Yesterday I completed and passed the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Driver Retraining Program! What a nightmare, sitting in a classroom with a bunch of teenagers and foriegners for 8 hours! The teacher took his job way too seriously...for example, all the teenagers were trying to get him to admit that he had commited a driving offense somewhere along the way. Nope, 55 mph always, drive defensively at all times...etc...etc...then he finally admits that back in his wild college days he ran a yellow light once! Get the picture? Any way this is what I get for committing 5 surcharge events. I would have loved to force this guy to watch the Masshole DVD although he probably would have gotten sick to his stomach! Ha, Ha. Here's a few of the questions in the 50 question profile. The teacher assured that truthful ansewers would give us the best profile and that the profile was'nt getting turned in or anything like that. So I ansewered them truthfully to see just how bad my driving really is (in the eyes of the law). Other drivers are opponents who are trying to slow me down. I get irratated when the driver ahead of me lets someone else in our lane. When it comes to driving, it's everyone for oneself. I speed up to close the gap with the car ahead to prevent drivers from entering my lane. I scare pedestrians by revving up my motor at intersections. Well, basically, yes to all of the above and yes to just about all 50 questions! Too funny! So after assigning a point total and putting it to a grid etc..etc...here's my profile. I...act aggressively; don't yeild to others show disrespect for traffic laws are willing to break traffic laws want to reach my destination as quickly as possible, often to the point of taking unnecessary risks are willing to to participate in driving games like chicken and racing drive vechicles with lots of power Love that last one, the BBB showes up in the profile! People from other parts of the country might think I'm crazy but seriously, up here in Mass you'll see mothers with kids in the minivan driving crazy too. Don't get me wrong the Massholes probably take it to another level but it'll sure make for some fun in the lots in Salem!!!
Nothing wrong with some agressive driving. On the topic of mothers and minivans... I was doing about 80 in a 55 once, got passed by some woman with 3 kids in her car.
I've driven to Downtown Chicago from the burb's allmost every day for the past 24 years and this would pretty much describe 95% of the other drivers I've had the pleasure of sharing the roads with Including myself. I've taken the "Walter Payton" driving philosophy to heart. Outrun everyone, spin and high step when you have to and above all dont be afraid to use the "stiff arm"to get where you need to go. Drive offensivly and you will go far, drive defensivly and you'll get chewed up and spat out like a piece of grissle. Keep up the good work Johnno, :3gears: we're proud of ya :TU: D.
Well said Dana... I really had to step it up a notch when I got into the Chi-town area last June on my way to Bruce & Shirl's. Nothing like getting rude wake-up call with rush 5pm Chicago traffic!!!! It did help that I had the coolest car on the street:bglasses: I had more honks and thumbs up...and conversations with people (I had the top down in traffic)....funny stuff. I just don't want to do it again for 2 hours straight.
Next time I won't be signing a contract on a house:laugh: I was going to leave at around 10am that morning, but got sidetracked with the house, and then didn't get on the highway until 1pm.ou:
I can be pretty casual when I drive a cage because my truck is 7,000lbs, but when I'm on my bike, this is the approach I take!! If I'm passing everyone on the road, then the hardest part to guard, my rear, isn't going to have a problem!! I'm sure I couldn't talk my way out of that ticket but if it keeps me alive, then it works!! Ken
Driving a car with lots of power makes you an agressive driver? Huh. And all this time I thought I drove the car and that it didn't do the driving by itself. I never knew the car could do as it pleased.
Downtown When I bought my 70 in Vail CO and drove it home we made a 23 hour run from Neberska to Chicago IL and after driving all night on the deserted highway we went to visit Wolverine's sister in Chicago near Wrigley Feild and we landed downtown just in time for the morning commute. Seriously that was way worse than driving anywhere in Mass. It was like I was in a Nascar race! I thought I was in like 5 different accidents. I was on the freeway in 2nd gear just trying to stay out of a wreck. Plenty of power to avoid one but the manual drums were sketchy!
Since people are taught defensive driving, I figure I might as well be the idiot they are watching out for. Stupid, though, that some of those things are considered "aggressive." I suppose knowing how to recover from a skid, or steering instead of blowing a horn is aggressive also?
I took the advanced motorcycle safety class and got a reduction in my insurance. I also know that if you attend a "track day" and tell your insurance company, they will lower your rates. Now a track day is NOT about racing but most people are there to push their limits a bit and I'm sure this will help on the street to be able to know what you and your bike can do if needed to. I think I'd like to teach an "advanced drivers education" program where you have to learn to do doughnuts in the snow! There a VERY few people that know how to drive and a ton of people with cars! Ken
Alan, i believe classes will be held nightly in the parking lot next to the red roof inn. i'm signed up. :laugh:
Way to go,Johnno! :TU: I agree,I see women with their kids in a minivan and they drive crazy.These are the same ones that have the "Baby On Board" sign-they want to warn you that you should respect them,but they don't respect you and drive like maniacs. Johnno,I think you would be a good driver's instructor!!!!!! :laugh: :3gears: :jd:
ugg. too passive of drivers tick me off i think more than agressive ones. there are drivers who move into your path (pull into the left lane) and wolf pack (match speed of other car) so you can't get past because the speed limit is 55 and they don't want you going faster than that then there are the guys who try to merge at 25 mph on an expressway. and what happens? I get stuck behind the guy trying to merge in at 25. i've even once stoped half way down a cloverleaf ramp because the guy infront of me was going so slow. and that way he was out of the way so i can get to the speed of traffic. I don't mind that someone lets someone else in, I do the same, and i feel that same philsophy is shared in chicago traffic because i believe that people understand that everyone wants to get to where they want to go. so treat others how you'd want to be treated, but an assumption is made that you will have the foot down on the gas and get going to match the speed of traffic as soon as possible. in chicago just rember to match the speed of traffic, be slightly agressive and brake hard and you'll be all set. if you want to see some bad driving try driving thru columbus OH once or twice, ug idiots there.
Insurance? Bottomline if you get caught the cost of a ticket etc. is nothing compared to being hauled over by the insurance boys, a friend had two tickets and a parkink lot claim. Say hello to $5,000 a year. I thought you could still go 100mph in some states before they grab your licence...
Jekyll and Hyde Some of the nicest people become maniacs when they get behind the wheel. The same people who would hold a door for a stranger will stay inches from the next guys bumper so no-one can cut in. The same people who complain all day long about their job will break every rule to get there. My entire commute is "in town" (no highway). I get honked at for such horrific crimes as: letting pedestrians cross stopping on a yellow not entering an intersection if there isn't room to get out the other side none of these crimes has cost me more than a minute or two. I've seen aggressive drivers using every trick in the book and they are 1 or 2 cars ahead of me at the next red light. Whoopee. Then again I've seen them use every trick and not get anywhere. You have a choice, you can white knuckle it with sky high blood pressure or you can relax a bit and you'll get there a moment or two later. One last fact. Traffic jams are caused by tailgating. It's been proven that a ripple effect is caused by cars following too close together, it starts a wave that works it's way backwards up traffic. If you've ever sat through a traffic jam that had no cause (no construction or accident) it was one of those waves. I drive my car hard when I can, but during the commute a little patience only leads to a little more driving time.
I remember when my wife took her driving test in Mass. I was sitting in the rear seat directly behind her ( as told to by the instructor ). She was waiting for oncoming traffic before pulling out of the parking lot when we started the test. I remember him telling her " You could have fit between those 2 cars rather than wait for all 3 to go by". On a driving test, squeeze out between a few cars :eek2: I couldn't believe my ears. I had been driving for @ 10 years at that point, and I wouldn't have pulled out between them with a State Trooper sitting right next to me :eek2: I guess some places are just different. Dan :3gears:
I like that. A physics professor I had explained the galaxy's spiral arms in a similar manner - though he used a line-painting truck in front, and everyone slows to get past - bunching up. So the arms "move." Anyway, if you don't make me slow down, then you didn't cut me off. I don't mind how people drive if they don't cause me to slow or swerve. Coincidentally, on the way home today someone slowly drifted into my lane - with blinker on - over about 2 minutes time. I was about 2-feet behind him when he started, and there were no other cars or even exits around. He just decided he wanted my lane. I didn't get mad - I just did what I normally do.... I calmly got half-way in the high-speed lane and passed him with two tires in his lane. No quick movements, not anger or frustration - just calmly and slowly making a point to the driver.
