My Volvo Saved My Life....

[User]

<snip>


As I said, I didn't mean to sound condescending and I suspected that you
were probably hemmed in after a second thought about you being in
California. However, my soapbox speech wasn't directed at you but more
at the system/situation that allows non-skilled, untrained, lifeforms to
operate lethal weapons on the highways virtually unsupervised. As you by
needs have well learned, focus and concentration are hard work that is
seldom rewarded by the inattentiveness of inept drivers. I would favor a
class license system that would keep those unwilling or unable to master
proper car control skills on highly congested secondary roads where they
can play bumper cars at lower speeds. Leave the higher roadways to thise
that can play well together.

 

[Marvin]

LAS wrote:

I have driven all over the world for over 35 years, (from the Autobahn
at over 280 kph, motorways in Sweden and Norway in icy and extremely
hazardous conditions, in Italian cities, French countysides, African
savannahs and middle east highways. I 've been to racing school here in
California and driven performance cars to speeds that most drivers will
never experiance.) AND through all that, I have never been in a
situation this severe and unavoidable - so please, spare the sermon.

<snip>
Several years ago, as a passenger on an autobahn at 140 mph,
I remarked the driver that I felt safer than at half the
speed on the New Jersey turnpike. The difference was that we
weren't sandwiched between two tractor-trailors. But I feel
safer on the Turnpike with the trucks than with cars. Where
the Turnpike divides so that all trucks go into a separate
set of lanes, I always go with the trucks. They are better
drivers than the average motorists, and I try to do as well.
If a big truck comes up behind me, wanting to pass, I move
to another lane because it is harder for a truck to switch
lanes.

 

[Maze]

Bob,
I panic stopped and steered directly ahead quite deliberately. When
traffic is solid on BOTH sides and travelling at 50 MPH (on California
freeways, normal, safe spacing is considered socially unacceptable the
cars following) and the car in front has smoke pouring off their (non-
ABS) brakes thus bringing the car to a grinding stop, no amount of
driver training can provide a different result than ours. No disrespect,
but you were not in the car, so your comments seem ignorantly glib.

I have driven all over the world for over 35 years, (from the Autobahn
at over 280 kph, motorways in Sweden and Norway in icy and extremely
hazardous conditions, in Italian cities, French countysides, African
savannahs and middle east highways. I 've been to racing school here in
California and driven performance cars to speeds that most drivers will
never experiance.) AND through all that, I have never been in a
situation this severe and unavoidable - so please, spare the sermon.

I agree that in the USA, we'll give a license to anybody. Moreover, 50%
of the drivers run around doing knowingly (and incredibly) stupid things
all the time (such as talking on cell phones, eating, drinking, reading
and the like). The guy who hit us probably knew quite well how to
control his car and under proper driving disipline would have slowed
sufficiently for the normal flow of traffic to resume (and therefore
precude the accident). The reality; he simply was not paying attention.
A random event. Pray it doen't happen to you.If it does, I hope your
(presumably great) skill will provide a better result. If it doesn't I
hope you survive as well as we did.

Thank you for your good wishes and drive safely.

I was in exactly the same situation a few years ago. I had absolutely
nowhere to go. Double-trailer Semi on the right and a car on the left
and everyone was standing on the binders. The car to my left was all
over the place and the semi was in lockup mode with trailers going all
over the place. I was rear ended by someone drinking a malt and a
Wendy's cheeseburger.

 

[Andrew McKenna]

I was in exactly the same situation a few years ago. I had absolutely
nowhere to go. Double-trailer Semi on the right and a car on the left
and everyone was standing on the binders. The car to my left was all
over the place and the semi was in lockup mode with trailers going all
over the place. I was rear ended by someone drinking a malt and a
Wendy's cheeseburger.

Anybody who can drink a Wendy's cheeseburger can stop on a dime, just by
digging their powerful fingernails into the bitumen. *Obviously* a case
of brake failure.

 

[Maze]

Anybody who can drink a Wendy's cheeseburger can stop on a dime, just by
digging their powerful fingernails into the bitumen. *Obviously* a case
of brake failure.

ANDREW!!!
Obviously, you have a better sense of humor than most!!!
One of these days, I'd love to shake your hand.