Living proof lifted trucks are dangerous

[Joe 1320]

Normally I am pretty cool, tonight I am so PO'd I can't even see straight. I had to return to work tonight and on the way I almost get run over. Literally. I am driving in traffic along with the flow and a Ford F350 that's jacked up a bit is next to me. He starts changing lanes right toward me. I lay on the horn and that doesn't stop him, I have to jamb on the brakes while he just pulls right over. Wouldn't you know I get next to him at the next light and I make motions like "what are you blind" by covering my eyes and moving the wheel. This jerk rolls down his window and threatens to beat my @ss. This clown has no clue what he would be in for, I'm a 5th dan in Ju -Jitsu, having done it for 30 years. It would be over so quick it wouldn't even be sporting. So I said, "bring it on, dirtbag". He says" at the next light, pull over" and guns it. 100 yards ahead right after the next light he pulls off the road and unlike my days of youth, I drive right on past him in heavy traffic while the jerk was stuck on the shoulder without a way to get back into traffic. bwahahaha. Obviously his truck was too high to see an f-body immediatly next to him, I doubt whether someone could possibly be that stupid to try to push their way though traffic. In any matter, he was a complete moron and not worth going to jail. Where is a cop when you need one? I swear that as these trucks and SUVs get bigger and bigger, they pose a serious threat to those around them. My poor little f-body would have been crushed by this turd who couldn't even see me.

[Kevin - Blown 95 TA]

Joe, I think you should have gave him a karate chop on the neck.

[AndyLT1]

I agree with you on these morons driving big trucks. But, I think it is the driver more than the truck. I got cut off the other day by a Geo Storm. I'm in my truck, an S-10 ZR2. If you don't see that next to you, you must be blind. For those that don't know, a ZR2 is a factory option that gives a 4x4 S-10 a three inch lift and 31x10.5 tires, and a few other little things too. Now, how did a woman in a car not see a truck that size next to her?

Andy

[Mr Nice Guy]

I think Andy is right about being the driver not the vehicle. I used to have a 90 Full size Bronco ( a F.O.R.D.) with 7" of lift and 38" Super Swamper Tires. I never had any trouble seing cars around me. Actually vis on that thing was better than my F-bod. Anywhoo I never almost ran someone over cause I couldn't see them. I will agree this type of vehicle is a little harder to drive than a normal truck esp. with mud tires that want to wander everywhere and don't handle or stop great either. You just have to be more aware and plan ahead a little. I have been nearly sideswiped and actually run off the road by people in all types of vehicles so I believe it's the driver and not the vehicle that causes this. I give you alot of credit for driving past the moron and leaving him stuck on the side of the road. Who knows he could have had a gun, never know with these crazy people, and I doubt your martial arts training taught you how to dodge bullets and then we'd have had one fewer F-Bud around. Good Call....Later

[Joe 1320]

Originally posted by Mr Nice Guy
I think Andy is right about being the driver not the vehicle.

Now that I think about it, you guys are right. I had a Crew Cab Dually that wasn't small and I spent most of my time staying out of people's way. You had to be blind to miss anyone remotely around you.

Originally posted by Mr Nice Guy
I give you alot of credit for driving past the moron and leaving him stuck on the side of the road. Who knows he could have had a gun, never know with these crazy people, and I doubt your martial arts training taught you how to dodge bullets and then we'd have had one fewer F-Bud around. Good Call....Later

Actually, the martial arts training did teach how to dodge bullets. They teach you to stay the hell away from idiots with guns.

Seriously, the only problem with guns is the range. If you are close enough to touch the person, you are alot safer than 5 feet away. There are numerous ways of defense agains firearms, but most every one requires very close proximity. The only one that doesn't is to run like heck. The first thing I though of is that this nut could have a gun so I wasn't going to be stupid enough to play his game. I had much more fun getting him stuck off to the side of the road.

[KnightFire]

I don't think the vehicle is to blame here, its the operators. I have a lifted (albeit SLIGHTLY lifted 31" tires & 1" BL) Jeep and I plan to go about another 5" straight up with it (33" Tires and 4.5" SL). However, I am aware what is around me at ALL times...no exceptions. If you don't know whats behind, beside and in front of you at all times, you have NO business on the roads.


Nuff' said

Glad you managed the situation while retaining your honor.




KnightFire

[Kevin - Blown 95 TA]

I don't know - Look at it this way. You spend all that time and money making your car fast, and sooner or later you're gonna gun it and see how your investment paid off, No? If I studied Ju Jitsu for 30 years, I'd hafta try it out every once in a while when the opportunity presents itself. I think you should have walked up to him apologizing, with your open hand outstretched in friendship... then, you thrust upwards with your fingers up and under the ribcage and squeeze the beating heart until the pulse disappears and the dude collapses into a quivering mass of jelly.

But then my martial arts training was in Japan and my Sensei was a certified nutjob. I've pretty much cleaned up the Milwaukee area in case you want to come driving up here

[gunter96ws6]

you shoulda beat his @$$ joe~gunter

[Jeff02GAGT]

Hey Joe

Thats awesome that you're in Jiu Jitsu! I am too... I am in that and Hapkido, the stuff is GREAT to know! I'm working towards my black belt in Jiu Jitsu.... I've been in it for about 6 years, I wish I had more time to be there 3 times a week, however, I can only make sometimes once a week if that... I still love the stuff. It actually saved my life about a year ago, but thats a long story.. Anyways, that guy would have regreted messin with ya!

Jeff

[Ken(Bone Breakin Chevy)]

I have to agree that its more the driver than the truck. I love my camaro, but i also love a big truck. I have a 89 k5 lifted 4" with 33's, soon itll be bigger, probably another 4" and 38's. I always know whats around me. Plain and simple you just ran into one of the many @$$h*1e$ on the road. They are everywhere, some in f-bodys, some in fords, some in big trucks. theres not much you can do about it except watch out for those around you.

-ken-

[NorthernSS]

I agree also with it more being the driver than the car BUT I had an 87 Blazer with 6" raise and 35" tires and it was harder to see the blind spots then other cars. I almost ran someone off the road but noticed at the last second. I felt like such a dick. You just have to pay more attention and not be so lazy.

[Mark B]

I dont think that its the trucks fault. I think the problem is the attitude that alot of the people that drive them have. They get the big truck to have "power" on the road. NOT ALL PEOPLE THAT DRIVE BIG TRUCKS HAVE THIS ATTITUDE!! (So dont start flaming me for this!) But I have to say, while on the road, I see many big truck drivers have a "My trucks bigger than yours so get out of my way" attitude.

[Jeff95TA]

I think a lot of people have no idea that vehicles have blind spots, and they don't check them.

[TODD 2000 V6 CAMARO]

I had that happen to me while driving my '83 RX-7 up along side an 80's Suburban...he just started coming over and to avoid jumping the curb to my right ( in a car that was about 4 inches off the ground....don't work too well ) I had to down shift and floor it to get out of the way...barely. Then just yesterday was almost lane-changed into by a little old lady who was looking into her REAR VIEW mirror the whole time she was changing lanes. Mandatory yearly re-testing after the age of 70 anyone?

[Joe 1320]

I tell you what....... Where I live it is basically a rural town in the bowels of Florida. During the summer, all the locals seem to be able to get around with killing each other or getting lost. When these blasted elderly snowbirds arrive, there are major wrecks every time you turn around, they clog up the roadways going waayyy under the speed limits, posing as the keepers of the speed limits. It ends up driving the locals mad and they start driving like idiots to avoid the other idiots, the rest of us idiots just try to avoid all the idiots in general. Have you ever noticed how many idiots are actually on the road?

Seriously, there is a dangerous mix of the elderly driving big land barges at well under the speed of the flow of traffic along with larger trucks and SUVs with a "I'm bigger than you so get out of my way" mentality. Every week we have some tradgedy where people lose their life by pulling out in front of much larger trucks. It is a sad scenerio, but ironic how the biggest problems are often caused by the supposed "safest" drivers.