Toyota Prius

[somber]

In my experience, maneuvering away from a Toyota Prius will make my commute a lot more enjoyable. I'm not certain if it is the car or the driver, but whatever it is, there seems to be a strong correlation between the Toyota Prius and traffic chaos. What about you, what types of cars or drivers do you tend to avoid?

 

[555]

In my experience, maneuvering away from a Toyota Prius will make my commute a lot more enjoyable. I'm not certain if it is the car or the driver, but whatever it is, there seems to be a strong correlation between the Toyota Prius and traffic chaos. What about you, what types of cars or drivers do you tend to avoid?

When on a motorcycle, you spend your whole trip avoiding cars and other drivers. It's kind of, a way of life.

 

[sideways]

All of them... They are all trying to kill you.

Seriously, I have not come across any common denominator. Anyone can be drunk, inattentive, stressed, or just plain bad at driving. Best to avoid driving when traffic is heavy if at all possible and to take public transit if your location allows it. PEOPLE are the primary cause of accidents.

Unfortunately you can't control other people, but what you can control is how you yourself drive. Never get emotional and take part in the games people play. If someone is weaving through traffic let them go. If they tailgate you, let them pass. Keep at least 3 seconds distance to the car in front. Better still keep 5 seconds. On highways you can reduce the number of people passing you by setting your cruise control on at whatever the standard speed for that road is. By selectively choosing your routes you can also reduce the number of dangerous areas you pass through. Some intersections and joining spots are worse than others.

If you think in terms of percentages of the overall time spent driving you'll realize that there is no benefit to being hasty. Even if you can shave 2-5% off your commute by driving like an idiot you'll only have time to watch one extra infomercial a day. I don't get the people who rush to pass so they can wait at the next red light.

 

[powernoodle]

there seems to be a strong correlation between the Toyota Prius and traffic chaos.

Oh Lordy, were this in another forum I could explain what's going on with Prius drivers. In my usual humble but brilliant manner. I'm more of an 8,000 lb Chevy Suburban guy, since I value the lives of my family more than I value the lives of the 3000 lb Prius family. Prius = speed bump.

Drivers to avoid? Seems to me that the 19 - 23 year old female is the most dangerous. They seem to no concept of safe driving. They are too busy tailgating, texting and drinking Starbucks. And I have a special hatred of people who get in a turn lane way too soon so they can zip past cars whose drivers are obeying the lines and signage. I cast a very special voodoo curse on them. In general, it seems that its safest to stick in the right lane, drive the speed limit, and let the dangerous drivers zip right past you. They'll end up in the ditch anyway.

 

[Rupestris]

Any combination of the following:

Colors - Gold/beige metallic, Pastel blue metallic or Silver metallic.

Models - Mercury Grand Marquis, Buick Park Ave, Buick Regal, or Toyota Avalon.

 

[sideways]

Doesn't the roll over risk on those 8000lb suburbans outweigh the benefits of the greater mass? I seem to remember seeing statistics to that effect. And of course if a dump truck hits you you are diddly done for anyway.

 

[knarfeng]

All of them... They are all trying to kill you.

True.

As an ex-Angelino, I try to avoid anyone who can't stay in one lane. Those drivers are accidents that have not yet happened.

Note: "Angelino" = resident of Los Angeles.
(Best high speed fair weather drivers around. But worst drivers in any kind of wet conditions. Part of that is the roads. They get so little rain that when it does rain, it combines with oils and rubber particles to form a slippery sludge on roadway. Almost as bad as driving on ice, which I have done.)

 

[SVTFreak]

In South Louisiana, no particular order. The big jacked up heavy ass trucks that can't go more than 10 feet off into the flowerbed without getting stuck. Those guys penile size issues seem to make them think they are badass or something. They actually think they'll beat me to the merge. Couldn't do it even if I wasn't supercharged. Minivans with the texting soccer mom are pretty bad. I actually passed one who was folding clothes while driving not long ago. Also usually accompanied by Starbucks. Pretty high in my list also is the 20 mph under the limit lawsuit trawler. They tend to make quick, unsignaled moves in attempt to catch a whiplash.

 

[tattooedfreak]

Rupestris, why those particular colours and cars?

I drive a Nissan Altima and the colour apparently changes from Sand (the colour on the door label) to invisible.. Ive had people pull out to pass, get right beside me and try to pull back in. I just have to assume in the time they took to pull up, the car changed to invisible. It has happened more that just one or two occassions as well. I drive a little above the speed limit as well so its not as if Im blocking traffic.

 

[Rupestris]

Rupestris, why those particular colours and cars?

I drive a Nissan Altima and the colour apparently changes from Sand...

Nothing wrong with a sand Nissan. I drove a beige Subaru for years. It's the combination of color and model.

In the suburbs of Detroit there seems to be an abundance of elderly people that still drive. Their cars of choice are beige Grand Marquis or pale blue Avalons. Big, safe, moderately priced land yachts.

I tend to avoid stopping behind them at red lights because, chances are, when the light turns green they'll wind it up to a full 10 MPH and come to a complete stop before turning right without signals.

I'm no light-to-light racer either but I do appreciate people that move with traffic as opposed to hinder it. More times than i care to mention I've been behind the old lady from Ferris Bulers day off.