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I take some of what I learned in Motorcycle Safety Foundation Classes and use it when driving other vehicles.
Someone following too close? Slow down and allow more stopping room between myself and the vehicle I'm behind. This gives me more reaction time and can save my rear end. In many cases if I'm being tail gated and I slow down, they'll pass. Then I can go back along my merry way. And i had to get over the whole, "I have the right of way" mentality. Because on a motorcycle vs. anything the motorcycle will usually lose even if I did have the right of way. So I drive like I'm invisible. If I assume NO ONE sees me and knows I'm there then I'm always on the alert for what other idiots might do. Like yesterday I was headed straight down Lancaster towards I-20 from the VA hospital. I saw a woman at a stop sign waiting to turn right onto Lancaster. I had the right of way. Looking at her front tires I saw her getting ready to pull right out in front of me. Since I couldn't change to another lane I hit the brakes. Though I did lay on the horn I'm doubtful that little pitiful sound did much. She did wave to apologize when I got in the other lane to pass her. Remember with a smaller vehicle you'll seem further away than you are. Make sure to glance at front tires to see if they're going to pull out in front of you. It's a better indicator than looking at the driver.
That's some of the best advice ever. Defensive driving: assume you're invisible and that some kid or animal will dart out in front of you, and plan for evasive action as much as possible.
I haven't set up my GPS in the car yet, but according to one of those road-side speed indicators the local law enforcement uses, my speedometer is reading about 4 mph faster than actual.
From a few months of reading smart forums, it looks like the 451's are consistently reading 2-4 mph fast on the speedometer. I'm use to the opposite and have to compensate when on the freeway. So far only 3 or 4 tailgaters with one particularly annoying man near Berkeley, who was so close it made me laugh, until I saw his angry face and quickly moved out of his way.
Either people have recently priced the value of their 300+ HP V8's and are acting out the frustration of being stuck with a worthless car. Or they hate anything that is so different they don't understand it.
I think we have an officer that owns a smart. I would love to get his input on the subject. It seems to be an issue. I was sitting in traffic this morning and someone drifted into me!!! No damage, but it proves people get too close too often.
This may sound silly but you can buy an LED sign with moving letters that spells out a message. Like "GET OFF MY A**" they are put on your rear widow by suction cups and are operated by remote control. They're about $50
This may sound silly but you can buy an LED sign with moving letters that spells out a message. Like "GET OFF MY A**" they are put on your rear widow by suction cups and are operated by remote control. They're about $50
Hey... you might be on to something here!
This might be just to tool to automatically answer all the questions!
We could program it to scroll through all the basic information:
"It's a Smart car, 40 mpg, $13,500, Dealership on 96th street, 2 seater, safe car, not electric, and, yes, I love it!"
People could read all the answers to their questions and then back off. GRIN
hi Bull8042, That might have been the same blond in an old focus, that tail gated me from where you live all the way through Fort Mill, till the Bi Lo Off 160!!! I mean she was in the back with my dog!! Crazy!! Also as a side note, I went to the factory that makes the COCO-MATS custom. Very nice fellow mine will be ready tomorrow. Black and gold to match the SMART. I will post the whole process in pix's as to how they are made right here in FT MILL> SC !!! Much betterfit then any I have seen,and are priced well. See you when I get back from Fla. p1nball LINK Default, Car and Rubber
I get angry too. It is many times a person talking on a phone that's tailgating.
I especially get annoyed when I'm in the slow lane and they are too close. Several times I have opened my window, slowed down a bit and motioned them to pass.
Most are puzzled and remain behind... but then at a respectable distance. Those that pass have accomplished their goal and that's that. I then drive right behind them, but keep a normal distance. Should we meet at a light I give them the evil eye. Those that are still talking on the phone... I could moon them (perish the thought) and they probably still wouldn't notice.
I know there isn't much car behind the seat, but it seems like nearly every day or two I have some jerk riding my butt! The last one was an early-20's blond chick on a cell phone. I wanted to slam on the brakes, but I guess that is a pretty stupid thing to do..... And I normally do the speed limit + 5, so I am not poking along.
People just don't realize how much quicker we can stop than them. That forces us into a last-minute decision... do we stop and avoid the frontal impact and get hammered in the rear from the idiot tailgater, or....really, I guess there is no decent decision under those circumstances.
I just wish people would stay off of my tail! I am seriously considering a spud gun with a short barrel and an automatic hatch release and positioning platform. A lettuce launcher.... A 4" PVC barrel loaded with a dozen Roma tomatoes! Hmmmm....
No matter what you drive there is always some jerk or jerkette riding up your tailpipe.
Remember with a smaller vehicle you'll seem further away than you are.
Angel has a very important observation. One of the major clues for judging depth perception (ie, distance from objects is size). Until "joe driving public" sees the smart size on a regular basis, he/she will think it is further away than it really is. Also, the urban myth that small things, ie small cars, will not hurt you, you can drive out in front of them at will with your monster cars.
All of the above for me as well, it seems this little car gets very little respect.
On a lighter note, I had a guy pull up next to me on a motorcycle the other day (at a signal) and motioned for me to roll down my window. When I did, the first words out of his mouth were, "That looks F-ing dangerous!" When I gestured to him that he was on a bike, he instantly understood it was no more dangerous than what he was on.
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