Idiots on Parade

[KI4PEQ]

Bumper Cars in the Pacific Northwest (http://www.devilducky.com/media/56689/)

[n7zsd]

Holy crap those roads are slick!
Hope no one was hurt...

[N0KLT]

Don't any of those people understand the concept of taking your foot off the gas and brake pedals when you start sliding on ice. I think that first moron must have had his cruise control on and never touched the brakes, either that or the bozo just put his foot on the gas and never let up.

[KC7UP]

I go into Seattle two or three times a year to see my kids. I have seen first hand their driving techniques- or lack of techniques. They believe if the sign says 70MPH then its 80MPH. I have had people give me the index finger for doing speed limit. Also one would think that people who live where it rains buckets and buckets would learn how to drive in it. Now for fun see them drive in snow. The city doublejointed and single buses shut down.
Curt

[K0RGR]

That is an example of a rare breed of driver, most of whom are found in California. They are known as the Great Western Rain Driver. The worse the weather, the faster they go to get out of it sooner. I've seen a lot of them in the Dallas area, too.

[WF7A]

Having lived in the Pacific Northwaste for about 15 years, I can testify to the fact that most of the drivers there have no clue how to drive safely in the rain, let alone on ice. :S For an area renown for its intelligent people, they have total ignorance of basic Newtonian physics.

[kk7ue]

Quote[/b] (WF7A @ Jan. 23 2007,20:39)]For an area renown for its intelligent people, they have total ignorance of basic Newtonian physics.
Agreed. Physics isnt the only thing my 'neighbors' are ignorant of. Ah the joy of living in the Northwest...

[kk7ue]

You can always spot the transplants (californicators) by spotting the cars with the wipers on high for a few sprinkles on the window. Hilarious http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[KB9YFI]

Now THAT is funny. Looked pretty slippery -but when the brakes are locked and the wheels aren't moving you are no longer DRIVING -you are just a passenger in an out-of control chunk of metal.

[K6UEY]

WHOOPS !! I am in the wrong Topic. From the title I thought it was another Cindy Sheehan Topic !! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[KA7RRA]

Quote[/b] (kk7ue @ Jan. 23 2007,20:55)]You can always spot the transplants (californicators) by
the californa rolls!! from my understanding of it Californa driver's never stop at stop signs, they just roll past them

[KD7ZRT]

Portland drivers are actually pretty decent... Not great, of course, but compared to say California or Arizona I'd say we do pretty well. With all the bikes and peds around here, you have to be pretty attentive.

What this video doesn't do a good job of showing is the grade of that road. If you want to look at it in Google Earth, the intersection is SW Salmon and SW 20th. Salmon is the main road for coming down from the Kings Hill neighborhood. Just west of there is the Oregon Zoo, which is home to the 2nd deepest transit station in the world. Every week a group of cyclists (ZooBomb, its called) take the train to the station and then the elevator to the top of the hill, then ride down. Salmon is one of the routes they take because it is steep.

This video is getting linked quite a bit, but it really doesn't represent the reality of that day. Most people had the day off since the freeways were pretty much useless, but the light rail, streetcar, and aerial tram were all operating normally, so people could still get around. I spent much of the day on my bike (http://www.headwes.com/snowday), as did many (http://bikeportland.org/2007/01/16/notes-from-the-roads-of-a-snow-covered-city/) other people (http://bikeportland.org/2007/01/16/snow-day/). While riding around downtown, I saw lots of people hanging out at coffee shops, skiing in the streets, building snowmen, and just generally wandering. I'm sure in lots of places, weather like this would be just any other day, but here its not just an opportunity for adults and children to come out and play, but also the perfect cure for the winter blues. It sure beats sideways rain.

[WF7A]

After watching the vid again I have an idea: next time the roads are that bad, invite a couple of neighbors over and have them bring some paper plates and thick, black Sharpie markers. Position yourselves where the cars eventually come to as stop after they careen down the street like a pinball. Rate their "performance" like Olympic judges, each of you writing your score on a paper plate then holding it up to the bewildered driver. Guaranteed fun for hours.

The vid also reminded me of a story about the "Snow of 1990" where it was _really_ bad in Seattle. (It took me 13-1/2 hours to drive 30 miles home.) Some poor guy had parked his fairly new car at the curb and had left for vacation before the storm hit. The problem was, it was parked right at the end of a 3-way intersection where a steep street terminated (the kind where the road meets to a point from parallax). His car was struck again and again as drivers lost traction down the hill then slammed into his car. (Unfortunately, none of them left a courtesy note that they hit his car.) The poor guy came home to find his car cratered like the Moon.

[kf6rdn]

Quote[/b] (KA7RRA @ Jan. 23 2007,20:46)]Quote[/b] (kk7ue @ Jan. 23 2007,20:55)]You can always spot the transplants (californicators) by
the californa rolls!! from my understanding of it Californa driver's never stop at stop signs, they just roll past them
We roll through S.T.O.P. signs out of safety!

We know were are SUPPOSED to Skid Tires On Pavement!


And it's the damned out of staters that don't realize that "65" REALLY means 85.

http://members.tripod.com/radiantcord/0f15e570.jpg

[al2i]

Understanding the difference between static and kinetic friction coefficients can be a real bumper-saver at times. Great video! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[WS2L]

Ooooop's better call Geico

[n0jaa]

It always amazes me that the people who most get into winter-driving trouble are those who have lived with it most of their lives. #They must get complacent or something. #I grew up in Colorado, lived there 25 years; I always had the good sense to drive for the conditions, not drive 70 mph in the snow just because the sign said so.

Every winter-driving wreck I had been in was caused by the other driver not driving for the conditions; I always got plowed into, rear-ended, sideswiped, etc., because the other driver was going to fast in snow and ice and couldn't stop.

I got stuck in a snow drift only one time and I was able to get myself out of it. #The only time I ever needed help was when I was driving #a straight truck over Rabbit Ears Pass. #The load shifted and I had to stop the truck to check on the load. #I couldn't see where the shoulder was so I just eased over to the side of the road. #As soon as I stopped, the right side of my truck sank about a foot in the accumulated snow! #Fortunately, there was a snow plow about a mile behind me; the plow driver was able to pull me out, then I checked my load and continued the rest of the way to Steamboat Springs.

[ke7imb]

Quote[/b] (KC7UP @ Jan. 23 2007,12:35)]I go into Seattle two or three times a year to see my kids. I have seen first hand their driving techniques- or lack of techniques. They believe if the sign says 70MPH then its 80MPH. I have had people give me the index finger for doing speed limit. Also one would think that people who live where it rains buckets and buckets would learn how to drive in it. Now for fun see them drive in snow. The city doublejointed and single buses shut down.
Curt
the majority of the seattle idiots are from california that happen to come here in the summer and think oh its wonderful I will move here. thin the washington weather hits in oct wind rain snow ice and they have never driven in it and they screw the whole thing up.

[KF0RT]

Looking at the video, I'm betting it was shot on a hill.

Slick is when you get out of your car to push while the tires are spinning.

73, Rob

[ab8ro]

Quote[/b] (kf6rdn @ Jan. 23 2007,00:18)]Quote[/b] (KA7RRA @ Jan. 23 2007,20:46)]Quote[/b] (kk7ue @ Jan. 23 2007,20:55)]You can always spot the transplants (californicators) by
the californa rolls!! # from my understanding of it Californa driver's never stop at stop signs, they just roll past them
We roll through S.T.O.P. signs out of safety!

We know were are SUPPOSED to Skid Tires On Pavement!


And it's the damned out of staters that don't realize that "65" REALLY means 85.

http://members.tripod.com/radiantcord/0f15e570.jpg
Yeah, I've noticed that. But really, california drivers aren't all that bad. In fact, drivers on the west coast are, in general, more polite and patient than their midwest counterparts.

Inexperience in the snow does not make one a "bad driver", it makes one an inexperienced snow driver. The west side of Washington and Oregon just don't get as much practice. So every few years when they get some bad weather you see a video like that and all of the experienced snow drivers use it to claim how the other side can't drive. It's not true.

[ab8ma]

Bring back studded tires. As a teen, I had a job inserting the steel studs into tires using an air gun. Many many studs per tire. Never missed one hole.

[KD6NIG]

Well, the main person you can blame is the one who invented that small type on every 4WD commercial that says "Professional Driver-Closed Course".

I can remember numerous times when I have been driving, with chains as stated were required, and heard a honk and a car passing me at a high rate of speed. Invaribly it was one of these land yachts, with the 4X4 badge on the side, going 55 and honking at me because I was going 15 with my chains on along with plenty of others.

Of course, there have been 2 times when, about a mile or so later, I saw said vehicle in the ditch and them standing on the side of the road waving their arms for help.

And yeah, the drivers in California are pretty bad. I think its because of the "Me First" doctrine-they are all in a hurry, they only care about themselves, and they will make some odd moves or cut someone off to get there.

My commute takes me to, but not into, the 205 corridor here in Tracy. My 10 minutes on Southbound I-5 every morning as well as the 10-15 back usually mean I'll be cut off at least once each way. About 50% of the time the person doing it has a cell phone in their ear, driving one handed, and they can't (or don't care to) signal either. 70-75+, one handed, in a one ton vehicle, dodging cars like in a video game.

Gotta love it.

And you can definetely tell the Bay Area migration here. I remember seeing a lot of the same stuff when I lived down there. Its migrated up here now. And I remember LA being bad-the last time I went there, I didn't see anything more unusual than up here. In fact, I recall people backing off to let me over when I got into the wrong lane because I didn't know the road, etc. Up here that wouldn't happen http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

July 1 the hands-free requirement for cell phones takes effect across California. I can't wait, though I figure I'll still get cut off. They just won't have the phone in their hand, so they will be able to blink that blinker once as they come over on top of my bumper. At least the flash will give me a few milliseconds more to get my foot onto the brake pedal.

[KI4PEQ]

Quote[/b] (KA7RRA @ Jan. 23 2007,22:46)]Quote[/b] (kk7ue @ Jan. 23 2007,20:55)]You can always spot the transplants (californicators) by
the californa rolls!! # from my understanding of it Californa driver's never stop at stop signs, they just roll past them
From the Californian Dictionary

stop- (stawp) abbrieviation for the phrase "softly tap on pedal"

[KI4PEQ]

Quote[/b] (ab8ma @ Jan. 24 2007,11:25)]Bring back studded tires. As a teen, I had a job inserting the steel studs into tires using an air gun. Many many studs per tire. Never missed one hole.
Bragging about one's abilities in both the workplace and the bedroom is considered to be poor form.

[KD6NIG]

Quote[/b] (ab8ma @ Jan. 24 2007,10:25)]Bring back studded tires. As a teen, I had a job inserting the steel studs into tires using an air gun. Many many studs per tire. Never missed one hole.
My dad runs studded tires in California (Sierra) in the winter months all the time.

I think they are legal in California from October to April, but I could be wrong.

[WF7A]

Quote[/b] (KI4PEQ @ Jan. 24 2007,10:13)]Bragging about one's abilities in both the workplace and the bedroom is considered to be poor form.
The Wifoid and I happened to be shopping in Home Depot last week when she picked up an electronic stud finder on display.
"What does this do?" she asked.
"It's a stud finder. Watch."
I held it in my hand and pointed it at a goofy-looking guy that walked by.
"Nope, he's no good."
Then a buff guy approached us and I pressed the ON button; the device lit up.
"Yup, he's a stud."

American technology at its best.

[ka0gkt]

A few years ago, we had an abundance of snow in the Santa Catalina Mountains. #At the time, I lived at a TV transmitter site on top of a mountain several nights a week. #The road to the transmitters is closed to the public in the winter and isn't plowed. #We use an ancient Thiokol Spryte Snow-Cat to transverse the road. #As I drove the cat from the place where we park the vehicle to the gate across the road, someone in a Chevy Silverado 4x4 drove up behind me and told me that they were going to drive up the road. #I snapped the padlock and told them that the road was closed, climbed into the cat, caught a road gear and tooled away kicking up a nice powder rooster tail.

Over my shift, it really snowed on the mountain, about 5-ft. worth, and the wind blew the snow into beautiful drifts. #No worries, I had the Spryte. #I was glad I had thought ahead and brought my camera up with me, things were beautiful after the snow. #On the morning when I drove down the mountain, I woke up and started the cat to get things warm, packed all of my things and the garbage out to the back of the cat and headed down the mountain through a winter wonderland. #At one point I exited the Thiokol with my camera to get a picture of the big orange cat in the snow I walked down the tracks to the back of the vehicle and stepped off and up to my waist in snow! #I climbed back up, strapped on the snowshoes and took my pictures, then continued my drive over the drifts, including the now drifted-over gate. #When I looked in my rearview mirror as I crossed the gate, I noticed that I had driven over the top of the now-buried in snow pickup truck...evidently the fellow knew the Forrest Service combination...but not that you don't drive on closed mountain roads on street tires...whether or not you have four-wheel-drive!

73 DE KAØGKT/7

--Steve