Question for Prius Drivers (Page 5): There are poor drivers no matter where you go. But I will admit that in San Francisco the typical car driver is pretty good. If you happen to...

NDMarks Loc: Dublin, Ca

DirtFarmer wrote:

Try drivers in Brazil.

There are poor drivers no matter where you go. But I will admit that in San Francisco the typical car driver is pretty good. If you happen to double park in front of them they generally don't lean on their horn or make comments about your mother. They just go around you. The exception are the touristas. Not only don't they not know where they are going, they don't even know where they want to go. Now pedestrians on the other hand, that's another story. They enjoy showing you their IQ with one finger.

Flyerace Loc: Mt Pleasant, WI

I figure that people like that are more important than me and I let them pass. It tickles my fancy when I see them down the road pulled over for speeding! I'm originally from Boston and now live in Wisconsin. Difference in speed, distance and attitude. Don't mind if they want to go around, I'm accommodating. (my car will stop quickly if someone pulls in front of me)

My cruise control offers 1, 2 or 3 car lengths of space in front of me. If someone jumps in, my car will automatically slow down to get those 3 car lengths again. I would rather have idiots in front of me because I can keep track of them better.

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

rcarol wrote:

How does having a rear facing camera prevent you from getting rear-ended?

If someone is closing fast and doesn’t appear to be slowing down, I might have an opportunity to pull off the road and let them go by… and when I see a tailgater that doesn’t go around, I will slow down which generally makes them pass, or I will pull over… I’m not in a rush to get somewhere so a few extra minutes doesn’t affect my schedule…

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

NDMarks wrote:

Rear cameras on the back of a 53 ft trailer would ... (show quote)

Maybe where you are but in the Great Plains area, semi’s routinely run 70+ - I’ve been running along at 75 and have been passed by big rigs - it’s interesting to see vehicles going over 75 pass a state trooper running radar and not slow down and not get pulled over… I’ve been told in KS not to exceed 80 and they won’t pull you over.

NDMarks Loc: Dublin, Ca

As far as truck speeds go, there are 2 kinds of big rigs - company owned and owner-operator. Most of the big companies (Swift, JB Hunt, etc) speed limit their tractors to somewhere around 62 MPH. Their number one expense is fuel so any slight savings means lots of money (they each have thousands of trucks). This limit is computer controlled and the driver can't change it. As far as speed limits, different states have different limits. Kansas, as I recall, is 75 for trucks on the interstates. There are actually a couple of areas in the US that I know of where the truck limit is 80. One is in Texas and one is on I-15 in Idaho/Utah.

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

NDMarks wrote:

As far as truck speeds go, there are 2 kinds of bi... (show quote)

Yes, KS is 75 - most of the states west of the Mississippi are until you get to the coast - in CA, big rigs and vehicles pulling trailers are supposed to be limited to 55 (according to the speed signs) - but if you find anyone driving that slow - they are generally out-of-state folks (like me). I was pulling my travel trailer at and sped up to 62 (my preferred towing speed) after being passed by a sheriffs rig pulling a 5th wheel doing approx 80 (he was passing the cars that were doing the speed limit of 75 (or faster)... All on video - front an back with speed and location displayed in file.

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

jerryc41 wrote:

Parallax effect! 😂

I know what you mean. I've been seeing that for years. If anything shifts the rear axle, the car will drive slanted. I saw an 18-wheeler driving like that today on my way home. It was the trailer, not the tractor that was crooked.

Someone in a previous comment mentioned that bolts/pins in leaf springs can come out causing the leaves to shift and cause this “crabbing.” That sounds reasonable, but I’m sure I have seen this on newer pickups and vans.

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

Fredrick wrote:

I think in general it’s become much more common now. People here in California tailgate quite a bit. I recently came back from visiting friends in Florida for a couple of weeks and couldn’t believe how aggressive the drivers are there. Tailgating and horn blowing seems like a way of life there. On a positive note, though, I’ve never seen roads more beautiful than in Florida! I don’t ever remember hitting one bump.

About 2 years ago we were driving on I95 in Palm Beach county just getting into town for our yearly stay in our condo. I was in the HOV lane and a good ole boy was very closely tailgating me with his beat up pick up. He blew his horn and flashed his lights but traffic was so think I couldn’t get out of the lane.
At the same time I saw two sports cars zipping in and out of lanes as if no one was there. They must have been going at least 80 as I was stuck in the HOV lane doing 65 or 70.
I was REALLY happy to finally get out of that lane when I could.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Indi wrote:

Someone in a previous comment mentioned that bolts/pins in leaf springs can come out causing the leaves to shift and cause this “crabbing.” That sounds reasonable, but I’m sure I have seen this on newer pickups and vans.

Front wheel drive cars (which probably the majority of cars now are) generally have a multi link rear suspension with adjustable toe on each back wheel. If that is off, that can also cause the “crabbing” you describe.

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

TriX wrote:

Front wheel drive cars (which probably the majority of cars now are) generally have a multi link rear suspension with adjustable toe on each back wheel. If that is off, that can also cause the “crabbing” you describe.

I’m actually not seeing this phenomenon on cars. Only vans and pickups.
I’m actually hoping that others reading this thread might become aware.
Tires wear faster under these circumstances, right?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Indi wrote:

About 2 years ago we were driving on I95 in Palm B... (show quote)

That's a bad situation - when you can't move over.

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

jerryc41 wrote:

That's a bad situation - when you can't move over.

Exactly.