Is it just me or are people driving worse? All the time people pull out in front of me or cut me off and are suddenly very surprised to see the grill guard of an F-250 just out their window. It seems this happened rarely just a few years ago. Usually I can get out of the way before I kill them, but unfortunately today my luck ran out. As I was going north on a two-lane rural road a man in a suburban going southbound decided that he could not only turn left right in front of my truck but wait to do it till I was about 20 feet away. I don't know what he was thinking, but I ended up broadsiding him at about (Thank the Lord!) only 30 mph. I'm gonna need a new grill, hood, radiator, pretty much everything from the radiator forward. I think that the heavy-duty warn grill guard probably saved my 460. His insurance will cover it, but I'm gonna be without my truck for a couple weeks.

On the plus side, at least we were both driving full size vehicles, 'cause if he was in a honda or something I surely would have killed him.

Any one else deal with crazy folks like this on a daily basis? I'd say that on average I'm almost in wreck because of someone elses stupidity about twice or thrice a week.

The Law

 

After I had my sister proof read this, she told me she blames it all on the rice-boy mentality: If the electronics were made in japan, then it must be japanese enough to out maneuver anything.

 

Feel for your loss-glad you weren't hurt other than the feeling of loss for the truck. I know first hand where your coming from, just try working in an intersection when the only thing between you and the idiots is a couple of cones, real drivers and your yellow or orange vest! Been hit a couple of time in the last year, never by a vehical (couple of close ones!) but by cones that are hit because someone is in a hurry or just can't see past the end of there hood and figures that they can still make it ahead of everyone else if they just squeeze in at the cone taper and their judgement is just a little off, "So what, I only hit the cone! No harm no foul?" Not a one even bothered to stop to see if I was alright, one has put me down, thankfully there were a few concerned and considerate drivers who did stop, and yeah, I was alright-just a little bruised and very pissed! And some people wonder why we drive big, good ole, AMERICAN iron!! As someone else has said here (sorry, don't remember who) "Keep it between the lines" and I'll add, if you can't drive with consideration and common sense, you should have to take the bus until you agree to never ever drive like an idiot again, and if you can't, then the bus it is for life! Hope you get your truck better real soon-it just might be a life saver! Hey guys, sorry for venting, but thanks for the chance to!

 

Think its bad in an F250 you ought to try it in an 18 wheeler. I have people several times a day unknowingly risking their lives because they feel they have a God given right not to have to be behind a big truck. The truck I drive is cut back in the computer to 67 MPH. I constantly have a line of traffic running on the left passing me, and when I get to on ramps people will pull right out in front of me. Get on the brakes and still end up inches from their rear bumpers until you get slowed down. And as a reward for not running them over, I usually get the finger. People just don't realize how long it takes to slow down an 80,000 pound truck, let alone get it stopped. I've been lucky so far, haven't had an accident in 11 years of driving. I just wish people would be a little more considerate. I drive a gas tanker hauling 8800 gallons. And sadly enough we've all seen what kind of horror can be caused with a little petroleum product...

 

I have that happen everyday it seems, driving 120 miles to work and back doesn't help either I suppose,
been in two crashes this year,
first time yokel in a outback tried to cut into his drive doing about 50, by going thru the front of my cougar, totaled both rides and I was only doing about 25 mph, second this guy tried to cut across three lanes of traffic and go the opposite way, and hit my passenger fender,
totaled his pulsar, but my 93 Cougar didn't take to much damage at all,
feel for you on the truck man, hope she gets back soon and in good shape.

 

Sorry to hear about your ride, but glad no one was hurt. Now if the experience would only increase the other guy's intelligence.....

I've been driving daily a recently rebuilt '48 F1 (complete with the FLAThead V8 thank you) for the past 2 months and I've noticed more people pulling out in front of me than ever did when I was driving the '86 4X4.

I'm guessing it's some mental deficiency that tells them, "it's old, therefore slow, so you want to get in front of it". Truth is after a rearend swap I can keep up with traffic, but I'm running stock brakes - single reservoir master cylinder. So I GO better than I WHOA!

 

Bummer about your wheels. A general opinion poll would likely agree drivers are more aggressive and less considerate than ever before. With two sons who recently started driving, the standards for issuing a license are appaling. A short test and a drive literally around a neighborhood block. No need to demonstrate any minimal skills in highway driving, merging, passing, heck, they don't even have to be able to parallel park anymore. It would be interesting to hear from any law enforcement officials on this topic.

 

hey. what's up? sorry about your truck pal. glad you wheren't hurt
i live in winnipeg manitoba canada. we have some of the worst drivers anywhere here. i've nearly been in numerous accidents, and most with ricers and teens. i my self are a teen but i drive resposibly becasue i have been 100's of hours rebuilding and working on my 78 ford. im usually liky tho. if i get clsoe enough with my truck to some honda civic with 1/2 a cm of clearance they usually get the hell outta my way, but a few are jerks. people say it's worse to drive in the city oin rush hour, i do it almost every day but the highway is worse. people drive where ever they want there too, except they do it at 115km! yeah drivers are getting worse. last week driving a grand-am (i hate it) nearly got in 2 accidents. both wheren't my fault but i avaoided them by flooring it.

drivers need to get off there cell phones, turn there steroes down and accually watch the road
Joseph -out
1978 ford
f-100
300 6
all original
love that truck!

 

Just so you know i am 16 and i only have my permit right now but you have to wait six months and you do have to parallel park the tests are now harder than they ever were atleast in pa now

T.J. Flynn 79 f-150 390 4spd 4x4 33" tires being restored

 

First, let me admit, I do plenty of stupid things but usually they are because I didn't see something, not because I was being a total idiot.

My worst near miss was a dummy in a brand new, paper plates, minivan. He was in front of me on a left turn lane which turned into a 4 lane(2 each way with a cement divider)street. This dummy turned into the right hand lane and I pulled into the left, maybe one car length back. We had traveled maybe 100 feet. All I can guess is that suddenly the guy must have realized he was going the wrong way, so he pulled a U turn right in front of me to get to the other side. And get this, there was a cement divider in the middle of the road so he would have hit that except that he turned down a set of railroad tracks that went across the road and thru the cement divider. I must have missed T Boning this idiot by maybe 1 foot. I even considered hitting him just because he was an idiot and would have had no explanation of how he got T Bone in a divided street in the middle of a railroad track. I don't think he even realized that he was almost broadsided.

I did T bone another guy years ago. I was on a "rural" 4 lane highway, 50mph limit. There was a cross street with Stop sign for cross traffic. I had the right of way. Some old geezer pulled out in front of me so suddenly that I would have had a hard time missing him. I hit him square on in the passenger door, crushed it and the frame in probably a foot.

He said he didn't even know I was there until he heard my horn. The guy was 98 years old and had a daughter as a passenger who was 18. Luckily no one was hurt. My skid marks were maybe 30 feet, so I assume that showed there wasn't much time before impact. Police said it was clear that he was in the wrong, some consolation. He had no insurance of course. My company car never drove the same afterwards, ate tires every 5,000 miles even after the dealer fixed it like new.

Jim Henderson

 

The driving tests aren't that hard I am 17 I got my licsence about 6 months ago. I had to paralell park it was easy. Then I had to drive around the block. Down 2 back roads and and 2 busy streets. So far I havent been in any accidents but came close. I I hate the way people drive. They just come right out in front of you when the lane next to you is empty. I have learned that if your car is loud enough and you step on the gas and it hits passing gear they move.

 

hey buddy sorry to hear of you loss!!
I know right where your coming from my man i drive a school bus and think you see stupid people? I know the truck driver sees alot but god help those mental midgets that "got to get ahead of that damm school bus!!" most people risk there own life not to mention the lives of all the kids on the bus and other people driving by the bus. seems people dont have time to allow kids to get to school safley!!
everyone who reads this please give school bus drivers a break they're just doing their job and tryin to gets the kids to school as quick as possible!!
Thanx
Taz