63
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So you guys need suvs too.

	13-06-2002 22:23									#64
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Well it makes sense traffic-wise, but actually since the general rule is that the one coming from the right has priority, these who enter the roundabout have priority because we are turning rightwards. I don't know if the UK roundabouts are turning leftwards, but if they do, the same rule (left priority) should apply.

The most reasonable explanation is the role of roundabouts in the US and UK. There you have them in big intersections with heavy traffic, while we have only a few big ones and many smaller ones, where the "do as you would do in any intersenction" rule is more practical. In fact a know a couple of bid roundabouts in Athens where they have reversed priorities using stop signs.

As for the usefulness of paralell parking and manual gearbox, it is essential because you may very well find yourself in a situation where you will need to do it and then the trouble will be larger. In fact I believe that people should be examined in manuevering with trailers and moving in slippery road conditions.

	13-06-2002 22:24									#65
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Roundabouts?

We in Jersey are the only state in the union with things called 'jughandles'. I think other states should adopt them as well

	13-06-2002 22:26									#66
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quote: Originally posted by MrFun Um, cool -- so where did I comment on U-turns, anyway??

You dismissed the idea that there were different rules in different states.

	13-06-2002 22:28									#67
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quote: Originally posted by drake People that slam on their brakes in front of people they think are tailing too close are much bigger morons than the tailgaters themself. A tailgater isn't inherently dangerous. Annoying perhaps, but not necessarily a danger.

If you have to slam on your brakes all of a sudden for real, the tailgater becomes a life-threatening danger. Even thinking about tailgators makes me mad.

	13-06-2002 22:30									#68
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quote: USA Drivers licences

Woohoo, I can claim a moral victory for British spelling

Well OK, you're an NZer, but you are resident in the US, and that's close enough for me

	13-06-2002 22:34									#69
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I must admit though that from what I have heard from other people, the US system of licencing seems incredibly laxed. Over here it is very difficult to get a driving licence. And I still think there should be further training to learners in motorway driving. From what I see, skills are woefully lacking in this department. However, it is not allowed for a learner to drive on a motorway, which is a bit silly in this regard.

	13-06-2002 22:37									#70
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quote: Originally posted by Provost Harrison Woohoo, I can claim a moral victory for British spelling Well OK, you're an NZer, but you are resident in the US, and that's close enough for me

well how do americans spell it?

	13-06-2002 22:37									#71
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Someone thats not paying attention is 10X more likely to hit you than someone whos tailgaiting you che.

I've been in back of a few retards who in their judgement thought I was too close to them and slammed on their brakes, coming close to causing accidents. Now how smart is that? Someone causing an accident because they, in their opinion, feel someone behind them were too close and were causing a danger to them. When in reality they are the one who is dangerous with their temper and poor judgement.

Laughable in fact.

	13-06-2002 22:39									#72
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quote: Originally posted by Caligastia Until recently (when they changed the rules) my New Zealand drivers license said: expiry 2045

Looks like ive subconciously been using the american spelling too!

	13-06-2002 22:41									#73
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It is license in the US (so I believe).

Yeah, my driving licence doesn't expire until 2047

	13-06-2002 22:45									#74
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Mine is expiring in 2044. I guess that Greece has a 65yo expiry and the UK has it at 70yo...

	13-06-2002 22:55									#75
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Drake, I have had to slam hard on the brakes coming to a complete stop o an interstate because of deer. If someone had been tailgating me, he would have come through the back of my car.

I have also notied people tailgating me when I was driving a rental truck, and could not easily see people behind me. I could have had to slow suddenly without realizing that person was there.

	13-06-2002 22:57									#76
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Yeah, you have to take a medical every two years after the age of 70 to get your licence renewed...

	13-06-2002 23:04									#77
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Yes, but in the end though Che, you can only really worry about yourself. Getting caught up with what people behind you are doing distracts a driver even more.

And though you have HAD to slam on your brakes, theres no guarantee that a tailgater would slam you. Granted the reaction time is much lower, but it would certainly be possible for someone behind you to stop too. If a guy was ten car lengths behind you, looked down to adjust his radio and looked up to see you coming to a screeching halt, he probably wouldnt be able to stop either.

I don't like tailgaters either, I was simply stating that a person that slames on their breaks, creating imminent danger to both themselves and the people behind them, are more reckless and dangerous than the tailgaters themselves.

	13-06-2002 23:08									#78
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quote: Originally posted by Caligastia Ive always thought its crazy that each state has its own drivers license and road rules.

Agreed, varying regulations just serve to confuse the public and allow for police abuse. Road rules, as well as the entire criminal code should be standardized. There's really no need for states. The states should be eliminated alltogether.

	13-06-2002 23:09									#79
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BAH!

	13-06-2002 23:10									#80
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Even more dangerous that tailgaters are people who forget to replace their brake lights when they're burned out.

There are too many of these SoBs in the Greek roads. And what's the worst, once you crash on them, you can no longer prove that the bastard had no brake lights.

Always check your lights folks.

	13-06-2002 23:31									#81
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Yeah, brakelights are a very hard thing to keep track of though, my dad noticed I had one out the other day, replaced now.

Tailgaters are the worst though IMO, really, really annoy me.

	13-06-2002 23:44									#82
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Tailgating is bad. Slamming on breaks to get tailgater to move back also bad. I tend to tap my breaks (just so the lights go on w/o slowing down) three times in quick succession. They usually get the idea.

Most annoying things on the road for me:

1) failure to signal
2) failure to use the left lane on the highway properly (it's the PASSING LANE you morons!)
3) failure to keep your vehicle in your own bloody lane.
4) On non-highways, or in heavy highway traffic, the guy who blows by everyone in the "right turn only" lane or exit ramp or shoulder, only to cut back in at the last possible moment. Don't be that guy.
5) Tailgating (usually only bugs me if they are really, really close - like in my trunk).

Basically, as George Carlin put it: Anyone who drives slower than you is a moron and anyone who drives faster than you is a maniac.

-Arrian

	13-06-2002 23:47									#83
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quote: Originally posted by Arrian Basically, as George Carlin put it: Anyone who drives slower than you is a moron and anyone who drives faster than you is a maniac. -Arrian

Hehe, so true...My speed is variable. Around urban areas I am quite slow and conscientious, after all, with all the traffic lights and junctions, you aren't getting anywhere any faster..

...get me on the open road and I go like sh*t off a stick...

So what annoys me are the people who 'drive 50 on any road'...it's a hazard on an urban road because of their excessive speed, and a hazard on a major road like a motorway because you are not keeping up with the flow of traffic.

But yeah, people who do not signal are one of my pet peeves (*ahem* taxi drivers). I am sure they expect other people to be psychic.

	13-06-2002 23:51									#84
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quote: 4) On non-highways, or in heavy highway traffic, the guy who blows by everyone in the "right turn only" lane or exit ramp or shoulder, only to cut back in at the last possible moment. Don't be that guy.

Ahh yes, my name for that is the "special person" lane. It's for the people who feel they're better than everyone else and deserve special treatment.

There's also the "I have a cell phone" right of way rule. In an intersection, the person with the phone has the right of way. NO MATTER WHAT. Get out of their way, because if they are on their phone, they MUST be really really important people

Arrian, I've been known to "accidentally" swerve in front of people trying to pass in the breakdown lane...oops

	13-06-2002 23:52									#85
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I should try that... those 'special people' really get on my nerves... and people actually let them in!!!

	13-06-2002 23:53									#86
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A bus driver with a bad attitude is worst of all. He will crash into you and then you will have to pay him too, because he always has priority.

	14-06-2002 00:02									#87
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quote: Originally posted by drake I want to know what some of these rules are that differ state to state and could pose a risk. I can't think of any traffic laws that are specific only to single states.

No speed limit on open highways. Montana had that. They may have dropped it after the death shot up though.

Helmet laws were not universal for a long time. California finally gave up fighting against helmet laws and now it may be the law in all states.

Right hand turn on a red light is legal some places and ilegal in others.

	14-06-2002 00:17									#88
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quote: Originally posted by drake Arrian, I've been known to "accidentally" swerve in front of people trying to pass in the breakdown lane...oops

I've been known to try and block those yo-yos too, but I don't drive a monster SUV, so it's tough to block them completely. There sure seem to be a lot of these "special people" up here in the NE. Probably has to do with the traffic density.

By the way, I really do pity you... the Big Dig is an atrocity. Besides forcing all sorts of bizarre ramps and curves to get around it, it looks like a strip mine.

Imran,

I am consistently boggled by that too! Why people let them in without a fight is beyond me.

-Arrian

	14-06-2002 00:18									#89
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quote: Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui I should try that... those 'special people' really get on my nerves... and people actually let them in!!!

The people who let them in piss me off more than the arsehole in the breakdown lane.

	14-06-2002 00:19									#90
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Sheesh, doing anything like that on the hardshoulder (or to you, breakdown lane so it would appear) is very rare. If they were caught doing that, the penalty would be very hefty...