So, I don't even have my 08 C6 two weeks with barely 600 miles on it and just about wrecked it yesterday. Actually, I wasn't the one who almost wrecked it, it was some #$%^&*@ idiot clueless driver who almost wrecked it for me!

I'm cruising along at about 55mph on a three lane road and approaching an intersection with a solid green light. Posted speed limit I believe is 45 or 50, so I'm not driving like a lunatic. I'm in the middle lane with no other cars even close in front, on the side, or behind. Well, just as I enter the intersection the person waiting on the cross street to turn right decides that NOW is the time for them to go. Well, not only did she decide it was time to go, but instead of staying in the far right lane she feels the need to head directly for the center lane, which is already occupied by me. My immediate instinctive reaction was to lay on the horn and hit the brakes hard and fortunately the ABS did what it was supposed to do and kept me from a serious collision. Without ABS, I don't see anyway I wouldn't have crashed.

I'm not usually one to indicate my feelings about such things with "inappropriate hand gestures," but I was SOOOOO pissed off that I quickly served around her and let her know exactly what I was thinking at the moment. Of course, realizing the stupidity of her manuever, she was doing everything she could to keep staring straight ahead and not look at me, which was probably the wise thing to do. On the other hand, maybe she's just blind and deaf, which would go a long way in explaining the whole thing.

OK, I feel a little better now. I just wish there was a way to get some people's driving priveleges suspended or revoked. There are just too many out there who don't have a *&%#! clue.

Wasn't it George Carlin who once said "Why is it that everyone driving slower than me is an idiot and everyone driving faster than me is a jerk?"

 

It happens to me on a regular basis, bet she was on the $%%^&% cell phone!
Thank goodness your reaction time, and your Vettes superior handling saved the day.

 

A good defensive driver would have anticipated the possibility that she might have not noticed your car becuase of blind spot when she looked left prior to turning. A very common accident situation and a very human thing to do. Lighten up, she most likely realized her error but was afriad of your possible road rage. From the sound of it...she was wise not to compound her error by looking at you.

This kind of thing happens to me. I have learned to accept someone else's human tendancies and not take it personal just because I drive a corvette.

What if you had made that same error?

society needs to lighten up on each other...

IMHO
Rob

 

I got my 08 Aug 28th, picked it up at 5pm, got rear ended at 11pm... havent had a chance to drive it since... and it is still in the shop, unknown ETA for repairing.

Least you have some luck

 

Glad that you and your car are still in one piece.

Reminds me of the time when I just filled up my p/u truck with 110 gallons of propane. First time out with it, and a large 30 foot coca cola truck runs a stop sign. Had he hit me, they would still be picking up pieces of me.

 

I see it more and more these days driving here . You got to be aware at all times. I'm lucky I only have to drive my Vette on weekends or if I am heading out of town for a long weekend.

Fred

 

"Blind spot when she looked left?" I'm not familiar with such a thing (seriously).

With all due respect, I don't agree that it is a "very human" thing to do turn right on a red light and go directly to the center lane. At least that's not the way I learned to drive. I'm not trying to come off as a flawless driver, but I can say with absolute certaintly that I have never done anything like what she did. I find it hard to excuse, and believe me, I am a very forgiving person.

"Society needs to lighten up?" I was almost in a very serious accident because this! And I wasn't taking it personally because that would suggest she had some sort of grudge against me (which I'm sure was not the case). It was plain and simple really bad driving. Guess you had to be in my shoes...

 

Driving here in S. Calif. is like driving a formal obstacle course. Anything that can happen, will happen.

 

As a 20 year state LEO I could not disagree more. The type of inattentive driving described results in countless injuries and thousands of deaths every year. People should start paying a lot more attention when operating a 2 ton weapon! The PC attitude of it's not really my fault or no one's perfect is precisely the cause of countless accidents! Should hunters say oops... things happen and folks shouldn't get upset about a few accidental gun shot wounds? It is EXACTLY the operators fault when they make careless stupid errors. Who else would it be? I've driven hundreds of thousands of miles in every conceivable weather condition without a single accident. Do you think that's the result of luck? If people always drove defensively, never took anything for granted and above all else... always PAY ATTENTION the accident rate would plummet! We need REAL driving testing similar to what's given in Europe. The number of non attentive morons on the road today is incredible and getting worse. It all starts with the PC attitude of it's not my fault, that's what insurance is for and of course no one's perfect! People should strive for perfection when operating a 2 ton weapon.........

 

I am glad that you are OK and didn't have a wreck. But , I think you're lucky some local mountie wasn't watching the action. He might have concluded that you were screwing around in some manner and stopped to ticket you for reckless driving or tailgating of some other such thing because he saw your panic stop and assumed the worst of you. You know, if in doubt the vette always gets the ticket I believe.

As for the digitus impudicus I don't do that anymore no matter what happens. Out here in the peoples republic of oregon you're liable to get a ticket for road rage ( or perhaps thinking disallowed thoughts ) OR get shot at by some punk gang banger. I just keep it to myself and stay in stealth mode....at least as much as possible considering my ride.

 

 

cthusker hit the nail square! I don't even want to think about the jacked-up F150 in the #2 lane who decided to change to the #1 lane which I was occupying fully at the time. She looked over, but not down, and proceeded to changes lanes. I lucked out since there was a paved breakdown lane there, but otherwise . . .

Irresponsible innattentive morons cause most of the accidents. Period. Just don't be one of them.

 

Well, I can't account for the anyone else's possible incorrect interpretation of what happened. That's out of my control. Besides, we don't have mounties down here, only "CHiPies"

As far as the gesture, I can't tell you the last time I did that; it had to be more than 10 years ago. 99.9% of time I will just keep going and shake my head as I go by. In this case, though, let's just say it was so egregious that I couldn't help myself.

 

I am glad you avoided an accident. I have had a few close calls as well with my Corvette. I always try to give myself an out, and sometimes have had to use a burst of power to avoid a collision.

 

I could not agree with you more! I would say close to 80% of today's drivers are automatons who have no clue about driving.

The better drivers tend to be sports cars drivers (with a few exceptions) as those enjoy the car and take pride in their skills.

I'm glad it all ended up OK.

 

 

Anybody can get a driver's license. Even Paris Hilton. So watch out.

 

I could not agree more!

 

Glad you and the Vette are OK, and the Vette handled so well.

 

Two comments: 1. What did ABS have to do with avoiding this accident? Answer: nothing. Those big brake rotors on the front of your Vette is what stopped you from hitting this woman. After all these years of ABS being out there, so many people still do not understand what it does. ABS does nothing to decrease stopping distance, it allows you to keep control of the vehicle when traction is at a minimum.

2. Defensive driving: I have preached to my kids over and over, ALWAYS leave yourself a way out! Drive like your riding a motorcycle. Think about everything the other driver might do and how would you react. Scan the road and know your options for escape. I could go on and on. I drive so many miles every year and the key to staying safe is to pay attention.