I came within a couple of millimeters of becoming a grease stain on the road this morning...

[NewWaveChick1981]

:scared: :yoiks: So I'm driving in to work with the usual traffic, and I was stopped at the end of a line of traffic waiting for a light to turn green. A chicky-doo (that's the technical term for an early-20s airhead, according to my husband :P) in a black Toyota comes barreling up behind me, going at least the speed limit of 45. She was OF COURSE talking on her cell phone, and she was going waaaayyyyy too fast for that intersection. She slammed on the brakes, and I heard that awful bloodcurdling screech of her brakes locking and tires screaming. It was like watching things in slow motion, and I had nowhere to go to get out of the way. I just KNEW I was going to get it....but she managed to swerve into the center turn lane just before colliding with me. She left a very, very long set of tire tracks, which tells me she was going way faster than she should have been. I looked over as she stopped in the turn lane, and guess what???? CHICKY-DOO WAS STILL TALKING ON THE CELL PHONE!!!!! :grr: She never put it down. :eyes: When the light turned green, I went on my way....OK, but with my adrenaline at peak level. I'm just glad I'm here to complain about it. :P

The funny thing was that she kept a LOT of distance behind me the rest of the way---for about 20 minutes. Ever notice that people who do something totally embarrassing have a tendency to avoid whoever saw their stupidity? :rofl:

Oh, and this is why using hand-held cell phones while driving needs to be banned in NC. :grr: Use a headset, for chrissakes....:mad: :nuke:

[DarkTirade]

1. Needs to be banned in all states IMO.

I've had too many near-misses for my comfort, and I've worked the night shift ever since I owned a car, so I'm usually driving when there are few cars around.

[NewWaveChick1981]

2. I totally agree.

They're dangerous as hell. And I've also had too many near-misses. Or as George Carlin calls them, near-hits. :(

[mainegreen]

6. Agreed. Dumbasses on cellphones have nearly killed my wife twice now.

She's a pedestrian most of the time. Shitheads on cellphones don't realize that they really are not capable of giving driving 100% of the attention necessary as well as talking on their phone, no matter what they think.
One of these days I'm going to loose my cool, probably when one of these bastards screeches to a halt after almost hitting us, and I'm going to reach into their car, take their damned phone and smash it.

[DarkTirade]

40. I'd call that self-defense myself.

Unfortunately the law may not see it that way.

[alphafemale]

3. Well....At least she didn't glare at you like it was YOUR fault.

:P

I've had that happen when I've been nearly nailed from behind when I didn't run a red light.

I don't think hands free headsets would help much. It's the distraction more than anything.

[NewWaveChick1981]

7. I know.

:mad: It's ridiculous. I think headsets are better than hand-held phones, but you're right---they're distracting either way.

[Sugar Smack]

4. I had the same damned experience. I was furious.

I heard the screeching of tires from a ways back and had to gently, slowly turn toward the oncoming traffic (on the other side was an embankment). The woman veered to the right and rolled down the hill a bit. I pulled off the road a little and asked if she was ok, despite her almost killing both of us. She goes, "Did you stop suddenly?"

"DID I STOP SUDDENLY?" No, I stopped gradually cause there was a line of stopped cars in front of me, genius. I was apoplectic.

I am SO RELIEVED you're okay, NWC girl. Some of these drivers should be jailed.

:hug: :loveya: :pals:

[NewWaveChick1981]

9. Glad you're ok too, sweetie.

:hug: :) Yeah, it's YOUR fault because she was not paying attention. :eyes: Idiot....:mad:

[Guava Jelly]

5. I am glad you are ok my friend

:hug:
Thats some scary shit!!

[NewWaveChick1981]

10. Thanks, man...

:hug: :) Yes, it is.

[Bassic]

8. This is why I think automatic transmissions are bad.

You can't talk on the phone if you drive a standard. :)

[NewWaveChick1981]

11. I can attest to that.

:rofl: :P I drive a five-speed.

[Bassic]

14. So do I, most of the time.

And I don't care what my wife says, I am not getting an automatic :D

[NewWaveChick1981]

16. Totally agree with you.

:D Automatics SUCK. Manual transmissions are way more fun to drive and get better gas mileage. :woohoo:

[Bassic]

22. Much better gas mileage.

And you're way less likely to let your mind wander and drive in "auto-pilot", if you will.

[SacredCow]

25. The mileage thing isn't completely true anymore....

A friend of mine has the automatic version of my car- they're identical in every way, except for color and the transmission. He actually gets better gas mileage than I do- not by that much, but it's been proven time and again. And it's NOT driving style- He drives like a maniac and I like a grandma, in fact.

On the flip side, when I choose to, I can smoke him off the line....

[Bassic]

26. That's funny because my wife and I used to have similar cars.

with similar engines, except mine was a tiny bit more powerful, and I gor way better mileage than her. I guess it depends.

[SacredCow]

27. I think it's all in the gearing....

I suppose they know that people who buy a manual transmission probably want to have better performance. I just wish my car had a 6th gear. Cruising at 70 mph, in 5th, my car runs about 2700 rpm, while my friend's car is more like 2300.

[LisaM]

23. Well, that's a good point, BUT, if you live in a hilly town

like I do (Seattle), standards can be somewhat of a pain, driving downtown in the rain on slippery roads, trying to go up hills. It doesn't help that most drivers don't give you any room to get into gear when a red light changes. I loved driving my stick shift in Michigan, HATED it in Seattle.

[Bassic]

39. Actually I do live in a hilly town,

and quite frankly that's one of the reasons i enjoy controlling my engine and the gears like that. It can be a bit of a pain to start when facing uphill, but I don't mind. It's a matter of taste I guess.

[LisaM]

44. I don't mind it when there's not someone on my tail

but people here don't give you any room to get into gear. But then people in Seattle are generally just into themselves and don't notice little things like other drivers trying to get into gear! LOL.

[Bassic]

45. Lol

I've run into those myself. I have no qualms about scaring them a bit when I get into gear. I'v even been in a verbal argumet with one guy who pulled up beside me after following me for a few blocks. I told him that if he chooses to tailgate me, it's his own fucking problem.

[soleft]

12. Sometimes I'm glad I don't have a car

Yet, I did manage to get run over on my bike last year.

Glad she missed you!

[NewWaveChick1981]

17. Geez, even bikes aren't immune.

:hug: :) Thanks!

[BreweryYardRat]

13. Ugh, tell me about it.

Plenty of times I've seen jackasses like that -- the incidents have actually blended together.

I know I can't drive well with a cell in my hand, so I don't use mine while driving unless it's vitally urgent. As in (back when I was at home) letting my dad know I was coming in, or calling a doctor's office/calling my shrink to let them know I'll be late.

Frankly, I think we need to make Bluetooth speakers (where you can use a system to route your phone calls through the car speakers) a standard feature in all cars.

[NewWaveChick1981]

18. Sounds like a great idea!

:hi: :D

[SacredCow]

24. OnStar has that capability....

It comes in through the speakers, and you can tie it in to a Verizon phone plan.

[Aristus]

15. I'm glad you're all right, NWC.

Stay careful now. There are a lot of idjits out there, just waiting...

:hug:

[NewWaveChick1981]

19. Thanks, sweetie.

:* :hi: :hug: And there are a LOT of idjits, that's for sure. :P

[greatauntoftriplets]

20. Hand-held cellphones have been banned in Chicago for years.

Very few people obey the law. I am one who does.

Good news that she missed you, despite the impact on your nerves.

[NewWaveChick1981]

29. Thanks, sweetie.

:hug: I've been in places where a ban is in effect, and you're right---hardly anyone pays attention to it. :(

[SacredCow]

21. At least she stayed back after she nearly creamed you....

I once was in a similar situation... A similar "chicky-doo" nearly smacked me at a red light, then continued to yap on her phone and put on makeup. When traffic got moving again she stayed glued to my bumper; at 60 mph, she was literally 4 feet or less behind me, yakking and looking in her rear-view mirror putting on mascara. I was in a mood that day (pre divorce :P ) so I gave my brake a good, hard tap. Got to see her drop the phone and makeup and clutch her face in pain as she pulled over.

In hindsight, I shouldn't have done it, since I could have caused an accident.... But perhaps she figured out that she was being a stupid chicky-doo!

[NewWaveChick1981]

30. LOL...

:rofl: She was a stupid chicky-doo, all right... I probably would have done exactly what you did. Ahhh....sweet vengeance....:rofl: :P

This morning, mine was an embarrassed chicky-doo. :P She dared not show her face again!

[ThomCat]

28. I'm glad that you and your car are both okay.

I do not understand why people feel the need to talk on their phones all the time. I see people walking, not watching where they are going. I see people driving, not watching where they are going. I see people shopping, not watching where they are going and not looking at the stuff in the shop. WTF is so important that these people must spend every waking moment on the phone?
:wtf:

[NewWaveChick1981]

32. Thanks, ThomCat!

I totally agree. An idiot talking on his cell phone bumped into me at the grocery store over the weekend. He was paying no attention to where he was walking or who he was injuring. :( I personally like my peace and quiet, which is why my cell phone stays turned off unless I need to use it for a brief call (always less than 2 minutes).

[billyskank]

31. I am so glad you are still a chick in one piece.

:hug:

:loveya:

[NewWaveChick1981]

33. Thank you. sweetie!

:hi: :hug: Me too. :D

[A-Long-Little-Doggie]

34. I am starting to regularly see and even scarier driver...

I am seeing more and more tractor-trailer drivers driving with a phone stuck to their ear. Twice I have had to stop quickly for truck drivers taking a turn while on the phone. Went right into my lane both times.

There really needs to be a law against driving 18-wheelers and talking on a cell phone!

[NewWaveChick1981]

35. Scary indeed.

:scared: You're right on.

Welcome to DU, getalonglittlegoggie! :hi:

[A-Long-Little-Doggie]

36. Thanks, glad to be here!

:hi:

[Dr. Strange]

37. Sure blame the chicky-doo...

You don't think that maybe YOU were distracted by all your smilies?

;-)

Glad you're safe.

[NewWaveChick1981]

38. Well, I HAVE been accused of smley abuse before....

:rofl: :hi: :P Thanks!

[Redstone]

41. Hey, they're banned while driving in Connecticut, and nobody gives a fuck.

My estimate of people yakking on the cellphone while driving is about 50%, even a year after the law was passed.

Redstone

[Road Scholar]

42. I have discovered that I can think about only one thing at the time.

I have also discovered that neither can anyone else. I agree with your conclusion about driving and using the cell phone in NC.:toast: :hi:

[lligrd]

43. Headsets Don't Help

Been proven time and again.

[Kajsa]

46. I"m glad you're OK, NWC.

That is a scary feeling, watching someone
head right for you and you have nowhere to go.

:scared:

I DO yell " Get off the phone" when someone almost
causes an accident because they are on their cell phone.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

47. This is one of my biggest pet peeves

Usually we see the opposite - people driving VERY slowly and weaving in and out of their lanes because they're too busy yapping. I'm really glad you and your vehicle escaped this twit.

[IntravenousDemilo]

48. I think I would have followed her to wherever she was going and let her have it.

But that's just me.