Serious Stupid Driving

[Marcus]

REALLY NEED TO GET THIS OFF MY CHEST AS ITS GOT ME IN A REAL BAD MOOD.

Just been out in my friends car for a drive, he is normally a sensible driver and what not but when we are with other drivers he tends to show off, today he took it too far by driving through an obvious red light, i went beserk and told him too take me home cause i don't want to be in the car with him when he is driving like a fucking arsehole. The rest of the people including the driver just laughed and called me a pussy and what no. and thats what really annoyed me.

 

[blakstang98]

I'm with ya all the way on this one man. I've been a part of this "time for me to showoff" act before, and it's a pretty scary concept. Most people really take for granted how dangerous driving is, mainly because most of them do it pretty much everyday and get from point A to point B without anything scary happening. People seem to overlook the fact that they can basically get broad-sided going around the corner from their house, and lose their life. I get very angry about aggressive drivers in general, just because they're endangering everyone else's life on the streets, as well as their own. I make sure to be sharper than usual whenever I have someone else in the car with me, because now it's more than just my life at stake. If only others would have the mindset to be aware of the fact that they are driving a machine that can take lives fairly easily when used improperly.

 

[Channizard]

I've never been a part of the whole 'show off' crew myself, mainly because I drive a little car that's very light and can pretty much fly off the handle with ease. The other day though on the way to work, I was driving down the main street, going 50km, the speed limit in town.. when a guy just whips out from an intersection. The intersection didn't have lights, it's mainly a residential area so it doesn't need it.. or something.

I had to swerve into the other lane to avoid him, because he came out and nearly rammed into me when he was going into the other lane. When I saw him coming out (I didn't see him at the intersection because there was a truck parked on the corner.. ALSO bad) I saw him looking in the opposite direction for the other traffic.. not for oncoming traffic.

fucking douche

 

[Rapture]

I was very nearly the victim of someone who ran a red light. I was at a stop light and when the light turned green I looked both ways (like I usually do) and I started going through the light. For whatever reason, something persuaded me to look in my rearview and sure enough, I caught a very brief glimpse of a black car maybe an inch or two from hitting my rear quarter panel...and he was going like 50 mph in a 30 zone. The only reason I didn't see him is because from the left of the light I was going through, there was a hill and he was going so fast that I didn't see him barreling out of nowhere.

I have no doubt in my mind that if I hadn't have started going through the light exactly when I did, I would've died. I was so scared I had to pull over on my way to work and call someone, and when I did I broke down crying. Please, people. If you know people who drive like this and think they could be the daring "run the red light" kind of people, don't drive with them. If they are just driving by themselves there's no one to show off to and therefore no need for the stupidity as we have enough stupid people on the road as it is...and please give yourself extra time when you are trying to get somewhere that way you don't have to speed and run red lights. Is killing someone because you might be 5 minutes late to get somewhere or want to be daring and are trying to impress your friends worth leaving a hole in someone else's family and having flashbacks for the rest of your life?

 

[Dee]

Tell me about it. When I'm by myself, I drive a little more dangerously. But when I have other people in the car, I try not to drive so crazily because 1) I know it may/probably will freak them out; 2) it's incredibly dangerous; 3) it's disrespectful; and 4) I would feel real bad if something ever happened and it was my fault. I'd say that's pretty damn rude what your friend did (and the rest of the jerks in the car). If you can, just don't drive with them anymore. And if you must, ask them to just take it down a notch because it scares the living daylights out of you and you'd rather not die.

There was an incident down in California when my family and I were visiting. My little brother likes to show off when he's with his friends, so we went to one of the malls. Like the show off he is, he jets off even faster than the native Californians (we're native too but we don't live there anymore). I just asked him to go the speed limit at least and not swerve around or text like he was doing/talking/paying attention to his friend more so than the road. But, of course, he did not listen to me.

At that point, I just stopped talking to him (completely; he was asking me where I wanted to go to eat and I just said nothing at all). And finally when we sat down for lunch and his friend had gone off to the restroom, we had a serious talk. I told him it wasn't so much of the crazy driving (it was still a bit), but rather, the disrespect for other people in the vehicle. While something probably won't happen, the chances of getting into a car accident are great and he would feel bad if anything happened to his friend, himself or worse, his only sister. I think he got the idea that I was just disappointed and upset by the way he treated me (laughed it off) more than anything.

So I dunno, you could approach it that way. Maybe they'll take things a little more seriously if you're respectful to them as well.

 

[Cecil Strife]

I haven't started to drive yet, but when I'm with an older friend or something and they're driving like a complete idiot, I usually get pissed off. The roads are already dangerous enough, why make them worse? When your flying by ten other cars at 50 miles per hour in a 35 MPH zone, do you even pay attention to the 2-ton machines surrounding you? I'm pretty sure that getting your face smashed in by that would be pretty painfull, or you wouldn't feel it since your already dead. What's more important? Getting to your house 5 minutes faster or your life and everyone around you?
I've lost a friend fighting over driving. I guess they weren't really a friend after all.

I get freaked out if someone is at the street perpendicular to me. I probably won't dive when I'm older because I'm already terrified of a crash as it is. Even if it means 7-mile bike rides to work.

 

[PipeDream92]

when i used to hang out with the kinds of people you are talking about (thank god i don't anymore), one of those friends used to try especially hard to impress them, because they teased him so much. Unfortunately, he was the first to get his drivers license. I know of at least 3 situations where he either had his car damaged, taken away by his parents, or got in trouble with police for wreckless driving. The only time I ever agreed to get into his car was when we were supposed to go to my house while ditching class. That was the last time im ever getting in his car, he started speeding down backstreets, and when he saw two kids walking just off the side of the road towards us, he pretended to swerve towards them, not only scaring the crap out of the children but out of me as well. Anyone without the responsibility to drive safely, regardless of how skilled they may be at it, should not be allowed to drive. Period.

 

[Sullivan0930]

I sorta enjoy driving with these "showoff" drivers. You get a nice rush and it's fun and thats what I'm out for. If it was With a female driver then I'd be scared, but me and my friends are really good drivers. I drive very fast like I do 50mph in a 25mph zone and usually around 100mph on the highway. I've never even come close to hitting someone because I know how to drive. But I have almost flipped my truck a few times alone. But anyways all I'm saying is if you drive wreckless make sure you're at least a good driver. I know I'm gonna die in a car accident.

 

[L]

Some people just don't understand that driving is a huge responsibility and privilege. It's why kids are always getting their licenses taken away.

Still makes you wonder what ever motivated them to past their Driver's test if all they want to do is run around with their head up their ass.

 

[Dee]

I sorta enjoy driving with these "showoff" drivers. You get a nice rush and it's fun and thats what I'm out for. If it was With a female driver then I'd be scared, but me and my friends are really good drivers. I drive very fast like I do 50mph in a 25mph zone and usually around 100mph on the highway. I've never even come close to hitting someone because I know how to drive. But I have almost flipped my truck a few times alone. But anyways all I'm saying is if you drivew reckless make sure you're at least a good driver. I know I'm gonna die in a car accident.

The thing about this is that male drivers, according to many statistics, is that men, especially younger men, are more prone to not wear their seat belts, drive faster, drive more erratically and drive drunk. Women, in general, are just more careful, more concerned about obeying the laws, which is why we get lower insurance rates. If males weren't so infamously known for being so reckless, this statistic could be different.

That doesn't mean we females aren't bad drivers either. I know plenty of females who have gotten into accidents, like the dumb broad who fell asleep at the wheel, crashed into the back of my brother's truck which was towing a trailer, knocked that off and pushed him forward so that his truck flipped into the median. It was a good thing he came out with only a few scratches, but the thing was totaled. Also, my mom has been in some pretty stupid accidents. One time, she backed into and slightly over the hood of a car in a parking lot. My God.... *facepalm*

Anyway, I can say for a fact that I am a good driver, that I have never, out of the 10 (well, technically 8) years of driving, been in an accident that was my fault and or where I was even driving. It was always someone else's fault. Plus, I am an amazing parallel parker. Sometimes I have to park my friends cars for them because they're such idiots. I live in the city and there are a lot of one-way streets. It's hilarious to watch people try and drive in the city and to parallel park.

I will admit, however, that I do, at times, drive over the speed limit, but I go with the flow of traffic. Only once have I ever gotten a ticket for speeding and that was eight years ago when I was 16, young and stupid, driving passed curfew. Other than that, my insurance is low as hell and I've had no other marks, no accidents to account for because I'm a good driver and I'm proud to say that I at least try to be; not just for myself, but the people around me as well.

If one wants to drive crazily, please do it on a private track or road where there are no other human beings around. That would be perfectly fine. But when driving in normal traffic, it's respectful and it is technically the law to try to drive as safely as possible. I would hate to be driving, get in an accident and then injure or hurt someone or myself as a result of my recklessness.

 

[ANIM0SI7Y]

Wow, i fucking hate people who try to impress other people with their driving! God that makes me angry! Man, my friend does the exact same thing! I just ignore it and hope he gets pulled over so that he'll learn his lesson.

 

[PipeDream92]

I've never even come close to hitting someone because I know how to drive.

i dont mean to insult you, but you clearly are not an EXPERIENCED driver. any experienced driver would know that your own skill is not the only factor, you could easily get into an accident which is the fault of another driver. now you tell me, if you were driving very well on the highway, would you rather have someone cause an accident with you going the speed limit, or going at 100mph? im not trying to say don't do it, i like going fast too, but at least don't be ignorant (again, insults are not my intention) and think that you will never get in an accident just because YOU know how to drive

 

[Channizard]

I sorta enjoy driving with these "showoff" drivers. You get a nice rush and it's fun and thats what I'm out for. If it was With a female driver then I'd be scared, but me and my friends are really good drivers.

What's wrong with women drivers?

i dont mean to insult you, but you clearly are not an EXPERIENCED driver. any experienced driver would know that your own skill is not the only factor, you could easily get into an accident which is the fault of another driver. now you tell me, if you were driving very well on the highway, would you rather have someone cause an accident with you going the speed limit, or going at 100mph? im not trying to say don't do it, i like going fast too, but at least don't be ignorant (again, insults are not my intention) and think that you will never get in an accident just because YOU know how to drive

Query: What is an experienced driver if not for driving 8-10 years and being on the road? Do you have to be in accidents to be an 'experienced' driver? I've been driving for 4-5 years myself, and only ever had two dings. One was when I was parked too close to a truck, and turned too soon when I was pulling out of the parking space. My car rubbed up against his. Before I left, I was sure to check his truck that it was fine... and it was, mine retained most of the damage. This was of course only having gotten my Learners, so I was still new.

The other wasn't even my fault. Actually, I wasn't even involved. My car was at work, and someone had back out and straight into the nose of my car. Retaining a sizable dent, they left me a nice little note with their number to call and apologize and pay for damages.

Oh noes, I was in 'accidents', does that make me experienced? And what exactly is classified as an accident to make you experienced?

would you rather have someone cause an accident with you going the speed limit, or going at 100mph?

I'm sorry but this is a bit of a stupid question. If you're going the speedlimit, you still have a better chance of being safe and unharmed, than if you were speeding yourself. At least you won't be ejected from your car by going the right speed.

 

[blakstang98]

I sorta enjoy driving with these "showoff" drivers. You get a nice rush and it's fun and thats what I'm out for. If it was With a female driver then I'd be scared, but me and my friends are really good drivers. I drive very fast like I do 50mph in a 25mph zone and usually around 100mph on the highway. I've never even come close to hitting someone because I know how to drive. But I have almost flipped my truck a few times alone. But anyways all I'm saying is if you drive wreckless make sure you're at least a good driver. I know I'm gonna die in a car accident.

The number reason teenagers get into accidents is because of overconfidence. And this post screams overconfidence behind the wheel. When you get a car up to 100 mph, especially a high vehicle with a high center of gravity (aka a truck), and overturn of the vehicle is going to happen, even with a slight turn. I'm not your father, and I won't preach on how you should or shouldn't drive, but you really should think twice about driving this aggressively. I don't think you realize that someone could be oversteering their vehicle to get out of the way of you speeding by them, and create an accident, even though it doesn't directly involve you. But for the sake of your life and those around you, I'd suggest you slow your wheels down and take a more conservative approach to driving. I'd rather not open the newspaper and read about a fatality due to loss of a vehicle control, due to a teenager thinking it's fun to drive really fast and aggressively.

 

[Dee]

The reason younger drivers (in their teens and early/mid twenties) are so reckless is because the rational part of the brain, the part that functions as sort of the CEO, the "reasoning" behind the madness is not fully developed yet. Go look it up. Study how the brain works, how it functions, at what phases it goes through and at what times (different for some people; I know). It's interesting, but it's true. All of our brains develop at different speeds with contributing factors, and the consequential, decision making part of the brain is about the last bit that 'matures' I suppose one could say.

When you're a teenager and if driving is a novelty to you, you may assume you're invincible. You may think you'll never get into an accident (whether it be your fault or the fault of someone else). Being experienced is having been through it all (i.e. having been driving for at least 5 years, being in accidents, learning how to drive, learning how not to drive, watching other drivers, obeying the laws, not obeying the laws and being reprimanded for them); THAT is experience.

Theory is reading the driving manual.

Experience is actually going out there and doing it, experiencing it for yourself.

However, sometimes people learn differently. Maybe someone knew someone who died in a car accident that was their fault or the fault of someone else and learned from that mistake/unfortunate disaster. Who knows? I've known plenty of people who get into accidents, get speeding ticket after speeding ticket and never learn. That's just the way some people are.

 

[Sullivan0930]

would you rather have someone cause an accident with you going the speed limit, or going at 100mph? im not trying to say don't do it, i like going fast too, but at least don't be ignorant (again, insults are not my intention) and think that you will never get in an accident just because YOU know how to drive

if i get into an accident doing the accepted 65 chances are im still gonna die. Since most highway crashes involve someone flipping the car.

The number reason teenagers get into accidents is because of overconfidence. And this post screams overconfidence behind the wheel. When you get a car up to 100 mph, especially a high vehicle with a high center of gravity (aka a truck), and overturn of the vehicle is going to happen, even with a slight turn.

Maybe i am overconfident, and i know this truck. I know how much to steer, and overturning pretty much only happens when you jerk the wheel. When going fast all you need to remember is to keep everything smooth, cant be all jerkin around and tense.


All i really wanna say is that wreckless driving is either something you can do, or you cant. You just gotta be able to feel the road and fully understand what youre doing. I actually find when im driving the speed limit is when im prone to more accidents since you got people riding your ass to get outta the way, and its just boring so you drift away.

 

[Shu]

"I wanna go fast.. " Well to me driving really isn't something you should actually brag about, unless of course you have a car and no one else does. Now as far as skilled or not, well that all depends what you called skilled.

To me skilled driving has to do with actually knowing how to use your vehicle to it's full potential. For instance, if you are hydroplaning what do you do? If you are driving on snowy/icy roads how careful are you? If you have all wheel driving, Front wheel or Rear wheel, how do you drive? If you have 4 wheel drive what does this mean?

I mean it's a culmination of things to me. Knowing when to use your horn, and when to not use ones horn. When to flash your lights at folks, and when not too. Those that know how and when to put on their blinkers are ones I admire. When to pull out into trafic and when not to.

Wreckless drivers who choose to go above the speed limit constantly, not stop at red lights, and never use blinkers when turning, should be looked at more carefully. It doesn't mean you know are skilled when you drift from lane to lane at 100 miles per hour on an interstate. You may get to your location faster, but the adrenaline and showing off is not worth it. I've seen countless fatalities on the interstate from folks like this. Worst being a group of 17 years olds (3 girls and 2 guys) were in front of me (5 miles or so) and they cut off a semi in which jack knived and pancaked them all instantly killing them. It's only a matter of time before the pride of these folks gets more people killed.

 

[Espurr]

Thankfully my friends are smart and mature enough not to try to get me to do something like this. I am already a mediocre driver I don't need to be taking stupid risks like that at all. However there have been moments where I have nearly been a victim. This happens the most when I am on the highway when speed demons try to cut me off without even bothering to look in my direction and giving me a warning. >_> Seriously, turn on your signal and check your blind spot. If your signal is on, if I can I will let you pass. It is not that hard at all.

 

[L]

I actually find when im driving the speed limit is when im prone to more accidents since you got people riding your ass to get outta the way, and its just boring so you drift away.

well I sure hope you're prepared when someone wants to commit insurance fraud (or suicide) and sees you blazing down the road.

 

[Dee]

That's when you get in the other lane to let them pass.

My brother is one of those people who rides people's asses thinking "if I do this, they'll move", even if there's another lane wide open for him to pass. >_>