(08-21-2018 05:14 PM)JMUDunk Wrote:  Since we're on the subject of driving. I had, no lie, 3 near death near misses in the last six months or so.

1. Turning left from a stop light. Arrow comes on green, I ALWAYS look both ways before turning to make sure no one is still coming from wherever. All clear, proceed to make the turn, here comes a red dodge caravan at full speed, 45 MPH road, straight on into the intersection, without slowing at all. I'm gonna get drilled in the front right quarter panel or door, maybe worse. Last second this dumbasss looks up from his phone and jumps on the brakes. He was waaaaay back there, probably 2 blocks away before I started m turn, he just keeps coming and coming. He slams the brake and stops halfway into the intersection, probably 6 feet from drilling me full speed.

2. Same road I was turning into in the above, but I was well down the road, a 4 lane (two each way) separated by about a ten foot grass and curbs median with trees planted there as well.

I'm in the right most lane, doing the posted 45+-. Eyes forward, watching the road as we go around a leftward bend. Out of the corner of my left eye, Something catches me, it's about dusk or so.

A black or dark gray SUV, maybe a Honda Pilot comes barreling over the curb, through two trees (They would have been dead had they been either way 2 feet one way or another), over the median and catches the steering wheel and jerks it hard right just as they land in the left lane directly next to me. Fortunately for EVERYONE near me, there was a car behind me and one in that left lane but further back a few lengths. I don't even really know what the hell happened, but there was no collision, least not with another car. Whether the SUV over-corrected and slammed into the curb or a tree bounding back over the median I have no idea. Don't care. Again, likely someone looking at their phone or distracted by something.

3. Again at a stop light, you cross the 6 lane intersection and head around a right ward bend that is also a pretty decent hill. When leaving the light the two lanes going through merge down to one as you approach the downhill. Light turns green, I accelerate steadily as I always do, the hill and bend bring you into a somewhat busy little 2 lane residential neighborhood road. I'm already in the "correct" right lane, the other needs to merge into left lane unless they're turning into the shopping center right before where the lanes merge.

Well, apparently little blue Mazda 3 either isn't familiar with the road, isn't paying attention, or is perhaps drunk or high on something.
As I start the right bend heading down the hill here comes this person, likely doing 50mph or more, sailing through the intersection and into the banked curve where oncoming traffic is directly next to you now. This person somehow managed to squeak around my left rear, so is now IN the oncoming lane, misses clipping me in the left front, swerves hard right directly in front of me avoiding a MAJOR head-on with the oncoming traffic, over-corrects hard left, sails between two more oncoming cars and ends up over the curb, through someones fence, and into the back yard. No place for me to stop, as there is a steady stream of traffic each way, I just continued on over to the Kroger.

Eff em.

And now that out of town agencies write tickets from cameras at intersections there are no actual cops patrolling the worst spots. These clowns get away with it all the time! I discovered the growing problem when my youngest daughter wen to the Trooper station for her road test. They had her pull around back and park between two orange cones. Made her show her use of all of the signal devices and emergency flashers, had her drive a circle around the Trooper post and passed her.

Back in my day we had to drive through the city, parallel park, start a standard transmission on a hill, and do it with a Trooper in the car with us and do it while observing all speed zone limits and traffic regulations.

These kids are lousy drivers in part because we are now doing a lousy job of checking them out before we issue their license.

I've (knock on wood) driven all over this country and many 100,000's of miles and have never been responsible for an accident. I've been hit three times, all while stationary, and never once has the other guy had insurance. Please tell me how in the hell we let that happen? I had a friend who lost his wife to paralysis after two illegal drunk Mexicans driving on the wrong side of a divided highway at night without lights hit her vehicle. They were cited at the scene but not locked up. Needless to say they never made the court date. Had no insurance and it nearly bankrupted by friends family because of a quirk in their insurance coverage. She later died of complications of her paralysis. The guilty parties never stood trial, never gave a dime of support, and skipped out unaccountable. Somebody in Washington owes my friend a damned explanation!

We've lost our minds! It is now a society of privileges and rights for all with no hint of obligation to and consideration of the rights of our citizens.