So many morons on the road.........

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2013: So many morons on the road.........
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim Hycner on Sunday, June 16, 2013 - 09:26 pm:

Today my 16 year old wanted to learn how to drive the Model T. He did a great job for his first time out, much better than I did. Probably because he never drove a standard before.
After he was done I drove home. I slowed down to make a left turn into my driveway, brake light was on and left arm straight out to signal. About a third of the way into my turn a moron whizzed by over the yellow line and almost tore off the left side of my T. He jerked so hard to the left to miss he was off the shoulder and almost into the corn field.

Times like these I wish there were options like 007 has on his Aston Martin.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tim Wrenn on Sunday, June 16, 2013 - 09:48 pm:

I know what you mean about the morons...no one knows let alone respects hand signals, sometimes even real turn signals don't help with some of these idiots. Too bad he didn't end up in the cornfield! (MY BAD)
Glad to hear the 16 y.o. had a good start!
I do plan on getting one of those E-signal things for my T's.... a friend just came over the other day to show me his, and I was impressed. Love the idea of the 4-way hazard setting also....I'll use that as much as the signals, especially when I see traffic barreling up behind me.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Killecut on Sunday, June 16, 2013 - 10:09 pm:

You don't have to be driving a Model T to run into morons. I was driving my 36 Roadster, which is a modern speed car, not Model T speed. I slowed up to make a left turn into my driveway, three cars came flying up behind me, seeing them in back, I slowed up, did the left hand signal, really crowed the center line to the left(so they knew I would be turning) first two slowed up, the third pulled out to pass all of us. By this time I am right in the middle of my left turn, If I hadn't been watching in my rear view mirror he would have gotten me. As it was he had to hit the shoulder on the other side to get around me. He's lucky he didn't go off the road and hit either the tree or the telephone poll that would have been right in his path.
Just make sure your son is observant of the morons


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Aldrich Orting Wa on Sunday, June 16, 2013 - 10:11 pm:

Do they even teach hand signals any more? We use them religiously!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dexter Doucet on Sunday, June 16, 2013 - 10:27 pm:

I've had this happen twice, the first time I was a teenager. The second I was in a neighborhood so it wasn't too bad. I almost always look behind me before making the turn and if traffics heavy and I'm nervous I'll point and flick my wrist a few times in incase the others don't know it's a hand signal.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Charlie B actually in Toms River N.J. on Sunday, June 16, 2013 - 10:41 pm:

"You don't have to be driving a Model T to run into morons". But it helps. You're in the way period. You're that guy in a back hoe, 4-ways flashing, that can't do over 30 MPH. People act the same way around them as they do around T's. Forget turn signals, stop lights and hand signals. Ain't gonna help at all. Been there, done that and most of you know it too. You're on a road with a posted 40 MPH and their doing 50/55 (or more)and you can't do the posted limit safely anyway. Face it. The T's day passed many decades ago and it's not coming back. Want to be relatively safe? Stay off the mains and out of traffic. It's the only option available unless of course some 85 year old part lets go and you're getting a close look at a telephone pole which you can't blame on morons. Enough of these cars get wrecked and a ban or driving restrictions will surely follow.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Sunday, June 16, 2013 - 11:38 pm:

Don't give the morons a chance to prove themselves. I pull at least half way into the opposing lane before turning left onto our private street off a 40+ mph street. I would pull all the way into the opposing lane, but I have a neighbor who is too unpredictable when leaving our street, and he could block my turn.

Let them pass you on the right, and everybody will get along.
rdr


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bill in Adelaida Calif on Monday, June 17, 2013 - 12:02 am:

In this DUMBA** state of Calif it is Illegal to use hand signals if you have working turn signals on your car. I guess it is step 1 of forcing mandatory turn sigs on all cars.

Bill


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob Coiro on Monday, June 17, 2013 - 12:19 am:

I'm starting to see bad trend that doesn't differentiate between whether I'm driving my modern car or my Model T. It amounts to people tailgating me in the right lane, often close enough not to see my turn signal, and these hat-backwards folk are spring-loaded to shout profanities when I slow down to make my right turn into a parking lot. I suppose they expect me to make the turn and enter the lot at 40 mph.

There was a long-ago time when I'd accommodate with confrontation, but in the face of advancing age and its accompanying diminished physical capacity, it occurs to me that attempting to stare an aggressor down through trifocals may not be the way to go. I now console myself that sooner or later, someone younger having a sufficiently bad day will think, "Brother, you just picked on the WRONG guy," and plant the foul-mouthed jackass for me.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim Thode Chehalis Washington on Monday, June 17, 2013 - 12:40 am:

John asked, "Do they even teach hand signals any more?" At least in Washington they do teach hand signals and say to use them when signal lights can not be seen by other drivers and are required for bicycle riders. I guess if a car does not have signals then hand signals are required and I saw nothing that would not allow them even if your car has signals. Might vary some from state to state.

Jim









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Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By kep on Monday, June 17, 2013 - 02:27 am:

i was surprised i got my drivers license but then i saw how normal people drive.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Killecut on Monday, June 17, 2013 - 05:15 am:

I use to drive my T's, and Ford V-8's which you can drive at modern speeds to the nearest city all the time without thinking about it. Now with cell phones and texting, it's very seldom I do that anymore. I'm lucky to live in the country with miles and, miles of beautiful back roads, and small towns. Between that and T Tours, that is where we do most of our driving. Even then, if someone is right on me, instead of making a desired left turn, I'll try to pull over to the right and let them by first, even if I have to miss the turn, then come back.You have to drive with eyes in the back of your head, especially in the T's


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Michael Pawelek Brookshire, Texas on Monday, June 17, 2013 - 06:41 am:

Folks today that do not know what hand signals are for might think you are waving them by and telling them to pass you on the left. Who knows? Besides the center rear view mirror on my '19 Touring I have also installed a left side rear mirror hanging down from the wood on the top/roof. It does not vibrate like the one on the windshield and if I see any auto in that left hand mirror I adjust my speed so they pass me before I take a left hand turn.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By mike taylor on Monday, June 17, 2013 - 06:59 am:

in florida we have a second insurance policy if we want. concealed weapons permit. if assaulted while in your car, deadly force is authorized. we fought for these rights. just saying. check your state. bob, I know what you mean. now you understand what I mean!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob from Nova Scotia on Monday, June 17, 2013 - 08:03 am:

Here in Nova Scotia hand signals are still required on drivers tests. But we still have lots of old tractors on our rural roads


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tim Wrenn on Monday, June 17, 2013 - 09:29 am:

Hate to say it, but I agree with Charlie's last sentence. I too am all too afraid that the day is coming where some hot-shot young politician looking for a feather in his fast-driving cap will start a bill taking these cars off the road because they don't go fast enough for all the young people in a hurry


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Smith on Monday, June 17, 2013 - 09:57 am:

Hand signals should still be taught in driver training, and should still be on the drivers written examination. Not all of us have cars with turn signals, in fact my new truck is the only vehicle I own that has turn signals!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Monday, June 17, 2013 - 10:25 am:

There's often a wide gap between being taught and being learned. Many times information presented is information not grasped.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By jeff cordes on Monday, June 17, 2013 - 10:33 am:

When I was taking my motorcycle driving test my turn signals quit working while taking my test. I completed the test using hand signals and the guy testing me was quite impressed with my quick thinking.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Norman T. Kling on Monday, June 17, 2013 - 11:11 am:

Hand signals are still in the manual for getting a driver's license in California, but many people have only used turn signals because they came out in the 1950's and the younger drivers have not seen very many cars without them. Unfortunately, when someone sees us slow down, they immediately think we are slowing so they can pass us. They interpret the turn signal as "waving them to pass". It is very important to be aware of cars behind us whenever we change lanes or make turns, especially left turns.

Yesterday on a tour in San Diego, we were driving along and were in the left lane of a 4 lane road, we were either going to make a left turn or were on a road which would eventually narrow down. A car came out of a side street to our left and saw the following distance we always leave so that we have room to stop in case the car ahead stops. Well that person decided he was going to pull in front of us and zip into the right lane where he could pass the Model T's which were in the left lane. I have Rocky Mountain brakes and was able to slow just enough to avoid a collision.

Unfortunately many people, especially young men look upon our cars as a nuisance. We are just some obstacle in their way.
Norm


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hal Davis-SE Georgia on Monday, June 17, 2013 - 12:31 pm:

Sometimes I think safety has come over center. We have so many safety devices and procedures and rules on newer machinery, that no one knows how to use common sense and be safe without them. For you who have never worked in an industrial setting, this may not make sense, but those of you who have....can you not hear fork lift horns so often you tune them out? Back up alarms on construction sites. I once propped myself up on the guard of a belt drive on a machine and could feel the pulley turning behind the guard. This machine was never intended to have guards and therefore the half hearted attempt to make it comply resulted in a thinly veiled safety hazard where I could get my fingers cut off by something I couldn't see. If it had no guard I would never dreamed of laying my hand there. Same applies to vehicles. Tail lights nowadays are brighter than headlights were 100 years ago. Everyone is used to seeing these gazillion candle power turn signals and brake lights with a third high mount that they don't notice a car without them. A modern car has to slow to about the same speed as a T to make a turn, but people don't try to pass when you turn. They are used to seeing these ridiculous huge bright tail lights and anything less is invisible to them. It is a conditioned response.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By kep on Monday, June 17, 2013 - 02:34 pm:

If you have turn signals, even on a modern car, nobody reads them anyway, besides they follow too close to see able to see them. i blame those "fast and spurious" movies for suckering gullible folk into thinking they have to drive everywhere with their engine bouncing off the rev limiter.
Just a few days ago i was driving a modern car at night and some idiot in a commodore wagon (no surprises) passed me on the right for no reason and then turned down a side road on the left, if i had not slowed down i would have hit their side. Modern car drivers are mindless they should be taught to drive on a kart track in worn out cars with bad steering worn out tires and terrible brakes. Maybe they will learn caution.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By kep on Monday, June 17, 2013 - 02:39 pm:

Passing a car only to turn in a driveway 10 feet later is another pet hate. Was saving 0.013 of a second really worth it? was it? You must feel so good about yourself saving that 0.013 of a second (do the math, that is about how much time they saved) your time must be so, so precious.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By ron lemmerman on Monday, June 17, 2013 - 02:46 pm:

I think Hal nailed it. Doesnt matter what your driving or how many lights or turn signals or horns we have. I work for a public utility company and have been hit 5 times in the last 8-10 years while being parked with hazzard lights, flashing beacons and orange traffic cones out. 4 out of the 5 times i was in an 18,000lb bucket truck and it was a sunny day with light or medium traffic. People are so used to seeing the lights and hearing horns they dont give it a second thought.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Fred Dimock, Newfields NH, USA on Monday, June 17, 2013 - 04:15 pm:

I drive 50 miles to work each morning when I'm in the States (also 50 miles home in the evening :-) ) mostly on Rt 495 outside Boston.

There is noting that surprises me anymore except for the drivers in Shanghai!

Picture a million new teenage drivers that are in a hurry to get no place in a city where the traffic lanes, signs, and lights are considered to be a recommendation for the other people and you'll get an idea of what it is like.
It is common to see people cross the double yellow line and drive toward oncoming traffic for a block when they are going to make a left turn.
A green pedestrian signal only means that when you cross the street you have to watch out for turning traffic and drivers that have decided to ignore a red light.

Motor scooters and bicycles are no better. Side walks are just an extension of the roadways -after all if cars can drive in the bicycle lanes the bicycles can drive on the sidewalks.

So many people were turning left from the right lane at one intersection they allowed the two right lanes to go left when the left turn green light was on. The only problem was that the folks that wanted to go straight got mad and began to inch forward and blocked the intersection.

I once saw how you can make Shanghai salad.. A guy was driving a three wheeled motor cart (max speed about 10 mph) that was piled high (6-8 feet is normal)with lettuce or cabbage on a 6 lane road when he was run over by a BMW. There was salad all over the highway and the rest of the drivers hardly slowed down.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By kep on Monday, June 17, 2013 - 09:36 pm:

How do cities with traffic problems that bad survive? At which point do they become totally unlivable?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Stitt-Southern Oregon on Monday, June 17, 2013 - 10:43 pm:

I stopped using hand signals. If I point as in turning left it means pass me on the left. If I drop my hand and motion them to back off my a$$ it means pass me on the left, It I raise my arm up as in turning right they wave back. I figure with my signal on legally I'm on better ground. I do keep some store brought paddles in the car I hang out the window. Stop, WTF, are you drunk, back off and a blue finger, settle down and others. I do use them on fast roads. Signs


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave DeYoung on Monday, June 17, 2013 - 10:53 pm:

I have been plowing snow for almost 30 years and to this day, I do not use the amber warning light mounted on the top of my IH Scout II. No one pays any attention to it, so all it does is help to run the battery dead.

In this Me-Me-Me world, everyone is in a big hurry and not thinking that slower may actually be faster. Especially in poorer weather conditions.

I very rarely use hand signals for the reasons mentioned above. I have found the left turn to be the most dangerous move in my T's. On my 26 T, the brake light is mounted next to the tail light. When making a left turn, I pump the brake to make the brake light look like a turn signal. It seems to work well. But nothing trumps using the rear view mirror to make sure others following me are paying attention.

What it all boils down to is, in my T or in my Scout, defensive driving with my head on a swivel is SOP all times.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Malone on Monday, June 24, 2013 - 10:03 pm:

Took my 26 coupe for its first real road test tonight and I just about got clobbered turning left into my driveway... Like I've read here, the truck apparently thought I was waving them around when I signaled left with my arm! I like the signs Mike has, but I think it would still be a good idea to install turn signals. My guess is that the drivers who understand hand signals are seriously outnumbered by the ones who don't. Do you guys have any recommendations for installing turn signals?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Monday, June 24, 2013 - 10:06 pm:

Cross over the line far enough so they won't pass you on the left.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Paul Hunter on Monday, June 24, 2013 - 10:32 pm:

Have been interested to read of the difficulties with/without signals whilst turning so I just looked up the New South Wales Roads and Maritime Service (our state vehicle and driver licensing authority) and, the latest edition, of the Driver's road rules book still shows the use of hand signals "if your indicators are not working". Would be interesting to try hand signals!

To fix the problem of turning left into your driveway you can move to Australia where your driveway would be on the same side of the road as you are driving! Just right turns across the oncoming lanes then become the problem! :-)

Cheers, Paul


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jay - In Northern California on Monday, June 24, 2013 - 10:34 pm:

Here's the 'Hand' signal on our 15 roadster pickup. It only works for left turns.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By kep on Monday, June 24, 2013 - 11:54 pm:

Hold a flashing yellow torch? Best of both worlds?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rod McKenzie on Tuesday, June 25, 2013 - 12:36 am:

Here in New Zealand we have our share of idiots too! The modern drivers seem to know only two hand signals and both of them rude, involving one finger or two, and believe that when they see a hand signal we are waving at them. I have fitted electric signals to my cars and would support any others owners to do the same. They don't detract from the car the way a huge dent would.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Craig Anderson, central Wisconsin on Wednesday, June 26, 2013 - 12:38 am:

I have a couple hand signals for anyone I see driving while yakking to a damn CELL PHONE........

I have seen more than one driver literally bounce their car off a curb because were on a cell phone!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Wells on Wednesday, June 26, 2013 - 08:55 am:

I only use hand signals because I don't want to spoil the originality by using lights. As soon as I signal, I turn and look behind me to see if the driver reacted. Just gotta be extra aware of what's around you and back off on your lane change if your not sure. I've never had a close call yet.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob Coiro on Wednesday, June 26, 2013 - 12:11 pm:

Hand signals are okay if we're talking about driving an open car with the top down. In that case, everybody gets a clear view of the T-driver's arm and he/she has excellent visibility in every direction with no blind spots. But I feel a whole lot more vulnerable when I have the top up.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hal Davis-SE Georgia on Wednesday, June 26, 2013 - 12:28 pm:

You oughta try it in my TT with sliding doors. I have to lean way forward against the wheel to get my arm out of the open door. It's not usually a big deal though. It is so slow, most people are able to pass me rather easily, so it is not all that often someone is stuck behind me when I need to turn. Especially a left turn. Right turns are even easier. I'm so slow I don't really have to slow down that much to make the turn. Left turns are more dangerous, as someone may decide to pass while you are turning.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Wednesday, June 26, 2013 - 01:21 pm:

Top up at night: guaranteed arm won't be seen.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Sheldon, Grass Valley, CA on Wednesday, June 26, 2013 - 05:20 pm:

The coupe is tough to make hand signals (I do use them often). The door window is well forward of my shoulder. And the side window doesn't go down all the way.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ted Dumas on Wednesday, June 26, 2013 - 11:48 pm:

When I was 15 riding my motor scooter down Evans Avenue in Fort Worth, the woman ahead of me got in the left lane, put her arm out and signaled a left turn. Being inexperienced and naive, I went around her on the right. She turned right, of course, and when I saw her coming I jumped off the Cushman. Max Painter, owner of the Gulf station on the opposite corner, said I went up in the air did a flip and landed on my back. It was a good thing I jumped as the bumper came in and broke the carburetor off the manifold. Had I stayed on the scooter, one or both of my legs would have been mangled.

Since I had no driver's license, she sued us for $75 for damage to her car. My uncle, a lawyer, handled the problem.


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