Driving

[skcin]

Do you love it or hate it? What kind of driver are you? Any tickets/arrests? Did you get your license right at 16? What car(s) do you drive?

I got my license at 16. Took driver ed in a 1990 Chevy Corsica, and then my dad bought me a 77 Monte Carlo. After that, had an 84 Monte, a 97 Monte & now I drive an 03 Hyundai Santa Fe.


I don't mind driving, but I'm not a fan of city driving, esp. if I don't know exactly where I'm going. There are also certain highways that I refuse to drive around here (the 198 & the 33.) I hate them. But the 90 is fine. My husband and I love road trips, it's not unusual for us to take a few trips a year to camp or visit friends 6 or 7 hours away. In 2000, we drove to the Grand Canyon & back - so cool to see the country.

I'm also a driving dork - I almost always obey traffic laws - if it says "no turn on red" then I don't. I don't run red lights, I actually stop at stop signs, I always use my turn signals, etc. I am a mini-speeder, I'm usually 5 over in the city & 10 over on highways. I do not drive if I've been drinking a lot (if I am driving, I cap it at 2 drinks.) I did drive drunk once, and thank God nothing bad happened. I was 19 & stupid. Never did it again, it was so scary.

I'm pretty laid back for the most part, I try not to rage, but it happens. My biggest peeve is people not doing the speed limit, esp. in the left/fast/passing lane - I will tailgait if they're not up to speed. On the other hand, if I'm speeding and some jerk's on my ass, I will slow down to exactly the limit. Just for spite. That will probably get me shot one of these days.

I got a speeding ticket about 12 years ago (doing 54mph in a 40 - I was late getting home.) but that's it. No arrests, no parking tickets. I've never been in a major accident, and the 2 fender benders I have been in were the other guy's fault.

[Miss Vicky]

I don't drive. I'll be 26 in May and I'm still without a license. I've acquired my learner's permit three different times (had them expire with little or no use three different times) and taken Driver's Training once. I always pass the permit test with no problem and did well in both Driver's Education and Driver's Traning, but I've yet to even attempt the behind-the-wheel license test.

The few times that I have driven, I've hated it. My blood pressure skyrockets and my hands cramp up from clutching the wheel too hard out of nervousness. I've also nearly gotten into at least one accident, almost ran over my own cat, and nearly hit a goat during a hale storm. So, I've just made myself become quite familiar with the bus routes in my town.

I suppose I really ought to do something about the situation, but my hectic work schedule makes finding the time and opportunity to learn quite difficult.

[estranged4life]

Originally Posted by Miss Vicky

I don't drive. I'll be 26 in May and I'm still without a license. I've acquired my learner's permit three different times (had them expire with little or no use three different times) and taken Driver's Training once. I always pass the permit test with no problem and did well in both Driver's Education and Driver's Traning, but I've yet to even attempt the behind-the-wheel license test.

wouldnt let my Mom drive, so she was reduce to "backseat driving" - and YES (!!!) she had a license for it too.

The following is a true story. As much as you want to believe it not to be it did indeed occur. My Mom was legendary for her driving prowless. Hell, I was once in her car as she laid rubber at a stop sign....With a Muskogee PD car directly behind us. She laughed at the cop as he wrote her a warning, guess those 36 DD's may have had something to do with that...Anyways, below is the story:

Mom didnt get her license until she was 34 years old. Her first traffic ticket was for doing 180+MPH in a 55 MPH zone on a state highway, yes, you read right - 180MPH in a 55 MPH zone...All this without a driver's license or permit (Mom bought herself a 1976 Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am with a medical malpractice settlement. Her first driving lesson was learning to drive atbreak neck speeds on the Muskogee/Broken Arrow turnpike. Mom had the 454 Chevy 8 block modified so the top speed her TA would get was about 210 MPH according to the OHP.).

Once Mom passed her driving test, which she nearly aced, she had a challenge made to her from the OHP trooper who pulled her over. This trooper has a 1980 Pontiac Firebird 'Bandit Edition' Turbo which he claimed could beat Mom's TA in a drag on the highway. Mr.Pooper-Trooper even wanted to sweeten the offer by racing for pink slips, so Mom, being the NO BS person accepted his offer.

The local unit, which this trooper belonged too, cordened off (Can you say "illegally"? Knew ya could!) a stretch of highway 64, Which becomes highway 2 between Porum & Briartown, for the race.

Mom LUNCHED Mr.O-Hip and his black Turbo turd, so much that this trooper was near tears knowing he had just lost his 'prized' car to a woman driver. When he approached Mom to give her his pink slip, Mom told him to keep it, She said "I dont want that piece of crap...It drives too slow". His fellow trooped ripped him a new one for the whole episode.

Awww, the memories of the **** that was my childhood...God it was definitely different than most.

[DrummerDeanna]

^^

Man..just when I think you're mom can't get any cooler you pull a story like this out...that woman was awesome

Great story...

[estranged4life]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

^^

Man..just when I think you're mom can't get any cooler you pull a story like this out...that woman was awesome

Great story...

was the coolest person I have ever or will know.

Who else would take apart a Maytag dryer, by reading the schematics, to remove a faulty thermostat and to install a brand new thermostat because the thought having a repairman do it was a joke? Of course, my Mom.

Who else would take her oldest son to school in the TA, just to flirt with the highschool boys and give 'em a cheap thrill, just to hear my oldest brother's friends ask "Who's that groovy chick in the TA?", just to see the look on their faces as Bill told 'em, "That's no groovy chick, that's my Mom".

Hell, Mom used to take her TA out to the parking lot of the USS Batfish (A WWII submarine that is drydocked in our hometown Muskogee, OK.) and show high schoolers how to do a proper burnout/donut on the pavement without burning the rubber off the tires.

She also like to hit the road (At a high rate of speed) leading to the railroad tracks near our home, in her car just to see how high off the ground her car would go in the air - of course after knocking off 2 separate sets of spoilers Mom decided that at $300 a set that her "daredevil days" were over with.

Mom was smart for a 10th grade dropout. She dropped out of school to care for her much younger sister, Nora & my older sisters- Besides Mom was too smart for school anyways. She easily passed her GED test in the late 80's without as much as opening a book to study (She was going to enter college at the age of 45 to become a sociologist/social worker - but her health issues started to manifest)

Brian "My Mom loved her initials B.S. - Because she said those initial were accurate" j.


ps- Everyone who knew My Mom says I am the identical male clone version of her, personality wise & look wise & personality wise - Minus the 36DD rack

[ragandbone]

I love these stories! Do we have a picture of your mom in the Trans Am?
I am the owner of the Tool chest in the house, I have fixed a stereo receiver with a schematic, and taken apart my vacuum to fix it, but I would be scared to tackle a large appliance. Your mom is my hero!

Originally Posted by estranged4life

was the coolest person I have ever or will know.

Who else would take apart a Maytag dryer, by reading the schematics, to remove a faulty thermostat and to install a brand new thermostat because the thought having a repairman do it was a joke? Of course, my Mom.

Who else would take her oldest son to school in the TA, just to flirt with the highschool boys and give 'em a cheap thrill, just to hear my oldest brother's friends ask "Who's that groovy chick in the TA?", just to see the look on their faces as Bill told 'em, "That's no groovy chick, that's my Mom".

Hell, Mom used to take her TA out to the parking lot of the USS Batfish (A WWII submarine that is drydocked in our hometown Muskogee, OK.) and show high schoolers how to do a proper burnout/donut on the pavement without burning the rubber off the tires.

She also like to hit the road (At a high rate of speed) leading to the railroad tracks near our home, in her car just to see how high off the ground her car would go in the air - of course after knocking off 2 separate sets of spoilers Mom decided that at $300 a set that her "daredevil days" were over with.

Mom was smart for a 10th grade dropout. She dropped out of school to care for her much younger sister, Nora & my older sisters- Besides Mom was too smart for school anyways. She easily passed her GED test in the late 80's without as much as opening a book to study (She was going to enter college at the age of 45 to become a sociologist/social worker - but her health issues started to manifest)

Brian "My Mom loved her initials B.S. - Because she said those initial were accurate" j.


ps- Everyone who knew My Mom says I am the identical male clone version of her, personality wise & look wise & personality wise - Minus the 36DD rack

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by estranged4life

wouldnt let my Mom drive, so she was reduce to "backseat driving" - and YES (!!!) she had a license for it too.

The following is a true story. As much as you want to believe it not to be it did indeed occur. My Mom was legendary for her driving prowless. Hell, I was once in her car as she laid rubber at a stop sign....With a Muskogee PD car directly behind us. She laughed at the cop as he wrote her a warning, guess those 36 DD's may have had something to do with that...Anyways, below is the story:

Mom didnt get her license until she was 34 years old. Her first traffic ticket was for doing 180+MPH in a 55 MPH zone on a state highway, yes, you read right - 180MPH in a 55 MPH zone...All this without a driver's license or permit (Mom bought herself a 1976 Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am with a medical malpractice settlement. Her first driving lesson was learning to drive atbreak neck speeds on the Muskogee/Broken Arrow turnpike. Mom had the 454 Chevy 8 block modified so the top speed her TA would get was about 210 MPH according to the OHP.).

Once Mom passed her driving test, which she nearly aced, she had a challenge made to her from the OHP trooper who pulled her over. This trooper has a 1980 Pontiac Firebird 'Bandit Edition' Turbo which he claimed could beat Mom's TA in a drag on the highway. Mr.Pooper-Trooper even wanted to sweeten the offer by racing for pink slips, so Mom, being the NO BS person accepted his offer.

The local unit, which this trooper belonged too, cordened off (Can you say "illegally"? Knew ya could!) a stretch of highway 64, Which becomes highway 2 between Porum & Briartown, for the race.

Mom LUNCHED Mr.O-Hip and his black Turbo turd, so much that this trooper was near tears knowing he had just lost his 'prized' car to a woman driver. When he approached Mom to give her his pink slip, Mom told him to keep it, She said "I dont want that piece of crap...It drives too slow". His fellow trooped ripped him a new one for the whole episode.

Awww, the memories of the **** that was my childhood...God it was definitely different than most.

That's a great story I bet those troopers NEVER let him live that down!

[estranged4life]

I've been driving since I was 12, have had my license since I was 17. Last ticket I received was in 1989, havent has as much as a parking violation since.

I drive slower than probably 95% of everyone else in the world, and yes, my wife drives faster than I do. I am almost always in the slow lane unless I get annoyed with a driver who is driving 40MPH in a 65MPH zone (Or if I am on a turnpike I drive 65-70MPH in the 80MPH zone) and feel the need to pass.

I'm somewhat anal in regards to that if you're riding with me you better have your seatbelt on, because if i get pulled over and receive a ticket for it (Oklahoma has a compulsary "Seat belt" law) I will make sure to click the belt around yer spleen.

For the record, I HATE riding in a car...If I am not driving I suffer motion sickness (Deb knows that all to well )

[danax6]

Hm, I'm a fairly good driver, I think. I got my license when I was 21 (hey, you can't get em here until your 18 anyway) and so far I haven't been involved in any accidents or hit anything. I've also never been honked at, or been involved in something that could be considered a WTF moment for other drivers. I usually am the one honking and screaming WTF though. I'm always in a hurry, and other drivers easily irritate me.

That said, I love driving though! I've had a few speeding tickets over the years (about two, but not big ones...all about 3 or 4 miles above the limit) and about 4 or 5 parking tickets. (As I said, I'm always in a hurry and too lazy to find a decent parking spot.)

I usually get a cab when I go out, but there have been times I've gotten behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol (or pot). I was never actually drunk, but tipsy...yup.

But, I will say this: European drivers are better than American drivers. It's true.

[skcin]

Originally Posted by danax6

That said, I love driving though! I've had a few speeding tickets over the years (about two, but not big ones...all about 3 or 4 miles above the limit) and about 4 or 5 parking tickets. (As I said, I'm always in a hurry and too lazy to find a decent parking spot.)

But, I will say this: European drivers are better than American drivers. It's true.

3 or 4 miles over? Wow, they're pretty strict over there. They usually don't bother you here unless you're going more than 5 or 6mph over, unless you're near a school or a road repair zone.

BTW - DO NOT include Bulgarians in your statement. They're crazy. I was there 3 weeks visiting my family & almost got killed 3 or 4 times. They like to cut out into traffic in front of people too - but nobody seems to care.

[danax6]

Originally Posted by skcin

3 or 4 miles over? Wow, they're pretty strict over there. They usually don't bother you here unless you're going more than 5 or 6mph over, unless you're near a school or a road repair zone.

Very strict. Part of the reason why I say that we are generally better drivers. We are forced to be!

BTW - DO NOT include Bulgarians in your statement. They're crazy. I was there 3 weeks visiting my family & almost got killed 3 or 4 times. They like to cut out into traffic in front of people too - but nobody seems to care.

No, you're right. Mostly western Europe.

[carrie721]

i like driving a lot. especially stick shift. don't always love city driving ... but highways? yes. and as the ledgies who went to the cleveland show can attest, i'm a pretty good driver. except when we're being almost carjacked outside a gas station. i do like to drive fast, though, so i had three tickets by the time i was 20. haven't had one since, though.

i got my license when i was 17, and my parents bought me a car when i was 19, a 96 saturn. sadly it's sitting in the driveway with a leaky radiator. it's been a good car tho.

two of my tickets were for speeding (38 in a 25 zone and 75 in a 60 zone), and one is for turning right on red at a five-way intersection. and i wasn't turning to the next street over, i crossed the median. and there was a cop literally directly behind me. yes, i am a moron. i've also had numerous parking tickets, but only one from the city. the rest are from the bastard university.

i've hit 2 parked cars, but didn't make a mark. i've only been in one car accident, but i wasn't in a car when it happened ... yes. i got hit while crossing the street. not fun.

[sara1998]

I started driving a month before my 16th birthday. Mom and dad bought me a 1984 Mustang for my 16th birthday, and couldn't wait to give it to me, so they let me have it a month before! I was so cool! Anyhow, I drove that until I was 18, and totaled it. Then I bought a 1989 Cutlass Calais. Piece of ****. Swore I'd never buy another used car, so I bought my first brand new car in 1998. It was a Saturn SC1. Then, my husband totaled that, so I bought a 2003 Saturn Vue. That's what I'm driving now.

I actually enjoy driving. Unless it's on 465 during rush hour. That tends to piss me off. I have road rage pretty bad. I tend to lose it, especially when people don't do the limit or cut me off. I try to limit that since 9 times out of 10 Sara is with me. But I catch her road raging from the passenger seat sometimes... and she's 8! It's hilarious.

I am a speeder... I get frustrated if you're not doing at least 5 over. I'm always in a hurry, but I'm not sure why! It's been quite a while since I've had a ticket. Last ticket was for speeding. I drive a stick and I love it! I was taught to drive on a stick, and I think it's how everyone should learn how to drive. I will definately teach Sara on a stick. I'm teaching Samantha now, and boy is that a trip. Now I know how my parents felt!!!

[skcin]

Originally Posted by carrie721

and as the ledgies who went to the cleveland show can attest, i'm a pretty good driver. except when we're being almost carjacked outside a gas station.

What do you mean "except?" That was your best driving move - running that red light while I was screaming "just go, Carrie, he's going to start banging on the window!" You saved my life.

[goldie]

Originally Posted by danax6

Hm, I'm a fairly good driver, I think. I got my license when I was 21 (hey, you can't get em here until your 18 anyway) and so far I haven't been involved in any accidents or hit anything. I've also never been honked at, or been involved in something that could be considered a WTF moment for other drivers. I usually am the one honking and screaming WTF though. I'm always in a hurry, and other drivers easily irritate me.

That said, I love driving though! I've had a few speeding tickets over the years (about two, but not big ones...all about 3 or 4 miles above the limit) and about 4 or 5 parking tickets. (As I said, I'm always in a hurry and too lazy to find a decent parking spot.)

I usually get a cab when I go out, but there have been times I've gotten behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol (or pot). I was never actually drunk, but tipsy...yup.

But, I will say this: European drivers are better than American drivers. It's true.

But ... I thought you guys in the Netherlands rode bikes everywhere? Or is that just Amsterdam? All I know is, I almost got run over at least 3 times in 4 days by people on bicycles when I was there last year!