Drive right, pass left (what a concept!)

[Arved]

Originally Posted by Ben Kenobi

Oh where do I start? My wife and I just returned from a driving vacation to Florida and the stories I could tell. Round trip was approximately 3000 miles and I think I saw every kind of bad driving imaginable. If anyone else is a long time Car & Driver reader you'll recognize some of the terms. I had drifters, LLB's (Left Lane Bandits) who think it was written in the constitution that they can sit in the left lane as long as they want. What else.. oh yes, people who don't think they need to signal at all when changing lanes...

Actually, in Florida, you don't! Turn signals are only required changing direction (i.e. making a left hand turn into a parking lot, or a right hand turn onto another street). It's another of our quirky laws that drives me nuts.

That said, I'm one of maybe a dozen Floridians who signals lane changes. Funny, but being a motorcyclist (which brings "defensive driving" a whole new meaning) does a lot to motivate you as a safe driver. I've also installed side marker lights from the European version of my 300M on my car, just to make it even MORE evident that I'm using my turn signals. I recently picked up JDM SMLs for my Toyota P/U, but haven't yet installed them. Too many spring concerts and business trips giving me too little time on the weekends to get a round tuit.

Another strange law (thankfully, not enforced) - all vehicles are required to have two front headlamps. What's strange with that? I'm a motorcyclist, remember? There's another section of the vehicle code that states that motorcycles may have 1 or 2 headlights, but that doesn't take precedence over the place in the vehicle code that states all vehicles must have 2 headlights, and of course, a motorcycle is a vehicle.

Another weird law - it's legal to have amber brake lights!

We are required, by law, to have our lights on when it's raining. However, it's kind of like gun and morality laws. You can't legislate good driving habits, and when you do, only good drivers will abide by them. The laws are meaningless if they're not enforced, and with all the other crime going on out there, I'm not sure I want such petty things as wiper laws taking up the time of our constables.

Anyway, glad you had a safe trip.

[Arved]

Originally Posted by Aurora40

http://www.driverightpassleft.com/index.asp

I think I'm gonna get a license plate bracket...

I remember they used to sell windshield banners that said "Slower traffic keep right" in reverse lettering. That way it would read normal in someones rear view mirror. Wonder if they still make those?

Anyway, here's another web site with a similar campaign:

The Slower Traffic Keep Right Campaign Headquarters

http://www.slowertraffickeepright.com/

Google is wonderfull. "Free Sticker" after a "small donation" to

Slower traffic keep right
5410 Burr Oak
Houston, TX 77092

Picture here. "Please help the police and the traffic flow by displaying the sticker."

OK, so I'm at a bit of a loss - what's a suitable "small donation" for a "free sticker?" I want 2.

[Ben Kenobi]

Thanks for everyones comments. I agree it is hard to legislate and enforce people to be good drivers. I tried to not let it bug me when I ran across these idiots and just said a few choice words that my wife is well aquainted with! A couple of interesting sights I forgot to mention. Chatted with a gent at one of the many fine rest areas on the Interstates (boy Canada could take some lessons there!) and he said basically you're good for about 10 Mph over the limit. I stuck to that pretty much and had no trouble.

Coming home we're driving through Kentucky and this newer Impala blows by at around 80-85. This is in a 65 Mph zone mind you. I thought "If the highway patrol is out they're going to get he gunk out of you!" (Old Bill Cosby piece, still very funny) Sure enough about 2 miles down the road there are some nice flashing blue lights over on the shoulder. Yes campers it's the HP with the Impala pulled over. We waved as we went by, driver didn't look too happy. Hey, I have a leadfoot myself but I know not when to be stupid on the road. Took me many years, many tickets and a consficated radar detector to learn how to speed more stealthily.

Another not so happy sight was coming upon a Nissan 350Z (Le Mans Sunset) that had spun out and was between the bank of a bridge and a light pole in Ohio. The passenger side was banged up all the way down the side but the driver looked to be ok. A few cars had stopped to help, it hurt to see such a beautiful car damaged like that. I would have stopped but it was on the other side of the Interstate.

Well that is about it, overall the trip was great and it was an experience driving down and back. Scott, if you do those runs quite often and haven't gone insane my hat is off to you! One last thing I wanted to say is that everyone that I dealt with be it at a store, gas station, restaurant was very polite and helpful. I don't know why people in my area say Canadians are more polite, I find the opposite at times but then again I do live near Toronto. I wish customer service was as good in Canada as it is in the U.S.

Ciao!

[G35stilez]

to this thread/thought.


Ever since I heard of it used on the Autobahn, I wanted it implemented soo badly. Who knew it was already in full-court press.


Like others, this is a huge pet peeve of mine as is the lack of use of a directional. I use one pulling into my driveway and some don't use one period...Has anyone seen www.hornblasters.com? I think I will get one of those along with this license plate frame.

[twitch]

Originally Posted by GSRstilez

Has anyone seen www.hornblasters.com? I think I will get one of those along with this license plate frame.

I've seen some video clips. For some reason I found this to be the most humorous, gut hurting clips that I've watched in a long time. They are great

[Ben Kenobi]

Thanks for such a good laugh Sean! Oh man, I have to get one of those. I sure laughed too twitch, it was so good.

[twitch]

FYI... If anyone plans on ordering the license plate frame be cautioned that the design is somewhat flawed. It may cover most of the states name depending on how it is arranged on your plate.

Notice on the LA plate it covers half of "Louisiana"



I am not going to use the frame due to this issue.

If you would still like to obtain this license plate frame let me know and I will send you this one REALLY cheap (free).

[Scottwax]

Darn! That probably makes it illegal in Texas too and for the same reason.

Of course, I wouldn't mind finding out for free whether or not it covers too much of "Texas". Besides, I suppose at the Arkansas border I can put it on when I go to Kentucky and take it off in Texarkana on the way back.

[twitch]

Originally Posted by Scottwax

Darn! That probably makes it illegal in Texas too and for the same reason.

Of course, I wouldn't mind finding out for free whether or not it covers too much of "Texas". Besides, I suppose at the Arkansas border I can put it on when I go to Kentucky and take it off in Texarkana on the way back.

HAHA that's funny.

I'll make it easy on you though as Aurora40 PM'd me right afterwards with interest in the frame.

The frame is no longer available because it will be shipped to it's new home this week.

[blake918]

I think I saw the best thing ever on I55N the other day. Two semis were going neck and neck, one in the fast lane, and one in the slow lane...both probably going 75 max. Little did the brainiac in the left lane know that a Louisana State Trooper snuck up behind him. The next thing I see are a series of blue and silver strobe lights. Ohhhh, it made my day. I hope a ticket is worth the road block game he was playing with his little friend in the other rig. It was sooooo great.

Twitch, I think you could have gotten away with that plate frame. My "Lexus of New Orleans" frame covers up a lot more than that DRPL frame does-most of the LA script and about 90% of my registration sticker (I have one of the older LA tags, so I don't know if what the differences are other than the colors.), and none of the deputys/troopers that I've had pow-wows with beside the interstates have told me anything about it.

[twitch]

Originally Posted by blake918

I think I saw the best thing ever on I55N the other day. Two semis were going neck and neck, one in the fast lane, and one in the slow lane...both probably going 75 max. Little did the brainiac in the left lane know that a Louisana State Trooper snuck up behind him. The next thing I see are a series of blue and silver strobe lights. Ohhhh, it made my day. I hope a ticket is worth the road block game he was playing with his little friend in the other rig. It was sooooo great.

Twitch, I think you could have gotten away with that plate frame. My "Lexus of New Orleans" frame covers up a lot more than that DRPL frame does-most of the LA script and about 90% of my registration sticker (I have one of the older LA tags, so I don't know if what the differences are other than the colors.), and none of the deputys/troopers that I've had pow-wows with beside the interstates have told me anything about it.

HAHA I would have loved to see that. I've been on 55 often lately too traveling from Jackson to Covington.

I agree that it would have probably not caused any issues. I have paid a good deal of attention lately to plate frames around here and noticed that most cover the same portion. It's ok though, no regrets, because I shipped it out already to Aurora40 and I made a custom protector for my personalized plate. I bought a Bell License plate frame and cover from WalMart and modified it with some weather stripping behind the black frame to keep the dirt off of my new personalized plate. I figured I'd give it a shot before dropping about $40 on the other sealed plate covers I saw online. My main concern though is the plastic, I think it is going to get scratched up fairly easily. If that is the case the other sealed frame advertises to be scratch free
We'll see.

Thanks from a fellow Louisianian

[blake918]

Originally Posted by twitch

HAHA I would have loved to see that. I've been on 55 often lately too traveling from Jackson to Covington.

I agree that it would have probably not caused any issues. I have paid a good deal of attention lately to plate frames around here and noticed that most cover the same portion. It's ok though, no regrets, because I shipped it out already to Aurora40 and I made a custom protector for my personalized plate. I bought a Bell License plate frame and cover from WalMart and modified it with some weather stripping behind the black frame to keep the dirt off of my new personalized plate. I figured I'd give it a shot before dropping about $40 on the other sealed plate covers I saw online. My main concern though is the plastic, I think it is going to get scratched up fairly easily. If that is the case the other sealed frame advertises to be scratch free
We'll see.

Thanks from a fellow Louisianian

Haha, yeah, it was great!!! We were right around Tickfaw (exit 36 I believe, yeah, I've driven that route a few times. LOL) I go back and forth from NOLA to Ruston often...talk about a rough drive-340 miles one way! Jackson to Covington is a nice little drive too. At least, most of the cops in that stretch are kind enough to leave their radars on, so my 8500 X50 can alert me well in advance. hehe

I'm suprised that they never told me anything about the frame since so much of the sticker is hidden (it came with the car, and I never have taken it off.)....