I can't see my nose! (Re: front end clearance)

[Snefferdoodle]

Originally Posted by 2micro4u

The only problem I had was people tail gating me. Even when I drive 5 over the speed limit.

This has happened to me, too. I have actually GLARED at someone through my side mirror!

[doenut]

Originally Posted by Suze

I think people who drive big cars believe it is their right to always be in front of littler cars. I've noticed more of this lately - they pass very quickly and pull in right in front, then slow down to normal speed.

There is no logical explanation for this, so I came up with my theory of "big cars right of entitlement".

I know one should not generalize, but in this world, big cars usually equals small men (and I mean that in every possible way! Physical and MENTAL size!). Or, as Tim Taylor would say, "More Power!!!", UGH, UGH, UGH!

[MPrice2984]

I was on my way home the other night on I94 (and doing 81mph - 26 over the limit) and had a couple of punks in a BMW335i come up behind me at hyperspeed. Since I was in the left lane and could not get over due to the 20 or so semi's in the other lanes, I expected him to slow down - he didn't - so I brake checked him when he was so close I could count his zits! He backed off then.

[SylenThunder]

At one point I started a design on a HERF gun to mount on the front of the car, but then they made them illegal here so Ihad to cancel the design. it would still be neat to just blast them and stall the car out when they cut you off.

[PerryA]

Originally Posted by gryphon

I suspect this same type of traffic flow bias exists against our smarts, just like any other vehicle we pre-judge as an obstacle to our progress whether it really is or not. I'm just as guilty of this as are the drivers who do this to me. It's just human nature.

Some people just don't want ANYONE in front of them. I just figure I'm not that anxious to meet them, so I drop back and let them crash into someone else. Problem is, they are more likely to cause someone else to have a crash as they speed on their merry way than they are to be involved themselves. Basically, most of us see the behaviour and steer clear of them.

[PerryA]

Originally Posted by chieftmc

Having ridden motorcycles, scooters, bicycles, etc. for the last 40+ years, you can NOT fight for your piece of the road being smaller than the other guy! You WILL lose

Just laugh it off, be safe and enjoy your smart; I do

Me too. Not worth the stomach acid.

And as for the spiky things suggested earlier, I have typically put a trailer hitch on my cars and learned it is a real plus in a rear collision. A body shop told me on my Rav4 that they had a similar vehicle in the week before and the whole floor pan was rolled up like a sardine can lid. He said my trailer hitch had probably saved me having 3X the damage and cost. Oddly enough, I got hit from the rear three times in that car and the other guy got the worst of it all three times. And I never towed a thing with the hitch. It ended up being a bumper reenforcement for 11 years. I sold my previous car with a hitch and the guy who bought it came back to me one day and said, I see why you had that hitch. Why? I asked. He got rear-ended and it saved him having any significant damage.

Wouldn't mind the added protection on the Smart. Maybe the wind up key would do a good job of making people back off because it would give the car more length.

[ssppxyz]

Originally Posted by SylenThunder

At one point I started a design on a HERF gun to mount on the front of the car, but then they made them illegal here so Ihad to cancel the design. it would still be neat to just blast them and stall the car out when they cut you off.

A cop wouldn't even know what it is/does...

[jose3030]

As an excellent driver, I tend to follow the "Europe" style of driving (if you're going same or slower than someone, GET THE F to the right). However, I too have been seeing this bias towards the smart. Today actually, there were 4 cars in the right lane and 2 cars in left, mine being one of them. Well I looked in my rear view and someone that was coming up had a choice. Get to left lane and be behind me? Or get in the right and be behind like 4-5 other cars? They chose the right lane and probably regretted it when he saw how quick the Smart pulled away. SUCKER.