By Mark Esposito, Weekend Blogger
Somewhere across the space-time continuum a universe exists where the traffic gods actually do care what happens on the roadways. Evidently, our world has collided with that universe in the black hole of Lakeland, Florida. There, a local resident captured on video a cosmic exercise of justice for a tailgating driver who just couldn’t wait for her to make her turn. Flipping off the amateur videographer as he rocketed on by, the gods have exacted their revenge on 33-year-old Jeffrey White –and they must have a sense of humor. The unidentified motorist said, “He just started tailgating me and I’m looking in my mirrors and I’m like dude, what is going on. I didn’t even realize he shot a bird at me until after the video because I was focused on the road.” (video after the fold)
Here’s the video:
Jeffrey White of Tampa was arrested and charged with reckless driving and leaving the scene of a crash.
Source: abc News
~Mark Esposito, Weekend Contributor
Dick Cheney probably hasn’t driven in years. But, he does have a hunting license and he knows where you live!!
This woman is almost certainly an unrepentant left lane hog. They cause many accidents. And the videotaping is horribly unsafe.
What about the many others he did this to?
In general, those who do bad do not suffer karma nor do they reap what they sow.
Myth.
Exhibit #1: Dick Cheney the torture meister.
Simms, worpress sucks. Blogger is much better. But, you play the cards you’re dealt.
It appears that my perfectly civil comment has been moderated. I know it’s in the system because when I tried to repost, I got a message I was posting a duplicate. There were no links or odd characters. What gives?
This thread has taken a 180 from the take by mespo and the first few commenters. and, it remained civil despite strong feelings. Superb!
Sorry folks this driver should be arrested. Aggressively driving in the passing lane on purpose, holding a camera up with her right hand, showing she was driving the speed limit, and refusing to pull over and let others pass only shows she is a scum bag provacateure.
A self-proclaimed traffic citizen police like this woman is outrageous. She will learn what Karma is and it will not be soon enough for my taste.
Interstate 10 in West Texas has 80mph, but only during daylight hours.
Pat, I’ve never been to Germany.
Again folks telling me I’m wrong about SoCal drivers. I come from the left lane hell of the US, Wisconsin. So, everything is relative. Just like we all have a different perspective on this video, based on our genetics, bias, life experiences, etc., we have different perspectives on regional drivers. Well, almost all of us.
I saw this I think Friday…. Redneck county Florida…. Meets Justice that is mightier than 4 Wheels and a Finger….
I don’t really think one can make a general statement about drivers in any location and have it hold true across the board. There are good drivers and bad drivers everywhere. When I taught my kids to drive, I drilled it into them that when they were in a cohort of other vehicles, they could be at the mercy of the worst, driver in the lot–who could be a homicidal/suicidal maniac for all they knew.
Utah I-84, not 85. sorry.
Utah has an 80 mph speed limit on selected segments of I85 and I15. Idaho just passed a law allowing the speed to be raised to 80 on selected sections of interstate. This will likely happen in the next year or two. I drive these sections a lot. 80 mph is appropriate as there are few cars/trucks, long vistas, and few curves.
Nick, I must take exception to your comment about Srn CA Drivers. I drive occasionally in Srn CA. On more than one occasion on I15 between LAS and LA the ratio of cars in the left lane to right is 10 to 1. I am in the right lane with the cruise control set about 2 mph above legal speed limit. The cars in the left have their speed range from 45 to 85 mph. Over one 10 mile stretch I was passed and passed by the same car about 10 times all while not touching my speed control. The vast majority were like sheep, following the car in front of them with no regard to how often they hit the brakes and accelerator. Their collective intelligence, or driving skills, did not impress me one bit.
To add to what Darren said, little things like tire pressure and the condition of shock absorbers can change the handling of a vehicle. Even one you are intimately familiar with. I enjoy watching NASCAR racing, and am in awe of the skill of crews, crew chiefs and drivers. The top tier crew chiefs know that an extra ¼ pound of air pressure in a right rear tire can change dramatically how the car handles in a turn. One-fourth pound per square inch! How do they do that? You start with having a $600.00 tire pressure gauge in the tool kit.
Here in the mountains, so many of our car wrecks look more like plane crashes than an automobile. One northeast Tennessee county lost two deputies in a chase a few years ago. Pursuing a sports car, their cruiser could not match it on the mountain roads and they ended up straightening out a curve.
I’m sure this has been stated already, but __The left lane is for passing__
I can’t figure out why drivers don’t respect this simple rule. I get frustrated and I see LEOs and other drivers out there getting frustrated by the many seemingly oblivious drivers that refuses to yield the passing lane , often pacing the vehicle next to them and blocking the flow of traffic for dozens of others. I’m not impressed by this video. It’s bad judgement and bad driving on the part of both drivers.
Simple lack of knowledge and respect for the most basic rules of the road lead to frustration and wrecks. I see the lady taking the video as being partly responsible for this wreck.
The USA requires drivers to exhibit almost no proof of skill or competence in order to receive a license. Driver license tests should be 10x more stringent and extensive driver training should be mandatory.
Pete:
I don’t know what the speed limit is in Idaho, haven’t been there for a couple years.
Also on the above driving video, there are a couple issues I want to stress. Watch the entire video and look a the driver’s hands. Notice during all that happens, including the jam-up with the white car at the end, he turns very few degrees. The faster the vehicle travels, the less your maximum turning radius becomes. At the speed he is travelling a 90 degree quick turn is highly likely to result in the loss of control. This is a significant reason that high speed pursuits with idiot suspects results in a crash is due to the oversteering.
The criticals skill to learn at these speeds is to know precisely how far you can turn the wheel and use the gas pedal to make a rapid lane change to avoid a collision. It is a very narrow margin of error. Moreover, it is not something that can be taught in a text book. It requires an intimate knowledge and feel for the vehicle you are driving as each one is different, even between the same make/model when the cars become older.
It is also important to understand drivin at these speeds is not a video game where you just start over again. There is nothing wrong with driving at the pace of the other cars. More speed, more risk. Nothing changes that.
pete, here too most everyone is from somewhere else. When they live here six months and are instant experts on how “we” should drive.
Darren
i heard somewhere that idaho upped their speed limit to 80mph?