# Being careful **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [August 1, 2017, 11:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/being-careful/106497 "2017-08-01T23:27:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Andy-Ke](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/andy-ke/32/41664_2.png) [@Andy-Ke](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Andy-Ke)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2017, 11:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/being-careful/106497/1 "2017-08-01T23:27:18Z")
I do not drive much as I am retired. What I see is disturbing. For example, folks drifting into my lane. And it happens a lot. When I see it, I tap my horn. Seeing a 18 wheeler do so is stressful. Normally you have the option to go into the turning lane, but that is not available when crossing a bridge. What are you experiences and what are your strategies ?? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2017, 11:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/being-careful/106497/2 "2017-08-01T23:37:09Z")
Just did an 9 hour trip times 2, doing it again in a couple of weeks, sure I saw truckers drifting one lane or the other, sure I saw cars drifting one way or another, the rumble strips along side the rode usually bring them back for a bit but my preference is to get ahead of them and stay ahead of them, usually 8 over the speed limit works. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2017, 11:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/being-careful/106497/3 "2017-08-01T23:58:00Z")
Look up, look far ahead, look near, look left and right, use your mirrors, know who is around you at all times,never hang in people’s blind spots, done “left lane bandit”, anticipate stupid behavior, signal early and often. Look for an escape path in every situation. Know what you will do before it happens. If you have a choice between hitting another car or a solid, immovable object, or off a bridge, or into a ditch, hit the other car - it is squishy-er - it has crush zones for both of you. Don’t veer away from lane-changers into a solid object, ect; bump them. Its just a trip to the body shop, not the hospital. That’s what I’ve been doing for over 40 years and its worked out very well for me. ---
**Author:** ![Andy-Ke](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/andy-ke/32/41664_2.png) [@Andy-Ke](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Andy-Ke)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 12:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/being-careful/106497/4 "2017-08-02T00:06:40Z")
> [@Mustangman](#): > > Look up, look far ahead, look near, look left and right, use your mirrors, know who is around you at all times,never hang in people’s blind spots, done “left lane bandit”, anticipate stupid behavior, signal early and often. > > Look for an escape path in every situation. Know what you will do before it happens. If you have a choice between hitting another car or a solid, immovable object, or off a bridge, or into a ditch, hit the other car - it is squishy-er - it has crush zones for both of you. Don’t veer away from lane-changers into a solid object, ect; When you said “anticipate stupid behavior”, I got a big smile. I recall something from a driving safety class. If you are in a situation where a car coming from the other direction is in your lane, drive into the ditch. A head on collision is most often fatal. Andy ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 12:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/being-careful/106497/6 "2017-08-02T00:15:55Z")
Well, yeah, no head-ons! Thats as hard a hit as a brick wall! ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 12:18am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/being-careful/106497/7 "2017-08-02T00:18:39Z")
We don’t need no stinkin traffic control ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 3:13am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/being-careful/106497/8 "2017-08-02T03:13:15Z")
I wonder how many pedestrians are mowed down yearly there… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 6:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/being-careful/106497/9 "2017-08-02T06:25:18Z")
One of the best driver training films I ever saw was in the Army basic training. They illustrated the importance of keeping an open space on all sides of your car. Front, back, left and right. Don’t let cars tag along side of you on either side but try to keep that space open. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 12:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/being-careful/106497/10 "2017-08-02T12:47:47Z")
My father told me when he was teaching me to drive; “Always assume the other driver will do something stupid. If they do, you are prepared, if they don’t, you are pleased. Either way, you win.” ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 12:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/being-careful/106497/11 "2017-08-02T12:52:41Z")
> [@bing](#): > > They illustrated the importance of keeping an open space on all sides of your car. Front, back, left and right. Don’t let cars tag along side of you on either side but try to keep that space open. A BIG +1! I am constantly amazed at the number of drivers who think that it is just fine and dandy to drive next to, or in the blind spot of, another car for miles and miles. Even if a good driver is used to checking his blind spot, when other drivers insist on driving “up close and personal” with cars in the adjacent lane, there is a situation that could well result in a collision. When you take a _Defensive Driving_ course, one of the things that they teach nowadays is the importance of passing other vehicles rapidly, rather than doing it by driving 1-2 mph faster. When I come upon another car that I want to pass on the highway, I goose the accelerator firmly, and get past them as rapidly as possible, while maintaining a safe distance from the cars in front of me. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 2:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/being-careful/106497/12 "2017-08-02T14:04:34Z")
> [@VDCdriver](#): > > drivers who think that it is just fine and dandy to drive next to, or in the blind spot of, another car for miles and miles I call that “spooning” And they are SO surprised when the car that they’ve been following in their blind spot has the nerve to change lanes right in front or or into them! ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 2:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/being-careful/106497/13 "2017-08-02T14:24:53Z")
> [@andrew\_kennedy7](#): > > For example, folks drifting into my lane. First off I have to ask what lane are you in? People moving into my lane way too close happens 4-5 times every time I drive to and from work here in MA. Doesn’t matter what lane I’m in…It’s just people drive like idiots around here… ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 2:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/being-careful/106497/14 "2017-08-02T14:34:45Z")
> [@MikeInNH](#): > > People moving into my lane way too close happens 4-5 times every time I drive to and from work here in MA. Doesn’t matter what lane I’m in…It’s just people drive like idiots around here… When I have driven in the Boston area, I have observed the same thing. And, I can recall being honked at a few times when I was waiting at a red light, in a right lane that permitted going straight ahead, as well as making a right turn on red. How _DARE_ I want to **legally** go straight ahead when the Mass-hole in back of me wants me to make a right turn! Recently, I have observed several cars with MA plates in NJ and–guess what?–they drive in the same overly-aggressive and idiotic manner when they are in other states. ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 2:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/being-careful/106497/15 "2017-08-02T14:51:09Z")
Around here they’ve decided a right turn on red is always mandatory, even if there are two right turn lanes and they’re in the left one. I get honked all the time for not turning. ---
**Author:** ![Andy-Ke](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/andy-ke/32/41664_2.png) [@Andy-Ke](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Andy-Ke)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 9:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/being-careful/106497/16 "2017-08-02T21:19:21Z")
> [@MikeInNH](#): > > First off I have to ask what lane are you in? It happens in every lane. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 10:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/being-careful/106497/17 "2017-08-02T22:00:45Z")
> [@andrew\_kennedy7](#): > > It happens in every lane. Don’t drive in MA…you’ll be freaking out because it happens ALL the time. ---
**Author:** ![kurtwm1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/13edae/32.png) [@kurtwm1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kurtwm1)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 11:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/being-careful/106497/18 "2017-08-02T23:10:07Z")
> [@Barkydog](#): > > stinkin traffic control That’s the answer…let’s get rid of all traffic lights. Seems to work much better. 😁 ---
**Author:** ![Andy-Ke](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/andy-ke/32/41664_2.png) [@Andy-Ke](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Andy-Ke)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 10:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/being-careful/106497/19 "2017-08-03T22:51:00Z")
If I drive in MA, I will use a M1 Abrams. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 11:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/being-careful/106497/20 "2017-08-03T23:31:33Z")
> [@MikeInNH](#): > > Don’t drive in MA…you’ll be freaking out because it happens ALL the time. **My daughter just now texted me from MA on her way to Maine…** **_“Stuck in traffic around Boston, moving slowly, low speed stop and go.”_ 😄** _ **CSA** _ ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 11:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/being-careful/106497/21 "2017-08-03T23:33:24Z")
An MRAP is a bit less confrontational as long as the machine guns are removed. 😛 [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/being-careful/106497.md?page=2)