The need for speed
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 386
Likes: 5
From: Atlanta GA
The need for speed
I'm a hundred miles past the break-in period, and folks are still tailgating me. I got beeped at by a middle aged woman for driving too slowly today. There's lots of tailgater's in ATL. I attended a defensive driving class recently which gets me a 10% discount on my insurance. One thing they do is give you a rule to help you not tailgate. They tell you to pick a stationary object along the road that the car in front of you is just passing and then count 1001, 1002, 1003 or 3 seconds. If you pass the object before you count to 1003 then you are tailgating. It works for any speed and easier to judge than the one-car-length rule for every 10 MPH. I don't have my radar detector installed yet, but some one mention here that the C7 doesn't seem as fast as it should be. Maybe it's just me, but compared to my Mustang, the lower seating position and panoramic view from the drivers seat feels like I'm going faster than I really am, and that's pretty cool even if I do get beeped at for driving the speed limit. Of course the salesman told me now that the break-in period is over, you know what to do, right. Drive it like you stole it. Ya, it is a Vette.
Last edited by 9ball1104; Apr 24, 2015 at 10:15 PM.
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There is always going to be some jackazz out there that tailgates. No sense getting a ticket or endangering yourself by speeding - either move to a different lane or turn off the road if they continue to be on your bumper.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 16,253
Likes: 1,657
From: Arizona
May I ask....how old are you?
The stationery object 1001, 1002, 1003 rule was Driving Basics when I learned to drive in the mid 80s. You just now learned that in your Defensive Driver's Course?
Man....I am getting old.
Safe motoring.
The stationery object 1001, 1002, 1003 rule was Driving Basics when I learned to drive in the mid 80s. You just now learned that in your Defensive Driver's Course?
Man....I am getting old.
Safe motoring.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,162
Likes: 338
From: Fair Oaks, California
2017 C7 of the Year Finalist
Maybe object appear closer than they are. use a phone call to have a friend pull up behind you and tell him when to stop, then get out and see how close he actually is, may not be as close as you think. If it feels as if everybody is tailgating, your perception may be off.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 386
Likes: 5
From: Atlanta GA
Well, young man, let's just say that I had a full head of hair the last time I took a driving class, and the class I just took was sponsored by AARP. But I still love sex, drugs and rock-n-roll, well at least 2 of the 3.
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Pro
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 636
Likes: 60
Atlanta is terrible, I avoid it whenever possible. Unfortunately it lies between my father and I. So one of us always has to drive through it to see the other.
That said. I take all kinds of crap from drivers now that I never had to deal with before. I had a passat so far up my Mustang's *** this morning I thought he was trying to check my car to see if it had a prostate. We were in a known speed trap where it's 25mph during school drop-off hours and the police are ALWAYS out there. too bad they didn't tag the guy. Yet i'll see a vette or challenger or camaro, or even a biker, and get a wave. (not so many from Mustang owners).
And what is it with guys who drive trucks revving at me at stop lights? really? lol. It's not like they're wanting to say hi either because they stare straight ahead the entire time they're doing it. I wonder if they realize how silly they look.
If you want to know how bad Atlanta is, look at the cars around you. It's like Los Angeles. You'll find more cars with dents, dings, ripped off front and rear bumpers, busted headlights, tail lights, etc, than cars without.
Last edited by CriticalmassGT; Apr 17, 2015 at 09:01 AM.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 573
Likes: 12
From: Pleasant Hill MO
I get passed all the time! Seems some people like to think they need to pass my car for some reason! I know that I have the horsepower to blow most things off the road, but I just like to enjoy the ride on my commute to and from work!
My thoughts are "they're not driving a Corvette, I am!"
My thoughts are "they're not driving a Corvette, I am!"
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 386
Likes: 5
From: Atlanta GA
This. We learned it in Drivers Ed in High School in '86.
Atlanta is terrible, I avoid it whenever possible. Unfortunately it lies between my father and I. So one of us always has to drive through it to see the other.
That said. I take all kinds of crap from drivers now that I never had to deal with before. I had a passat so far up my Mustang's *** this morning I thought he was trying to check my car to see if it had a prostate. We were in a known speed trap where it's 25mph during school drop-off hours and the police are ALWAYS out there. too bad they didn't tag the guy. Yet i'll see a vette or challenger or camaro, or even a biker, and get a wave. (not so many from Mustang owners).
And what is it with guys who drive trucks revving at me at stop lights? really? lol. It's not like they're wanting to say hi either because they stare straight ahead the entire time they're doing it. I wonder if they realize how silly they look.
Atlanta is terrible, I avoid it whenever possible. Unfortunately it lies between my father and I. So one of us always has to drive through it to see the other.
That said. I take all kinds of crap from drivers now that I never had to deal with before. I had a passat so far up my Mustang's *** this morning I thought he was trying to check my car to see if it had a prostate. We were in a known speed trap where it's 25mph during school drop-off hours and the police are ALWAYS out there. too bad they didn't tag the guy. Yet i'll see a vette or challenger or camaro, or even a biker, and get a wave. (not so many from Mustang owners).
And what is it with guys who drive trucks revving at me at stop lights? really? lol. It's not like they're wanting to say hi either because they stare straight ahead the entire time they're doing it. I wonder if they realize how silly they look.
Last edited by 9ball1104; Apr 17, 2015 at 09:02 PM.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 18
Likes: 1
People aren't taught how to drive like they used to be.
It seems there is no concept of reaction time and stopping distance with people. I'm in northern California. Imagine the jackassery here with following too close.
Have your knuckles ready when someone rear ends you.
It seems there is no concept of reaction time and stopping distance with people. I'm in northern California. Imagine the jackassery here with following too close.
Have your knuckles ready when someone rear ends you.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 514
Likes: 105
From: Georgia
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,017
Likes: 169
From: SE VA VA
> [counting seconds is] easier to judge than the one-car-length rule for every 10 MPH
Depends on how fast you say one thousand
It's been a while since I've worked in engineering and design, but IIRC, design standards for lane stripes on the interstate call for the paint line to be 20' long and the gap between lines to be 10'
if the average car is 20' long, then count the lines.
3 stripes + (2 blank spaces) = 60' of paint and 20' of no paint, 80'
4 car lengths, correct gap for 40mph.
==
4 stripes + (3 blanks) = 110', correct gap for about 55mph.
==
5 stripes + (4 blanks) = 100' of paint and 40' of no paint, 140' total
140/20= 7 car lengths, correct gap for 70mph.
5 stripes for 70mph.
Depends on how fast you say one thousand
It's been a while since I've worked in engineering and design, but IIRC, design standards for lane stripes on the interstate call for the paint line to be 20' long and the gap between lines to be 10'
if the average car is 20' long, then count the lines.
3 stripes + (2 blank spaces) = 60' of paint and 20' of no paint, 80'
4 car lengths, correct gap for 40mph.
==
4 stripes + (3 blanks) = 110', correct gap for about 55mph.
==
5 stripes + (4 blanks) = 100' of paint and 40' of no paint, 140' total
140/20= 7 car lengths, correct gap for 70mph.
5 stripes for 70mph.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,162
Likes: 338
From: Fair Oaks, California
2017 C7 of the Year Finalist
> [counting seconds is] easier to judge than the one-car-length rule for every 10 MPH
Depends on how fast you say one thousand
It's been a while since I've worked in engineering and design, but IIRC, design standards for lane stripes on the interstate call for the paint line to be 20' long and the gap between lines to be 10'
if the average car is 20' long, then count the lines.
3 stripes + (2 blank spaces) = 60' of paint and 20' of no paint, 80'
4 car lengths, correct gap for 40mph.
==
4 stripes + (3 blanks) = 110', correct gap for about 55mph.
==
5 stripes + (4 blanks) = 100' of paint and 40' of no paint, 140' total
140/20= 7 car lengths, correct gap for 70mph.
5 stripes for 70mph.
Depends on how fast you say one thousand
It's been a while since I've worked in engineering and design, but IIRC, design standards for lane stripes on the interstate call for the paint line to be 20' long and the gap between lines to be 10'
if the average car is 20' long, then count the lines.
3 stripes + (2 blank spaces) = 60' of paint and 20' of no paint, 80'
4 car lengths, correct gap for 40mph.
==
4 stripes + (3 blanks) = 110', correct gap for about 55mph.
==
5 stripes + (4 blanks) = 100' of paint and 40' of no paint, 140' total
140/20= 7 car lengths, correct gap for 70mph.
5 stripes for 70mph.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 297
Likes: 0
From: VA
I'm a hundred miles past the break-in period, and folks are still tailgating me. I got beeped at by a middle aged woman for driving too slow today. There's lots of tailgater's in ATL. I attended a defensive driving class recently which gets me a 10% discount on my insurance. One thing they do is give you a rule to help you not tailgate. They tell you to pick a stationary object along the road that the car in front of you is just passing and then count 1001, 1002, 1003 or 3 seconds. If you pass the object before you count to 1003 then you are tailgating. It works for any speed and easier to judge than the one-car-length rule for every 10 MPH. I don't have my radar detector installed yet, but some one mention here that the C7 doesn't seem as fast as it should be. Maybe it's just me, but compared to my Mustang, the lower seating position and panoramic view from the drivers seat feels like I'm going faster than I really am, and that's pretty cool even if I do get beeped at for driving the speed limit. Of course the salesman told me now that the break-in period is over, you know what to do, right. Drive it like you stole it. Ya, it is a Vette.
