Throuble With Environmentalist Type Drivers

[superjim]

Just a question and a couple of observations.

 

I am making the ASSUMPTION that the people mentioned herein were some kind of dogooder/environmentalist type.

 

Maybe my driving a Cadillac had something to do with it.. I don't know.

I am 63 years old and don't hot rod around... at least not TOO MUCH .

 

Has anyone else had any incidents like this???

On a recent 5,500 mile vacation trip from Texas, to Washington state and Oregon...

 

Several times when I was on two lane roads and a couple of times on freeways, as I started to pass someone, the driver in front of me made motions with his hand or otherwise indicated he was not pleased with me passing him.

 

A couple of times, on Interstate 5, from Washington down into Oregon, there would be two (usually very small, cracker box) cars driving along side by side, at about 55, (speed limit was 65/70) imposing there own lower speed limits on everyone else.

 

If you did find a wider place with extra lanes and passed them, they would honk at you, wave their arms, make gestures and flash their lights at you, indicating their EXTREME DISPLEASURE with you for passing them.

 

On my way to Crater Lake Oregon, on a two lane road, I had one guy in a Prius, actually roll down his window, stick his arm out the window, and motion me to STAY BEHIND HIM and not pass.

 

One kinda funny thing about that... the next day as I was leaving Crater Lake... I was behind the same guy. Speed limit was 60... he was doing 35/40 in his Prius.

 

He did the EXACT SAME THING.

Stuck his arm out the window and motioned to me DO NOT PASS.

As I started around him, he actually started to pull over to the center line to keep me from passing.

 

After I passed him... he flashed his headlights at me several times to let me know that he was not pleased with me going faster then he was.

 

Wonder what he thought of the DOHC, 32 valve, Cadillac Northstar V8, at full song at 6500 RPM as I passed him?

 

Maybe he choked on his granola and latte as he gasped that I actually had the nerve to pass him after he told me I couldn't.

 

In the 5500 miles of the trip, all of the weird incidents happened in Washington and Oregon.

Mostly Oregon.

One in Washington, about a half dozen in Oregon.

 

I did not have a problem in any other state I was in and have never had anything like this happen before.

 

Just wondering if anyone else has had any incidents like this.

 

Any and all comments solicited and welcome.

[svensk]

all of the weird incidents happened in Washington and Oregon.

Well there's your problem! You drove through the EnviroNazi capital of the world.

 

I'd like to see them try that shit with me. With my 6000rpm limiter w/3.73's on my truck I can hold 2nd gear until 90mph. It makes for easy work on the highway.

[Darkanion]

I've had a few people seem to "not appreciate" me passing them, when I've been on road trips... But, nothing quite like what you're talking about. Thanks for the warning, though. Maybe I should get Umberto to fab me up one of his grille guards before I head up that way next year. Just PUSH 'EM out of the way.

 

EDIT : Do other states have the law about minimum speed should be within 10 mph of the Speed Limit? If so, maybe you could hit OnStar and report suspected drunk drivers, because they're going so slow (and in that one case apparently "wobbling")..?

[stargazer]

While I haven't had people voice their displeasure at me passing them, I have encountered many people cruising below the speed limit or accelerating on a green light as if they were on eggshells, or letting up on the gas and coasting to a red light from over a block away.

 

My driving style does not change with the price of gas or a guilty conscience so I figure I balance out their extreme behavior in an equal, but opposite way .

[superjim]

EDIT : Do other states have the law about minimum speed should be within 10 mph of the Speed Limit? If so, maybe you could hit OnStar and report suspected drunk drivers, because they're going so slow (and in that one case apparently "wobbling")..?

 

 

I think the signs said MINIMUM 45 MPH.

There were ALSO signs about KEEP RIGHT EXCEPT TO PASS.

Almost NO ONE paid any attention to any of them.

 

The time the guy came toward rhe center lane... there was no cell phone service. I didn't THINK of OnStar. Darn it.

[superjim]

My driving style does not change with the price of gas or a guilty conscience so I figure I balance out their extreme behavior in an equal, but opposite way .

 

 

 

+1

[compulynx]

The time the guy came toward rhe center lane... there was no cell phone service. I didn't THINK of OnStar. Darn it.

 

Excerpt:

 

"The OnStar cellular phone system uses a full 3.0-watt cellular system as opposed to the typical 0.6-watt portable cell phone. This provides superior range, but there must still be cell phone reception in your driving area for the OnStar system to work. Many remote or sparsely settled parts of the country have no cellular communications. Some may think that OnStar uses satellite communications, but that is only for receiving GPS signals, not for communicating. "

 

You probably did not have OnStar either

 

C

[95Sierra2500]

The only time I get cranky with people wanting to pass me is when we're in a no passing zone...Otherwise, I'm generally doing the speed limit (interstate or busy road) or maybe 5 under (backroads). I actually get more annoyed with those who want to speed and ride my ass...For example, I was next to a rig through some 2-lane construction, we're both doing 60, and this jerk comes right up on my bumper flashing his lights...speed limit is 60, I'm slowly passing this rig, I'll move when I can...but don't expect me to speed for you.

[satori]

My driving style does not change with the price of gas or a guilty conscience so I figure I balance out their extreme behavior in an equal, but opposite way .

+1. See the first line of my sig.

[04Sierra_Z71]

here in va if anyone tries that they will get flat run over period. Some states give a 5mph buffer over the max speed limit but va is not one of them but most of the time they won't even bother pulling anyone over for only 5 miles over, about the worst you have to watch out for over here is that a lot of older people will drive 45 in a 55 which can really congest things up.

[nfisherman]

The people you described are idiots. It's best way to deal with them is to live your life as you please. Nothing irritates them more!

[Nick The Great]

The only time I get cranky with people wanting to pass me is when we're in a no passing zone...Otherwise, I'm generally doing the speed limit (interstate or busy road) or maybe 5 under (backroads). I actually get more annoyed with those who want to speed and ride my ass...For example, I was next to a rig through some 2-lane construction, we're both doing 60, and this jerk comes right up on my bumper flashing his lights...speed limit is 60, I'm slowly passing this rig, I'll move when I can...but don't expect me to speed for you.

 

So you're one of THOSE people

 

I spent a couple hours on the I-35 in Iowa and was amazed by how the average person drives. I was taught to anticipate the other driver. If I know he's gonna need to get over to let a car merge, I'll lay off the pedal. Or into a construction lane, I will lay off so the car in front of me can get over. I have a bad habit of leaving about 20ft between me and the car in front of me, and people think they can fly around me and whip into my 'buffer zone.'

 

I don't have many problems with aggressive hippie drivers. I have gotten many looks of disgust as a pass a grown man in a Prius, but that's it. But if looks could kill I'd have been dead a long time ago . . .

[coffeeman2881]

Stupid hippies... would not work here in Georgia.

[csheatz]

Min speed limit in MI is 55.

 

some people take that to the limit for no known reason!

 

When I see greenpeace wanna be's giving me looks at the gas station I Just tell them I cant afford to move to warmer weather so I am trying to make it warm here!

[rvsahs]

Wonder what he thought of the DOHC, 32 valve, Cadillac Northstar V8, at full song at 6500 RPM as I passed him?

 

Maybe he choked on his granola and latte as he gasped that I actually had the nerve to pass him after he told me I couldn't.

LOL! Great post, Jim. Yep, you traveled thro that part of the world where these tree huggers actually try to out-do and brag about the mileage they are getting in those econoboxes (and many times to the detriment of others like you sharing the road). Hummers really throw them into pathetic frenzy. Would love to drive an H2 with big ass rims and tread, and "Back Off" mud guards thru that neck of the woods.