Driving habits of rural folk

[dragoneggs]

Many times I've pulled into the center turn lane to turn left into a business only to be confronted by an accelerating car coming right at me. I have the right of way. They don't. Then they have to either slam on their brakes, or hit me, or pull to their right and hit the traffic they were trying to beat, or pull to their left to hit oncoming traffic.

The safe option if traffic is too heavy is to turn right out of the business, then go around the block to get back to the way you wanted to go. But no one will do that, because it might take an additional 2 minutes out of their busy day, so they risk other people's well being VS doing the right thing.

No argument... always must assess the situation. If I am not familiar with the traffic patterns I will make a right turn and then figure the best way to get turned around going in the right direction.

 

[MossRoad]

Wife and I were driving home late one evening from Indy. Probably around 1-2am. We haven't seen another car for half an hour. As we come up to the light by Sherrill's Eat Here and Get Gas, the light turns yellow. I was already into the solid white stripes, I could have hit the brakes hard and made the stop, but I chose to go through it at the speed I was traveling. The light turned red as I passed under it and immediately I saw flashing red lights come on back in the dive's parking lot and come in my direction. Rats! So I pulled over and waited for him to catch up. State cop gets out and comes up to the window and asks why I didn't stop at that light back there?

So I said, "We were going 60, I was in the solid white paint when the light turned yellow, I was worried that if I slammed on the brakes I might lose control of the vehicle, or, I might hurt the baby." I pointed over to my wife's very pregnant belly. She was wearing her seat belt properly, as we always do.

He looked at her, looked at me, gave me the 'that sounds reasonable' look with a tip of his head, and then said, "Good enough. If everything checks out with your license and registration you'll be on your way shortly." And with a have a safe trip and slow down a bit, we were on our way. I've found most police to be quite reasonable if you're absolutely honest with them from the get-go. You start giving them stories or attitude and you blow it pretty quick.

 

[Industrial Toys]

TOO MANY cases here where people are inconvenienced in an accident caused by someone else and charges are never pressed. I guess, if the matter goes to trial, that would cost the system too much money.

 

[5030]

yep. and the guy that hits you has no insurance, no assets, and maybe no driver's license and you're out your deductible at a minimum and maybe permanent neck injury.

I've been in an incident where the other person had nothing to go after. There was nothing I could do to get my money back. No assets. No job to garnish wages. Nothing. I ate it.

Not a problem in most states when you carry uninsured / underinsured motorist coverage and here in Michigan, it's no fault anyway so the phone book isn't filled with ambulance chasing attorneys looking for a PI windfall for them.

Technically, here in Michigan, no insurance equals no plates. You must show valid and in force proof of insurance to get a validation sticker. I rarely leave the state but I do know where Tipton, Indiana is and that eatery though I've never stopped there. Why, a popular past time around Detroit is 'sticker stealing'.

 

[daugen]

TOO MANY cases here where people are inconvenienced in an accident caused by someone else and charges are never pressed. I guess, if the matter goes to trial, that would cost the system too much money.

this is where dash cams are super helpful. I have one on my rv, think I might get one on my car. Sadly folks lie...

 

[5030]

this is where dash cams are super helpful. I have one on my rv, think I might get one on my car. Sadly folks lie...

Really, I would never have thought that. I thought only politicians lied.

 

[daugen]

no insurance equals no plates. You must show valid and in force proof of insurance to get a validation sticker.

yes and no...only means they had insurance at one point in time, if they don't pay their installments on insurance policy and coverage lapses, they still have an active plate
on their car/truck. Of course if they get in an accident, they are in deep doo doo.
I watch a lot of Youtube videos that relate to this and remarkable how many people are stopped without any insurance.
This is where U/M, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is really helpful. But always a hassle trying to collect from your own carrier, and I say this is a retired independent insurance agent. Anyone who wants to dip into their pocket, at fault or not, is not deemed their friend...

 

[5030]

Insurance companies and their agents are all the scum of the earth anyway. You have to have it and they6 make big bucks on you, last time I checked, the average insurance company, after paying all claims, wages, comissions, still averaged 45% profit.

 

[kenmbz]

Wife and I were driving home late one evening from Indy. Probably around 1-2am. We haven't seen another car for half an hour. As we come up to the light by Sherrill's Eat Here and Get Gas, the light turns yellow. I was already into the solid white stripes, I could have hit the brakes hard and made the stop, but I chose to go through it at the speed I was traveling. The light turned red as I passed under it and immediately I saw flashing red lights come on back in the dive's parking lot and come in my direction. Rats! So I pulled over and waited for him to catch up. State cop gets out and comes up to the window and asks why I didn't stop at that light back there?

So I said, "We were going 60, I was in the solid white paint when the light turned yellow, I was worried that if I slammed on the brakes I might lose control of the vehicle, or, I might hurt the baby." I pointed over to my wife's very pregnant belly. She was wearing her seat belt properly, as we always do.

He looked at her, looked at me, gave me the 'that sounds reasonable' look with a tip of his head, and then said, "Good enough. If everything checks out with your license and registration you'll be on your way shortly." And with a have a safe trip and slow down a bit, we were on our way. I've found most police to be quite reasonable if you're absolutely honest with them from the get-go. You start giving them stories or attitude and you blow it pretty quick.

View attachment 672065

Did you get gas, and was it from the pumps :laughing: Always love those signs.

 

[MossRoad]

Not a problem in most states when you carry uninsured / underinsured motorist coverage and here in Michigan, it's no fault anyway so the phone book isn't filled with ambulance chasing attorneys looking for a PI windfall for them.

Technically, here in Michigan, no insurance equals no plates. You must show valid and in force proof of insurance to get a validation sticker. I rarely leave the state but I do know where Tipton, Indiana is and that eatery though I've never stopped there. Why, a popular past time around Detroit is 'sticker stealing'.

Yep. Technically, everyone's supposed to obey the rules. :laughing: