Driving around the greater Detroit area people seem to be nicer to the smart then my old car. There are only two problems:
1. People feeling completely emasculated when I pass them causing them to speed up to 85+ just to go prove that their car can go faster then mine.
2. When your at a stop sign and cross traffic doesn't stop people start gawking and slow down when they see my smart(can't gawk and operate the gas at the same time i guess). This gets extremely irritating as pulling out into traffic becomes a real PITA sometimes.
I have had 3 incidents 1 was a soccer mom who just could not stop her stare until she hit the car in front of her, and the other was a dumb redneck who decided to swerve at me while the Frederick County Sheriff was behind me with his son. I jammed the brakes and the lights came on behind me as the sheriff pulled out on the redneck and pulled him over. The last was the funniest because it involves a little old lady who has to be my Grandmothers age, she decided it was her duty to follow me into a parking lot and inform me I was a jackass and was going to cause someone to get killed because I was driving such a small car. Small cars should not be allowed on public roads she snarled as she drove away in her Excursion.
I've read some posts on here about people shoving them around on the road and cutting them off and such, and I wonder just how much this happens.
I live in the DC metro area - not a forgiving place to be driving. I've had my smart about 2.5 weeks, and have covered 590 miles so far. Not once have I had someone give me a hard time or drive like a jackass around me. if anything, people seem to be friendly and let me in in traffic and such. There are a decent amount of smarts on the road around here (compared to other areas from what I understand), so I'm curious as to when the novelty will wear off for other drivers.
That being said, at 6'2 and 220 lbs, I'm quite obviously a member of the big guy in a small car category - so I'm not sure if that has something to do with it or not. I drive it like a normal car... on the highway I'm usually in the middle to left lane and doing 75+ MPH, I have always been one to signal all of the time, and while I am bring friendly to my engine, I get up to speed quickly, and I don't abuse the small size of my car.
Just out of curiosity - how many of you have been the subject of smart rage?
I can't say that I've had any experience with "smart rage", but what I have found is that it seems as though some people equate "small car" with "slow car". Even when I'm doing 75 mph on the highway, some people just MUST get in front of me. I have deduced that they think that, since my car is small, it also must be slow!
The last was the funniest because it involves a little old lady who has to be my Grandmothers age, she decided it was her duty to follow me into a parking lot and inform me I was a jackass and was going to cause someone to get killed because I was driving such a small car. Small cars should not be allowed on public roads she snarled as she drove away in her Excursion.
Dink
She is just mad she did not know about the SAFE COOL CARS. Heck she is also mad she is paying a ton for gas when you are not. Cheers. Heck with her and all ppl that are like her. Eat our shorts!!
I live in central New Jersey. I have not experienced Smart rage. One time some one did mumble something in my direction but I have no idea what he said. It is usually smiles and waves and an occasional honks. Most just ignore my little car. I think this is a good thing. From what others have reported, I guess New Jersians are just politer than alot of other people? (perhaps I am just a little biased too ).
The last was the funniest because it involves a little old lady who has to be my Grandmothers age, she decided it was her duty to follow me into a parking lot and inform me I was a jackass and was going to cause someone to get killed because I was driving such a small car. Small cars should not be allowed on public roads she snarled as she drove away in her Excursion.
Dink
Im sure that's what the dinosaurs said when little mammals started to appear.
And I think that my wife and I qualify for being DINKs. Double Income No Kids
Most people are quite friendly and point, smile or wave. The worst time I've had has been from three little old ladies sitting outside a restaurant when I pulled up. Despite 10 minutes of conversation on the safety features of the car they refused to believe and told me what a fool I was to be driving around such a tiny car. It seems some people are too old and set in their ways to accecpt this car.
Anolther incident I had was from someone being overly polite. A woman was pulling onto the freeway in her big truck, saw me coming and stopped halfway in the lane and waived me on. There was a lot of rage surrounding that incident, but not directed at me.
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