So I decided to be a jerk this morning...

[jmcohen23]

I drive about 20 miles each morning during the week to work. Approximately 18 miles of that journey is spent on the freeways. Usually, I hang out in the far left-hand lane cruising along at about 75-80 MPH (typical flow of traffic) until I hit a wall called grid-lock due to poor design of the beltway (somehow the builders figured that narrowing the beltway from four lanes to three would not cause any congestion).

However, this morning, I decided to take my time, as traffic was a little lighter than usual. Thus, I hung out in the 2nd lane from the left, mosying on about my business at about 65 MPH (speed limit is 55 MPH, don't tell anybody). Anyhow, I noticed out of my left sideview mirror a tiny little red car puttering along. It was one of the "smart" cars driven by some middle aged woman.

I quickly thought to myself, if I allowed a Smart car to pass me, then I would not be deemed worthy of driving an Infiniti. Besides, I think that there are some laws that prevent Smart cars from even being in the far left-hand lane. Nonetheless, it was my civic duty to teach this smug driver a lesson.

I noticed that she was ever so creeping up to my level, as there was a toyota camary in front of her, probably going about 70 MPH. But she was trying ever so hard to go 75 MPH. I could tell that she wanted to pass this camary, but in order to do so, she would have to get in front of me first.

Enter "Super Jerk" - defender of fast drivers everywhere!

With a slight tap on the accelerator, I boxed her in. She kept inching up to the camary, but I still refused to let her over. I could see her turn her head to the right, but she did not turn her right blinker on (another pet peeve of mine!). This is a multiple offender, she must adhere to the unwritten rules of the road!

She continued her effort, but could not generate enough horsepower to get the tiny compact go-cart in front of me. At this point, we were neck-and neck, each going about 70 MPH due the camary still waltzing along, oblivious to the battle that was ensuing behind him.

Eventually, I had to get off at my exit, and quickly scooted (safely of course)across the lanes to the right and made my turn. I noticed that as soon as I left that lane, she made her manuever, but got stuck behind a dump truck going even slower.

My work here is done.

Tune in next week for another exciting adventure of "Super Jerk"....

[BrandAidDesignG35]

I feel stupider now after reading this.

[Poyzinous]

[joe603]

lol

After a long road trip, I can relate. I usually don't go faster than 10% of the posted speed limit. What pisses me off are people who do 70 no matter the posted limit. They're slow in the 65 zone and fast through 55 work zones...I just don't get it. Trucks passing trucks is another annoyance.

I find myself driving defensively most of the time...not letting people in front of me from the right lanes. You know the type, traffic and you're behind someone in the far left lane, but this joker thinks that weaving from the center to slow lanes will be able to get around the pack. I'd rather die than let those guys in front of me...so I'll close the gap. Sometimes they'll get in front of the cars in front of me...but I feel like I did my part.

Anyway, highway driving is only fun once and a while...I love living 5min from work!!!

[RichiePoor]

Why do they call them smart cars? To me they are just enclosed go carts.

[zozoka1212]

Can't even call them go-karts. Go-karts can go fast and super tight turnings. Well smart can't really do any of them.

[biggie]

Can't even call them go-karts. Go-karts can go fast and super tight turnings. Well smart can't really do any of them.

Don't forget go-karts are WAY cheaper.

[LuckyLuke]

me too..

[370Z/28]

Don't forget go-karts are WAY cheaper.

A whole lot more fun and better looking!

[pfarmer]

me too..

So we have a Camry, a Smart Car, and an Infinity* going 15 mph above the speed limit at 70 mph. The Infinity* leaves the road, the Camry continues at 70 mph, The Smart Car changes lanes and gets stuck behind a dump trunk going slower than 70 mph which seems to have been in front of the Infinity* going 70 mph.

Must be an electron.

Perry

[Poyzinous]

a Free electron. And Perri, dont you mean a Camri?

[kmckis1029]

thanks for the laugh...

but i guess you would hate me on the highway... i hate being stuck behind a group and i will pass on the far right to get around the group... its not even about speeding... all im thinking about is I dont want to be caught in a multi car pile up... so i never stay in the pack of car too long... i either slow down and give distance or go around.

[jmcohen23]

thanks for the laugh...

but i guess you would hate me on the highway... i hate being stuck behind a group and i will pass on the far right to get around the group... its not even about speeding... all im thinking about is I dont want to be caught in a multi car pile up... so i never stay in the pack of car too long... i either slow down and give distance or go around.

actually, it's drivers like you that help unclog traffic/congestion. keep up the good work. I have no problems with you - just the folks that lolly-gag in the fast lane - and then they hit the brakes to look at someone changing a flat on the other side of the road....

[pfarmer]

a Free electron. And Perri, dont you mean a Camri?

Camelerrari, missspellled it.

An electron can theoretically be in two places at once. Now we need to deal with the law of impenetrability - 'No two objects can occupy the same space, at the same time.'

I have the Infinity passing through the truck, truly fitting for something with unlimited possibilities.

Perry

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

Well I don't think any of you would like me on the high way...

i don't go the speed limit... I go what ever i think i appropriate (normally way too fast)

I get pissed at people that try to block me in.... when you do that i will swerve over like you are not there and i didn't see you... then you hit the brakes (reaction) then i take the lane.... Win for me and a big loose for the retard trying to block me in...

If you are not in a hurry then get the hell out of the left lane!

In Tampa the commuters are great but if you are on the highway at noon it is a bunch of old ladies in their slush mobiles

I like being out in front by myself where no idiot can crash into me it is also safer that way

Rant over... and no Flaming!

DJ

[pfarmer]

Well I don't think any of you would like me on the high way...

i don't go the speed limit... I go what ever i think i appropriate (normally way too fast)

I get pissed at people that try to block me in.... when you do that i will swerve over like you are not there and i didn't see you... then you hit the brakes (reaction) then i take the lane.... Win for me and a big loose for the retard trying to block me in...

If you are not in a hurry then get the hell out of the left lane!

In Tampa the commuters are great but if you are on the highway at noon it is a bunch of old ladies in their slush mobiles

I like being out in front by myself where no idiot can crash into me it is also safer that way

Rant over... and no Flaming!

DJ

Here we would shoot you and let the Infinity merge with the dump truck.

Perry

[DAAN.]

I took my pants off to read that?!!!!

[Sentientbydesign]

thanks for the laugh...

but i guess you would hate me on the highway... i hate being stuck behind a group and i will pass on the far right to get around the group... its not even about speeding... all im thinking about is I dont want to be caught in a multi car pile up... so i never stay in the pack of car too long... i either slow down and give distance or go around.

I drive the same way. Actually, what I find funny is that I will drive very close to the speed limit when I'm alone, but drive 80+ when there are groups around me. I can't stand being stuck with dummies within crash distance.

As for the OP's maneuver. I HATE smart cars. If you have the chance, google some crash test videos. It's tooooo funny.

Please tell me what the point is in buying a $14k car that only seats 2. That isn't safe in a crash. And that gets poor fuel economy for it's size and weight?

For that a Civic or dare I say a Kia would be quite sufficient. The first wave of smart's had some serious issues too.

I openly fantasize about an adult amusement park where you pay to drive a hummer into a smart car

As for the belt way. I think we've got it worse. 6 lanes and two freeways merge into 3 lanes and one freeway.

What's worse is that you have less than 500 feet before the first lane dissapears, then another 500 feet before the second lane dissapears. I'm still wondering where the 3rd one goes. I haven't found it.

Oh and this marvel of engineering cost us $400+ million and put us in gridlock for 3 years.

[Poyzinous]

Oh and this marvel of engineering cost us $400+ million and put us in gridlock for 3 years.

Only three years? wow you're lucky. Sprinfield Va took 5 years. 5 years longer than your 3. for a total of 8. And they're still cleaning up. Then there is the WW bridge and DC highways for that matter. I have never in my 20something years here driven anywhere without seeing construction signs and equipment and cones and gridlock.

[fiveliterbeater]

i hate smart cars and i don't think they have any buisness on public roads. i would've done the same thing; maybe even pretended that i didn't even see her and merge into her lane with my big M and then going "ooooopppps , didn't see your little p.o.s.!, sorry"

(apologies to anyone on here that owns one, i just dislike that stupid car and the statement it's trying to make by the person driving it)

[pfarmer]

As for the OP's maneuver. I HATE smart cars. If you have the chance, google some crash test videos. It's tooooo funny.

Please tell me what the point is in buying a $14k car that only seats 2. That isn't safe in a crash. And that gets poor fuel economy for it's size and weight?

Google for test results:

----------------------------Top marks for the Smart Fortwo. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Smart Car a four-star rating for front impact crashes on the driver's side, three stars for passenger safety, and five stars for protecting occupants during lateral collisions.The Smart ForTwo is the smallest car ever tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and is three feet shorter and 700 pounds lighter than the popular Mini-Cooper and is classified it as a microcar. However, NHTSA discovered a safety issue in side-impact testing and still gave five stars in side testing because of the ability of the car to protect the driver and passenger from injuries in a crash, even though the driver's-side door opened through the simulation.

Both the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and our National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have given the Smart car a good score. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a private group funded by insurance companies, gave top marks to the Smart in their crash tests, and our National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the cars a four-star rating for front impact crashes on the driver's side, three stars for passenger safety, and five stars for protecting occupants during lateral collisions.

------------------------------

Perry

[pfarmer]

i hate smart cars and i don't think they have any buisness on public roads. i would've done the same thing; maybe even pretended that i didn't even see her and merge into her lane with my big M and then going "ooooopppps , didn't see your little p.o.s.!, sorry"

(apologies to anyone on here that owns one, i just dislike that stupid car and the statement it's trying to make by the person driving it)

I believe an 8 foot car driven in town makes a whole lot more sense than a 20 foot truck. I believe the statement made by a safe driver in a Smart Car is a lot smarter than a statement made by an unsafe driver in any car.

Perry

[Sentientbydesign]

Google for test results:

----------------------------Top marks for the Smart Fortwo. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Smart Car a four-star rating for front impact crashes on the driver's side, three stars for passenger safety, and five stars for protecting occupants during lateral collisions.The Smart ForTwo is the smallest car ever tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and is three feet shorter and 700 pounds lighter than the popular Mini-Cooper and is classified it as a microcar. However, NHTSA discovered a safety issue in side-impact testing and still gave five stars in side testing because of the ability of the car to protect the driver and passenger from injuries in a crash, even though the driver's-side door opened through the simulation.

Both the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and our National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have given the Smart car a good score. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a private group funded by insurance companies, gave top marks to the Smart in their crash tests, and our National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the cars a four-star rating for front impact crashes on the driver's side, three stars for passenger safety, and five stars for protecting occupants during lateral collisions.

------------------------------

Perry

Who paid the NHTSA off?

I've seen enough on you-tube to know that those little sardine cans are not safe. Doors flying off, car jumping 1-2 feet in the air, engine compartment being crushed into passenger's foot/leg area.

Also, the frame is so rigid that passengers are almost guaranteed to have some sort of whiplash or organ damage from a sudden impact.

[pfarmer]

Who paid the NHTSA off?

I've seen enough on you-tube to know that those little sardine cans are not safe. Doors flying off, car jumping 1-2 feet in the air, engine compartment being crushed into passenger's foot/leg area.

Also, the frame is so rigid that passengers are almost guaranteed to have some sort of whiplash or organ damage from a sudden impact.

The question you should be asking if you have one is who paid the insurance industry off since they would have to pay for the accidents after their customers paid them if the car is so dangerous.

The passenger compartment of the car is designed in much the same way as a capsule in a hydroplane or the cockpit area of an airplane, that is to absorb enegy in a certain way and then dissipate what is left to the occupants in as safe a way as possible.

The thing that hurts the Smart Car is not so much the accident tests you may see but what occurs in car to car accidents. The car is designed to survive the tests and relies greatly on the good restraint system. The reason this is important is the accident tests you see are based on this being a microcar. The tests differ for a full size truck, a mid size car, and so on for their conclusions.

Many other cars are actually have a much worst design. What many don't realize with the 'G' for example is changing something as simple as the hood can drastically change the result of the survivability of the occupants. But that occurs all the time with body kits. Of course this isn't limited to the 'G'.

What occurs for example with the simple addition of components such as a tower brace? My belief is that for most drivers this is purely an appearance item. If you were in a major accident how does it affect the frontal design to absorb energy before reaching the passenger compartment? Some cars for example that use a brace actually use a three point brace with this in mind. Most here dont' consider that and simply bolt one on.

I would rather be in a Smart Car with a safe driver than a 'G' with an unsafe one.

Perry
Modified by pfarmer at 11:09 PM 7/19/2009

[Poyzinous]

Haha. Superhero Perry.

[zozoka1212]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auRQwzyY1Ws

[Joey666Crack]

I could see her turn her head to the right, but she did not turn her right blinker on (another pet peeve of mine!). This is a multiple offender, she must adhere to the unwritten rules of the road!.

I believe use of blinkers is a written rule.

[Graflo]

I wouldn't spend the money to do his but it would be a blast to beat on this little thing...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cV4HdsDZX6c

I had some clown following me on a two lane highway riding my arse like it was prom night in a dodge pickup doing 80 in a 65... I moved over twice to let him pass but he just wanted to box me into the slow lane that was doing 55. I got behind and he slowed down to 65. I pass and he gets back on my but. I push up to a 100 for a sec and get some breathing room and a clear right lane and get back down to 75.... DB goes zinging by waving at me like he just won the Gran Prix...

Moral of the story.... Good thing I don't have one of those bumbers the cops have or I woul have been tempted to do the P.I.T. move....

[pfarmer]

I wouldn't spend the money to do his but it would be a blast to beat on this little thing...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cV4HdsDZX6c

I had some clown following me on a two lane highway riding my arse like it was prom night in a dodge pickup doing 80 in a 65... I moved over twice to let him pass but he just wanted to box me into the slow lane that was doing 55. I got behind and he slowed down to 65. I pass and he gets back on my but. I push up to a 100 for a sec and get some breathing room and a clear right lane and get back down to 75.... DB goes zinging by waving at me like he just won the Gran Prix...

Moral of the story.... Good thing I don't have one of those bumbers the cops have or I woul have been tempted to do the P.I.T. move....

Nothing like a street racer.

Perry

[pfarmer]

Haha. Superhero Perry.

Better a live safe man than a dead superhero.

Perry