As some are alluding to, we also have too many angry people out there

Check out this > http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19424928/

 

Today on my way to work some biker gave me the lovly middle finger because I was driving 70 MPH in the HOV lane at 6:20 AM. He was upset because I was not going 80 MPH. Funny thing is about 5 miles up the road he was pulled over by DPS (police) and I just honked and waved at him with a big smile.

 

LOL - got me thinking - should I ask for lower auto insurance premiums since I have slowed down with the hybrid?

 

I de-badged the rear both the civic and Hybrid. Seem to get more respect on the road now. Not to mention IMO its a overall cleaner look.

Even though your traveling with the speed of traffic when people see the Hybrid badge I think it just makes them want to pass you for no reason. I'm not finding that the case as much any more.

 

I let them pass, no problem. If they are big and slow I can distance draft for a bit. And besides I'd rather not have people behind me anyway!

 

In CA with the Carpool lane stickers, you're a target for aggressive gas guzzl'n drivers. If you happen to change lanes in front of someone, no matter how fast you're going or far ahead, they will tail gate and try to get around you. Oh well, I won't be seeing you at the pumps

 

I don't know. I don't have a hybrid (yet), but people honk at me a lot as I am a slow and careful driver. Perhaps you have developed habits you are unaware of. People seem to dislike the following: going the speed limit; stopping 5 feet from the stop light (or coasting to a stop); letting people go ahead of you. I love NM but think the drivers are rude.

--des

 

I've had no problems in Northern California, partly because I stick to the speed limit on the second-to-right lane of 280/101 during non-rush hours and there's plenty of open road for everybody.

Actually, one time while I was driving in the HOV lane on 101 alone, the three people in the car behind me started pointing and talking about what I presume was the yellow sticker on my bumper. I waved to them, and they smiled and waved back.

Also, I regularly pass by other 03-05 HCHs on the road, sometimes in the same Opal Silver Metallic color as mine, and we exchange friendly waves.

Maybe it's nicer up here in NorCal..

 

NM *people* are very nice but they get behind the wheel and they turn into monsters. i am not the first person who has said this. I think there is a culture for this as well. (Santa Fe is different but I don't live there.) I try to avoid changing lanes on the highway. But I don't have trouble on the highway anyway. It's more when I get with the nutcases on the smaller roads. Tailgating is a problem. I have taken to figuring out a way of letting them thru (such as turning on my flashers, gettign to the shoulder if i can, etc.). Another problem is that they dislike slowing down before a light. They want you to get right to it-- it's quite a problem of red light running and they put all these cameras on the lights with hefty fines. People will get double, triple, quadruple fines, you'd think they would learn?! Anyway, I think that smiling at them is a great idea-- will try this. They don't like courteous driving, like letting someone in. Of course these are all generalizations. I don't always get honked at. And I am not really complaining (well a little bit maybe). But was making a point that it isn't your hybrid, it's that if drive carefully some people are ticked. They think they are going to get their faster if they rush to the light and apply brakes or tailgate for instance. They don't. Many times I pass these goofs because as it happens I tend to (maybe it is intuitive as I never have thought about it) know about the light timing. So I keep meeting up with them. It's quite funny when i meet up with some jerk that has honked and passed me in a huff. :-)

I don't wave at Corolla drivers. :-)

BTW, I do like northern CA. Might even live there if the cost of living weren't so darn high.

Anyway the point again is really that it is the driving not the hybrid. Of course there are people that think that hybrids are for liberal sissy types so there may be a bit of macho stuff re that I don't know.


--des


--des

 

I agree, it's more about how you drive than what you drive. I can't say it enough.