Are you invisible on the roads too?

"Stapleface-Now Hyphenated!" (patrickgruden)
12/17/2014 at 10:25 • Filed to: None

I know that people are too self absorbed these days to actually pay attention while they're driving, but I must admit I'm still astounded by how many people just don't pay attention, at all.

I've long had an issue with driving in someone's blind spot, and I will try to avoid it at all costs. Because let's face it, people don't even check their mirrors. And if they do, they almost certainly don't check their blind spots when they change lanes. I'm actually quite amazed I don't see more accidents on a daily basis, for as many near-misses as I've seen.

What's even worse than that to me though is the people that pull out in front of you. The people you know are looking because you can see their eyes looking right at you. As you drive towards them. In a fucking ORANGE CAR. Doesn't get much more visible than that.

Just curious if I'm the only one who's invisible on the roads. I'm sure the proliferation of portable device use doesn't help matters either.

DISCUSSION (27)

ACESandEIGHTS > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated!
12/17/2014 at 10:28

If anything I see people's ridiculous attachment to electronics to give them an inflated self-worth. I think road rage is the ultimate indicator of inflated ego, and you tend to get those by isolating yourself, not relating to people, not living in an actual give-and-take world. Like, you know, the world of looking at your phone all the time.

Nibbles > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated!
12/17/2014 at 10:31

I keep buying Swedish vehicles despite the fact that they're invisible. I've never had this problem with any of my other cars!

My 1987 SPG was totaled in a hit-and-run because someone turned right in front of me in an intersection.

My 1997 850 was nearly sandwiched multiple times between [insert vehicle here] and a concrete barrier

I was run off the road nearly daily in my other 1987 900

People just don't notice the S40 - either that or they think I'll notice and just attempt to occupy my space regardless

edit: People sometimes pull in front of my Dakota, forgetting that steel beats plastic any day. I guess they think it's slow and they can out-accelerate me from 10 feet in front? I dunno

E. Julius > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated!
12/17/2014 at 10:31

At the major pedestrian crossing at my school, I always amuse/terrify myself by counting how many people are driving through on their phones.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated!
12/17/2014 at 10:32

I was when I had my Mazda3. People would royally cut me off and still not notice even after I honk/flash my brights to let them know that they done fucked up. Now I have a BRZ and am automatically an asshole driving like a maniac. Now they look, see me, wait until I'm closer, wait some more, then cut me off only to shoot back over and give me the finger/yell at me for honking /flashing my brights since I needed to slam on the brakes to avoid them. Yesterday, some douche in a 350Z kept going out of his way to cut me off as "payback" for almost hitting me.

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > ACESandEIGHTS
12/17/2014 at 10:34

I can actually see why road rage happens sometimes. I've been caught in traffic delays that would make a 20 minute commute an hour and a half, and you never see why there was a delay. I can totally understand why someone would snap and just lose it. But in my mind losing it would be just driving on the median or something, not attacking your fellow man.

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > Nibbles
12/17/2014 at 10:37

I've always said that if I had a beat up truck I just wouldn't care and would hit people that cut me off. But, I also don't want to pay sky high insurance rates either.

What I've seen people do to tractor trailers is mind boggling. Apparently an 80,000 lb truck can stop in a shorter distance than a motorcycle according to these people.

Funktheduck > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated!
12/17/2014 at 10:38

When I daily drove my truck in high school people pulling out in front of me was an almost daily occurrence. I'm not exaggerating. It was so bad people who rode with me would comment on it. Most of the roads I drove on had speed limits of 45 mph and were 4 lanes either with a center turn lane or divided. I could be the only person out and someone would wait until I was dangerously close to pull out into my lane, not the empty lane, and accelerate like they were powered by a push mower engine.

It doesn't happen as much anymore, maybe once or twice a month. Mostly I get cut off now.

Gamecat235 > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated!
12/17/2014 at 10:39

Back when I drove my black Rav4, I would joke that I must be invisible or the most hated person on the road because many times a week people would try to suddenly occupy the same space that I was taking.

Now that I DD the New Beetle, I am rarely unnoticed. I can't explain it.

(Interestingly, the accident I was in while driving the Rav was exactly because someone decided to try to change lanes into where I currently was, but seeing as how I was already in the right turn lane I had no where to go other than into a whole bunch of bushes and over curbs, and after I was hit, that's where I went).

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > Funktheduck
12/17/2014 at 10:41

That's one thing that really gets under my skin. There's two miles of clear lane behind you but they have to pull out in front of you. It's like they're dead at the brain stem.

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > Gamecat235
12/17/2014 at 10:44

When I first got my Crosstrek I was good for a while. People seemed to notice. Sadly that's passed. Although not as bad when I would drive my mother's black Trailblazer or when she had a white Caravan before it. I swear if you don't have a color on your vehicle you just blend in with everything.

Nibbles > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated!
12/17/2014 at 10:47

Fun fact: A good operator can shut down an 80k tractor in no time flat. They just don't care to

Also I said the same thing but, now that I own a beat up truck, I still protect it with every fiber of my being :\

BJ > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated!
12/17/2014 at 10:48

I'm guessing you're in the USA where daytime running lights are not mandatory? Trying driving with your headlights on all the time. Here in Canada, DRL have been mandatory on new cars for a long time (20 years, maybe?) and it really makes a difference in both good conditions and bad.

Sure, you'll need to replace some bulbs a bit more often, but that's probably less of an inconvenience than having an accident, right?

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > BJ
12/17/2014 at 10:51

I do have DRL's, but usually drive with lights on all the time anyway. Since they shut off when I turn off the car, I see no reason to turn them off. I thought that might have been why my car was visible for a while. But, now it's not. Maybe I need to cover the car in reflective tape and LED's.

Alfalfa > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated!
12/17/2014 at 10:53

Odd story, somewhat related.

A few years ago, I was about to get off the freeway. It was late-ish, not a lot of traffic. On your typical two-lane offramp, I was in the exit only lane and a Plymouth minivan was in the lane next to me. Just as I am about to get off, this van starts to merge into me. I honk. Rather than pulling back into their lane, they violently jerk the van past their lane, even cutting a bit into the killzone, and back onto the freeway.

Thinking about it still puzzles me to this day. Where they just too embarrassed to even be seen by me? Was it some kind of weird expiriment? Did they realize their lack of spacial awareness, and question everything else in life including where they were traveling at that exact moment? The world may never know.

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > Nibbles
12/17/2014 at 10:56

Damn, good skills on that driver. He would have punted that car 30 yards.

BJ > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated!
12/17/2014 at 10:56

Hmm, in that case I don't know what to suggest. Get lots of rest, be alert, and drive slowly I guess?

Alfalfa > ACESandEIGHTS
12/17/2014 at 10:56

I've always found it interesting that people treat each other so differently behind the wheel than in person. Of we see someone carrying a heavy object, we make way for them, even open a door. A semi? Nope, cut that sucker off.

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > Alfalfa
12/17/2014 at 10:59

Good question. Perhaps they had fallen asleep at the wheel? Full disclosure, I did that once, for about 2 seconds, and it still scares the shit out of me and that was 18 years ago.

Alfalfa > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated!
12/17/2014 at 11:04

I can imagine. I've driven pretty drowsy on a few occasions and nearly nodded off, that was scary enough.

JEM > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated!
12/17/2014 at 11:08

Try riding a motorcycle.

Rainbow > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated!
12/17/2014 at 11:08

I only make last-minute evasive movements for these people. Make it as close to a collision as I feel safe doing, just in hopes that they'll be scared enough to pay more attention. Plus, if I do get hit, it'll be my first accident and, though I'm still young (20), I'd assume my flawless driving record will help my case more than enough. If not, well, shit... But even if I get partial fault, at least I'll hopefully be the one to fix the other driver's stupidity for a while.

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > JEM
12/17/2014 at 11:16

And THIS is the reason I don't. I'd love to have a bike, but I've got serious concerns about everyone else. But the gas savings is mighty tempting.

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > Rainbow
12/17/2014 at 11:18

Yeah, I do the same thing. I've also been guilty of (on more than one occasion) cutting in front of someone holding up the left lane going below the speed limit. Often times they actually do get the picture and move the hell over.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated!
12/17/2014 at 11:34

I pretty much drive like everyone's objective is to hit my car and/or kill me.

yamahog > JEM
12/17/2014 at 11:46

Beat me to it. At this point, I can anticipate people trying to merge or change lanes directly into me, but it's still horrifying to think that my cause of death is more likely to be "Idiot Commuter in a Corolla" than "Too Fast into Turn 3."

JEM > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated!
12/17/2014 at 13:48

You get really good, really quick at anticipating people's stupid moves. it's really not that bad, just don't EVER ride in someone's blind spot.

thebigbossyboss > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated!
01/06/2015 at 12:33

Last night I saw a grey car driving through Ottawa the middle of the night, no headlights or taillights. WTF!!