Just thinking about this makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Someone had posted about near death experiences recently, well I felt like I had one this morning. I had been taking this back way to work for the last 2 weeks or so, and it has saved about 5 minutes barring getting behind people that are going slow. Well, this way has lots of lots curves . Well, this morning, I was going at a pretty good clip but I had gotten through all the bad curves (or so I thought). I came up on this machinist shop and I was picking up steam doing probably about 55 to 60 mph. Well, I had forgotten that right after this machinist shop was a "S-shape" curve. Well, as you can imagine, I come up on it doing 60 and I felt my car fixing to go off the road. So, instead of slamming on the brakes, I did probably the next worst thing....I turned the steering wheel very fast in the opposite direction. The next thing that ran through my mind was "I sure hope as hell no one is coming in the opposite direction or I am f*cked." The car actually slithered like a snake in the road. Incredibly, not only did I get lucky and not get hit or hit anyone, but I was able to eventually straighten the car out and keep going. However, this experience has shaken me quite a bit because there is no worse feeling than not having control of your vehicle. I'm very lucky because 1) No one was coming in the opposite direction 2) My car is so heavy (weight-wise) 3) My car handles damn good because it is a Maxima SE If not for this, it is very unlikely that you are hearing about this now. I have no doubt that I was lucky that I didn't flip my car over. Thank God, that He was watching over me. So, no more back way and I'm gonna TRY to slow down. However, I have been driving for 13 years and I have always driven too fast. It is just a bad habit that has been hard to break. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to slow down?
Here is an Idea. . . . Remember today. We all drive to fast. . . i know i do . I'm constantly trying to remind myself. Since I saw a Beautiful Mind this weekend Let's use math 5 minutes Early < increasing potential danger by 100% So . . .If you are driving TWICE as Dangerous. . . is it worth it just to be 5 minutes early? We die to save seconds . .. . mere seconds Rocket River Glad to hear you still with us dude. . . .Lunch will be the tastiest it's been in a while
Just think about all the people who care about you Manny...that's what I do when I start to get a little reckless. It's not worth it! I've always driven kinda slow though, so it's not a problem for me. Also quit listening to that head-banging crap in the car.
well you could think about what it would cost you in tickets and higher insurance? I don't drive too fast anymore, although I used to. It is just crazy to think what would happen if you were doing 80mph and a tire blew out... One time when I was 16 (7yrs ago) I had this old 1979 GMC Jimmy with bald tires and bad everything, well I was at a stop light making a left turn under I-45. The light turns green and I am going 5mph making the left, the car decides to start spinning, 540 degree later, I am sitting under I-45 on the sholder facing traffic with a broken rear axle. I was very lucky also that there was no traffic, but there was nothing I could do about that. Maybe you won't be so lucky next time? glad you are ok - SLOW DOWN.
Exactly, River. Even though I still drive fast, I noticed it a lot when driving up to Waco. I'd get all pissy because people were driving slow, but once I finally got passed them, I'd speed on, only to come to traffic some miles later, and they'd be right behind me. Not worth the extra 5 minutes if you're going to risk your life doing it. I still say if you're not passing anyone, stay out of the left hand lane.
I love to speed. And I always feel like I'm in a hurry to get places. When the speed limit changed to 55, I didn't want to obey it. I thought it was stupid and everyone else was speeding too. However, I did start to slow down. When I began driving 55, I noticed that I was much calmer. I really wasn't in that big of a hurry. And the people who were driving under 80 weren't pissing me off nearly as much. I decided to let THEM "go have their accident somewhere else." I still speed sometimes, but I've found that it comes from my state of mind. If I can just be patient and calm, slowing down isn't as hard! I've been in a couple of accidents from people running lights and speeding and it wasn't fun. Don't be the guy who speeds and runs into some little 16 year old girl! Side note...My cousin was involved in a rollover on I-10 in her Explorer (which had Firestone tires at the time). She wasn't even doing anything wrong and had an accident. Other than a few scrapes and bad bruises, she was fine. The paramedics said she was lucky to be alive. Just think about things like that! Glad you're still around!
Manny, I'm glad to hear that you're alright, but you really should slow down! Its not that hard to go the speed limit, and like RM95 said, almost everytime someone blows by you driving 80 or 85 you'll end up at the next stoplight/traffic jam with them at the same time. Sure you'll get to the light quicker, but does that really help you any? Driving slower really does help your stress level while in the car IMO. If you just do the speed limit you dont have to jerk around as much or stomp your brakes hard when someone pulls in front of you, which can be REALLY frustrating. Just be a more relaxed driver.
I get more pissed with people cutting me off or those *SSHOLES that will go through the turn only lane just to stop right before the turn and try to get BACK into the lane going str8. I've been that *sshole. . . but try not to do it anymore WHO ARE THEY . . THEY WHERE THEY GOING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THOSE OF USE WHO OBEYED THE RULES AND STAYED IN LINE . . . and what is worse. . . 10 times out of 10 they get rewarded for breaking the rules. . increasing traffic and potentially causing accidents. Rocket River
Good thing you didn't have an SUV, or you'd be playing catch with Teddy Ballgame right now... So, Manny...I guess you're going to appreciate those trips to the grocery store a little more, right?
Here is how I make sure to drive slow. Make a bet with someone, anyone, as to who can go the longest without getting a speeding ticket. Bet like $20, or however much it takes for you to remember the money and cause you to slow down (in your case, I suggest betting half your CD collection ). This has the added benefit of slowing down two people, and making it a little sporting at the same time. Kind of like reverse drag racing. "I can go WAY slower than you!!!" I did this with my brother 4 years ago, and I have still yet to get a speeding ticket (although he has...but his speeding has dropped considerably). Give it a shot.
im glad you're okay manny. here's what you do to slow down: promise yourself a new CD if you dont speed that week
When I want to watch my speed (I use this when I suspect speed traps, but I think it'd work to curb a speed addiction as well), I find a calm, legally compliant driver on the road, get behind them and simply follow them. I have a tendency to let my speed sneak up while I'm not paying attention, so I rely on the conscientiousness of other drivers. Please note that this method can be very frustrating because you will (if you're doing it right) be stuck behind someone who is driving agonizingly slow. If such frustration is overwhelming, you should reconsider whether you should be on the road at all. Drivers with such an impatience are the most dangerous people on the road, imo, and should be locked up.
I feel like the opposite of most of the posters on here. When I am driving slow I feel like I am really agitated and focus constantly on my speed. When I speed up I just think of driving and everything feels so much more fluid. It is like being in a zone while driving. I don't even consciously think about passing or turning, etc. It all just comes naturally. It also helps to play music while I am driving so I don't dwell on all the idiots that pull into the left lane to pass, but don't bother speeding up to maintain the flow of traffic. Since this jackass didn't want to be stuck behind someone going slower than he wanted to, now everyone else gets to be stuck behind him for five minutes as he eases around the truck in front of him.
It's good that you're safe, Manny. Speeding around corners and down hills can be fun, but it's not always the best way to go. I've never had an experience like that, but I narrowly missed getting pulled over doing 10mph over the speed limit on my way home once - except that someone else in an SUV just apssed me going a bit faster! What I don't get, though, are the people who remain right on your bumper when driving - they aren't at a normal distance and if you ever had to put on your brakes (suddenly or not), they'd end piling into you. Also irritating are those people who fly up the left lane on an interstate going 10-15mph over the speed limit of 70 and think that a person passing someone else at a speed just slightly over the speed limit should immediately get over and allow them to pass. That's not a problem of maintaining the flow of traffic - it's a matter of safely passing someone. Those flying around are just showing idiocy - especially if they people are flashing their lights and horn just so they can get around someone faster.
i always speed... i think its worth it for the chance that you may catch a light as green (compared to driving slower and possibly being stuck at the red light)... sometimes you get lucky and end up being faster, other times you don't... but that feeling of speeding through an intersection just as the light turns yellow (knowing if you were driving slower you'd be stuck at the light) is a great feeling!
I have to agree with DM here - always buckle up. Not only can they pull you over in some states now just because you arne't buckled up, it can be the difference between life and death...or at least escaping a wreck unharmed or ending up injured. Here's one of the lead articles from OrlandoSentinel.com today; interesting that it's a similar incident to Manny's. Just another reminder of the perils of speeding, inattention, and not buckling up. ----- MELBOURNE -- Three Brevard County teens died early Tuesday when their car careened out of control at about 100 mph near a construction site on U.S. Highway 1, slammed into a tree and tore into three mangled parts, Melbourne police said. The victims, one of whom was thrown a short distance from the black Honda Accord, may have gone unnoticed for hours in a culvert partially hidden from view. Their identities were being withheld pending notification of their relatives. Police said the accident likely happened between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. The wreckage wasn't spotted until 7:20 a.m. when an employee of the state Department of Transportation arrived for work. The section of roadway where the accident occurred is being widened, said Melbourne police Comdr. Ron Bell. Police said the driver was travelling north in excess of 100 mph when the car hit the left curb near Masterson Street, swerved and struck the right curb, went airborne and slammed into the pine tree. The engine landed in a canal nearly 100 feet from the front portion of the car. Two of the victims were found in the front seat and the third was on the ground nearby, Bell said. Heavy rains in the area were hampering the investigation Tuesday afternoon.
