(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

Defensive driving?

Geo-TH,In

Geo-TH,In

Well-known Member
I have to drive north through Alanta tomorrow. 6 accidents as of 10 am this morning. What can a person do? Idiots changing lanes, No signals. I go 80 in a 70 and get passed on the left and right by crazy people when there is no room for them to pass safely. I have to hit brakes or be in an accident.

What defense driving can a person do to avoid an accident?
 
Plan the time of your trip, makes all the difference in the world, and defensive driving does not work in big cities.
 

I have to drive into Boston periodically. Speed, due to congestion on highways is usually 20-40 MPH. rarely a crash. Maybe you should drive during rush hour when drivers have to go slower. Or maybe stop trying to do combat with the crazies and slow down to fifty or so. A lot of people complain about getting cut-off a lot. Not me. I let them change lanes if they want. It doesn't hurt me.
 
I get to Boston a couple of times a year on I-90. The closer you get to Boston the thicker the traffic and the faster they go. Just pick your opening and take it. Everybody does it so nobody gets mad.
 
I've been through Alanta several times and hit it mid day when every body is working or after rush hour at night. Watch your speed, every time I went through there were a ton of cops on the expressway.
 
This may sound weird but it does in fact work. Drive an older car that has brush guard type bumpers on it and has dents in the body. Or in other words drive a car or truck that looks like the driver does not care if he hits something or not and looks like it has taken a number of hits. That way people tend to try to stay as far from it as they can.
 
Just don't stress about it. All those people are just trying to get to where they're going, they're not out looking to kill you. I've driven in dozens of big cities from the east coast to west coast and in between, and find that if you can pick a low traffic time it's not too bad, and if it's rush hour, just try to go with the flow. It helps a lot if you know your route ahead of time and have someone with you to navigate, but of course sometimes due to construction or accidents you may have to find alternate routes. If that happens and you're on your own without a navigator, you might just have to pull over and look up an alternate route. Be patient and you'll eventually get thru it.
 
Well you asked what to do. My son just put on his scare the other guy bumper on his truck. Before he had it on people would pull out in front of him all the time now they wait for him to get by before they pull out. Something about that big brush gourd mounted to that 10 inch I-beam that scars people
 
The map of Georgia, looks like it is in Minnesota as all roads lead to Atlanta, or Minneapolis. Not all that great a way to get around the town.
 
THERE ya go! Better yet a piece of chain. Good idea! How about one of the little tow trailers full to the top with all kinds of crap hanging over the sides. Also wonder from side to side in your lane.
 
He wouldn't get far because interstate 75 straight through Atlanta is 6 lanes wide each way with cameras along it watching traffic.
 
Just road trip over to Tallahassee or Pensacola and up to Nashville. I haven't been through Atlanta in 30 years, didn't like it then, must be worse now, huh?
 
That's a fact. I used to drive this beat to snot rusted '64 Chevy panel truck. It was so ugly that people coming the other way would get scared and pull over until I passed. People behind me wouldn't pass for fear something would fall off and hit them. One look at it told everyone that 'the owner didn't care'.
 
I flew into Atlanta late one night and went to a motel along the freeway. Woke up the next morning to 2-3 inches of snow. I could see cars on the freeway going every which direction into the median and up the shoulders. Decided there was no way I was going out among those local drivers until the snow melted. Just hope it doesn't snow and watch out for the crazies.
 
(1) drive something bigger then the rest ,(2) go out of your way and avoid big citys .Run the back roads and slow down and enjoy life . (3) plan your trip so that you are going thru in off peak traffic hours , say 9 am thru 3 pm or 9 pm thru 4 am . when hauling oversized loads once you went over ten foot wide we could not be within twenty miles of a major city from 6 am till after 9 am and from 3 pm till after 6 pm . So during the winter months you were pretty much shut down till 9 the next morning so you had to make a good game plan and be between them places to put down any miles for the day. When i was not wide but heavy and no route restrictions it was the OLD two lane roads and just set back and enjoy the ride and so what if it takes a couple hours longer one can find nice places to stop and eat see things you will never see on the concrete ribbon.
 
My kids live in Fl. and I in Mi. I make the trip a couple of times a year and try to do so on my motorcycle. Going through Atlanta I get all the way to the left and run whatever speed the rest of them are running. Many times I'll get in the car pool lane which motorcycles are allowed to do so. I normally just run the speed limit and maybe a little less but in Atlanta and a few of the other big cities you just have to take a different approach.
Running the right lanes you got everybody either fighting to get into the left lanes as they just got on or their fighting to get into the right lane because they got to get off.
I also try to go through either mid day or late night.
 
If you are getting passed on the left and right then maybe you aren't going as fast as everybody else.
"Slower traffic keep right" so if your doing 80 and somebody else is doing 85,,that makes you slower traffic
.
 
When you are inches away from a serious accident you may stress too. The idiots almost wrecked me twice in two hours.

Sign on Interstate sign said almost 300 haves died just this year.Would be Nice to have a defensive plan.
 
Timing is the big thing on either going thru OR around the loop. Ever now and then I use the east side loop but is over 40 miles father. Best time of course (IF there is not a ball game) is about 10 11 pm at night go straight thru. Week days 10:30 or so is also better than early morning. It is like water in a hose you just get with the flow and watch one thing what is in front of you
 
I have always thought that one of these would be the safest bet on today's roads. Secretary of State can be a pill about the whole license plate issue and they are not cheap to run. Almost have to be your own country to afford it.
Company car
 
Just take your time drive like you want to drive. It aint as bad as you think. Ive been through there 100s of times pulling a trailer and had no problems.
 
I just looked at Google maps on phone. Accidents and a long back up north of Alanta. I may get off before any back ups and take 41 that some what follows 75.
Sounds like a better alternative than fighting traffic and standing still.
 
Drove through Boston in the mid eighties and took your same attitude and never had a problem. In fact I found it refreshing that everyone was paying attention. Unlike how it is here.
Ron
 
In most area if you are all over the road a cop pulls you over and checks to make sure your not drunk and if your not they try to get you for other things so in many area if you do that your end up in trouble if seen by a cop
 
Drive with the flow of traffic and let the crazies get past, has worked well for me.

Does AARP offer their "55 and Alive" class in your state? In Minnesota it got me a 10 percent discount on auto insurance.
 
If you are getting passed on BOTH sides, you are hogging the middle lane. You may not realize it, but the middle lane is the PASSING lane for big trucks. Most places do not allow trucks in the left lane. In any case, if you are going slower or faster than the flow of traffic, you will be the one that the traffic cop is watching. Most southern states have speed limits of 70 or more, so high speed traffic is not uncommon. When in Rome.......
Otherwise, as others have said, use the secondary roads. You will have a more relaxed and comfortable ride.
 
So then your saying just because a car or truck looks bad it cannot run real good??? I have had some of the worst looking cars and truck that would go from coast to coast and not break down. To me looks means nothing but the way they run and drive means every thing. Over the years I have known many a person laugh at what my cars look like but while I was still on the road there super nice looking car or truck spent a lot of time in the shop
 
Last time thru Atlanta had a DOT pick up pulling one of those light up message board trailers with the generator on it pass me . Trailer was upside down , grinding away, sparks flying everywhere . Big hefty gal driving had no clue, or did and didn't care .
 
(quoted from post at 11:09:11 03/28/16) And... Drag about a 6 ft piece of rope! Be amazed how far back people will stay from you!
Click to expand...

Great idea and a funny mental picture! Like it! :lol:
 
(quoted from post at 13:41:09 03/28/16) I have always thought that one of these would be the safest bet on today's roads. Secretary of State can be a pill about the whole license plate issue and they are not cheap to run. Almost have to be your own country to afford it.
Company car
Click to expand...

Ah, a Ronson!
 
HOV lanes? Where? You have to be joking. They failed miserably in the east and faded away in the upper midwest. And anywhere else where there is a lot of traffic. If there's no traffic, they work just fine. Of course, if there's no traffic---
 
I've found that the best defensive driving is offensive driving. I read what you wrote, and I see what you describe on a daily basis. I see people moving in and out of several lanes all in one motion, or the sort. What I also see is people that see it and try to avoid it, but in quickly trying to avoid it, they sometimes then crash into someone else as the person that caused it all is still zipping in and out of lanes and leaving sight as they do it. The state trooper shows up to fill out the accident report, and the person that tried to avoid the accident that then ended up in one, gets a ticket for hitting someone else. No good deed goes unpunished. The solution? When you see someone coming at you recklessly, don't take someone else out by trying to avoid them, take them out instead. When the state trooper pulls up, he or she will have to pull you off of the guy, but at least he'll be there with you when the trooper pulls up. Think NASCAR. The guy hopes to spin you into someone else, but is surprised when you don't back off and put him into the wall instead. NASCAR. Think NASCAR.

Mark
 
Find another route! It will take longer but the chances of you surviving are much greater. I don't have the nerves to handle Atlanta anymore. When the crash in front of you happens there are hundreds of cars standing on the brakes and you're just praying all those close to you catch it at the same time. 70 is the max for me now a day's so any of the huge cities are off limits for me.
 
I'm doing just that. Going through Alabama. So far very little road rage. Pleasant driving.
 
(quoted from post at 09:55:41 03/28/16) This may sound weird but it does in fact work. Drive an older car that has brush guard type bumpers on it and has dents in the body. Or in other words drive a car or truck that looks like the driver does not care if he hits something or not and looks like it has taken a number of hits. That way people tend to try to stay as far from it as they can.
Click to expand...

Old, I think that the frequency with which people pull in front of loaded trucks and then slam on their brakes kind of disproves your theory.
 

Glad you are making it ok. The last time I had to go through Atlanta, the red head and me were returning from a trip to North Carolina to see the youngest boy. It had to be right at the evening rush and it started raining. My behind pinched that truck seat until we got way out of Atlanta. Madness is the only way to explain it. :shock: Those people are frigging crazy as you know what! :?
 
I will agree, crazy best describes the way people drive in Georgia.

I came back via Alabama, only 55 miles more and a few hours more. But 3 traffic jams
around Atlanta, it may be quicker out of my way. Look a Google maps on phone and see
all the stopped traffic, accidents and construction, insane.

You will have to hold a gun to my head to ever go through Georgia again.

The drivers in Alabama were driving the speed limit in the right lane. 5 over speed
limit in left lane. Most roads were only 2 lanes. Very little weaving in and out
without using turn signals. I saw many cops in Alabama doing their job and want to
thank them for keeping speeds at a safe level and keeping my blood pressure at a safe
level too. Not one close call on the way back, pleasure driving.

George
 
(quoted from post at 19:47:30 03/28/16) HOV lanes? Where? You have to be joking. They failed miserably in the east and faded away in the upper midwest. And anywhere else where there is a lot of traffic. If there's no traffic, they work just fine. Of course, if there's no traffic---
Click to expand...

Lots of HOV lanes in the northeast working very well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Geo-TH,In
Deer and motorcycle
2
Replies
31
Views
1K
Geo-TH,In
Geo-TH,In
R
The last 3 weeks
2
Replies
39
Views
2K
Hobo,NC
Hobo,NC
G
Dang near had a wreck today.
2
Replies
22
Views
3K
Greg1959
G
BarnyardEngineering
Texting while driving radar guns?
2
Replies
21
Views
3K
Bret4207
B
B
Black Saturday, last trip to the vet (very long)
Replies
16
Views
2K
TGP
TGP
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top